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13 October 2026
Border security enforcement efforts continue with 254 additional cases filed in the Southern District of TexasRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Another 260 people face federal charges for immigration and border security-related crimes from Oct. 2-8.
A total of 177 criminal complaints involved felony reentry after prior removal, while another 41 people face charges of illegal entry. Most of those charged have prior felony convictions involving narcotics, violent crimes, and immigration offenses. In addition, 37 people face human smuggling charges, including 13 illegal aliens. The remaining five cases filed this week involve other immigration crimes and firearms charges.
One of those charged with felony reentry is Orlando Rene Flores-Orellana, a Guatemalan national whom law enforcement allegedly discovered unlawfully in the country near Peñitas despite his March 3 removal. According to the criminal complaint, he has a prior conviction for firearm possession.
Law enforcement also discovered Jose Manuel Fernandez-Martinez near Pharr after his removal March 11, 2022. Court records reflect a prior conviction for manufacturing and delivering of cocaine.
Both face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
In addition to the new cases, Honduran national Eliseo Henriquez‑Joya aka Cheyo, received a 72‑month prison sentence for conspiring to transport illegal aliens. Authorities identified him as a leader who coordinated the smuggling of approximately 188 illegal aliens in box trucks, refrigerated trucks, and tractor‑trailers.
During the investigation, authorities stopped vehicles at checkpoints and discovered hidden compartments and false walls that concealed individuals in spaces with little or no ventilation, no air conditioning, and no means of escape.
The cases are referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigrants, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the Southern District. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault, and violence against children.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than 10 million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen, and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state, and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.
An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Benton County Man Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
FAYETTEVILLE – A Benton County man was sentenced to 210 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release, for Possession with the Intent to Distribute More Than 50 Grams of Methamphetamine. The Honorable Chief District Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the October 8, 2026, sentencing hearing, which took place in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court documents, On January 21, 2025, Task Force Officers with the DEA arrested Jason Voyles, age 50, for possessing approximately 150 grams of methamphetamine following an investigation that began in late 2024. On June 30, 2025, Voyles was arrested again following a traffic stop in Lowell, where Voyles was found to be a felon in possession of a loaded firearm in his waistband, as well as methamphetamine. On March 11, 2026, Voyles pleaded guilty to Possession with the Intent to Distribute More Than 50 Grams of Methamphetamine. According to court documents, Voyles has an extensive criminal history, including prior convictions for drug trafficking out of Arkansas and Texas.
United States Attorney Kevin R. Holmes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tabacco, Firearms and Explosives, Bella Vista Police Department, Lowell Police Department and Department of Corrections investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney David Harris prosecuted the case.This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the U.S. 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.
Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov.
Beckley Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Jeremy Lamar Smith, 40, of Beckley, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on or about April 26, 2023, Smith possessed a Ruger model American 9mm pistol in Beckley.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Smith knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for burglary on November 15, 2005, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person on February 7, 2022, both in Raleigh County Circuit Court.
Smith is scheduled to be sentenced on February 12, 2027, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Amy L. McLaughlin is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:26-cr-49.
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Barrigada Man Sentenced to 120 months in Federal Prison for Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Hagåtña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant Michael Joseph Salas, age 42, from Barrigada, Guam was sentenced in the U.S. District Court of Guam to 120 months imprisonment for Distribution of 50 or More Grams of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). The Court also ordered five years of supervised release and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. In addition, defendants convicted of a federal drug offense may no longer qualify for certain federal benefits.
On February 11, 2025, Salas agreed to sell three ounces of methamphetamine to a confidential informant. Salas had the informant drive him to a location to meet up with his source of supply. After receiving $3,300 from the informant, Salas met with his source and returned with a bag of methamphetamine. Upon returning to his residence, Salas packaged three ounces of the drug for the informant and kept an unknown quantity for himself. Salas previously sold one ounce of methamphetamine to the informant for $1,200. Federal agents executed a search warrant at the residence in March 2025. It resulted in the seizure of 34.22 additional grams of methamphetamine.
Salas has criminal convictions for possession of an unregistered firearm, second degree and third degree theft by receiving stolen property, and second degree promotion of major prison contraband.
“Repeat offenders who traffic drugs are prime targets for federal law enforcement,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “They will face mandatory minimum sentences in federal court. Those sentences will be served at a Bureau of Prisons facility on the mainland, far from Guam. We will continue to aggressively prosecute those associated with this illicit activity.”
“Methamphetamine continues to ravage communities across the United States, extending beyond the mainland to Hawaii and territories such as Guam. Its trail of devastation leaves no corner untouched. Today’s sentencing proves to drug traffickers that they are not beyond the reach of the law," said David S. Olesky, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration Los Angeles Field Division, which covers Guam. "We will track them down and bring them to justice. DEA stands united with our federal partners to safeguard American lives.”
This investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Devarup Rastogi prosecuted this case in the District of Guam.
Austin Couple Indicted for Running Fake ID WebsitesRead the Press Release
An Austin couple were charged today with running websites that purported to sell fake identification documents and evading the payment of their federal income taxes.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Jerrod Lochmiller and Christina Linden allegedly owned and operated several websites that purported to sell fraudulent identification documents (“Fake IDs”), including driver’s licenses and identification cards. They also allegedly owned and operated websites that purported to provide Search Engine Optimization (SEO) services. Lochmiller and Linden operated their websites in the names of aliases and nominees. In order to obtain clients, Linden and Lochmiller hired SEO services to improve the Fake ID websites’ visibility in search engine results and created websites that reviewed and recommended their Fake ID websites. To conceal the source of their income, Linden and Lochmiller allegedly primarily received payment from customers via cryptocurrency and then transferred the cryptocurrency through multiple addresses before ultimately moving the cryptocurrency to exchange accounts in their names. Lochmiller and Linden then allegedly converted the cryptocurrency into U.S. dollars, and deposited the money into their bank accounts. Clients who purchased the Fake IDs allegedly did not receive the Fake IDs.
Between 2017 and 2024, Lochmiller and Linden allegedly received over $6 million in mostly cryptocurrency income from their Fake ID and SEO websites. During that same time period, Lochmiller and Linden allegedly did not file any federal income tax returns and allegedly failed to report their income to the IRS.
Linden and Lochmiller face a maximum penalty of twenty years for the conspiracy to commit wire fraud and the wire fraud charges, five years in prison for conspiracy to defraud the IRS, six years in prison for tax evasion, and one year in prison for willfully failing to file a tax return.
Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Senior Litigation Counsel Michael C. Boteler and Trial Attorney Michael Jones of the National Fraud Enforcement Division prosecuted the case with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Buie of the Western District of Texas.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Arizona Man Indicted on Assault Charges in Connection with Incident Resulting in Emergency Landing at Baltimore AirportRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – An Arizona man is facing indictment stemming from an attack of an airline passenger that forced an emergency landing at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI).
Layne Lundeen, 67, of Tucson, is charged with interfering with flight crew members and attendants and assaulting those individuals by striking, beating, and wounding in connection with the incident.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office, and Colonel Nicholas Augustine, Maryland Transportation Authority Police (MDTA Police).
According to the indictment, on Sept. 3, 2026, Lundeen assaulted an airline passenger aboard a flight flying from Dallas, Texas, to Newark, New Jersey, resulting in the unscheduled landing in Baltimore. Lundeen also allegedly interfered with flight crew members or flight attendants attempting to perform their duties by intimidating the staff.
Specifically, Lundeen made physical contact with the flight attendant or flight crew member; disregarded instructions from flight attendants or flight crew members; directed abusive and aggressive language, including racial slurs, towards flight attendants or flight crew members; and engaged in disruptive and hostile behavior toward flight attendants, flight crew members, and other passengers.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.
If convicted, Lundeen faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for interference with flight crew members and attendants and a maximum of one year for assault by striking, beating, and wounding.
Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and MDTA Police, for their work in the investigation, along with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, for their valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Ty Pittinger who is prosecuting the federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.
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16 alleged YNS gang members and affiliates face federal drug trafficking, robbery, and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A federal grand jury has indicted six alleged YNS gang members and affiliates, while 10 other face charges in federal criminal complaints.
A total of 16 alleged gang members and affiliates face charges of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
Jocquez Frye, 18; Darrell Sampson, 18; Jacob Barrett, 18; Kristian Winters, 18; Jaquan McClendon, 19; Triwayne Davison, 20; Donfarius Holmes, 24; Haven Duncan, 29; Jason Pittman, 34; Ledanyan Bennett, 19; Alex Davison, 32; Monterio Whitfield, 30; William Nolan-Waddell, 34; Javonte Hoyle, 28; Will Clark, 28; and Xzaveon Francis, 28, all of Houston, have made their initial appearances in federal court.
Frye, Sampson, Barrett, Winters, McClendon, and Triwayne Davison appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Palermo Sept. 28. The court ordered them to remain in custody pending further criminal proceedings.
During the detention hearing, the court heard that YNS is a violent gang operating in Houston’s Greenspoint area and allegedly involved in homicides, assaults, home invasions, vehicle burglaries, and drug and firearms trafficking. The court also heard that authorities linked Frye to the Jan. 4 armed carjacking of a former Houston Texans player at his home.
The court reviewed social media posts and videos depicting alleged YNS members displaying firearms equipped with machinegun conversion devices, assaulting a rival gang member, and intimidating rivals outside their residences. The court also heard that the weapons posed a danger to innocent bystanders and that the alleged activities could provoke retaliatory violence in the Greenspoint area.
Social media posts and messages introduced into evidence allegedly showed members discussing past and planned violent crimes, firearms trafficking, and threats against rival gangs and groups.
The court also heard that YNS members allegedly planned to rob what they believed was a drug stash house containing 42 kilograms of cocaine. On July 23, several members met with a confidential informant before traveling to the location carrying firearms and wearing black clothing, masks, and gloves, according to the allegations.
Sampson, Barrett, and Winters allegedly planned a separate armed robbery at the time of their Sept. 23 arrests. The three allegedly intended to rob an individual at gunpoint following what they believed would be a large-scale cocaine transaction.
Holmes, Duncan, Pittman, Bennett, Alex Davison, Whitfield, Nolan-Waddell, Hoyle, Clark and Francis appeared before Judge Palermo for detention hearings Sept. 29-30.
During those hearings, the court heard that the defendants allegedly conspired to transport what they believed was 50 kilograms of cocaine to a buyer before robbing the individual following the delivery. At the time of their arrests, authorities discovered firearms, zip ties, and gloves in their possession.
If convicted, all 16 YNS members face up to life in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
FBI Houston and the Houston Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Texas Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and U.S. Marshals Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sebastian Edwards and Samuel Blackington are 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.
14 Indicted in North Korean Remote IT Worker Conspiracy Affecting More than 70 U.S. CompaniesRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio has announced the unsealing of a 58-page indictment charging U.S. citizens and Chinese nationals for their roles in an IT worker conspiracy affecting more than 70 U.S. companies. These charges are the result of a year-long investigation.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment Oct. 1, 2026, charging the following defendants with Wire Fraud Conspiracy, Money Laundering Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Commit Identity Theft, and Aggravated Identity Theft:
- Sun Sheng Ming, 37, Dandong City, China
- Pei Li Guang, age unknown, Liaoning, China
- Weng Shou Cheng, age unknown, Liaoning, China
- Han Guo Bin, age unknown, Dandong City, China
- Wang Jian Jun, 34, Dandong City, China
- Sheng Zhang Kun, age unknown, Shenzhen, China
- Zhang Wei Ping, age unknown, Dandong City, China
- Zhang Li Ping, age unknown, unknown location
- Yu Yang, 40, age unknown, Dandong City, China
- Jin Long, 35, unknown location
- Michael James Bostelle, 31, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Juan Cecilio Pena Carrillo, 37, San Juan, Texas
Carrillo and Bostelle were recently arrested and are expected to make their initial appearances in court in the Northern District of Ohio in the near future. All other defendants in this case remain at large. Two defendants remain under seal.
“Threats posed by nation-states like North Korea are a stark reminder that our adversaries will go to great measures to exploit our nation’s economic strength to further and fuel their own nefarious agendas,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “We are thankful to FBI Cleveland for their incredible work and persistence to put a stop to these bad actors. These charges serve as an urgent alert to all U.S. companies to remain vigilant in their hiring practices.”
“Today’s indictment underscores the pervasive danger targeting America’s businesses and the lengths at which threat actors and criminal networks will engage to undermine U.S. companies and augment nation-state interests,” said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Joshua DelManzo. “The FBI remains unyielding in its mission to defend not only Ohio businesses and companies across the country, but also to defend the United States against criminal and national security threats and will continue to investigate threats wherever they originate and ensure those responsible are held accountable.”
According to the allegations in the indictment, the defendants conspired to participate in a multi-year fraudulent scheme to obtain remote IT work to generate revenue for the government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), which is more commonly referred to as North Korea.
The scheme was allegedly carried out by facilitators in the United States who assisted others working on behalf of the DPRK to be hired as remote IT workers with U.S. companies. Among the ways used to carry out the scheme, U.S. facilitators received and hosted multiple laptop computers—issued by victim U.S. companies—at their residences in the U.S., referred to as “laptop farms.”
In total, the scheme impacted more than 70 U.S. company employers and generated approximately $3 million in revenue for IT workers. The revenue is believed to have been sent to sanctioned entities controlled by the DPRK.
Victim entities included companies serving a broad array of industries and services including health care, communications, cyber support, retail, and manufacturing companies. Victim businesses were located not only in Ohio, but also across much of the U.S. including in Massachusetts, California, New York, New Jersey, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Maryland, North Carolina, Illinois, Virginia, Michigan, Texas, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Washington, and the District of Columbia.
In addition to the unsealing of the indictment, the FBI has issued an alert for the business community regarding the hiring of remote IT workers. Increasingly, North Korean IT workers are turning to recruiting American facilitators to counter and adapt to improved private sector detections and law enforcement actions. These workers are hiring facilitators to complete a wider variety of tasks, and in some cases subcontracting entire jobs to third-party foreign nationals. For more information about the FBI’s alert to U.S. businesses, visit https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2026/PSA261013 .
The FBI is actively investigating remote IT worker fraud schemes throughout the country, including FBI’s Cleveland Division in the Northern District of Ohio.
Assistant United States Attorney Duncan T. Brown for the Northern District of Ohio and Trial Attorney Neeraj Gupta of the Criminal Division’s National Security Section are leading the prosecution.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
12 October 2026
Justice Department Announces Charges Involving 16 Individuals for Election CrimesRead the Press Release
Today the Justice Department announced charges involving 16 individuals, including an illegal alien, in connection with illegal voting, fraudulent voter registration, and related election crimes across the country. The cases include voting by aliens in federal elections, false claims of U.S. citizenship in order to register to vote or to vote, voting on behalf the deceased, voting multiple times in the same election, false statements on citizenship applications, and unlawful procurement of citizenship.
Case details are as follows:
District of New Mexico
Patrick Perea, 62, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of fraudulent voting. Perea attempted to cast his deceased wife’s absentee ballot in the November 2024 general election by submitting it to the Bureau of Elections of the Bernalillo County Clerk’s Office in Albuquerque.
Eastern District of Pennsylvania
An illegal alien and three aliens have been charged with voting by an alien.
- Hacina Saadi, 48, an illegal alien from France, has been charged by information with voting by an alien during the 2024 election.
- Pakistani national Jamil Ahmad, 50, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged by information with voting by an alien during the 2024 election.
- Pakistani national Nighat Jamil, 47, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged by information with voting by an alien during the 2024 election.
- Portuguese national Paulo Silva, 54, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged by information with voting by an alien during the 2024 election.
Southern District of Alabama
Two aliens have been charged with voting as an alien.
- Peruvian national Silvia Delgado Phelps, 78, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged by criminal complaint with voting as an alien. Phelps allegedly voted in multiple elections in Baldwin County, Alabama, despite not being a U.S. citizen.
- Jamaican national Staciann Pollion Davis, 42, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged by criminal complaint with voting as an alien. Davis allegedly voted in the November 2024 general election in Clarke County, Alabama, despite not being a U.S. citizen.
Northern District of Alabama
Forrest Scott Woody, 68, of Hendersonville, North Carolina, has been charged with illegally voting more than once. According to the indictment, Woody voted twice in the 2024 general election. In particular, he voted in Calhoun County, Alabama, after having already voted in the same election in Henderson County, North Carolina.
Western District of Missouri
Cuban national Andre’s Garcia, 64, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged with two counts of illegally voting in federal elections in November 2022 and November 2024. Garcia knew he was not a U.S. citizen but nevertheless claimed to be one when registering to vote in 2004 and again in 2013. Garcia has allegedly voted regularly for the last 20 years in at least 15 elections, including at least 13 federal elections.
Cuban national Andre’s Garcia, 64, a lawful permanent resident Cuban national Andre’s Garcia, 64, a lawful permanent residentDistrict of Idaho
Canadian national Stanley Walton, 82, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged with unlawfully voting in the 2022 general election. Walton allegedly voted even though he was not a U.S. citizen.
District of New Jersey
Lizabeth Almonte Rosa, 24, a naturalized U.S. citizen from the Dominican Republic, has been charged by criminal complaint with voting by an alien in a federal election and unlawfully procuring citizenship. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, Rosa was not a citizen when she was registered to vote.
Lizabeth Almonte Rosa, 24, a naturalized U.S. citizen from the Dominican Republic Lizabeth Almonte Rosa, 24, a naturalized U.S. citizen from the Dominican RepublicSouthern District of Ohio
British national Cary Ann Patterson, 59, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged with illegally voting in a federal election as an alien. The complaint alleges that Patterson voted in November 2024. According to court documents, in 2005, the Gallia County Board of Elections received a voter registration card for Patterson in which “Yes” was marked in response to the question, “Are you a U.S. citizen?” Based on Gallia County Board of Elections records, Patterson allegedly voted in at least 10 elections as an alien.
Northern District of Ohio
Two aliens have been charged with unlawfully voting in a federal election.
- Pakistani national Arshed Zuberi, 69, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged by criminal complaint with illegally voting in a federal election as an alien. He allegedly registered to vote in September 2015 and August 2016. On voter registration forms, Zuberi’s signature appears next to the declaration “I declare under penalty of election falsification I am a citizen of the United States.” Voting records from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections show that he voted in at least six elections.
- Filipino national Eliza M. Moss, 63, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged by criminal complaint with unlawfully voting in a federal election as an alien. According to voting records, Moss registered to vote in September 2004 and in February 2023. On voter registration forms, her signature appears next to the declaration “I declare under penalty of election falsification I am a citizen of the United States.” Moss allegedly voted in several primary and general elections. According to the criminal complaint, Moss told investigators that the person who helped fill out her registration told her that she could vote despite not being a citizen.
District of Hawaii
Polish national Dawid Nalepa, 45, has been charged by information with unlawfully voting as an alien. Nepela came to the United States in or around 2020 through the Visa Waiver Program, which he overstayed before applying for permanent resident status. Nalepa was not a U.S. citizen when he allegedly cast a vote in the November 2024, general election. Nalepa understood he was not a citizen at the time he cast his ballot.
Western District of Kentucky
Canadian national Sandra Madeline Watson, 59, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged with illegal voting by an alien in a federal election. Watson allegedly voted in an election held for the purpose of electing a candidate for the office of the President, Vice President, member of the Senate, or member of the House of Representatives, knowing she was not a U.S. citizen.
A complaint, indictment, and information merely contain accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
11 October 2026
Homeland Security Task Force Arrests Alvaro Pulido Vargas to Face Charges in Multibillion-Dollar Venezuelan Money Laundering and Bribery SchemesRead the Press Release
Note: A copy of the 2021 indictment can be found here and a copy of the 2019 indictment can be found here.
A Colombian national charged in two separate federal indictments involving the alleged laundering of more than $2 billion in connection with Venezuelan government bribery schemes will make his initial appearance on the afternoon of Tuesday, October 13, in the Southern District of Florida to face federal prosecution.
According to court documents, Alvaro Pulido Vargas, also known as “German Enrique Rubio Salas,” 62, of Colombia, was indicted in 2019 and again in 2021 for his alleged involvement in separate schemes to launder proceeds of bribery and fraud involving Venezuelan government officials of the Nicolás Maduro regime. Prior to these alleged offenses, Pulido Vargas had a prolific history of drug trafficking, including a 1997 conviction in Italy under the alias of German Enrique Rubio Salas.
“Alvaro Pulido Vargas is no longer a fugitive from justice,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Pulido is charged in two separate, significant money laundering schemes, both using the U.S. financial system to hide the profits from his bribery and greed off the backs of the Venezuelan people. The message to anyone who brings their foreign bribery or money laundering schemes inside our borders: the U.S. Justice Department will pursue these schemes and prosecute those who perpetrate them.”
“Alvaro Pulido Vargas was charged years ago with participating in massive money laundering and bribery schemes tied to the Maduro regime,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “The allegations describe a profound betrayal of the Venezuelan people; corrupting government programs intended to provide critical food, medicine, and housing for personal enrichment. Today, because of the persistence and coordination of our federal law enforcement and international partners, Pulido Vargas is in the Southern District of Florida to face those charges. Those accused of exploiting the American financial system should understand that distance, borders, and time will not shield them from the reach of the American legal system. We will continue working with our partners at home and abroad to bring defendants before an American court to answer for the charges against them.”
“Alvaro Pulido Vargas is accused of moving vast amounts of illicit money through a corrupt network that exploited the Venezuelan people and abused the U.S. financial system,” said said Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Terrance Cole. “For years, DEA and our HSTF partners have pursued Pulido Vargas across borders. Today, that pursuit has brought him to the Southern District of Florida. Those who finance criminal networks and believe money, influence, or international borders will shield them from U.S. justice are mistaken. DEA will relentlessly pursue the people and financial networks that fuel corruption, money laundering, and transnational crime threatening the United States and our partners.”
“Today’s arrest demonstrates that HSI and our Homeland Security Task Force partners will relentlessly pursue the illicit financial networks that enable corruption, transnational criminal activity, and the exploitation of vulnerable populations,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Executive Associate Director John A. Condon. “Working with our domestic and international law enforcement partners, HSI will continue to follow the money, disrupt complex money-laundering schemes, and hold accountable those who allegedly use the U.S. financial system to conceal criminal proceeds.”
The 2021 Indictment
In October 2021, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Pulido Vargas and four co-defendants with laundering proceeds from an alleged bribery scheme involving approximately $1.6 billion in Venezuelan government contracts to provide food and medicine.
According to the Indictment, from approximately July 2015 through at least 2020, Pulido Vargas and his co-conspirators secured lucrative government contracts through the Comité Local de Abastecimiento y Producción (CLAP)—a Venezuelan government-controlled program intended to provide food and medicine to the Venezuelan people—by paying bribes to Venezuelan officials.
The defendants allegedly inflated the costs of the contracts to fund the bribes and enrich themselves. They also allegedly laundered proceeds through bank accounts in Antigua, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and elsewhere.
As a result of the scheme, Pulido Vargas and his co-conspirators allegedly received approximately $1.6 billion from the Venezuelan government and transferred approximately $180 million through or to the United States, including bank accounts in the Southern District of Florida.
Pulido Vargas is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and four counts of money laundering, each carrying a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
The 2019 Indictment
In a separate case, Pulido Vargas and Alex Nain Saab Moran — a Maduro regime ally — were indicted in July 2019 for allegedly laundering approximately $350 million in connection with a bribery scheme involving Venezuela’s government-controlled currency exchange system.
According to the Indictment, from approximately November 2011 and through at least September 2015, Pulido Vargas and Saab Moran conspired with others to launder proceeds of an illegal bribery scheme through bank accounts in the United States.
Pulido Vargas and Saab Moran allegedly obtained a contract with the Venezuelan government to construct low-income housing units. They subsequently exploited Venezuela’s government-controlled exchange rate by submitting false and fraudulent import documents for goods and materials that were never imported into Venezuela and bribing Venezuelan government officials to approve those documents.
To conceal the illicit proceeds, Pulido Vargas and Saab Moran allegedly wired money related to the scheme to bank accounts in the Southern District of Florida and transferred approximately $350 million out of Venezuela through the United States and into overseas accounts they owned or controlled.
Pulido Vargas is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and seven counts of money laundering in connection with this scheme.
The DEA Miami Field Division, FBI Miami, and HSI Miami are investigating these cases.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Monique Botero for the Southern District of Florida and Deputy Chief Joseph Palazzo of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section are prosecuting the cases, together with Assistant Chief Katherine Raut of the Criminal Division’s White Collar and Corporate Enforcement Section.
This arrest and prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Miami comprises of agents and officers from the DEA Miami Field Division, FBI Miami, and HSI Miami with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Miami.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Homeland Security Task Force Arrests Alvaro Pulido Vargas to Face Charges in Multibillion-Dollar Venezuelan Money Laundering and Bribery SchemesRead the Press Release
Note: A copy of the 2021 indictment can be found here and a copy of the 2019 indictment can be found here.
MIAMI – A Colombian national charged in two separate federal indictments involving the alleged laundering of more than $2 billion in connection with Venezuelan government bribery schemes will make his initial appearance on Tuesday, Oct. 13, in the Southern District of Florida to face federal prosecution.
According to court documents, Alvaro Pulido Vargas, also known as German Enrique Rubio Salas, 62, of Colombia, was indicted in 2019 and again in 2021 for his alleged involvement in separate schemes to launder proceeds of bribery and fraud involving Venezuelan government officials of the Nicolás Maduro regime. Prior to these alleged offenses, Pulido Vargas had a prolific history of drug trafficking, including a 1997 conviction in Italy under the alias of German Enrique Rubio Salas.
“Alvaro Pulido Vargas is no longer a fugitive from justice,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Pulido is charged in two separate, significant money laundering schemes, both using the U.S. financial system to hide the profits from his bribery and greed off the backs of the Venezuelan people. The message to anyone who brings their foreign bribery or money laundering schemes inside our borders: the U.S. Justice Department will pursue these schemes and prosecute those who perpetrate them.”
“Alvaro Pulido Vargas was charged years ago with participating in massive money laundering and bribery schemes tied to the Maduro regime. The allegations describe a profound betrayal of the Venezuelan people; corrupting government programs intended to provide critical food, medicine, and housing for personal enrichment,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Today, because of the persistence and coordination of our federal law enforcement and international partners, Pulido Vargas is in the Southern District of Florida to face those charges. Those accused of exploiting the American financial system should understand that distance, borders, and time will not shield them from the reach of the American legal system. We will continue working with our partners at home and abroad to bring defendants before an American court to answer for the charges against them.”
“Alvaro Pulido Vargas is accused of moving vast amounts of illicit money through a corrupt network that exploited the Venezuelan people and abused the U.S. financial system,” said Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Terrance Cole. “For years, DEA and our HSTF partners have pursued Pulido Vargas across borders. Today, that pursuit has brought him to the Southern District of Florida. Those who finance criminal networks and believe money, influence, or international borders will shield them from U.S. justice are mistaken. DEA will relentlessly pursue the people and financial networks that fuel corruption, money laundering, and transnational crime threatening the United States and our partners.”
“Today’s arrest demonstrates that HSI and our Homeland Security Task Force partners will relentlessly pursue the illicit financial networks that enable corruption, transnational criminal activity, and the exploitation of vulnerable populations,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Executive Associate Director John A. Condon. “Working with our domestic and international law enforcement partners, HSI will continue to follow the money, disrupt complex money-laundering schemes, and hold accountable those who allegedly use the U.S. financial system to conceal criminal proceeds.”
The 2021 Indictment
In October 2021, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Pulido Vargas and four co-defendants with laundering proceeds from an alleged bribery scheme involving approximately $1.6 billion in Venezuelan government contracts to provide food and medicine.
According to the Indictment, from approximately July 2015 through at least 2020, Pulido Vargas and his co-conspirators secured lucrative government contracts through the Comité Local de Abastecimiento y Producción (CLAP) — a Venezuelan government-controlled program intended to provide food and medicine to the Venezuelan people — by paying bribes to Venezuelan officials.
The defendants allegedly inflated the costs of the contracts to fund the bribes and enrich themselves. They also allegedly laundered proceeds through bank accounts in Antigua, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and elsewhere.
As a result of the scheme, Pulido Vargas and his co-conspirators allegedly received approximately $1.6 billion from the Venezuelan government and transferred approximately $180 million through or to the United States, including bank accounts in the Southern District of Florida.
Pulido Vargas is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and four counts of money laundering, each carrying a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
The 2019 Indictment
In a separate case, Pulido Vargas and Alex Nain Saab Moran — a Maduro regime ally — were indicted in July 2019 for allegedly laundering approximately $350 million in connection with a bribery scheme involving Venezuela’s government-controlled currency exchange system.
According to the Indictment, from approximately November 2011 and through at least September 2015, Pulido Vargas and Saab Moran conspired with others to launder proceeds of an illegal bribery scheme through bank accounts in the United States.
Pulido Vargas and Saab Moran allegedly obtained a contract with the Venezuelan government to construct low-income housing units. They subsequently exploited Venezuela’s government-controlled exchange rate by submitting false and fraudulent import documents for goods and materials that were never imported into Venezuela and bribing Venezuelan government officials to approve those documents.
To conceal the illicit proceeds, Pulido Vargas and Saab Moran allegedly wired money related to the scheme to bank accounts in the Southern District of Florida and transferred approximately $350 million out of Venezuela through the United States and into overseas accounts they owned or controlled.
Pulido Vargas is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and seven counts of money laundering in connection with this scheme.
Prosecution
The DEA Miami Field Division, FBI Miami, and HSI Miami are investigating these cases.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Monique Botero for the Southern District of Florida and Deputy Chief Joseph Palazzo of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section are prosecuting the cases, together with Assistant Chief Katherine Raut of the Criminal Division’s Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Unit.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Miami comprises of agents and officers from the DEA Miami Field Division, FBI Miami, and HSI Miami with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Miami.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case numbers 19-cr-20450 and 21-cr-20509.
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9 October 2026
Worcester Man Indicted on Firearm and Drug Distribution ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Worcester man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly distributing fentanyl and dealing in firearms without a license.
Omar Ramos-Jimenez, 27, was indicted on two counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of dealing in firearms without a license. Ramos-Jimenez was arrested and charged in May 2026. Ramos-Jimenez was released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Worcester on Sept. 21, 2026.
According to the charging documents, between April 8, 2026 and April 16, 2026, Ramos-Jimenez allegedly sold fentanyl and several firearms including a privately manufactured pistol with no serial number, to confidential informants in Worcester.
The charge of dealing in firearms without a license provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of no less than five years in prison and up to life, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. The charge of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 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; Thomas A. Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Worcester Police Chief Paul B. Saucier; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration; Homeland Security Investigations; the Suffolk County Sherrif’s Department; and the Worcester District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the cases.
This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Boston Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal 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.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Wales murder investigation remains active some 25 years after fatal shootingRead the Press Release
Seattle – Just days before the 25th anniversary of the unsolved murder of Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas C. Wales, law enforcement leaders again urge members of the public to come forward if they have information that could help solve the case. Wales was shot and killed the night of October 11, 2001, as he worked on a computer in the basement of his Queen Anne neighborhood home. If Wales was killed because of his work as a federal prosecutor, it remains the only unsolved murder of a federal prosecutor because of his work.
The Department of Justice and the National Association of Former U.S. Attorneys are offering a $2.5 million reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a subject in this case.
“I still remember hearing about this murder twenty-five years ago while I was serving as an Army Judge Advocate at Fort Lewis. This crime had a tremendous impact on the entire U.S. Attorney community and we have not forgotten. The FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office continue to devote resources to this active investigation,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “We are committed to using all tools available including new computer Super Intelligence to bring those responsible to justice. Now is the time to come forward if you have information that could prove useful in solving this case. The $2.5 million reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction is a real offer and should provide an incentive to do the right thing.”
“For 25 years, the FBI has continued to actively pursue those responsible for the murder of AUSA Wales,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “Tom was one of us and a valued member of this community, which makes this a case that is especially important to both Seattle and law enforcement. An attack on a federal prosecutor is an attack on our entire justice system and the American way of life. If you have information about this case, now is the time to speak up. We are still receiving tips and pursuing all leads so that we can finally bring justice for Tom and his family. Don’t let one of those tips bring the FBI to you before you can report what you know on your own terms.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Floyd and Special Agent in Charge Herrington went to the former Wales home today to get a briefing. Those close to the investigation explained where they believe the shooter stood when firing the shots, what was the apparent escape route, and how the site has changed over the intervening 25 years, altering the landscape.
The Seattle Prosecutor Murder (SEPROM) Task Force is now a joint effort by the FBI, the Seattle Police Department, the Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington and the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The task force is also leveraging emerging and evolving technologies in the effort.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the FBI and can do so confidentially by phone at (206) 622-0460 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Tips can also be sent to the FBI at 1110 Third Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98101. The FBI Seeking Information poster, details about the tip lines and more can be found at https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/thomas-crane-wales. With more information about the case available here: https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/wales-investigation-help-us-find-a-killer
U.S. Attorney’s Office Filed 99 Border-Related Cases This WeekRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 99 border-related cases this week, including charges of bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is the fourth-busiest federal district, largely due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district, encompassing San Diego and Imperial counties, shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world’s busiest land border crossing, connecting San Diego (America’s eighth largest city) and Tijuana (Mexico’s second largest city).
In addition to reactive border-related crimes, the Southern District of California also prosecutes a significant number of proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and national security. Recent developments in those and other significant areas of prosecution can be found here.
A sample of border-related arrests this week:
- On October 3, 2026, Efrain Antonio Avalos, a United States citizen, was arrested and charged with Transportation of Illegal Aliens. According to a complaint, Border Patrol Agents attempted to conduct a vehicle stop on a Hyundai suspected of transporting illegal aliens. Defendant failed to yield and instead sped up to about 105 miles per hour. Border Patrol Agents deployed a vehicle immobilization device and the vehicle’s left tires made positive contact with the device. Defendant continued to flee at a high rate of speed, failed to stop at a stop sign and collided into an oncoming vehicle. The Defendant exited the vehicle after the collision Border Patrol Agents observed the material witness crawling away from the Hyundai with carpet coverings on his feet and his head covered in blood. The Hyundai then caught on fire.
- On October 5, 2026, Victor Hugo Gutierrez De La Torre, a Mexican citizen, was arrested and charged with Importation of Controlled Substance. According to a complaint, Customs and Border Protection officers discovered 1,038 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in the fuel tank of the 2020 Volvo VNL 760 tractor the defendant was driving as he applied for entry to the U.S. at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry.
- September 6, 2026, Justin Jimenez, a United States citizen, was arrested and charged with Importation of Controlled Substance. According to a complaint, Customs and Border Protection officers discovered 91 pounds of Xanax concealed in the floorboards of his Volkswagen Jetta GLI the defendant was driving as he applied for entry to the U.S. at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.
The immigration cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the support and assistance of state and local law enforcement partners.
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
- On October 3, 2026, Efrain Antonio Avalos, a United States citizen, was arrested and charged with Transportation of Illegal Aliens. According to a complaint, Border Patrol Agents attempted to conduct a vehicle stop on a Hyundai suspected of transporting illegal aliens. Defendant failed to yield and instead sped up to about 105 miles per hour. Border Patrol Agents deployed a vehicle immobilization device and the vehicle’s left tires made positive contact with the device. Defendant continued to flee at a high rate of speed, failed to stop at a stop sign and collided into an oncoming vehicle. The Defendant exited the vehicle after the collision Border Patrol Agents observed the material witness crawling away from the Hyundai with carpet coverings on his feet and his head covered in blood. The Hyundai then caught on fire.
Two Women Charged with Helping Violent Inmates Escape from DeKalb County JailRead the Press Release
ATLANTA — A federal grand jury indicted Melayna Whatley and Gabriela Ortis for allegedly helping three inmates, including a federal prisoner serving a life sentence, escape from the DeKalb County Jail in December 2025.
“Every jailbreak puts the public at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Thankfully, quick action by numerous law enforcement agencies ensured the lightning-fast capture of the men who escaped from DeKalb County late last year. Now, the women who allegedly helped them bust free must face the consequences for unleashing terror into our community.”
“This was far more than an escape from jail—it put an innocent member of the public directly in harm’s way,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “These defendants allegedly helped violent fugitives evade capture, and their actions contributed to a dangerous chain of events that ended with an innocent woman being kidnapped and held against her will. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to hold accountable anyone who assists violent offenders and puts our communities at risk.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the indictment, and other information presented in court: In June 2025, Stevenson Charles was sentenced in the Southern District of Florida to life in prison for carjacking, kidnapping, bank robbery, and brandishing a firearm. On December 5, 2025, the U.S. Marshals Service transferred him to the DeKalb County Jail in Decatur, Georgia, to face additional state charges. On December 21, 2025, Charles and fellow inmates Yusuf Minor and Noad Yohannes, acting in concert, escaped from the DeKalb County Jail and fled to Florida with the alleged assistance of Melayna Whatley and Gabriela Ortis.
Whatley allegedly served as the outside conduit for the escape by making phone calls and text messages on Minor’s behalf to locate a getaway driver before the escape. On the night of the escape, Whatley allegedly allowed Charles, Minor, and Yohannes to use her Flat Shoals Road residence to temporarily evade capture and to use her cellular telephone to contact additional co-conspirators. Gabriela Ortis allegedly arranged the escapees’ transportation on the night of the escape by hiring them a Lyft rideshare driver.
After the escapees entered the Lyft vehicle, Charles, Minor, and Yohannes allegedly put an item around the driver’s neck, dragged her into the backseat, tied her hands together, threatened her, and drove her vehicle nearly 700 miles to Broward County, Florida with her inside. Law enforcement captured the escapees and rescued the Lyft driver on December 22, 2025.
On February 27, 2026, a federal jury in Fort Lauderdale found Charles guilty of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, kidnapping, Hobbs Act robbery, and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
On March 27, 2026, Minor pled guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnapping, kidnapping, and Hobbs Act robbery. On May 5, 2026, a federal jury in Fort Lauderdale found Yohannes guilty of the same three crimes.
On September 23, 2026, a federal grand jury in Atlanta indicted Melayna Whatley, 30, of DeKalb County, Georgia, and Gabriela Ortis, 22, of Miami, Florida, on charges of conspiracy to aid and assist escape, aiding and assisting an escape, and harboring and concealing an escaped prisoner. Law enforcement arrested Whatley on September 29, 2026, and Ortis appeared in federal court yesterday following her arrest.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with valuable assistance provided by the United States Marshals Service and DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Two Dominican Republic Nationals Extradited to Face Cyberstalking and Sextortion Conspiracy Charges in Puerto RicoRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Dominican authorities extradited Patricia Joanna Almonte-Frías and her partner Rineldys Feliciano Díaz-Cuevas to the United States to face cyberstalking and sextortion conspiracy charges filed in the District of Puerto Rico, announced Héctor Ramírez-Carbó, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The defendants were arrested in the Dominican Republic on August 19, 2026, at the request of the United States, and extradited to Puerto Rico on September 30, 2026.
According to court documents, Patricia Joanna Almonte-Frías and Rineldys Feliciano Díaz-Cuevas operated an international, financially motivated “sextortion” scheme that conspired to engage in, and did engage in, cyberstalking and intestate threats.
The defendants, operating from the Dominican Republic, identified and sextorted victims using Facebook, WhatsApp, and other social media platforms. Almonte-Frías used her image to encourage victims in Puerto Rico to share online sexually explicit photos and videos (which were secretly recorded). Subsequently, defendant Díaz-Cuevas and other co-conspirators then extorted victims to send money under threat of exposing the compromising images to the victims’ family and friends. In some instances, the defendants created photo collages by combining the victim’s sexually explicit images with images of minors, thereby giving the false impression that victims were involved in sexual relationships with minors.
On multiple occasions, the victims paid the demanded amounts, emptied their accounts, and the defendants still carried out the threats and distributed the victims’ sexual images to the victims’ online network of friends and family members.
“These defendants ran a calculated scheme that preyed on trust, fear, and vulnerability, leaving lasting harm in its wake,” said Héctor Ramírez‑Carbó, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “Sextortion is a ruthless crime, and today’s prosecution makes clear that those who exploit victims—no matter where they hide—will be identified, pursued, and held to account.”
“In today’s ever-changing digital environment, criminals will develop creative ways to target victims and exploit them. Extortion is a serious crime that can cause lasting financial and psychological harm to its victims,” said Carlos R. Goris, Special Agent in Charge of FBI San Juan. “The FBI encourages all citizens to remain vigilant online and report to the authorities if you suspect you have been a victim of extortion. Your report will help law enforcement disrupt these networks and prevent others from becoming victims. The FBI demonstrates once again that no matter where you are, we will find you and bring you to justice.”
Almonte-Frías and Díaz-Cuevas are charged with conspiracy to cyberstalk and send interstate threats in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. The defendants made their initial court appearances on October 1, 2026 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marcos E. López of the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI in San Juan, Puerto Rico investigated the case.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, FBI Legal Attaché in Santo Domingo, the U.S. Marshals Service, and law enforcement partners in the Dominican Republic provided substantial assistance in securing the arrest and extradition to the United States of Almonte-Frías and Díaz-Cuevas.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Julián Radzinschi, of the Financial Fraud and Public Corruption Division, is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Total of Four Defendants Plead Guilty in Connection with Widespread Child Exploitation ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Four defendants have now pled guilty in connection with a multi-jurisdictional child exploitation conspiracy that included the trafficking of child pornography produced during the conspiracy. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Buffalo Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Patrone, and New York State Police (NYSP) Superintendent Steven G. James made the announcement.
The defendants involved in the case are:
Devin LaValley, age 38, of Burlington, New York;
Melissa McDougal, age 30, of Pulaski, New York;
Grace Balthazor, age 34, of Elmira, New York; and
Roxanne Clark, age 45, of Bristol, Vermont.
As part of their guilty pleas, the defendants admitted to their respective involvement in a years-long child exploitation conspiracy and the trafficking of child pornography produced during the conspiracy. LaValley admitted that, years ago, he began intimate relationships with both Balthazor and McDougal, both of whom had access to children. LaValley admitted to then conspiring with both women to get close to the children in their care for the purpose of sexually abusing the children and creating photos and videos depicting that abuse. McDougal and Balthazor also admitted to conspiring with LaValley to abuse the children for the purpose of creating child pornography. LaValley also admitted that after he created the child pornography with McDougal and Balthazor’s assistance, he then distributed the child sexual abuse material to Clark, another woman with whom LaValley had an intimate relationship. For her part, Clark admitted to receiving the child pornography LaValley, McDougal, and Balthazor had produced as part of online communications with LaValley in which she and LaValley discussed their mutual interest in sexually abusing children.
At sentencing, LaValley, McDougal, and Balthazor face a mandatory minimum term of 15 years in federal prison and maximum sentence of 30 years for the conspiracy charge. The receipt and distribution charges to which Clark and LaValley have pled guilty carry a mandatory minimum term of five years in federal prison and maximum terms of 20 years. Each charge carries a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarcone stated, “I commend HSI and the New York State Police for the incredible investigative work that led to these four convictions. I also want to acknowledge the urgency with which HSI and State Police identified and arrested the various defendants, several of whom lived in other districts. The result of their diligent work was the identification and protection of multiple children who likely would have continued to be victimized by the defendants had it not been for the dedicated agents and investigators involved. My office remains steadfast in its commitment to work closely with our federal, state, and local partners to do whatever we can to protect our communities from the threat posed by individuals, like the defendants here, who seek to harm the most vulnerable among us.”
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Buffalo Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Patrone said, “Those who exploit children and trade in images of their abuse inflict profound and lasting harm on victims, families, and entire communities. These guilty pleas hold all four defendants accountable for their roles in a calculated, years-long conspiracy that preyed on vulnerable children and perpetuated their victimization through the production and distribution of child sexual abuse material. HSI Syracuse and our law enforcement partners will pursue every available lead to identify predators, disrupt child-exploitation networks and safeguard children in our communities.”
NYSP Superintendent James stated, “Child predators will go through extreme lengths to exploit children and conduct the most reprehensible of acts. As we fight for the victims and all those affected, we hope the justice brought forth provides a sense of peace that these individuals will never commit a crime like this again. I thank our State Police members, the United States Attorney’s Office, and the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations for their consistent, proactive work on this case.”
HSI and NYSP investigated the case with the assistance of the Office of the Vermont Attorney General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle as a part of Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Tijeras Man Indicted for Attempting to Cast Deceased Wife’s Absentee Ballot in 2024 ElectionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A resident of Tijeras, New Mexico, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of fraudulent voting.
According to court documents, in October 2024, Patrick H. Perea, 62, attempted to cast his deceased wife’s absentee ballot in the November 2024 general election by submitting it to the Bureau of Elections of the Bernalillo County Clerk’s Office in Albuquerque. If convicted, Perea faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
“Dead people can’t vote” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison said. “Casting a ballot that belongs to someone else is a deliberate abuse of our election process and a federal crime. Election integrity depends on protecting the process from fraud and ensuring that unlawful votes do not dilute the votes of legitimate voters. If you try to vote for another person, you will be caught and we will prosecute.”
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case. Federal prosecutors commended the Bernalillo County Clerk’s Office Bureau of Elections for its critical role in intercepting the ballot before it could be counted and assisting this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean J. Sullivan and Emil J. Kiehne are prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Tallahassee Man Sentenced to over 20 Years for Distribution of Methamphetamine and CocaineRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Tedrick Childs, 46, of Tallahassee, Florida, has been sentenced to 21 years and six months in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of distribution of cocaine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine. Childs, who was on supervised release for a 2018 federal drug conviction, was also sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for violating the terms of his supervised release. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the sentence.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This repeat offender’s continued criminality after a prior federal conviction clearly demonstrated that the only way we can protect our community is by keeping him locked away behind federal bars. Thanks to the aggressive prosecution by my office, we have ensured his days of running drugs on our streets are over.”
Court records indicate that the defendant was identified by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as a poly-drug trafficker in the Tallahassee area. During an undercover operation, DEA purchased cocaine and methamphetamine from the defendant between November and December 2025. In 2017, Childs was convicted in federal court for distribution of cocaine, and he was serving a term of supervised release as part of his sentence in that case when he sold drugs in 2025.
“Being on supervised release gives people returning to civilian life the opportunity to make better life choices,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar, Tampa Field Division. “Trafficking in cocaine and methamphetamine is not helping the communities and not the correct choice.”
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Syracuse Man Charged with Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Thomas Pennington, age 57, of Syracuse, New York, appeared in federal court October 2, 2026, on charges of receiving child pornography. Pennington was detained pending further proceedings.
First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Anthony Patrone, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement.
The complaint filed against Pennington alleges that on or about October 1, 2026, Pennington received child pornography on multiple electronic devices. Pennington admitted to using the internet to find and download child pornography files.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone said, “When Pennington searched the internet, as alleged, for child pornography and received those files on his devices, he may have thought his victimization of the children depicted would go undetected. But thanks to our partners at HSI, Pennington will face the court and be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for his heinous actions.”
“Thomas Pennington's alleged conduct represents deeply disturbing exploitation that perpetuates the abuse of children and compounds the lasting trauma endured by victims," said HSI Buffalo Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Patrone. "One exploited child is one too many, and every instance demands a determined response. HSI Syracuse remains steadfast in working alongside our law enforcement partners to hold offenders accountable, combat child exploitation, and protect the most vulnerable members of our communities.”
The receipt charge filed against Pennington carries a mandatory minimum term of 5 years in prison and a statutory maximum prison term of 20 years. The charge also carries a fine of up to $250,000 and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. Pennington will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. The charges presented are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case was investigated by HSI. Assistant U.S. Attorney A.J. Vickey is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Slidell Man Guilty of Attempted Transfer of Obscene Material to a MinorRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – NICHOLAS JOHN ENGOLIA II, (“ENGOLIA”), age 32, pleaded guilty on October 8, 2026 before U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier to attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1470, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. Sentencing is set for January 28, 2027.
According to the factual basis, beginning on or about January 28, 2026, and culminating on or about March 3, 2026, ENGOLIA, corresponded online and via text message with an individual he believed to be a fifteen-year-old female, and during that correspondence, ENGOLIA, texted explicit photos of himself, and coordinated to meet at a park in Covington, Louisiana to engage in sexual activity.
ENGOLIA faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten (10) years, up to five (5) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. ENGOLIA may also be required to register as a sex offender.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Mary Anne Flippo of the Public Integrity Unit and Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force is in charge of the prosecution.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Sioux City Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Matthew Kashas, age 43, from Sioux City, Iowa, plead guilty October 8, 2026, in federal court in Sioux City, to distribution of child pornography. Kashas was previously convicted in the Northern District of Iowa for distributing child pornography in 2009 and 2016. He previously served 5-year and 10-year prison sentences, respectively, and was currently on supervised release at the time of the offense.
At the plea hearing, Kashas admitted that from May 1, 2025, and December 1, 2025, soon after his release from federal prison, he received, possessed and distributed child pornography. Kashas would access chat sites looking for moms with young daughters willing to engage in sex acts and encouraged the mothers to drug their children and send him photos. This included people from the Sioux City area. Kashas admitted to the conduct in an interview with Sioux City police and described he would routinely destroy his electronics to avoid detection from his probation officer. Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Kashas’ phone and discovered 434 images and 104 videos of child pornography, including images of child pornography saved at the lockscreen and background of his device. The images and videos involved material that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct, as well as prepubescent children and toddlers.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Kashas remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Kashas faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the Sioux City Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-4069. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Shooting on the Grounds of Watkins Elementary School Yields 32 Years in Prison for D.C. ManRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Antonio Hawley, 23, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today in D.C. Superior Court for the October 2021 shooting death of 26-year-old Aaron Wiggins on the sports field of Watkins Elementary School, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
“A flag football rivalry ended in murder. Antonio Hawley fired 17 shots at Aaron Wiggins and killed him,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “No family should have to endure the pain of losing a loved one to senseless violence. Today’s sentence cannot undo that loss, but it sends a clear message: if you take a life through violence, you will face serious consequences.”
Hawley was found guilty on February 3, 2026, of one count of first-degree murder while armed, one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and one count of carrying a pistol without a license. Hawley was 18 years old at the time of the shooting. The Honorable Judge Danya Dayson ordered him to 32 years of incarceration to be followed by five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 9:45 p.m. on October 6, 2021, Hawley and Wiggins were playing against each other in a flag football scrimmage on the sports field of Watkins Elementary School when the field lights cut off. The two teams decided to finish one last play, and Wiggins caught the winning touchdown, ending the game. Throughout the game, there was continued trash talk between Wiggins and members of Hawley’s team, intensifying after that final play. When members of both flag football teams started to gather their belongings to leave the field, Hawley retrieved a handgun from a teammate’s bag and approached Wiggins, firing at him 17 times and hitting the victim 13 times. Wiggins died at the scene.
Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jin Park and Mark Levy, who prosecuted the case.
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Shelbyville Man Pleads Guilty to Receipt of Child Sexual Abuse Material and Other ChargesRead the Press Release
Frankfort, Ky. – A Shelbyville man, Natividad Aguilera Garcia, 40, pleaded guilty on Friday, October 9, 2026, before Chief U.S. District Judge David L. Bunning to receipt of child sexual abuse material, inducing illegal immigration, making false statements to the United States, and presenting false documentation to the United States.
According to his plea agreement, Garcia, a Honduran citizen and legal permanent resident of the United States, met a minor while visiting family in Honduras. The minor reported that, while in Honduras, Garcia courted her. Upon his return to the United States, Garcia received sexually explicit images of the minor. The minor reported, and electronic evidence shows, that Garcia persuaded the minor to illegally enter the United States. Once in the United States, the minor went to a shelter for unaccompanied alien children, overseen by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (“ORR”), a sub-agency of Health and Human Services. Thereafter, Garcia falsely represented to ORR that he was the minor’s uncle, also presenting a false Honduran birth certificate to establish the familial relationship. ORR relied on these falsehoods and decided to place the minor in Garcia’s care. Garcia picked the minor up from the Louisville airport. Days after picking up the minor, Garcia’s ex-wife reported Garcia’s conduct to the shelter, prompting law enforcement’s investigation. Garcia’s plea agreement does not contain admissions regarding his conduct with the minor after he picked her up from the airport. However, soon after law enforcement contacted Garcia about the minor’s whereabouts, Garcia searched the internet for information about how long after intercourse sexual contact can be detected.
Garcia was indicted in March 2024. The court docket indicated several delays associated with Garcia obtaining new counsel.
“This prosecution demonstrates federal law enforcement’s commitment to protecting children outside of our borders from conduct that originates within our borders; ensuring the integrity of our borders; and deterring those who would lie to the United States government to gain custody of an alien child for nefarious purposes,” said Jason Parman, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky.
“HSI is committed to protecting vulnerable individuals - including unaccompanied alien children - and holding accountable those who use deception, fraud, and exploitation to victimize others,” said HSI Nashville acting Deputy Special Agent in Charge Michael Perez. “Working alongside our federal, state, and local partners, we will continue to investigate these complex cases, support victims, and pursue those who violate the law.”
“Today’s guilty plea underscores the critical importance of protecting vulnerable children from those who seek to exploit them,” said Jason E. Meadows, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “This case demonstrates the strength of our partnerships with Homeland Security Investigations, the Kentucky State Police, and the Shelbyville Police Department. Together, we remain steadfast in our commitment to pursuing those who prey upon minors, holding those who commit such crimes accountable, and safeguarding the integrity of federal programs designed to protect children.”
Jason Parman, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Dennis M. Fetting, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations-Nashville; Jason E. Meadows, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General; Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; and Bruce W. Gentry, Shelbyville Police Department; jointly announced the guilty plea.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General, Shelbyville Police Department, and Kentucky State Police. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary Melton and Aubrey Girouard.
Garcia is scheduled to be sentenced on February 10, 2027. He faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of twenty years in prison, in addition to a $250,000 fine (if applicable). However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Schoharie County Woman Sentenced for $200,000 FraudRead the Press Release
Sarah Blood, 44, of Richmondville, New York, was sentenced on September 29, 2026 by United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci to 5 years’ probation, including 8 months’ home detention, for stealing over $200,000 from the State Agricultural and Rural Leaders, Inc. (SARL) between 2020 and 2023. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
Blood served as the executive director of SARL from August 2019 to October 2023. SARL is a not-for-profit organization managed by state and local legislators for the purpose of promoting cooperation and education among agricultural and rural communities. SARL received funding from the United States Food and Drug Administration. The defendant was responsible for managing SARL’s finances and had access to SARL’s checking account.
Between July 2020 and August 2023, Blood stole $203,941.54 from SARL by transferring money from SARL’s bank account to herself or by using SARL’s debit card on unauthorized transactions. Blood used SARL funds to book a luxury cruise, pay for flights and hotels, and make personal purchases at Amazon and Walmart. Because of Blood’s theft, SARL had to cancel its 2024 annual conference and engage in emergency fundraising.
Blood previously pled guilty to embezzling funds from SARL in April 2026.
First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said: “This case has been under investigation by this Office for three years, and we are glad it has been brought to a successful conclusion. Sarah Blood was in a position of trust at an organization that received federal funds. She abused that trust and will now have to repay the money stolen in full.”
“Sarah Blood was entrusted to run State Agricultural and Rural Leaders, Inc. (SARL),” said Craig Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albany Field Office. “Instead, she used that position to blatantly steal over $200,000 – even going so far as to book vacations on the organization’s debit card. The FBI will not turn a blind eye to this kind of fraud. We will continue to work diligently with our law enforcement partners to ensure those committing fraud are held accountable for their actions.”
In addition to serving a term of home detention and being placed on probation, Blood is required to make restitution to SARL in the amount of $203,941.54.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Paulbeck and Nicholas Walter prosecuted the case.
Santa Clarita Man Charged with Federal Arson Offense Alleging He Set Wildfire that Burned over 1,000 Acres of National Forest LandRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Santa Clarita man was charged today in a federal criminal complaint alleging he intentionally set a wildfire in the Angeles National Forest that burned more than 1,000 acres of federally owned land, the Justice Department announced.
Rodney Ameile Saba, 70, of Santa Clarita, was charged with arson involving federal property. He is expected to make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
According to the complaint, on October 3, 2026, at approximately 2:13 p.m., Saba allegedly ignited what became known as the “Bouquet Fire” behind his residence on Bouquet Canyon Road. Moments before the fire started, Saba allegedly warned a neighbor to expect a loud sound like a shotgun blast. Witnesses then heard a powerful explosion followed by Saba yelling for help and a fire rapidly spreading up the hillside.
The complaint alleges that Saba admitted to law enforcement that he threw a cigarette from his porch onto fireworks, causing them to explode and start the fire. Investigators later recovered a lighter, cigarettes, shotgun ammunition, and an aerial mortar firework from Saba’s cabin.
Fire investigators with the U.S. Forest Service determined that the Bouquet Fire, which ultimately burned approximately 1,048 acres of federal land, was “probably caused by fireworks” after excluding lightning, campfires, debris burning, and other potential causes.
The complaint further alleges that Saba has multiple prior felony convictions, including mayhem, vandalism, possession of a controlled substance, criminal threats, manufacture or possession of a dangerous weapon, and possession of a stolen vehicle.
Saba was arrested on October 3, 2026, by local law enforcement on related state charges. Today’s federal complaint formally charges him in federal court.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted, Saba would face a statutory maximum sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison.
The United States Forest Service is investigating this matter, with assistance from Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department – Arson Explosives Detail.
Assistant United States Attorneys Alexandra Sloan Kelly of the Environmental Crimes and Consumer Protection Section and Brenda N. Galván of the Transnational Organized Crime Section are prosecuting the case.
Rock Island Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – Rock Island men were sentenced to federal prison for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and felon in possession of a firearm.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, on June 12, 2025, all three men drove together to sell marijuana to a confidential source.
Daquez Deasante Howard, 22, remained in the car and possessed money from the drug sale, a loaded, Taurus pistol with an extended magazine, and 20.83 grams of marijuana on his seat. On July 8, 2026, Howard was sentenced to a 68-month prison term, followed by a five-year term of supervised release.
Darryl Lee Smith, Jr., 23, was apprehended by police after he ran from the car and possessed a loaded revolver with the hammer cocked back. On May 13, 2026, Smith was sentenced to a 57-month prison term, followed by a three-year term of supervised release
Darryl Benard Shears, III,24, ran on foot, escaping the police. Inside the car, police found a loaded pistol, 35.10 grams of cocaine, 14.31grams of crack cocaine, and two functioning scales where Shears had been seated in the car before and after the drug deal. On June 29, 2025, Shears was arrested. Shears again attempted to flee from police on the Arsenal Bridge, crashing into multiple police cars, and jumping into the Mississippi river. Shears also possessed a loaded pistol with a round in the chamber. On October 8, 2026, Shears was sentenced to a 204-month prison term, followed by a six-year term of supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Davenport Police Department investigated the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Previously Removed Illegal Alien Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking and Ammunition OffenseRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA – A previously removed illegal alien was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, unlawfully possessing ammunition as a felon, and illegally reentering the United States after prior deportations.
The case was investigated as part of Operation Guardian Angel, an initiative targeting violent offenders, narcotics trafficking, and previously removed criminal aliens operating in local communities.
Juan Jose Guerra‑Renteria, 46, a Mexican national who had been deported in 2006 and again in 2020, was sentenced on October 8, 2026, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, being a felon in possession of ammunition, and illegal reentry.
United States District Judge Monica Ramirez Almadani sentenced him to 120 months’ imprisonment on the drug trafficking and firearms counts and 29 months on the illegal reentry count, to be served concurrently.
“Thanks to Operation Guardian Angel, criminal illegal aliens like Guerra‑Renteria are being identified and removed from our communities,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “This sentence reflects the seriousness of defendant’s conduct and his repeated disregard for federal law. My office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to safeguard our communities and ensure that dangerous criminal illegal aliens are held accountable with federal prison time.”
According to the plea agreement, on October 14, 2025, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on Guerra‑Renteria in Orange County, during which officers located over 211.9 grams of methamphetamine and 56 rounds of .45‑caliber ammunition.
At the time he possessed the ammunition, Guerra‑Renteria had multiple prior felony convictions, making it illegal for him to possess ammunition under federal law. Following his 2020 removal, he knowingly and voluntarily reentered the United States without authorization from the Attorney General or the Department of Homeland Security.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Orange Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Y. Fu of the Orange County Office prosecuted the case.
Polish National Charged with Unlawfully Voting as an AlienRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Polish national Dawid Nalepa, 45, was charged yesterday by Information with unlawfully voting as an alien.
Nalepa came to the United States in or around 2020 through the Visa Waiver Program, which he overstayed before applying for permanent resident status. According to court records, Nalepa was not a United States citizen when he cast a vote in the November 2024 general election. Nalepa understood he was not a citizen at the time he cast his ballot.
If convicted, Nalepa faces up to one year in prison, a fine of up to $100,000, and a term of supervised release.
The charge in the Information is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Arisa Herman is prosecuting the case.
Oneida County Man Sentenced for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
James Winston III, age 28, of Utica, New York, was sentenced yesterday to 60 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography announced First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
As part of his guilty plea in the case, Winston previously admitted that in March of 2025, several files of child pornography were uploaded to a cloud storage account under his control. Thereafter, on December 10, 2025, Winston was found in possession of two cell phones on which he possessed additional child pornography files including some that depicted the sexual abuse of children as young as three years old.
First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “Any person disturbed enough to seek out and accumulate images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children deserves years of incarceration. This defendant’s conduct has landed him right where he belongs, in a prison cell.”
“Mr. Winston was in possession of multiple devices containing Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM )–some depicting infant victims,” said Craig Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albany Field Office. “Those depraved actions have just sent him to federal prison for five years. Possessing CSAM perpetuates the abuse of the victims, and the FBI will continue to dedicate every resource needed to investigate and hold these predators accountable for harming our children.”
In addition to the term of imprisonment imposed, U.S. District Judge, Anthony J. Brindisi, also imposed a 10-year term of supervision which will begin after Winston is released from prison at which time Winston will also be required to register as a sex offender.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Albany Division Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and the New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
North Hollywood Man Sentenced to over 5 Years in Federal Prison for COVID-19 FraudRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A North Hollywood man was sentenced today to 70 months in federal prison for his role in a series of fraud schemes that caused nearly $5 million in losses to federal COVID 19 relief and small business lending programs.
Sarkis Sarkisyan, a.k.a. “Samuel Shaw,” 38, of North Hollywood, was sentenced by United States District Judge Cynthia Valenzuela.
Sarkisyan pleaded guilty on April 29 to two counts of wire fraud and one count of transactional money laundering arising from his fraudulent application for a $786,457 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan and a subsequent $25,000 laundering transaction. In addition, the government’s investigation revealed that he also orchestrated additional fraud involving Small Business Administration (SBA) Preferred Lender Program loans totaling more than $4 million, as well as attempted to obtain two Economic Injury Disaster Loans of $500,000 each.
According to court records, Sarkisyan fabricated businesses, payrolls, IRS tax forms, and financial records to obtain federally backed loans intended to support legitimate small businesses during the COVID 19 pandemic. He and his co schemers then transferred the proceeds through shell companies and associates to conceal the origin of the illicit funds.
In total, Sarkisyan and his co-schemers received $4,866,457 in fraudulently obtained loan proceeds, most of which ultimately benefited him personally.
Sarkisyan “participated in a massive scheme to defraud multiple banks and, ultimately, taxpayers, out of almost $5 million in funds from lending programs designed to benefit small businesses and those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic,” prosecutors argued in their sentencing memorandum. His scheme “involved fabricating out of whole cloth businesses to make them appear legitimate entities whose funds taxpayers would expect to be an engine for the greater economy or in need of dire assistance during the pandemic,” and by doing so, defendant “exploited the goodwill of lenders and taxpayers.”
A deferred restitution hearing is set for December 4.
SBA-OIG, IRS Criminal Investigation, and HSI are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew M. Roach and David C. Lachman of the Major Frauds Section are prosecuting this case.
New York cocaine trafficker sentenced to six years in prisonRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A New York man was sentenced yesterday to six years in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
According to court documents, on March 28 law enforcement in Accomack County conducted a traffic stop on John Valentin, 49, of the Bronx, for failing to maintain his lane. During the stop, a K-9 officer alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. Investigators searched the vehicle and located a hidden compartment underneath the back seat. From that compartment, investigators recovered packages containing a total of 4.5 kilograms of cocaine.
Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Kai Wah Chan, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric M. Hurt prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:26-cr-30.
New Orleans Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison After Shooting at Victim with a MachinegunRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –RALPH PRICE (“PRICE”), age 29, was sentenced on October 8, 2026 by U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier to 15 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release, along with a $300 mandatory special assessment fee, after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, Suboxone, and marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), 841(b)(1)(D), and 841(b)(1)(E); possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i); and possession of a machinegun, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(o) and 924(a)(2), announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, since at least 2024, PRICE was selling drugs in the New Orleans area. On March 13, 2025, law enforcement officers executed search warrants on PRICE’s vehicle and an apartment where PRICE was staying. Officers found Suboxone strips inside PRICE’s vehicle and marijuana and methamphetamine inside the apartment. Near the drugs in the apartment, officers also recovered a Glock Model 19, nine-millimeter caliber pistol equipped with a loaded extended magazine and a machinegun conversion device. The machinegun conversion device transformed PRICE’s semi-automatic handgun into a fully-automatic machinegun.
Casings from PRICE’s machinegun were a ballistic match to casings recovered from a shooting at a gas station on Crowder Boulevard one week earlier. Surveillance footage of the shooting shows PRICE walk towards a man standing near a vehicle, confront the man, and then fire at him several times while retreating across the parking lot.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
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Minnesota Man Sentenced to More Than 8 Years for Travelling to Engage in Sex with a MinorRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Creighton Mithaugen, 38, Faribault, Minnesota, was sentenced this week by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 97 months in federal prison for traveling from Minnesota to Wisconsin to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor. The prison term will be followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Mithaugen pleaded guilty to this charge on July 13, 2026.
From April 2024 through February 2026, Mithaugen chatted with what he believed to be a 14 or 15-year-old girl, when in reality he was chatting with an undercover law enforcement agent. On February 13, 2026, Mithaugen was arrested after he drove from his residence in Minnesota to a prearranged meeting spot in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, to meet the purposed minor to engage in sexual activity.
At the sentencing hearing, Judge Conley considered Mithaugen’s history, which included a conviction for sex with a fifteen-year-old girl in 2007 and credible allegations he touched a ten-year-old girl in 2022, and concluded that Mithaugen was a repeat and dangerous sex offender. Judge Conley found that a lengthy sentence was necessary to protect some of the most vulnerable members of society from Mithaugen’s predatory behavior.
The charge against Mithaugen was the result of an investigation conducted by the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, the Rhinelander Police Department, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger prosecuted this case.
This investigation was a part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Mexican National Arrested for Harboring Illegal AliensRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Hector Ambrosio Ruiz, 30, of Mexico, was arrested yesterday and charged by criminal complaint for Harboring Illegal Aliens.
On Oct. 7, 2026, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a federal search warrant at a Phoenix residence suspected of being a stash house for illegal aliens. Upon entering the residence, investigators found twelve individuals hiding in a closet. Ruiz was found among the twelve and was the only one wearing shoes. Law enforcement confirmed that all twelve individuals are citizens of foreign countries without legal authority to reside in the United States.
While searching the residence, investigators found multiple pairs of shoes in the backyard and kitchen and a box in the garage containing 12 cellphones. Investigators also observed that the deadbolt locks on the exterior doors of the residence had been replaced with double-cylinder deadbolt locks requiring a key to unlock the doors from both the interior and exterior of the residence. The kitchen and living room of the residence contained no furniture. Ruiz had his own bedroom and the other 11 illegal aliens slept in one room.
Four of the illegal aliens, Hugo Ipolito Ramirez-Vasquez, Eulogio Perez-Sanchez, Santos Antonio Giron-Castro and Obias Alexander Perez-Perez, were also arrested and separately charged with Re-entry of a Removed Alien. Ramirez-Vasquez, Giron-Castro and Perez-Perez were previously removed from the United States in April 2026, and Perez-Sanchez was previously removed in November 2025.
A conviction for harboring illegal aliens carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 and a maximum term of three years of supervised release.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Homeland Security Investigations is conducting the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
CASE NUMBER: 26-MJ-8436, 26-MJ-8429, 26-MJ-8428MJ, 26-MJ-8427, 26-MJ-8433MJ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-172_Ruiz# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest newsMethamphetamine trafficker who led law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit sentenced to 230 months in federal prisonRead the Press Release
LUBBOCK, Texas — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a New Mexico man who was caught with over 300 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded Glock pistol after leading multiple West Texas law enforcement agencies on a lengthy high-speed chase was sentenced to just over 19 years in federal prison on Oct. 8.
Erik Louis Almaguer, 32, was indicted in February and pleaded guilty in May to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix imposed a 170‑month sentence for the drug offense, followed by a consecutive 60‑month sentence for the firearm offense, for a total of 230 months.
“This defendant put countless motorists and officers at risk in an effort to avoid accountability,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “This sentence reflects both the seriousness of his conduct and the strength of the partnerships that make West Texas safer. Because of the swift coordination among our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, a dangerous trafficker was stopped, and significant quantities of methamphetamine and a loaded firearm were removed from our communities.”
“Drug traffickers who put innocent lives at risk by fleeing from law enforcement demonstrate a reckless disregard for the safety of our communities,” said DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge Joseph B. Tucker. “This defendant chose to endanger the public rather than face the consequences of his criminal activity. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, he will now be held accountable for his actions.”
According to court documents, on Oct. 9, 2025, narcotics agents in Lubbock were surveilling Erik Almaguer under suspicion that he was engaged in drug trafficking. A Lubbock Police Department patrol unit attempted to stop his vehicle after he committed a traffic violation, but Almaguer immediately accelerated his vehicle and led officers on a high-speed chase. Almaguer left the Lubbock city limits, traveling towards Brownfield. Multiple law enforcement agencies were called in to assist in stopping Almaguer. The defendant evaded law enforcement all the way from Lubbock to Brownfield, at times traveling over 100 miles per hour.
When Almaguer reached Brownfield, officers successfully flattened two of Almaguer’s tires using spike strips. However, he continued to evade, forcing officers to use their patrol units to disable his vehicle. Almaguer exited his vehicle and attempted to flee on foot but was quickly captured.
Officers located a torn plastic baggie containing suspected methamphetamine near where Almaguer was taken into custody. Officers searched his vehicle and located over 300 grams of suspected methamphetamine and more than 12 grams of suspected fentanyl powder. A loaded Glock 17 pistol with an extended magazine was found between the driver’s seat and center console. Officers also located a baggie of suspected fentanyl pills in Almaguer’s sock.
In plea papers, Almaguer admitted to possessing over 300 grams of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it to others. He also admitted to possessing a loaded Glock pistol in relation to his drug trafficking.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Lubbock Police Department, Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, Hockley County Sheriff’s Office, Terry County Sheriff’s Office, and Brownfield Police Department conducted the investigation. Federal, state, and local law enforcement partners collaborated on this investigation under the Caprock Texas High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) initiative. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Long from the Lubbock Division prosecuted the case.
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Menands Man Sentenced to Nine Years’ Imprisonment for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
Jonathan MacDonald, 33, of Menands, New York, was sentenced on October 2, 2026 by United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci to 9 years’ imprisonment, followed by 15 years’ supervised release, for child pornography offenses. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
MacDonald was charged by indictment in December 2025 with sexually exploiting children, receiving child pornography, and possessing child pornography. In May 2026, MacDonald pled guilty to the counts of receipt and possession of child pornography. MacDonald also admitted that in February 2025 he had filmed himself masturbating on a video call with two minor girls who appeared to be from Thailand, and with whom he had connected using the random video-calling app Omegle.
MacDonald was arrested after he dropped a flash drive of child pornography in the bathroom at his work and law enforcement identified him as the owner.
First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said: “MacDonald’s abuse of a random video-chatting app was dangerous. My office will seek to protect child victims everywhere, even on the other side of the world. MacDonald had previously been investigated for potential child pornography offenses, and we are glad that he has now been successfully prosecuted.”
“The fact that Mr. MacDonald brought a flash drive containing child pornography to his workplace illustrates how deeply disturbed his behavior was,” said Craig Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albany Field Office. “This sentence will keep him locked up for almost a decade without access to any other children he can harm through his depraved online activity. The FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force is steadfast in our mission to aggressively investigate dangerous predators who are seeking to exploit our children and ensure they are sent to prison for their appalling actions.”
In addition to serving a term of prison and supervised release, MacDonald is required to pay a total of $27,000 in restitution to the nine identified victims of his offense.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Walter prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Medical Supply Company Owner Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for $30M Medicare, TRICARE, and CHAMPVA FraudRead the Press Release
An Oklahoma business owner and chiropractor was sentenced yesterday to 14 years in prison for his role in a years-long scheme that attempted to bilk Medicare, TRICARE, and the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) out of over $30 million for orthotics braces, continuous glucose monitors, and other durable medical equipment (DME) that beneficiaries did not want or need.
“Yesterday's 14-year sentence shows that health care fraud does not pay,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Department of Justice's National Fraud Enforcement Division. “The Department is committed to bringing to justice those who corrupt our health care system by paying illegal kickbacks, submitting false claims, deceiving programs that serve our seniors, service members, and veterans, and treating sensitive patient information like a commodity to be bought and sold.”
“Fraud against federal health care programs is a direct attack on the public’s trust and on the vulnerable individuals these programs are meant to protect, and the jury’s verdict and sentencing of Mark Loftis demonstrate that schemes of this kind will be met with decisive action and significant consequences,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. “HHS-OIG will not hesitate to investigate and dismantle criminal conduct wherever it threatens the integrity of federal programs, and this case reflects the unwavering commitment of our agency and our law-enforcement partners to safeguard taxpayer dollars and ensure that those who defraud the government are held fully accountable.”
“Healthcare fraud drains millions of dollars from federally funded programs, and we all pay the price,” said Special Agent in Charge Rodney Crawford of the FBI Tampa Field Office. “Today’s sentence underscores the FBI’s steadfast commitment to aggressively pursuing those who engage in kickback schemes and other fraudulent practices.”
“As the law enforcement arm of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) is committed to safeguarding the integrity of the TRICARE program,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Nakia M. Alexander of the DCIS Southeast Field Office. “This investigation is an example of a healthcare fraud scheme that directly affected American service members and their families. I applaud the collaborative work of the investigative agencies and the Department of Justice that led to today’s sentencing.”
“Fraud schemes targeting VA programs and services compromise their integrity and divert funds from veterans who rely on these benefits,” said Inspector General Cheryl L. Mason, Department of Veterans Affairs. “The VA OIG works every day with our law enforcement partners to identify fraudsters and hold them accountable.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Dr. Mark Loftis, 39, of Cushing, Oklahoma, and his co-conspirators did not disclose to Medicare the ownership and management of the DME company Back Pain Home Supplies LLC dba EZ Medical Supply. Loftis and his co-conspirators hid from Medicare that unenrolled entities were billing claims through the DME company. Lofits paid over a million dollars in illegal kickbacks, including through a shell marketing company, to marketers, purported telemedicine companies, and a call center that persuaded elderly and disabled Americans to disclose their personal information and receive DME they did not need. Loftis and his co-conspirators also purchased sham doctors’ orders for orthotic braces, continuous glucose monitors, and DME that were generated by telemedicine doctors and nurse practitioners who never examined, and often never spoke to, the beneficiaries. Loftis and his co-conspirators submitted over $30 million in false and fraudulent claims and were paid over $8 million. Loftis and his co-conspirators frequently billed for multiple orthotic braces at a time, including in one example eight braces for a single beneficiary.
After a 12-day jury trial ending in July 2026, Loftis was convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. In addition to the prison sentence, Loftis was ordered to pay over $8 million in restitution and to forfeit over $560,000.
HHS-OIG, FBI, DCIS, and VA-OIG investigated the case.
Assistant Deputy Chief Catherine Wagner and Trial Attorney Raymond Beckering III of the National Fraud Enforcement Division’s Health Care Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
McAlester Resident Pleads Guilty to Multiple Counts of Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Darrell Dee Faver, Jr., age 41, of McAlester, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of two counts of Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country, punishable by a term of imprisonment up to life on each count.
The Information alleged that beginning in or about September 2017, and continuing until in or about October 2019, Faver knowingly engaged in and caused sexual contact with two victims who had not attained the age of 12 years, with an intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade, and gratify the sexual desire of any person.
The crimes occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Faver will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicole Paladino and Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.
Maryland Man Facing Federal Indictment for Role in COVID-19 Healthcare Fraud Scheme Totaling More Than $100MRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal grand jury indicted a Maryland man, today, in connection with a COVID-19 healthcare fraud scam.
Marc Aaron Potash, 57, of Rockville, is charged with conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and seven counts of healthcare fraud. The charges stem from Potash submitting false and fraudulent claims to Medicare, Medicaid, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), and other insurers for at-home, self-administered COVID-19 tests. Potash is also charged with five counts of conducting transactions in criminally derived proceeds. This prosecution is part of the Trump Administration’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Darren B. Cox, FBI Washington Field Office; Inspector General T. March Bell, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); and Michael R. Esser, Deputy Inspector General Performing the Duties of the Inspector General, Office of Personnel Management, Office of the Inspector General (OPM-OIG).
According to the indictment, between January 2022 and May 2026, Potash allegedly conspired with others to personally enrich himself and maximize the financial success of Tiero, LLC, a company located in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Through the conspiracy, Potash, Tiero’s founder and chief executive officer, and his co-conspirators schemed to obtain money through false and fraudulent representations to insurers.
The indictment further alleges that as part of the healthcare fraud scheme, Potash and his co-conspirators sent false emails, letters, and paperwork to the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) to obtain a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certification for Tiero. As part of the conspiracy, Potash and his co-conspirators submitted documents that falsely portrayed Tiero’s medical providers performing on-site COVID-19 testing at the company’s purported lab. The co-conspirators then used Tiero’s CLIA license to submit fraudulent claims to insurers that listed false dates of service, a fake place of service, and a phony rendering provider for COVID-19 tests that would have been administered or analyzed by a provider at Tiero.
However, in reality, Potash and his co-conspirators merely shipped over-the-counter, self-administered COVID-19 tests to insured individuals across the country. In total, Potash and his co-conspirators caused the submission of more than $100 million in false and fraudulent healthcare claims, resulting in more than $50 million in insurance payments to Tiero.
The indictment also alleges that Potash engaged in multiple monetary transactions in criminally derived property. This included Potash purchasing a Range Rover, Mercedes-Benz, and $4 million real property in Beallsville, Maryland, along with two security transfers totaling more than $4 million and $8 million, respectively.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.
If convicted, Potash faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, each count of healthcare fraud, and each count of conducting transactions in criminally derived proceeds.
Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended the FBI, HHS-OIG, and OPM-OIG for their work in the investigation. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan S. McKoy and Joshua Rosenthal, who are prosecuting this federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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Man Sentenced for Role in Smuggling Organization that Kidnapped Migrants and Extorted Their Families; One Dead, Another Missing After Families Paid Ransoms in VainRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Isaac Jimenez, a U.S. citizen residing in Tijuana, was sentenced in federal court today to 12 years in prison for his role in a human smuggling conspiracy whose members kidnapped migrants and extorted their families for ransom.
Two victims in unrelated kidnappings—a father of four U.S. citizen children and a 21-year-old woman from Tijuana—were never heard from again. The woman was found dead in Tijuana; the man is believed to have been killed in Mexico by Jimenez’s coconspirators.
Jimenez crossing the border to pick up ransom money from victim's wife
U.S. District Judge Janis L. Sammartino also ordered Jimenez to pay $24,500 in restitution to family members of the victims for funeral and related expenses and for a portion of the ransom payments made during the conspiracy.
Judge Sammartino imposed the sentence after the government detailed Jimenez’s extensive history of alien smuggling and his knowing participation in the Tijuana-based organization that used kidnapping, threats and violence against migrants who had paid to be smuggled into the United States.
“There’s a fantasy of human smugglers as being on the side of the vulnerable. Then there’s the truth: They are liars, blackmailers and killers. You want proof, keep reading,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon.
“Today’s sentencing holds the defendant accountable for knowingly supporting a human smuggling organization that exploited vulnerable people through kidnapping, extortion, threats, and violence,” said Kevin Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of HSI San Diego. “Human smuggling networks profit from human suffering and show a callous disregard for the lives they endanger. HSI will continue working with our law enforcement partners on both sides of the border to identify, investigate, and dismantle those responsible for these crimes.”
At today’s hearing, Judge Sammartino described the case events as “the most deliberate and unnecessary loss of life I’ve seen in a very long time.” Addressing Mr. Jimenez, she said, “You preyed upon the most vulnerable people.”
Jimenez, who previously lived in Escondido before moving to Tijuana, had been involved in alien smuggling for years before joining the organization in 2024. He was convicted of alien-smuggling offenses in 2015 and 2017 and was arrested again in 2022 in connection with another smuggling investigation. In early 2024, after being released from custody in Mexico, Jimenez began working for members of a Tijuana-based organization, transporting migrants from the border area to locations in the United States for payment.
As Jimenez became more involved, he learned that the organization was holding migrants against their will and demanding additional payments from them and their families as a condition of their release. He also received photographs and videos depicting kidnappings and murders involving members of the organization. Despite this knowledge, Jimenez continued to participate in the conspiracy.
In September 2024, the organization agreed to smuggle C.G.C., a father of four U.S. citizen children who had previously resided in Southern California, into the United States from Mexico. Instead of being smuggled into the United States, C.G.C. was held captive in Mexico while his kidnappers demanded $30,000 from his family and threatened to kill him.
At the direction of his coconspirators, Jimenez collected $15,000 in ransom payments from C.G.C.’s wife, transported the money to Tijuana and delivered it to the kidnappers. Additional ransom demands followed, including demands for money and vehicles. When the family could no longer pay, the kidnappers threatened to provide the location of C.G.C.’s body. Communications eventually ceased. C.G.C. remains missing and, according to court documents, is presumed to have been killed in Mexico by Jimenez’s coconspirators.
Three months later, Jimenez agreed to coordinate the smuggling of V.A.E., a 21-year-old Mexican woman, for $7,000. Jimenez was to earn a $1,000 commission. Instead, his coconspirators took V.A.E. to a safe house and held her captive, demanding $30,000 from her family for her release. The kidnappers sent videos showing V.A.E. being threatened with firearms and beaten; they threatened to kill her if the ransom was not paid.
V.A.E.’s family eventually paid approximately $10,000, but she was never released. Her skeletal remains were discovered in the Tijuana area in November 2025 and were identified through DNA testing. According to court documents, V.A.E. was likely killed in Mexico by Jimenez’s coconspirators.
At today’s hearing, Judge Sammartino described the case events as “the most deliberate and unnecessary loss of life I’ve seen in a very long time.” Addressing Mr. Jimenez, she said, “You preyed upon the most vulnerable people.”
Even after the two victims disappeared, Jimenez continued working with the organization and coordinating smuggling operations. Investigators recovered messages from his phone reflecting his continued involvement and awareness of the organization’s use of threats and violence. In one exchange, Jimenez discussed an unidentified woman who was not cooperating and suggested taking her to an office. Other communications among members of the organization referred to making people disappear and torture. Investigators also recovered a video showing a man with his wrists bound as though he had been detained or kidnapped.
As part of his guilty plea, Jimenez admitted coordinating alien-smuggling events and collecting ransom payments from family members of migrants who were instead held captive by his coconspirators.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Escondido Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Miller and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alex Biggs and Samson Schatz prosecuted the case.
DEFENDANT Case Number 25cr2648-JLS
Isaac Jimenez Age: 30 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Bring in Certain Aliens – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371, and Title 8, U.S.C., Section 1324(a)(2)(B)(ii)
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and $250,000 fine
Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gain – Title 8, U.S.C., Section 1324(a)(2)(B)(ii)
Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison (and a mandatory minimum three years) and $250,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
Homeland Security Investigations
This investigation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF San Diego comprises agents and officers from FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals, Department of Defense, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Interpol, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California.
Man Indicted in Federal Court for Allegedly Aiming Laser Pointer at Chicago Police HelicopterRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A man has been indicted in federal court for allegedly aiming a laser pointer at a Chicago Police Department helicopter.
IGNACIN RAMOS, 36, of Chicago, knowingly aimed the beam of a laser pointer at the CPD helicopter on Aug. 11, 2026, according to an indictment returned Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The indictment charges Ramos with one count of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States.
Ramos pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on Thursday in federal court in Chicago. A status hearing was scheduled for Dec. 3, 2026, at 9:30 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Mary M. Rowland.
The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the Chicago Police Department and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Davis Price Shugrue.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The charge in the indictment is punishable by up to five years in federal prison. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
ramos_indictment.pdfLouisville Man Sentenced for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT Ky. – A Louisville, Ky., man, Edward Long, 22, was sentenced on Friday to 84 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning for possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
On November 11, 2024, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in which Long was a passenger. During a search of the vehicle, officers located a piece of luggage that contained approximately 3 kilograms of fentanyl. Long admitted obtaining the fentanyl from a residence in Lexington, Ky., earlier that evening and that he intended to distribute the fentanyl to others.
Jason Parman, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Chief Bruce Gentry, Shelbyville Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Shelbyville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda Morgan and James Chapman prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Louisville Man Charged with Escape from Federal Custody and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited PersonRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, returned an indictment on October 7, 2026, charging a Louisville man with escape from federal custody and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
According to the indictment, Damion Lamont Hayes, 26, of Louisville, Kentucky, was charged with escaping from federal custody on or about April 22, 2026, in Jefferson County, Kentucky. At the time of the alleged escape, Hayes was serving a 91-month federal prison sentence imposed following a judgment and conviction in the Western District of Kentucky, Case No. 3:20-CR-00054, for aiding and abetting carjacking. Hayes was confined at the Dismas Charity Center Residential Reentry Center under the authority of the Federal Bureau of Prisons when he allegedly escaped from custody.
Additionally, Hayes was charged with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Hayes was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.
On February 4, 2021, in United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Case No. 3:20-CR-00054, Hayes was convicted of the offense of carjacking – aiding and abetting.
On February 5, 2021, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Case No. 18-CR-3427-02, Hayes was convicted of the offenses of facilitation to murder and facilitation to robbery in the first degree.
On February 5, 2021, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Case No. 20-CR-1273, Hayes was convicted of the offense of possession of a handgun by a convicted felon.
If convicted as charged in the indictment, Hayes faces a combined mandatory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is being investigated by the United States Marshals Service and Louisville Metro Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kayla M. Campbell is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Long Island Tax Preparer Convicted of Defrauding the Internal Revenue ServiceRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Frantzson Saintilien was convicted on all 18 counts of an indictment charging him with preparing false tax returns containing fictious fuel expenses, fictitious business expenses and losses, and fraudulent tax credits which reduced his clients’ tax liability. The verdict was returned after a one-week trial before United States District Judge Brian M. Cogan. When sentenced, Saintilien faces up to 54 years in prison and financial penalties.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, New York Field Office (IRS-CI New York), announced the verdict.
“The defendant is a serial fraudster who was masquerading as a tax preparer, but instead of performing an important service, he victimized clients who trusted him and willfully stole government funds from the IRS,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “With today’s verdict, Saintilien has been held accountable for his conduct and will face the consequences.”
“Today’s verdict reaffirms IRS-CI’s commitment to protecting the U.S. Treasury and holding dishonest tax return preparers accountable for their conduct. The message is unmistakable: those who undermine the integrity of the tax system by facilitating the filing of false tax returns with egregiously fraudulent credits will be held responsible for their actions,” stated IRS-CI New York Special Agent in Charge Chavis.
The charges in the indictment arise from Saintilien’s role as a tax preparer at his multi-service business located at One Elmont Road in Elmont, New York. As proved at trial, in and between 2019 and 2023, for the tax years 2018 through 2022, Saintilien prepared false and fraudulent Forms 1040 and associated schedules and forms for clients that contained a variety of false claims, including that his clients (a) paid federal taxes on nontaxable uses of fuel on Forms 4136; (b) had incurred losses from the sale of assets on Forms 4797; and (c) incurred business expenses on Schedule C. As a result of these false and fraudulent claims, the IRS issued larger refunds to Saintilien’s clients than they were in fact owed. In many cases, Santilien diverted funds from those improper refunds to himself without his clients’ knowledge.
Based on the fraudulent returns charged in the Indictment alone, the defendant’s conduct resulted in a loss of more than $100,000 to the IRS. In total, the government estimates that the defendant’s scheme cost the government well in excess of one million dollars.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Rebecca Ann Sussman, Amanda Muros-Bishoff, and Joshua B. Dugan are in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Tareva Torres.
The Defendant:
FRANTZON SAINTILIEN
Age: 65
Elmont, Long IslandE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-391 (BMC)
Local man sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for threatening the President and federal law enforcement officersRead the Press Release
FORT WORTH, Texas — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a Springtown, Texas, man who repeatedly issued violent threats against the President of the United States and federal immigration officers was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison.
On June 9, 2025, Francisco Jesus Mena, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of threatening a federal official. U.S. Chief District Judge Reed O’Connor imposed the sentence today.
“Threats against the President and federal officers are crimes that my office takes very seriously,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “We will continue to prosecute individuals like the defendant who seek to intimidate, impede or retaliate against federal law enforcement for performing vital national security and immigration related duties.”
“This sentence makes clear that conveying violent online threats is a serious criminal offense with substantial consequences, said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “The FBI remains committed to ensuring that individuals who exploit digital platforms to intimidate, coerce, or instill fear are held accountable.”
“The U.S. Secret Service investigates all threats against our protectees,” said Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Dallas Field Office Christina Foley. “Threats against the President will not be tolerated. We continue to work alongside our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to investigate these threats and will hold those who threaten to harm any of our protectees accountable.”
According to court documents, between May 13 and May 25, 2025, Mena made numerous threats against President Trump and ICE agents in a series of online messages posted to social media. The defendant repeatedly threatened to assault and murder the President, writing variations of “KILL TRUMP” across multiple dates and platforms. He also issued threats directed at federal law enforcement officers stating that if ICE agents came to his residence, he would “respond with a gunfight,” and claiming he had previously stabbed an ICE agent and “would love to do this again.”
On several occasions, Mena claimed that ICE personnel would be targeted next and encouraged violence against federal officers and white people, stating that individuals with “blue eyes and white skin will get chopped,” and offering payment or solicitation to harm the President. He further stated he did not need money to “take out Trump” and requested access to a sniper.
The FBI and the U.S. Secret Service conducted the investigation with assistance from local law enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Beck and Ethan Womble from the Fort Worth Division prosecuted the case.
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Liberian Child Rapist Convicted of Naturalization Fraud, Denaturalized, and Judicially Ordered Removed from the U.S.Read the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C – A federal judge sentenced Cyril Domaquik Clemens, 72, a Liberian native, to time served, for naturalization fraud on September 17, 2026. The court also revoked his naturalized U.S. citizenship and judicially ordered him to self-deport at his own expense. On June 18, 2026, Clemens pleaded guilty to naturalization fraud.
“This disgusting child predator sexually molested a 4-year-old little girl in the United States while he tried to become a citizen. For over a decade that little girl suffered from his depraved cruelty,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “This administration takes immigration fraud deadly serious, especially for all of the illegals and noncitizen spider child molester. Get out of America and stay out.”
Clemens made knowingly and materially false statements under penalty of perjury on his naturalization application and during a naturalization interview with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS). He responded “No” to the questions “Were you EVER involved in any way with any of the following…[f]orcing or trying to force, someone to have any kind of sexual contact or relations?” and “Have you EVER committed, assisted in committing, or attempted to commit, a crime or offense for which you were NOT arrested?” “No.” That was a lie. Clemens took the oath of citizenship and naturalized on February 19, 2021.
On April 3, 2023, in North Carolina Superior Court, Durham County, Clemens pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent liberties with a child. The state judge sentenced him to a term of imprisonment ranging from 1 year and 4 months to 2 years and 5 months and ordered him to register as a sex offender. Clemens confessed to sexually molesting the child for more than a decade, from November 1, 2011, through March 7, 2022. The child was a 4-year-old girl. Clemens committed these crimes before he lied to CIS but was not arrested until after he naturalized. Immigration officials were unaware of his crimes prior to granting him the undeserved honor of citizenship.
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan announced the sentence. ICE ERO, HSI agents assigned to the Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force, along with CIS’s Fraud Detection and National Security division, investigated the case as part of Operation False Haven - an ongoing initiative designed to aggressively target child molesters and other egregious felons who fraudulently obtain immigration benefits.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-00151-FL-1.
Leader of Violent Chicago Street Gang Sentenced to Life in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A leader of a Chicago street gang has been sentenced to life in federal prison for committing multiple murders and engaging in other acts of violence.
ROMEO BLACKMAN personally committed four murders and three attempted murders while leading a Chicago street gang known as the Goonie Boss/Goonie Gang. Blackman also sold narcotics, trafficked stolen firearms, violently prevented witnesses from cooperating with law enforcement, and publicly boasted about the gang’s activities on social media. As a leader of the gang, Blackman instructed and encouraged juvenile Goonie members to commit murders as well.
The Goonie gang terrorized the Englewood neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side until a series of federal indictments disrupted the gang’s activities. A federal jury in 2023 convicted Blackman, 30, of Chicago, of racketeering conspiracy and violence in aid of racketeering. On Sept. 29, 2026, U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey sentenced Blackman to life in federal prison.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Ryan Whalen, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; and Fred Waller, Interim Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and the LaSalle County State’s Attorney’s Office. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Simar Khera.
“The seriousness of the defendant’s crimes cannot be overstated,” the government argued in its sentencing memorandum. “His actions ended the life of numerous individuals, depriving their families of time with their loved ones. His leadership of the Goonies corrupted numerous young minds and assisted their turn into violent individuals.”
The federal investigation of the Goonie gang spanned several years and resulted in the convictions of numerous other Goonie members and associates for various crimes.
Leader of Global Violent Extremist Network ‘764’ Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Sexually Exploit MinorsRead the Press Release
Prasan Nepal, 21, also known by the online moniker “Trippy,” of High Point, North Carolina, pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child.
“This is the latest victory in the FBI’s work with partners to dismantle the violent 764 network,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Prasan Nepal, a leader of 764, pleaded guilty for his role in exploiting juveniles - not only breaking the law himself but recruiting others to participate in the heinous conduct targeting kids online through sexual assault, pornography, animal crushing, and more. Dismantling 764 and their online network has been a top priority for this FBI, with a nearly 500% increase in 764 related arrests last year with our state and local partners. We are finding these criminal actors all over the country no matter where they operate. Let there be no doubt that the FBI and our partners will use all our resources to protect children and bring to justice those who commit acts of terrible abuse. “
“Nepal used his leadership role within 764 to orchestrate the systematic exploitation, torture, and psychological destruction of children for the twisted satisfaction of an online network built on cruelty and chaos,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “He directed unspeakable crimes and then treated the suffering of the group’s victims as currency to be traded among his co-conspirators. We will not rest until every member of this network, and others like it, are held accountable.”
“This case exposes a world where cruelty is currency, violence is entertainment, and children are treated as targets in a game of domination and control,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia. “What Nepal and his co‑conspirators built was not just a criminal operation, it was a deliberate campaign to corrupt the vulnerable and dismantle the guardrails of civilized society. Yesterday’s plea is a victory for every child they sought to harm, and a warning to anyone who believes they can hide behind an encrypted screen: we will find you, and we will stop you.”
Nepal operated as a senior leader within “764,” a nihilistic violent extremist network that, according to court documents, engaged in a wide range of criminal conduct across the United States and abroad — including coordinated efforts to exploit minors, extort vulnerable victims, and inflict psychological harm as part of an organized ideology promoting chaos and societal destabilization.
According to court documents, Nepal and co‑defendant Leonidas Varagiannis, known as “War,” served as core leaders of 764 and its inner subgroup, 764 Inferno.
From approximately 2021 through 2025, Nepal and others used encrypted platforms to coordinate the exploitation of minors worldwide. They directed members, enforced “rules,” managed recruitment, and oversaw the production and circulation of materials used to manipulate and coerce victims.
Membership in 764 required prospective recruits to produce “content” that furthered the group’s extremist and abusive aims. Individuals who complied gained status; those who did not were excluded. Nepal and Varagiannis maintained strict control over membership, monitored activity, and issued instructions designed to expand the network’s reach and increase the volume of exploitative material.
Court documents detail the involvement of co‑conspirators operating inside the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. One D.C.-based individual allegedly stored network material on digital devices within the District and participated in conduct aimed at coercing minor victims. Other U.S.-based co‑conspirators engaged in coordinated online extortion schemes that targeted minors in multiple states and foreign jurisdictions.
The stored content included images of the words “764 Kills” written in red on a wall and a video of 15-year-old minor victim standing topless with her breasts exposed, talking to someone on a live chat while she poured bleach on her arm and set her arm on fire.
Federal investigators have identified more than a dozen active co‑conspirators associated with Nepal and Varagiannis, many of whom operated under aliases and interacted regularly in encrypted group channels. Their activities reflected an organized, hierarchical structure designed to recruit vulnerable victims, generate exploitative material, and cultivate notoriety within the network.
764 and 764 Inferno were built on a shared extremist ideology that embraced social collapse and celebrated violence. Members used encrypted applications to:
- Identify vulnerable minors online,
- Manipulate victims into compliance,
- Coerce individuals using threats and intimidation,
- Distribute extremist and exploitative content, and
- Promote members based on the severity of material they helped generate.
The defendants and their co-conspirators around the world used the Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) and other gore and violent material to create digital “Lorebooks,” which were used as digital currency within the 764 network, traded, archived in encrypted “vaults,” and used as a means to recruit new members or maintain status within the network.
The defendants instructed other members in grooming tactics and set content production expectations for new recruits. In multiple instances, defendants threatened and caused their victims to engage in self-mutilation, online and in-person sexual acts, harm to animals, sexual exploitation of siblings and others, acts of violence, threats of violence, suicide, and murder.
A guide instructing members on “grooming” victims into producing content for 764 and advised members to target particularly vulnerable victims, such as individuals with depression or mental illness.According to court documents, the defendants exploited at least eight minor victims across multiple jurisdictions, with some content traced back to children as young as 13 years-old. The network’s activities spanned from late 2020 through early 2025.
The guide also provided instructions on “Extortion,” and advised prospective 764 members to manipulate girls and to groom them into providing personal information that could then be used to force them to create “blood content.”Nepal joined 764 in or around early 2021, and worked with others known and unknown, including Individual 1, to establish the group. After Individual 1’s arrest on or about Aug. 25, 2021, Nepal emerged as a leader of 764 and remained in that position through April 2025.
In his capacity as a member and leader of 764, Nepal used several online monikers, including, “Leather Jacket,” “Rebirth,” “Indras Jester,” and “KingKrampus,” but he was most widely known in 764 Inferno as “Trippy.”
Nepal was arrested in 2025 and charged alongside Varagiannis as part of a sweeping international investigation involving the District of Columbia, federal field offices across the United States, and law enforcement authorities abroad. Yesterday’s plea represents one of the most significant developments yet in dismantling 764’s leadership structure.
Variagiannis is currently being held at Grevena Prison in northern Greece and is expected to have a trial in the next six months on charges related to child pornography and participation in a criminal organization.
Nepal faces a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. Sentencing is set for March 5, 2027.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office with significant assistance from the FBI New York Field Office, FBI Charlotte Field Office, and international partners. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina also provided invaluable assistance.
The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and James Donnelly of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen Shinskie and Janani Iyengar for the District of Columbia.
The Justice Department remains vigilant against the threat of NVE networks like 764 that operate within the United States and around the globe. NVEs often target vulnerable individuals, including minors, using social media platforms to share CSAM and gore material, and groom victims toward committing acts of violence. Victims are often extorted, coerced, compelled, and blackmailed into complying with NVE demands, including self-mutilation, online and in-person sexual acts, harm to animals, sexual exploitation of siblings and others, acts of violence, threats of violence, suicide, and murder. For more information on how to protect children and others, read about the online risks here: https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/parents-and-caregivers-protecting-your-kids and the FBI’s March 2025 public service announcement.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Leader of Global Violent Extremist Network ‘764’ Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Sexually Exploit MinorsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — Prasan Nepal, 21, also known by the online moniker “Trippy,” of High Point, North Carolina, pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child.
“This is the latest victory in the FBI’s work with partners to dismantle the violent 764 network,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Prasan Nepal, a leader of 764, pleaded guilty for his role in exploiting juveniles - not only breaking the law himself but recruiting others to participate in the heinous conduct targeting kids online through sexual assault, pornography, animal crushing, and more. Dismantling 764 and their online network has been a top priority for this FBI, with a nearly 500% increase in 764 related arrests last year with our state and local partners. We are finding these criminal actors all over the country no matter where they operate. Let there be no doubt that the FBI and our partners will use all our resources to protect children and bring to justice those who commit acts of terrible abuse.”
“Nepal used his leadership role within 764 to orchestrate the systematic exploitation, torture, and psychological destruction of children for the twisted satisfaction of an online network built on cruelty and chaos,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “He directed unspeakable crimes and then treated the suffering of the group’s victims as currency to be traded among his co-conspirators. We will not rest until every member of this network, and others like it, are held accountable.”
“This case exposes a world where cruelty is currency, violence is entertainment, and children are treated as targets in a game of domination and control,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia. “What Nepal and his co‑conspirators built was not just a criminal operation, it was a deliberate campaign to corrupt the vulnerable and dismantle the guardrails of civilized society. Yesterday’s plea is a victory for every child they sought to harm, and a warning to anyone who believes they can hide behind an encrypted screen: we will find you, and we will stop you.”
Nepal operated as a senior leader within “764,” a nihilistic violent extremist network that, according to court documents, engaged in a wide range of criminal conduct across the United States and abroad — including coordinated efforts to exploit minors, extort vulnerable victims, and inflict psychological harm as part of an organized ideology promoting chaos and societal destabilization.
According to court documents, Nepal and co‑defendant Leonidas Varagiannis, known as “War,” served as core leaders of 764 and its inner subgroup, 764 Inferno.
From approximately 2021 through 2025, Nepal and others used encrypted platforms to coordinate the exploitation of minors worldwide. They directed members, enforced “rules,” managed recruitment, and oversaw the production and circulation of materials used to manipulate and coerce victims.
Membership in 764 required prospective recruits to produce “content” that furthered the group’s extremist and abusive aims. Individuals who complied gained status; those who did not were excluded. Nepal and Varagiannis maintained strict control over membership, monitored activity, and issued instructions designed to expand the network’s reach and increase the volume of exploitative material.
Court documents detail the involvement of co‑conspirators operating inside the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. One D.C.-based individual allegedly stored network material on digital devices within the District and participated in conduct aimed at coercing minor victims. Other U.S.-based co‑conspirators engaged in coordinated online extortion schemes that targeted minors in multiple states and foreign jurisdictions.
The stored content included images of the words “764 Kills” written in red on a wall and a video of 15-year-old minor victim standing topless with her breasts exposed, talking to someone on a live chat while she poured bleach on her arm and set her arm on fire.
Federal investigators have identified more than a dozen active co‑conspirators associated with Nepal and Varagiannis, many of whom operated under aliases and interacted regularly in encrypted group channels. Their activities reflected an organized, hierarchical structure designed to recruit vulnerable victims, generate exploitative material, and cultivate notoriety within the network.
764 and 764 Inferno were built on a shared extremist ideology that embraced social collapse and celebrated violence. Members used encrypted applications to:
- Identify vulnerable minors online,
- Manipulate victims into compliance,
- Coerce individuals using threats and intimidation,
- Distribute extremist and exploitative content, and
- Promote members based on the severity of material they helped generate.
The defendants and their co-conspirators around the world used the Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) and other gore and violent material to create digital “Lorebooks,” which were used as digital currency within the 764 network, traded, archived in encrypted “vaults,” and used as a means to recruit new members or maintain status within the network.
The defendants instructed other members in grooming tactics and set content production expectations for new recruits. In multiple instances, defendants threatened and caused their victims to engage in self-mutilation, online and in-person sexual acts, harm to animals, sexual exploitation of siblings and others, acts of violence, threats of violence, suicide, and murder.
According to court documents, the defendants exploited at least eight minor victims across multiple jurisdictions, with some content traced back to children as young as 13-years old. The network’s activities spanned from late 2020 through early 2025.
Nepal joined 764 in or around early 2021, and worked with others known and unknown, including Individual 1, to establish the group. After Individual 1’s arrest on or about Aug. 25, 2021, Nepal emerged as a leader of 764 and remained in that position through April 2025.
In his capacity as a member and leader of 764, Nepal used several online monikers, including, “Leather Jacket,” “Rebirth,” “Indras Jester,” and “KingKrampus,” but he was most widely known in 764 Inferno as “Trippy.”
Nepal was arrested in 2025 and charged alongside Varagiannis as part of a sweeping international investigation involving the District of Columbia, federal field offices across the United States, and law enforcement authorities abroad. Yesterday’s plea represents one of the most significant developments yet in dismantling 764’s leadership structure.
Variagiannis is currently being held at Grevena Prison in northern Greece and is expected to have a trial in the next six months on charges related to child pornography and participation in a criminal organization.
Nepal faces a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. Sentencing is set for March 5, 2027.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office with significant assistance from the FBI New York Field Office, FBI Charlotte Field Office, and international partners. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina also provided invaluable assistance.
The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and James Donnelly of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen Shinskie and Janani Iyengar for the District of Columbia.
The Justice Department remains vigilant against the threat of NVE networks like 764 that operate within the United States and around the globe. NVEs often target vulnerable individuals, including minors, using social media platforms to share CSAM and gore material, and groom victims toward committing acts of violence. Victims are often extorted, coerced, compelled, and blackmailed into complying with NVE demands, including self-mutilation, online and in-person sexual acts, harm to animals, sexual exploitation of siblings and others, acts of violence, threats of violence, suicide, and murder. For more information on how to protect children and others, read about the online risks here: https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/parents-and-caregivers-protecting-your-kids and the FBI’s March 2025 public service announcement.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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