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Thursday 31 July 2025
U.S. Department of Justice Announces Compensation Process for Victims Trafficked Through Backpage.comRead the Press Release
Today, the Department of Justice announced the launch of the Backpage remission process to compensate victims whose trafficking was facilitated through the Backpage.com website. This marks the largest remission process to date to compensate victims of human trafficking.
“Backpage.com facilitated the exploitation of women and children as one of the largest online advertisers for commercial sex and sex trafficking over its 14-year existence,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Backpage and its executives made millions off the trafficking of victims. Today’s announcement underscores the Department’s unwavering commitment to use forfeiture to take the profit out of crime and to compensate victims.”
“Backpage used its position as the leading commercial sex advertisement website to make millions of dollars through their corrupt and heinous peddling of people,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine for the District of Arizona. “The District of Arizona was proud to hold its executives accountable though criminal convictions and is proud to continue our efforts by forfeiting those ill-gotten gains to compensate real victims.”
“Today’s announcement shows the FBI’s commitment to ensuring that those who profit from human trafficking face the consequences of their actions,” said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “We will continue to work alongside partners to thwart this industry by decimating its capacity for monetary gain while seeking safeguards for its victims.”
“Sex trafficking is one of the most horrific crimes we confront as a society,” said Chief Guy Ficco of IRS Criminal Investigation. “While traffickers try to operate in the shadows, the money always leaves a trail—and that’s where we come in. IRS-CI is committed to following that financial trail to expose criminal networks and help bring justice to survivors. We’re proud to work with our federal partners to dismantle those who profit from exploitation. Victims in this case should file their petitions by Feb. 2, 2026, to access the compensation they rightfully deserve.”
From 2004 to April 2018, criminals used Backpage.com as an online platform to facilitate commercial sex and sex trafficking, including trafficking of minors. In April 2018, the government seized Backpage.com. To date, Backpage.com, its owners, and key executives and businesses related to the platform have been found guilty of criminal offenses, including conspiring to facilitate unlawful commercial sex using a facility in interstate or foreign commerce and money laundering, and have been sentenced to federal terms of imprisonment.
In December 2024, the Department of Justice forfeited over $200 million in assets traceable to Backpage’s profits. These funds are now available to compensate victims for eligible losses. The Department of Justice has retained Epiq Global Inc. (Epiq) to serve as the Remission Administrator for this matter.
Victims whose sex trafficking was facilitated through advertisements posted on Backpage.com between Jan. 1, 2004, and April 6, 2018, and who incurred financial losses related to their trafficking may be eligible for remission. Individuals, their representatives, or estates of deceased victims may file a petition online or may obtain a Petition Form online at https://www.backpageremission.com/. Victims may also call, email, or write to the Remission Administrator to request that a Petition Form be sent to them.
The deadline to file a petition for remission is Feb, 2, 2026. For more information about the remission process – including eligibility requirements, updates, and frequently asked questions – please visit the official website at https://www.backpageremission.com/ or contact Epiq at 1-888-859-9206 toll-free, or 1-971-316-5053 for international calls, charges may apply. The Remission Administrator and the Justice Department will not ask for any payment to participate in this remission process.
The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the FBI, and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) investigated this matter.
Senior Trial Attorney Austin Berry of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Rapp with assistance on forfeiture from Joseph Bozdech of the District of Arizona are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Galatzan, Chief of the Central District of California’s Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section, handled the asset forfeiture aspects of the related civil cases. Special Agent Richard Robinson of IRS-CI, Special Agent Desirae Tolhurst of the FBI, USPIS Inspectors Lyndon Versoza and Quoc Thai, and Analyst Jane Chung with the Joint Regional Intelligence Center, spearheaded the investigation.
The Department of Justice, through the Asset Forfeiture Program, works diligently to compensate victims of crime. Since 2000, the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS), which oversees the Asset Forfeiture Program’s victim compensation program, has successfully used its specialized expertise to return more than $12 billion in forfeited assets to victims of crime. MLARS Senior Attorney Advisor Jane K. Lee and Attorney Advisor Brittany R. Van Camp with the section’s Program Management and Training Unit are leading the remission process.
U.S. Attorney's Office to Participate in Community Events During National Night OutRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Federal prosecutors and personnel with the U.S. Attorney’s Office will join community organizers, local neighborhoods, and law enforcement partners in the Western District for National Night Out on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.
National Night Out (NNO) is an annual community-building campaign that promotes partnerships and camaraderie between law enforcement and the communities they serve to make our neighborhoods safer places to live. Millions take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities throughout the country on the first Tuesday of August in most areas of the country.
During this year’s National Night Out, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will attend community events in Charlotte organized by the West Boulevard Neighborhood Coalition and the Hidden Valley Community Association, to engage with community members, answer questions, and share information about federal public safety initiatives. Representatives from the U.S. Attorney’s Office will also be at Stumpton Park in Matthews and the Kenilworth Forest neighborhood in Asheville.
“Our communities are safer when law enforcement and neighborhoods work together to prevent and address crime,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “That’s the point of National Night Out, and we are proud to join our law enforcement partners and communities across the district on this special night.”
National Night Out was established in 1984 with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice. The program is administered by the National Association of Town Watch, a nationwide non-profit organization.
Coordinated by local law enforcement and trained volunteers, National Night Out provides an opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Neighborhoods host block parties, cookouts, festivals, parades, safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel and more. National Night Out sends a message that neighbors are united and working together to keep their communities and each other safe.
For more information, visit https://natw.org/
Two Ohio Men Sentenced to Combined 62 Years in Prison for Sexual Crimes Against ChildrenRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND and AKRON, Ohio – The U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) has announced enforcement actions for Title 18 violations involving exploitation and abuse of children and child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). These cases are separate and not related. U.S. District Court Judge Bridget Meehan Brennan imposed the sentences.
Jordan Dodd, 24, of Jefferson, Ohio, was sentenced to 600 months (50 years) in prison and a lifetime of supervised release after imprisonment by U.S. District Judge Bridget Meehan Brennan. In February, Dodd pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography and conspiracy to produce child pornography. Judge Brennan imposed the sentence July 24. Court documents show that in April 2024 while Dodd was incarcerated on an unrelated matter, he began an online relationship with an adult female. He conspired with her to take sexually explicit photographs of an infant she had in her care and send those photographs to him while he was still incarcerated. In a separate investigation which began in September 2023, Dodd was found to have possessed digital devices with images that contained CSAM, with at least one image involving a prepubescent minor under the age of 12.
Michael Monroe James, 28, of Clinton, Ohio, was sentenced to 151 months in prison (more than 12 years) after he pleaded guilty in March to receipt and distribution of visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and possession of child pornography. He was also ordered to serve 15 years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $7,500 in restitution. Judge Brennan imposed the sentence July 21. Court documents show that in June 2024, James was engaging in sexually explicit and violent communications with an undercover agent purporting to be a pregnant 11-year-old girl using the Whisper social media app. During a search of James’ electronic devices, investigators found more than 700 files of CSAM involving infants or of a sadistic nature. The defendant was also found to have created artificial intelligence-generated nude photos of other minors.
The FBI Cleveland Division conducted the investigations for both cases.
Each case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Toni Beth Schnellinger Feisthamel for the Northern District of Ohio.
These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
To report child sexual abuse, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Two Men Unlawfully Residing in the United States Face Federal Charges After Traffic Stop Yields More than 100 Pounds of Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, and CocaineRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.—Two suspected drug traffickers face federal charges after they were caught transporting approximately 120 pounds of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine on Interstate 5 in Linn County, Oregon.
Jesus Campos Roman, 29, a Mexican national unlawfully residing in Washington, and Eduar David Freites-Mosquera, 27, a Bolivian national unlawfully residing in Washington, have been charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine.
According to court documents, on July 30, 2025, an Oregon State Police officer initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Roman and occupied by Freites-Mosquera. After a drug detection dog alerted to the presence of narcotics, investigators searched the vehicle and found numerous packages in the trunk containing more than 110 pounds of methamphetamine, five pounds of cocaine, and four pounds of fentanyl pills.
Roman and Freites-Mosquera made their first appearances in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge and were ordered detained pending further court proceedings.
The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Oregon State Police. It is being prosecuted by Joseph Huynh, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Two Men Charged for Nationwide Fraud Scheme Targeting Hundreds of Elderly VictimsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton; Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Christopher G. Raia; and Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, announced charges against JINGBIN JIANG and SU JIAN LIU, a/k/a “Fatty,” a/k/a “Ah Pang,” for a scheme to defraud elderly victims across the United States, which attempted to steal over $18 million from over 350 victims and resulted in actual losses of over $5 million to over 70 victims. JIANG was arrested in Staten Island this morning and will be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron. LIU is still at large. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil.
“As alleged, Jingbin Jiang and Su Jian Liu worked together with others to steal the hard-earned money of some our most vulnerable New Yorkers and others around the country,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Taking advantage of our elderly after they have worked so hard to save and contributed so much to our city and this country is heartless and despicable. These charges, and the efforts of the FBI and the NYPD, should serve as a warning to fraudsters and cybercriminals: New Yorkers want you held accountable for your crimes, and the women and men of our Office are committed to doing so.”
“Jingbin Jiang and Su Jian Liu allegedly defrauded elderly victims of more than $5 million by utilizing extortionate tactics to coerce withdrawals of significant cash or purchases of gold,” said FBI Assistant Director Christopher G. Raia. “This alleged conspiracy wielded fear of bankruptcy and arrest to ensure victims complied with the unlawful requests for money. The FBI is committed to apprehending any individual who utilizes online platforms to target and exploit vulnerable victims across the country.”
“These defendants allegedly led a nationwide fraud scheme with the goal of targeting innocent, elderly victims and stealing millions of their hard-earned savings,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “Jingbin Jiang and Su Jian Liu allegedly participated in a plot involving elaborate, fictitious narratives to manipulate elderly victims and trick them into participating in their scheme, which involved attempts to steal over $18 million from 350 people. I am grateful to the members of the NYPD, FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for holding these alleged predatory fraudsters accountable.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:[1]
Between at least in or about 2023 and in or about July 2025, JIANG and LIU participated with others in a fraudulent scheme that primarily targeted elderly victims located all across the United States, including in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, California, Connecticut, Arizona, North Carolina, South Carolina, Missouri, Mississippi, Kentucky, Utah, Oregon, Colorado, and Montana.
The scheme proceeded in the following manner: First, victims would typically see a pop-up message on their computers indicating that they needed to call a particular phone number controlled by members of the scheme. The pop-up message would typically claim to come from a technology company, a bank, or the government. Second, when victims called the phone number, they were told a fictitious narrative that would ultimately lead to a suggestion that the victims withdraw money from their bank account. For example, some victims were falsely told that their computers had a virus, or that their computers had been hacked into and used to commit serious crimes, like downloading child sexual abuse material. Others were falsely told that their bank accounts had been compromised and were vulnerable to unauthorized withdrawals. To avoid arrest or protect their bank accounts from being compromised, victims were instructed to withdraw large amounts of cash from their bank accounts or purchase large quantities of gold. Some victims were even told that their money would be safely held in the custody of a consumer protection agency like the Federal Trade Commission, and they were sent notices on fake federal government letterhead purporting to bear the signature of a federal government official:
Third, many victims were told that a courier would be arriving at their home (or other coordinated pick-up location) to retrieve the gold and/or cash. Victims were often provided with the courier’s name (which was fictitious), a description of the courier’s clothing, and sometimes a password, purportedly to ensure the courier was authorized to pick up the gold and/or cash. Other victims were told to purchase and transfer cryptocurrency or gift cards, which did not require a courier. Victims were typically under the impression that this gold and/or cash would then be deposited, on the victims’ behalf, into a new, safe, uncompromised bank account (or with the Federal Trade Commission, as noted above) that they could access without concern in the future. In reality, these funds were stolen and never returned to the victims. Some victims engaged in multiple transactions before realizing the fraudulent nature of the scheme.
JIANG and LIU participated in the scheme by managing and supervising the couriers that traveled to meet the victims to pick up the cash and gold, which was then transported back to New York City. JIANG and LIU received information about potential victims from other members of the scheme on text-messaging platforms, in messages that typically included the zip codes and the amounts of cash or gold to be collected from each victim. JIANG and LIU could then decide whether to accept the pick-up, and if they did, the other members of the scheme would provide more specific details about the victim and when and where to pick up the cash or gold. After arranging for couriers to make the pick-ups, JIANG and LIU would provide updates to other members of the scheme about the couriers’ progress. After the victims provided the criminal proceeds to the couriers, JIANG and LIU arranged for the criminal proceeds to be distributed to other members of the scheme, including by converting cash and gold into cryptocurrency to be easily transmitted to members of the scheme located overseas, including in India and China. In total, members of the conspiracy have attempted to steal at least approximately $18 million from over 350 victims, and they have successfully stolen at least approximately $5 million from over 70 victims.
If you or someone you know has been victimized by this scheme, please file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, which is available at ic3.gov.
* * *
JIANG, 37, of Staten Island, New York, and LIU, 38 of Edmond, Oklahoma, are both charged with one count of wire fraud conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the investigative work of the FBI and NYPD’s Joint Organized Crime Task Force. Mr. Clayton also thanked the New York State Police and the Bedford Police Department for their assistance in the investigation of this case.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent & Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew K. Chan and Angela Zhu are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
u.s._v._jiang_and_liu_indictment.pdf
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation.
Turner Falls Man Sentenced for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Turner Falls man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Springfield, Mass., for possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Edward Dunphy, 79, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to three years in prison and five years of supervised release. In April 2025, Dunphy pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography.
Beginning in October 2022, an investigation began into online peer-to-peer file sharing networks used for the distribution of CSAM and, in February 2023, Dunphy was identified as a user actively uploading and downloading CSAM
During a May 18, 2023 search of Dunphy’s home, a computer with an internal hard drive, eight external hard drives, a cell phone and an SD card among other items were seized. Upon forensic examination of these materials, over 340,000 files containing CSAM were located – including files depicting the sexual abuse or exploitation of an infant or toddler and depicting the forcible rape of minor females.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Randy Maloney, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Montague Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Sullivan of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Tracy Man Pleads Guilty for his Role in Murder-for-Hire PlotRead the Press Release
Shaminderjit Singh Sandhu, 51, of Tracy, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to use interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder for hire, Acting U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Sanchez announced.
According to court documents, Sandhu conspired with Jagninder Singh Boparai, 49, of Manteca, and Ramesh Kumar Birla Jr., 47, of Dublin, to murder Victim 2. In February 2023, Boparai, Sandhu, and Birla repeatedly met with a person they believed to be a hitman at a Starbucks in Manteca. Unbeknownst to Singh and his co-defendants throughout their interactions, the hitman was a confidential informant working for the FBI. On Feb. 17, 2024, Boparai told the supposed hitman that the first job involved the assault of Victim 1, and once he proved his trustworthiness, he would be given another job. The following day, Boparai met the confidential informant again and offered to pay $6,000 for the assault of Victim 1. In March 2023, in the presence of Birla and another individual, Boparai met with the confidential informant, and Boparai gave the confidential informant $1,000 as a down payment for the assault. After more time had passed, the confidential informant showed Boparai a staged photo of Victim l lying on the ground covered in bruises, dirt, and blood to indicate the assault had occurred. Boparai said he liked the photo and told the confidential informant that he had two other “jobs,” one of which involved robbing a business, and the other involved making a person “disappear.”
According to court documents, in March 2023, Boparai met with the confidential informant to pay the confidential informant $10,000 as a down payment for the murder of Victim 2. Sandhu provided Victim 2’s address, and Boparai instructed the confidential informant that Victim 2 must disappear without any evidence remaining. Boparai then made two calls to Birla asking for Victim 2’s Facebook profile. Boparai subsequently received a Facebook profile picture of Victim 2, which he showed to the confidential informant. On March 24, 2023, Sandhu and Birla met with the confidential informant in a parking lot in Manteca. Sandhu and Birla claimed that Boparai was out of town, but Boparai was observed by surveillance remaining in a car in the same parking lot. Sandhu and Birla instructed the confidential informant to kill Victim 2 and take Victim 2’s remains to Mexico in a suitcase.
All three defendants were arrested on March 31, 2023, and are currently in federal custody.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the California Highway Patrol, the Ceres Police Department, the Dublin Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Lathrop Police Department, the Modesto Police Department, the San Joaquin County Probation Office, the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation, the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office, the Stockton Police Department, the Tracy Police Department, the Turlock Police Department, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adrian T. Kinsella and Kevin Khasigian are prosecuting the case.
Sandhu is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 13, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta. Sandhu faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Boparai pleaded guilty for his role in the offense on Jan. 23, 2025, and is pending sentencing on Aug. 7, 2025. He faces the same penalties as Sandhu.
Birla is scheduled for a further status conference on Oct. 23, 2025. If convicted, he faces the same penalties as Sandhu and Boparai. As to Birla, the charges are only allegations; he is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Tampa Man and Woman Indicted for Forcibly Assaulting and Impeding Federal AgentRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Alfredo Javier Fuentes (22, Tampa) and Luz Mary Vasquez Cruz (45, Tampa) with forcibly assaulting, resisting, or impeding a federal officer or employee. If convicted, Fuentes and Cruz each face a maximum penalty of eight years in federal prison.
According to court records, on July 15, 2025, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents were investigating a Honduran national for immigration-related matters at a residence in Tampa when Vasquez and Cruz placed themselves between agents and the subject of the investigation. Vasquez and Cruz shoved an HSI agent backwards, allowing the subject to flee into the residence.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.
Seven Face Methamphetamine Charges in Southeast MissouriRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – Seven southeast Missouri residents have been arrested on federal indictments accusing them of drug crimes.
All were indicted on July 1, 2025, and were arrested in a coordinated operation in recent weeks involving the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Sikeston Department of Public Safety (DPS), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the United States Marshals Service, the Charleston Police Department, the Mississippi County Sheriff's Office, the Scott County Sheriff's Office and the Missouri Air National Guard.
Walter L. Rainey Jr., 51, of Sikeston, appeared in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau on Tuesday facing two counts of methamphetamine distribution. His detention motion says he sold a total of four ounces of meth during an investigation conducted by the DEA and the Sikeston DPS in 2024.
Sikeston residents Ruben R. Hampton, 28, Rachaun L. Dorsey, 46, and Raheem O. Jones, 27, each face at least one count of methamphetamine distribution. Hampton faces a total of four, as well as two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Dorsey faces three counts of methamphetamine distribution. Motions seeking to have the men held in jail until trial say they sold meth during a Sikeston DPS investigation.
Malcom J. Turner, 34, of Sikeston, Christopher A. Howard, 48, of Sikeston, and William J. Bogan III, 26, of Scott City, in Scott County, Missouri, were each indicted separately with one count of methamphetamine distribution. A detention motion says the men sold meth during a DEA investigation.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
“The indictment of these individuals proves once again that no jurisdiction is immune to the presence of narcotics,” DEA St. Louis Division Special Agent in Charge Michael Davis said. “The DEA, in conjunction with our partners at the Sikeston Department of Public Safety and other law enforcement agencies, are to be applauded for investigating and removing these individuals from the streets of Southeast Missouri.”
“This operation shows the ongoing collaboration between local and federal law enforcement,” said Sikeston Department of Public Safety Chief James B. McMillen. “Continuing to work together and sharing intelligence is the key to success. Our DEA partners are a vital part of our efforts to remove these dangerous people from our community.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Hahn and Julie Hunter are prosecuting the cases.
Serial Armed Robber and Rapist Sentenced for “Nightmarish” CrimesRead the Press Release
DETROIT – Today, Deandre Martece Williams was sentenced to 327 months in prison on charges of felon in possession of a firearm and kidnapping, in connection with a series of armed robberies, non-fatal shootings, and rapes he committed in 2023, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. announced. In sentencing Williams, United States District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith stated that Williams’s “utter disregard for human dignity is breathtaking in the worst sense of the word” and referred to his conduct as “nightmarish.” During a three month stretch in 2023, Williams victimized fifteen people in eight separate incidents, seriously injuring four people, and raping three at gunpoint.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by James Deir, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Detroit Field Division, Chief Todd Bettison, Detroit Police Department (DPD), and Kym Worthy, Wayne County Prosecutor.
During the investigation, DPD collected fired cartridge casings from the scene of multiple shootings. With the help of the ATF and the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), they identified a pattern of targeting sex workers and their customers. The ATF and DPD methodically pieced together other evidence from the crime scenes and identified Williams as a suspect. On October 20, 2023, ATF agents executed a federal search warrant at Williams’s house, arrested him, and found the gun used in the robberies.
Williams frequently found his victims in parked cars along neighborhood streets. Williams commonly approached on foot, placed his handgun through an open window or door, and robbed his victims. After the robberies, Williams shot at several of the victims as they tried to flee. Several of the victims were injured by gunfire. Williams raped two of his victims during the robberies.
Through their investigation of the robberies, the ATF and DPD uncovered evidence linking Williams to a rape and adult kidnapping. Williams and that victim had agreed to meet over a dating app. When Williams arrived at the victim’s hotel room, he pulled out a handgun and held the victim at gunpoint for several hours while repeatedly raping the victim.
Williams’s arrest for the robberies also led to DNA evidence linking him to an unsolved Criminal Sexual Conduct from 2012. Williams pleaded guilty to two counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct in the Third Circuit Court in Detroit for those offenses and was sentenced in March to 10 years 6 months up to 20 years prison in the Wayne County Third Circuit Court.
“We should all hate robbery and cruelty. And this sinister man did plenty of both. For years, he was prowling around our streets. But through ingenuity and hard work, the ATF and DPD made our city safer,” said U.S. Attorney Gorgon.
“Deandre Williams is a ruthless predator who used firearms to dominate, violate, and destroy lives,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge James Deir. “He didn’t just break the law — he shattered families, preyed on the vulnerable, instilled fear, and left a trail of mayhem wherever he went. ATF’s unique firearm expertise will continue to be the bedrock of gun violence reduction efforts in Detroit. This expertise enables ATF and our law enforcement partners to identify AND target the most prolific shooters across the Detroit metropolitan community for federal prosecution. Mr. Williams is a poster child for what this partnership does: removing violent thugs from the community. Williams will now need to pack a suitcase because he will be behind bars. Exactly, where he deserves to be.”
“The investigation of Deandre Williams yielded an unexpected dividend. WCPO was able to successfully prosecute Williams on a 2012 sexual assault case as a direct result of evidence collected in his federal cases. We are pleased that all of his victims will see him receive the justice he deserves,” said Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in conjunction with the Detroit Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Second Defendant Charged in a Superseding Indictment After Allegedly Assaulting Two Motorcyclists in Skull ValleyRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Alex Doran Craig, 32, of Tooele County, Utah, with multiple violent crimes after he and his codefendant, previously charged, allegedly zip-tied, kidnapped, and assaulted two motorcyclists when they unknowingly crossed onto the Skull Valley Indian Reservation.
According to court documents, in April 2025, Craig and Russell Allen, 50, of Tooele County, Utah, allegedly assaulted the victims and told them they were trespassing on Indian land. The victims were allegedly ordered to the ground facedown, zip-tied, kicked and threatened with a knife.
As alleged, the defendants took the victims’ belongings, including their motorcycles, purportedly as an impound for trespassing. The victims were then transported in a truck traveling at an estimated 100 mph to a remote desert area. The victims were then released without any of their property and had to hike over 10 miles, which took about six or seven hours, for help from the Dugway gate guards. Law enforcement later recovered the motorcycles in a maintenance shed on Skull Valley Indian Reservation Road. In June 2025, many of the additional stolen items were recovered by law enforcement, including two cell phones, two wallets containing identification cards for the victims and a GoPro Max camera. During the investigation, video evidence, victim reports, witnesses and jail calls identified both Craig and Allen as participants in the alleged crimes against the victims.
Craig and Allen are charged with kidnapping, assault, and theft while within Indian Country. Their initial appearance on the superseding indictment is scheduled for July 31, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorney Sam Pead of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Schenectady Man Sentenced to 63 Months for Drug ConvictionRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Terrell Bell, age 28, of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced yesterday to 63 months in prison for possessing and intending to distribute fentanyl. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
Bell previously admitted that he was on parole in January 2024 when law enforcement searched his home in Schenectady and discovered nearly 1,800 fentanyl pills in his bedroom and more than $90,000 throughout the home.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated, “Bell didn’t learn his lesson after a prior felony conviction and term of parole, but he should learn it now: Dealing drugs in this District doesn’t pay. My Office will make sure of it.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig A. Tremaroli stated: “This sentence proves any criminal who chooses to profit from poisoning our communities will be held accountable. The FBI remains deeply committed to working with our partners at every level of law enforcement to investigate and bring to justice these individuals trafficking dangerous drugs on our streets.”
Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. also imposed a 4-year term of supervised release. Bell has also consented to forfeiture of the money found in his home.
FBI investigated this case with the assistance of the Schenectady Police Department, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikayla Espinosa prosecuted it.
San Antonio man sentenced to 41 months for transporting illegal aliens in open truck bedRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 37-year-old San Antonio resident has been ordered to federal prison for transporting 10 illegal aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Jonathan Ray Balderas pleaded guilty Feb. 6.
U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo has now ordered Balderas to serve 41 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court considered images showing the substantial risk of death or bodily injury Balderas created by transporting eight of the 10 aliens in the open bed of his truck, covered only by a thin tarp. The court also considered the loaded pistol found on Balderas’s waistband and communications indicating his involvement in other smuggling events.
“Placing human beings in the back of a truck under a tarp while carrying a loaded firearm shows a blatant disregard for life and the law. All it would have taken is a single driver error to cause multiple people to lose their lives,” said Ganjei. “The Southern District of Texas will bring to justice anybody who seeks to make a quick buck through unlawful and dangerous and smuggling operations.”
“Human smuggling is a serious federal crime that endangers lives and threatens the security of our communities,” said Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig S. Larrabee. “HSI in close coordination with our partners at U.S. Border Patrol, is committed to dismantling smuggling networks and holding individuals accountable for their actions. The arrest of Jonathan Balderas and the recovery of 10 smuggled aliens underscores the importance of our continued efforts to combat this dangerous criminal activity and bring offenders to justice.”
On Nov. 18, 2024, law enforcement observed Balderas’s truck attempting to circumvent the U.S. Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint at the 29-mile marker of Interstate Highway 35. Authorities noticed the outline of people inside the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. As they approached, they observed shoes protruding out from under the tarp.
Authorities discovered eight illegal aliens in the truck’s open bed and two more hiding inside. The aliens were citizens of Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala.
Balderas will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
ICE-HSI and BP conducted the investigation with the assistance of Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Game Wardens. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tae W. Chon prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Roanoke Man Sentenced to 150 Months for Role in Robbery Conspiracy Connected to Murder of Drug SupplierRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A Roanoke, Virginia man involved in distributing large quantities of marijuana and helping plan a robbery that ultimately led to the murder of his drug supplier, was sentenced yesterday to 150 months in federal prison.
Garrett Isaac Williams, 22, pled guilty in February 2025 to one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery. In April, Williams’ co-defendant, Joseph Walker, was sentenced to 35 years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of Hobbs Act Robbery and one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, beginning no later than January 2023, Walker and Williams conspired to distribute marijuana and marijuana wax they sourced from E.B., who periodically traveled from Pennsylvania to supply the pair at Mr. Walker’s residence in Roanoke.
Eventually, the men fell into debt to E.B. Then, in an effort to collect money he was owed, E.B. attempted to phone Walker but instead inadvertently called Walker’s mother. This phone call caused Walker and Williams to set in motion a plan to end their relationship with E.B. However, instead of paying down their debt, they conspired to order more marijuana from E.B., rob E.B. of that marijuana upon delivery and, in so doing, scare him from returning to Virginia.
On April 17, 2023, E.B. traveled from Pennsylvania to Walker’s residence, bringing with him approximately 10 pounds of marijuana and two pounds of marijuana wax in a deal facilitated by Williams. During E.B.’s trip, Williams maintained communication with him and provided updates to Walker so that he was prepared for E.B.’s arrival. For his part, Walker concealed a Sig Sauer, .45 caliber pistol on his person, intending to use it as part of the robbery. Upon E.B.’s arrival, Walker confronted E.B. about the phone call E.B. made to his mother, before shooting him twice, killing him. Afterwards, Walker, as planned, took the marijuana that E.B. had brought with him and, to conceal his crime, moved E.B.’s body out of his residence, placed it in the trunk of E.B.’s car and drove to Bedford County, Virginia where he set the car on fire.
While not physically present at the time of the robbery, Williams admitted to planning to rob E.B by force.
C. Todd Gilbert, United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, Stephen Farina, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, and Colonel Matthew D. Hanley, Superintendent of Virginia State Police made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Virginia State Police, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, the Roanoke City Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, the Roanoke City Police Department, the Roanoke County Police Department, the City of Lynchburg Police Department, and the Bedford County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office are investigating the case.
The Star City Drug and Violent Crime Task Force also aided in the investigation and is comprised of officers from the Roanoke City Police Department, Roanoke County Police Department, City of Salem Virginia Police Department, the Vinton Police Department, and Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation's Salem Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys M. Coleman Adams and Kelly McGann are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew O. Inman.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Rapid City Woman Sentenced to Nearly 3 Years in Federal Prison Following Conviction for Conspiracy to Commit Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a woman from Rapid City, South Dakota, who was convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. The sentencing took place on July 25, 2025.
Kiana Pilcher, 29, was sentenced to two years and 11 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Pilcher was indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering by a federal grand jury in April 2024. She pleaded guilty on May 5, 2025.
Pilcher worked with multiple individuals involved in a cocaine conspiracy to help them move money generated by the distribution of cocaine through electronic transactions. Pilcher and others deposited money into her bank account from drug proceeds and the account was then used to send the proceeds to drug sources in Texas. Investigators determined that approximately $90,000 in cash was deposited into Pilcher’s account through ATM deposits. Pilcher was also involved in the distribution of cocaine. While Pilcher was involved in the conspiracy, the group distributed over three kilograms of cocaine in the Rapid City area.
This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Division of Criminal Investigation. UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, the Rapid City Police Department, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Pilcher was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to 17 ½ Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in and Around Rapid CityRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a man from Rapid City, South Dakota, who was convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on July 25, 2025.
Andre Gibson, 46, was sentenced to 17 years and six months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Gibson was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in May 2024. He pleaded guilty on May 9, 2025.
Gibson received multiple packages of methamphetamine through the United States Mail Service from surrounding states and worked with others to sell the methamphetamine within South Dakota. Working with others from outside of South Dakota, Gibson ultimately distributed between 1.5 and 5 kilograms (between 3 and 11 pounds) of methamphetamine in the Rapid City area.
“More and more often, criminals are shipping narcotics through the U.S. mail system,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. “Fortunately, our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners are highly skilled at intercepting these packages and tracking down suspects, thereby allowing the U.S. Attorney’s Office to secure federal convictions and pursue significant prison sentences, just as we did against Andre Gibson.”
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the South Dakota Highway Patrol, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.
Gibson was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced for Possession of Pistol While on Pretrial ReleaseRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Andre Jamar Turman, 34, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 28 months in federal prison for being a previously convicted felon in possession of a loaded Haskell Model JS-45 pistol while he was on probation and on pretrial release for multiple cases, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Turman pleaded guilty on Dec. 17, 2024, to the indictment charging him with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to the 28-month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Jia M. Cobb ordered Turman to serve three years of supervised release.
Joining in the announcement were U.S. Marshal Robert Dixon of D.C. Superior Court, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)
According to court documents, on May 4, 2023, Deputy U.S. Marshals and MPD detectives were searching for Turman due to numerous bench warrants out of D.C. Superior Court as well as an outstanding arrest warrant.
At about 11:30 a.m., officers spotted and arrested Turman on the 2400 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, near Twining Square Park. A Deputy U.S. Marshal patted down the right front pants pocket and recovered a loaded Haskell Model JS-45 pistol. The firearm was not registered in the District of Columbia. In addition, the firearm previously had been reported as stolen.
Turman was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had been previously convicted of carrying a pistol without a license and sentenced to more than a year in prison.
At the time of his arrest, he was on probation and pretrial release for multiple cases—including release in another firearm case in Maryland.
This case was investigated by the MPD and U.S. Marshals. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shezhad Akhtar and Chrisellen Rebecca Kolb.
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Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced for Possession of Pistol While on Pretrial ReleaseRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Andre Jamar Turman, 34, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 28 months in federal prison for being a previously convicted felon in possession of a loaded Haskell Model JS-45 pistol while he was on probation and on pretrial release for multiple cases, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Turman pleaded guilty on Dec. 17, 2024, to the indictment charging him with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to the 28-month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Jia M. Cobb ordered Turman to serve three years of supervised release.
Joining in the announcement were U.S. Marshal Robert Dixon of D.C. Superior Court, Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)
According to court documents, on May 4, 2023, Deputy U.S. Marshals and MPD detectives were searching for Turman due to numerous bench warrants out of D.C. Superior Court as well as an outstanding arrest warrant.
At about 11:30 a.m., officers spotted and arrested Turman on the 2400 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, near Twining Square Park. A Deputy U.S. Marshal patted down the right front pants pocket and recovered a loaded Haskell Model JS-45 pistol. The firearm was not registered in the District of Columbia. In addition, the firearm previously had been reported as stolen.
Turman was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had been previously convicted of carrying a pistol without a license and sentenced to more than a year in prison.
At the time of his arrest, he was on probation and pretrial release for multiple cases—including release in another firearm case in Maryland.
This case was investigated by the ATF, MPD, and U.S. Marshals. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shezhad Akhtar and Chrisellen Rebecca Kolb.
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Postal Employee Pleads Guilty to COVID Relief FraudRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Marina Tusca Brooks Stewart (62, Groveland) has pleaded guilty to wire fraud related to COVID relief. Stewart faces up to 20 years in federal prison. She is also facing a forfeiture order of $10,000, which represents the proceeds she obtained through this offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, during the COVID pandemic, the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) offered Targeted Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Advances that did not need to be repaid. The advances were for small businesses that were in low-income communities and received a reduction in revenue of more than 30% during an eight-week period. Between June 28 and 30, 2020, Brooks devised a scheme to defraud the SBA by electronically applying for an EIDL advance and providing false representations in her application. Based on her false representations, Stewart fraudulently received a $10,000 EIDL advance.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Service - Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by visiting the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice. gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Postal Employee Pleads Guilty to COVID Relief FraudRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Kenneth Tyrone Jackson (59, Ocala) has pleaded guilty to wire fraud related to COVID relief. Jackson faces up to 20 years in federal prison. He is also facing a forfeiture order of $19,333, which represents the proceeds he obtained through this offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, during the COVID pandemic, the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) offered loans to small businesses under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Between March 18 and April 1, 2021, Jackson devised a scheme to defraud the SBA by applying for a PPP loan with false representations. Jackson claimed that he owned a landscaping business that made $99,675 in 2019, which was not true. Jackson also provided the SBA with a fraudulent IRS tax form as proof of this reported income. Based on his false representations, Jackson fraudulently received a $19,333 loan from the SBA.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Service - Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID can report it by visiting the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www. justice. gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Pasco Man Caught with 25 Pounds of Methamphetamine Sentenced to 10 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Yakima, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Stephanie Van Marter announced that Jesus Birrueta-Mendoza, age 27, a citizen of Mexico residing in Pasco, Washington, was sentenced on charges of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. Birrueta-Mendoza pleaded guilty to those charges on February 18, 2025. Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian sentenced Birrueta-Mendoza to 10 years in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, on January 18, 2024, Birrueta-Mendoza was engaged in ongoing negotiations to sell upwards of 50 pounds of methamphetamine. On the day of the intended transaction, Birrueta-Mendoza was arrested by agents of the Department of Homeland Security and found to be in possession of 25 pounds of methamphetamine at a location in Sunnyside, Washington. Birrueta-Mendoza was unlawfully present in the United States when he committed this serious federal offense after being removed by authorities three times in 2018.
“Mr. Birrueta-Mendoza was engaged in drug trafficking after unlawfully returning to the United States. He intended to distribute a large amount of methamphetamine into our community without concern about its impact.” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Van Marter. “This office remains committed to working with our federal, state and tribal partners to remove those offenders who pose such a threat. This sentence reflects the seriousness of his actions and my office’s commitment to hold drug distributors accountable.”
“HSI remains committed to combating transnational criminal organizations that import and distribute narcotics in our communities,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Seattle Acting Special Agent in Charge Colin Jackson. “HSI will continue to ensure that individuals like Mr. Birrueta-Mendoza, who attempt to distribute narcotics in the Pacific Northwest, are held accountable.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael D. Murphy.
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Ohio Child Predator Sentenced to 15 Years’ Imprisonment for Kidnapping and Sexually Abusing a California TeenRead the Press Release
ST. GEORGE, Utah – Ryan Gary Patch, 28, of Dayton, Ohio, was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment today and a lifetime term of supervised release after he kidnapped and sexually abused a 15-year-old girl that he met on Instagram, before he was captured and arrested in Cedar City, Utah.
The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Ann Marie McIff Allen, comes after Patch pleaded guilty on March 27, 2025, to transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. As part of his sentence, the court ordered Patch to pay $11,093.15 in restitution to the victim.
According to court documents and statements made at Patch’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, on July 24, 2024, the Cedar City Police Department received a call of an abducted minor being transported through Utah. According to the reporting party, the 15-year-old victim was taken from her home in California in the early morning hours of July 24, 2024, and was being transported to Ohio. The victim contacted her family from a newly created Instagram account on a newly gifted iPad and provided them information on her whereabouts. The victim’s phone was previously broken and disposed of by Patch before he took her from California. He also told the victim to factory reset various electronic devices and deleted their respective Snapchat and Instagram accounts. Based on the provided victim’s location, officers in Cedar City responded and found a car matching the description the victim had provided. In the car, officers found a teenage girl in the back seat and an adult male in the front seat, later identified as Patch, who appeared to be sleeping. Patch repeatedly claimed the girl was his sister, but after speaking to her, officers confirmed she was the victim they were looking for. Patch was arrested and officers found child sexual abuse materials depicting the victim on an iPad in the vehicle. Investigators also executed search warrants on Snapchat accounts known to belong to Patch and the victim. Both accounts contained child pornography depicting the victim and Patch’s plans to “come get” the victim. Patch’s account also had messages and explicit photograph exchanges with other accounts that appeared to belong to underage minors.
“It was only due to the victim’s technological savvy and quick thinking that Patch’s terrifying plan was undone. Nonetheless, his abduction of the victim has inflicted trauma no one should have to endure,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti of the District of Utah. Communities are safer with defendants like Patch behind bars, and it is our hope that the victim and her family can continue to heal knowing justice is being served.”
The case was investigated jointly by the Utah Department of Public Safety: Utah Highway Patrol (UHP), State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), and the Cedar City Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Burton and Brady Wilson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Ocala Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Transfer Obscene Material to A MinorRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Nicholas Robert Davis (30, Ocala) has pleaded guilty to attempting to transfer obscene material to a minor. Davis faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is set for August 22, 2025.
According to court documents, during an undercover operation on July 24, 2024, a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agent posed as a 13-year-old girl (UC) and received a message on an online social media platform from Davis. After learning the UC’s age, Davis and an undercover detective from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, also posing as the minor, had a video call. Davis exposed his genitalia during the call and, afterward, engaged in a sexually explicit conversation with the UC. He also sent the UC an explicit video himself.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Nurse indicted for deceptively obtaining Percocet and OxycodoneRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, returned an indictment charging a Missouri woman with illegally obtaining controlled narcotics.
According to court documents, Brooke Haller, 40, of Kansas City, Missouri, is charged with four counts of possession of a controlled substance by deception and subterfuge.
Haller, a nurse, allegedly obtained Percocet and Oxycodone through misrepresentation and fraud.
The defendant made her initial court appearance on July 25, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Angel D. Mitchell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Faiza Alhambra 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.
###New Haven Man Sentenced to More than 6 Years in Federal Prison for Fentanyl Trafficking OffenseRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JESUS SEGUINOT, also known as “Chuchi,” 35, of New Haven, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 78 months of imprisonment for his role in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 25, 2020, Seguinot was sentenced in New Haven federal court to 30 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for drug distribution and gun possession offenses. He was released from federal prison in May 2021. In October 2021, the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force learned that Luis Salaman, also known as “Bebe,” was distributing large quantities of narcotics throughout New Haven. The investigation revealed that Salaman worked with Seguinot and others to distribute fentanyl. Between November 2021 and March 2022, investigators made multiple controlled purchases of distribution quantities of fentanyl from Salaman, Seguinot, and their associates. Investigators also learned that Seguinot possessed a firearm during that time.
Seguinot was arrested on April 10, 2023.
On December 19, 2024, a jury found Seguinot and Salaman guilty of conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and Salaman guilty of three counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Seguinot’s criminal history also includes state convictions for drug distribution and weapon possession offenses.
Seguinot has been detained since January 2, 2025.
Salaman, who has been detained since his arrest on April 5, 2022, awaits sentencing.
This investigation has been conducted by FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, which includes members from the FBI, the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Correction, and the New Haven, Milford, East Haven, West Haven, and Wallingford Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang.
Nashville Felon Sentenced to More Than 21 Years in Federal Prison for Multiple Carjacking and Weapons Offenses Committed While He Was on Pre-Trial ReleaseRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – Estifanos Kumssa, 26, of Nashville, Tennessee, was sentenced earlier this week to 260 months in federal prison after having previously convicted after a jury trial on two counts of carjacking and two counts of possessing and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, announced Robert E. McGuire, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee.
“This defendant was already released on bond in state court for a violent crime when he committed more violence, so it was critically important for us to step up to protect our community,” said Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire. “This conviction and the serious sentence he received should illustrate our commitment to prosecuting violent offenders to the fullest extent and holding them accountable so they can’t victimize anyone else in our community.”
"The FBI works closely with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to make sure those bringing violence to our streets are held accountable," said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. "We will continue working together to make our communities a safe place to live, work, and raise a family."
“Criminal defendants on pre-trial release who continue to victimize our community must be held accountable,” said Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake. “Our police department and the United States Attorney’s Office are watching closely for those situations, especially violent scenarios, and are working together to take appropriate action whenever possible.”
On May 30, 2019, at approximately 3:25 p.m., an Uber driver (“Victim A”) was parked and smoking a cigarette in a parking lot in Antioch, Tennessee, as he waited for his next call to pick-up a passenger. Shortly after he parked, Kumssa and an accomplice approached Victim A’s car, Kumssa banged on the window with a pink and black handgun and demanded money. When Victim A replied that he did not have any money, Kumssa shoved his gun through the cracked window, took Victim A’s wallet, and demanded that Victim A get out of his car. Kumssa then got into the driver’s seat, unlocked the passenger door so his accomplice could get in, and fled the scene in Victim A’s car. Victim A later positively identified Kumssa as the person who shoved the gun through his window during the carjacking. Surveillance video from businesses in the area of the carjacking also showed Kumssa wearing a distinctive sweatshirt which he was still wearing when he was arrested.
Less than six hours after the first carjacking, 911 operators were alerted to another carjacking at 2510 Murfreesboro Pike. There were two victims of this second carjacking, the owner of the vehicle (“Victim B”), who was cleaning a business at the time of the carjacking, and a second victim (“Victim C”) who sitting in the vehicle waiting for Victim B when Kumssa and his unidentified accomplice approached it. Victim C, who later positively identified the defendant, stated that Kumssa approached him with a pistol drawn, demanded the keys, and ordered Victim C to get out of the vehicle. Kumssa and his accomplice then got in the vehicle and fled the parking lot. A be-on-the-lookout (“BOLO”) alert was issued for the vehicle and an MNPD patrol officer observed the vehicle in a parking lot in the vicinity of Bell Forge Road and Bell Road, just 2.4 miles from the site of carjacking. MNPD officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop of the stolen vehicle, but it fled north along Bell Road where it was stopped by using spike strips. MNPD officers caught Kumssa after a short foot pursuit and recovered a distinctive pink and black firearm in the path of his flight from the vehicle.
Before these carjackings, Kumssa had been convicted of three state felonies: (1) two counts of auto burglary from events that took place in September 2017; and (2) a carjacking that occurred in January 2018. The jury in the federal case convicted Kumssa of two counts of carjacking and two counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, the jury acquitted Kumssa of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
At the time he committed these carjackings, Kumssa was on pre-trial release on an Especially Aggravated Robbery indictment in Davidson County Circuit Court.
Following his term of imprisonment, Kumssa will be on supervised release for three years.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nashville Field Office, and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Petro and Joshua Kurtzman prosecuted the case.
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Morgan County Man Sentenced for Attempted to Coerce a Minor for SexRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Joel Galen Patton, age 40, of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, was sentenced to 150 months in federal prison for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.
Patton was talking to who he believed to be a 14-year-old female online, requesting nude photos of the teen, as well as sending nudes of himself to her. Patton also requested to meet her for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity.
Patton will serve supervised release for life following his prison sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley Crockett prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the West Virginia State Police.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Mobile Felon Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm During a Botched Home InvasionRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Mobile man was sentenced to 60 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon during a deadly botched home invasion.
According to court documents, Okoye Jabrayll Day, 23, was arrested by Mobile Police Department officers who had responded to a call regarding a home invasion in progress at an apartment complex on April 16, 2024. During that 911 call, the victim reported that several individuals were attempting to break into his apartment and said that he had shot at the armed intruders before locking himself in his bathroom. Another resident of the complex called 911 to report hearing several gunshots and said that she had seen Day, who was in a wheelchair, fleeing the scene of the attempted burglary with a gun in his hand.
When police arrived on-scene, they saw one of the suspected burglars lying dead on the ground from a gunshot wound outside the victim’s apartment. The doorjamb of the victim’s apartment had severe damage from the intruders kicking in the door, which was off its hinges. The apartment had several bullet hole defects in its walls and ceiling. After clearing the apartment, officers found Day and arrested him in the next building over. Day had thrown a loaded Glock .45 caliber pistol into nearby bushes. Ring doorbell camera video from the apartment complex showed Day, the deceased suspect, and two other unidentified males beating on the door of the victim’s apartment.
In an interview with police following his arrest, Day admitted that he had a gun “for [his] protection” because he previously had been shot and paralyzed. Day further admitted that he threw the gun into the bushes because he was “on paper” for prior convictions and was still supervised. At the time Day possessed the Glock pistol, he had prior felony convictions for first-degree receiving stolen property and discharging a gun into an occupied building. Those felony convictions made Day’s possession of the Glock pistol illegal under federal law.
In addition to the 60-month prison sentence, United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer ordered Day to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will receive mental health evaluation and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Moorer ordered Day to pay $100 in special assessments and forfeited Day’s pistol and ammunition to the United States.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Missoula accountant sentenced to 2 years in prison for defrauding clientsRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – A Missoula accountant who defrauded clients by using their cash payments intended for income taxes for his own personal expenses was sentenced today to 24 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Clawson was also ordered pay full restitution of $1,309,591 to the victims as well as a $20,000 criminal fine.
William Arthur Clawson, 54, pleaded guilty in February 2025 to wire fraud and to corruptly endeavoring to obstruct and impede the administration of the internal revenue laws.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.
The government alleged that from about 2016 to 2021, Clawson used his businesses, Quantum Business Solutions and Endeavor Financial Insights, to defraud clients. Clawson offered accounting and tax preparation services to clients in Montana, Washington and Oklahoma, who were engaged in the cash-intensive medical marijuana industry. Clawson promised to assess the taxes owned by his clients and receive cash payments from them that he would use to pay his fees and the taxes they owed. Instead, Clawson paid only a small portion of the taxes his clients owed and used the remainder of the money on his personal expenses and unrelated debts. Through Clawson’s actions, his clients unknowingly fell behind in paying the taxes they owed.
The government further alleged that between 2019 and 2020, one of Clawson’s clients came under IRS scrutiny because of unpaid taxes. An IRS revenue officer contacted the company as part of efforts to collect taxes owed. The company called Clawson, who was serving as its accountant. Clawson instructed the company not to communicate with the IRS officer and said he would take care of the reported issue. Clawson falsely told the IRS officer that the company had cash flow issues that were making it difficult for the company to pay its taxes. Clawson acted corruptly by making other false statements to the IRS officer on the company’s behalf that Clawson knew would impede the government’s tax collection efforts. Clawson did this to conceal his misappropriation of funds the company gave him to pay its taxes.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Hargrove is prosecuting the case. The IRS Criminal Investigation Division conducted the investigation.
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Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Identity Theft and Seven Others Face Immigration Violations Following Federal Search at Kings Mountain BusinessRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Jose De La Cruz-Lopez, 45, an illegal alien from Mexico, pleaded guilty today to misusing a social security number and using false immigration identification documents, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Seven additional defendants also have been charged federally following the execution of a search and seizure warrant at Buckeye Fire Equipment Company in Kings Mountain, N.C. In addition to De La Cruz-Lopez, two others have also entered guilty pleas. Charges against others are expected after additional investigation.
“Identity theft is a pervasive problem that can wreak havoc on a victim’s life,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “We take it very seriously, particularly in cases like this where it undermines our employment laws and the integrity of the hiring process. As this investigation continues, we want to remind employers to exercise vigilance and remain alert for counterfeit documents used to establish a worker’s identity and employment eligibility.”
According to plea documents and other court filings, De La Cruz-Lopez, who is not authorized to work in the United States, admitted to obtaining employment at Buckeye Fire Equipment using the Social Security Number and personally identifiable information of another individual who is eligible to work in the United States and used that information on false identification documents. The falsified documents included a driver’s license bearing De La Cruz-Lopez’s image and the name of the individual eligible to work in the United States and a copy of the individual’s Social Security card. The defendant, who had been employed at the company since 2022, falsely attested on the I-9 employment eligibility verification form that he was the person presented on the ID and that he was a citizen of the United States.
Below are the seven additional defendants charged as a result of the investigation:
Humberto Guzman Lemus, 32, of Mexico, was charged with illegally reentering into the United States. Lemus was previously deported from the United States on December 23, 2019, at or near Hidalgo, Texas, after he was arrested for driving while impaired and failure to stop at a flashing red light. The defendant has pleaded guilty to illegal reentry and is awaiting sentencing.
Angel Antonio Lara Reyes, 52, of Honduras, is charged with illegally reentering into the United States. Reyes was previously deported from the United States on November 21, 2014, at or near Brownsville, Texas. The defendant has pleaded guilty to and is awaiting sentencing.
Arurto Albarras Altunar, 40, of Mexico, is charged with illegal reentry into the United States. Altunar was previously deported from the United States three times in less than 30 days at or near Laredo, Texas on February 14, 2016, and at or near Hidalgo, Texas, on February 20, 2016, and again on March 8, 2016.
Geovany Lopez Lopez, 38, of Guatemala, is charged with illegally reentering the United States. Lopez was previously deported from the United States on May 11, 2011, at or near Columbus, Georgia, after he was arrested for assault on a female, resisting a public officer, and injury to real property.
Luiz Antonio Martinez Lopez, 40, of Mexico, is charged with illegal reentry into the United States. Lopez was previously deported from the United States on August 4, 2011, at or near Laredo, Texas, after he was arrested for a traffic law violation. He was deported again on March 11, 2019, at or near Laredo, Texas, after he was arrested for impaired and reckless driving, wanton disregard, and resisting a public officer.
Alberto Perez Mendoza, 37, of Mexico, is charged with illegal reentry into the United States. Mendoza was previously deported from the United States three times: on July 15, 2006, at or near Brownsville, Texas, on January 21, 2015, at or near Hidalgo, Texas, and again on January 28, 2015, at or near Laredo, Texas.
Enrique Gil Rojano, 52, of Honduras, is charged with illegally reentering the United States. Rojano was previously convicted in California of transporting and/or selling a controlled substance and was sentenced to three years in prison. He was later arrested again and convicted of felony perjury and was subsequently deported from the United States on September 7, 2005.
The charges in the indictments are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The cases announced today 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. Since the implementation of the initiative, 44 individuals have been charged with immigration related offenses in the Western District of North Carolina.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson credited U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, and Emergency Removal Operations for their investigations that led to the charges. U.S. Attorney Ferguson also commended several other law enforcement agencies that assisted in the investigation, to include the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, CBP’s Air and Marine Operations, IRS Criminal Investigation, the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General, the North Carolina National Guard, the DEA, the ATF, King’s Mountain Police, the Gaston County Sheriff’s Department and the Gaston County Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Smith and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Frick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte are prosecuting the cases.
Metairie Man Sentenced to 175 Months Imprisonment for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that KEVIN LILLIS (“LILLIS”), age 51, a resident of Metairie, Louisiana, was sentenced on July 30, 2025 to 175 months in prison by United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo, after previously pleading guilty to distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(2). Judge Milazzo’s sentence also included 15-years of supervised release after LILLIS’s term of imprisonment, a $100 mandatory special assessment fee, and a requirement that LILLIS register as a sex offender. A restitution hearing is set for October 28, 2025
According to the court documents, after receiving a case referral based on evidence gathered in an unrelated investigation, special agents with the FBI executed a search warrant at LILLIS’S residence in March 2024. During the execution of the warrant, agents seized and searched electronic devices belonging to LILLIS that contained files depicting the sexual victimization of children and obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children, including more than 600 images and 6 videos, 1 of which was approximately 12 minutes in length, depicting the sexual victimization of children, and dozens of images and videos depicting such obscene visual representations. Among the files LILLIS searched for, downloaded, stored, and distributed, were images of newborn infants approximately less than one (1) day old at the time the files were created. The newborn infants were depicted engaging in sexually explicit conduct. These files also included images portraying sadistic or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence. LILLIS distributed the files on numerous days between January 2024 and March 11, 2024.
Agents also discovered conversations LILLIS had with other users of end-to-end encrypted messaging applications, including on or about November 19, 2023, December 20, 2023, February 5, 2024, and March 5, 2024, in which LILLIS stated he had engaged in hands-on sexual contact with multiple prepubescent minors as young as between eight and ten years old over the past two decades. During several of these conversations, LILLIS sent sexually suggestive pictures he took of minors with whom he interacted, including a prepubescent female who was approximately eight years old at the time the picture was taken, and whose picture LILLIS distributed on or about March 5, 2024.
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.
U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg is in charge of the prosecution.
Marshall County Man Convicted of Methamphetamine and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A Moundsville, West Virginia man was convicted today by a federal jury of methamphetamine trafficking and a firearms violation.
Joseph William Alfred, also known as “Chris,” age 50, was found guilty of distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine, attempted possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, unlawful possession of a firearm, and failure to appear.
The evidence at trial established that a package containing more than two pounds of methamphetamine and postmarked for Alfred’s address was intercepted by the United States Postal Service. It had been mailed from an address in California. A subsequent search warrant executed at Alfred’s home resulted in the seizure of more controlled substances, a firearm, ammunition, cash, and drug paraphernalia. Alfred is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior felony drug conviction.
“I commend the law enforcement agencies and the prosecutors for their outstanding efforts in this case. There should be no doubt that, as part of Operation Take Back America, we will continue to aggressively stop the flow of drugs into our communities and our country. We will pursue the most serious charges and penalties for all those who test our resolve,” said Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Bernard.
During the pretrial phase, Alfred was released on home confinement with electronic monitoring. Alfred cut off the monitoring device and failed to appear for his federal court hearing in April 2024.
Alfred faces 5 to 40 years in prison for the distribution charge, 10 years to life for the attempted possession charge, up to 15 years for the firearms charge, and up to 10 years for the failure to appear charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Clayton Reid and Carly Nogay prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. This case was investigated by the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the United States Postal Service; and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.
Operation Take Back America, is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
U.S. District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the trial.
Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WACO, Texas – A Mississippi man was sentenced in federal court to 240 months in prison for distribution of child pornography, involving the sexual exploitation of a minor.
According to court documents, Foster Denzel Harris, aided and abetted by another, knowingly distributed and attempted to distribute visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct in violation of federal statute.
In 2022, the victim in this case reported to FBI that she had been exploited when she was 16 years old, and living in Killeen. Between 2016 and 2022, while using KiK social media application on her phone, Harris extorted $21,000 dollars from her, threatening to expose her if she didn’t pay.
“Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that those who exploit children by distributing child sexual abuse material will be held fully accountable,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp. “The pain these victims silently endure is immeasurable, and the FBI will relentlessly pursue anyone who preys on them. We applaud the extraordinary courage of the victim in this case, whose fortitude to come forward enabled us to obtain a measure of justice and put a stop to the continues abuse. If you have information about child exploitation, contact your local FBI office or submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov.”
This 20-year sentence is the maximum sentence allowed under the statute. Harris was also ordered to pay $31,429.00 in restitution to the victim and placed on lifetime supervised release.
This case was investigated by the FBI San Antonio Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Gloff prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Man Sentenced to Eleven Years in Prison for Robbing Taxi and Rideshare Drivers in ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A man who robbed two taxi drivers and a rideshare driver at gunpoint in Chicago has been sentenced to eleven years in federal prison.
ANTHONY REED committed the violent robberies within a week in February 2022. In each of the robberies, Reed threatened to kill the driver if they did not hand over their money and other belongings. During one of the robberies, Reed used the butt of his gun to hit the driver in the head.
The robberies were as follows:
Feb. 4, 2022: Reed stole a tablet and cell phone from a Flash Cab taxi driver.
Feb. 5, 2022: Reed stole $120 in cash, a tablet, and cell phone from a Flash Cab taxi driver.
Feb. 8, 2022: Reed stole a wallet containing $200 to $400 in cash, as well as a cell phone and jacket from an Uber driver.
Reed, 28, of Chicago, has been in law enforcement custody since his arrest in 2022. He pleaded guilty earlier this year to three counts of robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge John J. Tharp, Jr. sentenced Reed to eleven years in federal prison.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department.
“Over the course of only four days, defendant robbed three victims at gunpoint while the victims were doing their job,” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret A. Steindorf and Paul Schied argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “A significant sentence is warranted to protect the public from defendant’s criminal appetite and deter defendant from committing future violent acts.”
Man Convicted for Stabbing Metro Transit Police Sergeant in the FaceRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Erik Schleehauf, 43, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty today for actions stemming from his April 15, 2025, attack on a Metro Transit Police Sergeant, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
After a jury trial in Superior Court, Schleehauf was found guilty of one count each of assault of a police officer while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, and assault with serious bodily injury. The Honorable Robert Salerno scheduled sentencing for October 3, 2025.
“The conviction of this defendant, who violently stabbed a Metro Transit Officer for legally pursuing him after he refused to pay his Metro fare, is a perfect example of the violent behavior that will not be tolerated here in the District,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro. “This violent attack while people are commuting using the transit system threatens the safety of everyone in our communities, and, in this case, the brave transit officer, severely injured in this attack, who was just doing his job.”
At around 2:26 p.m., on April 15, 2025, at the Navy Yard-Ballpark Metro Station, an MTPD Sergeant observed Schleehauf evade his fare by jumping over the glass gates on his way out of the Metro Transit System. The MTPD Sergeant followed the defendant as he tried to leave the station using the escalator. After Schleehauf refused to provide his identification and ignored the MTPD Sergeant’s efforts to stop him, the MTPD Sergeant deployed OC spray. Schleehauf pulled out a sharpened metal bolt, placed it between his knuckles and swung repeatedly at the MTPD Sergeant. Schleehauf repeatedly stabbed MTPD Sergeant in the face, causing puncture wounds in his cheek and lower jaw—just above his neck, which resulted in nerve damage that continues to this day.
Schleehauf was arrested at the scene.
Joining in the announcement was Chief Michael Anzallo of the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD), and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
This case was investigated by the Metro Transit Police Department and the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nickolas Reck.
Lexington Woman Sentenced for Impeding the Arrest of a FugitiveRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Lexington, Ky., woman, Xochitl Sonia Navarro, 45, was sentenced on Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove to 36 months in prison, for assaulting, resisting, or impeding federal officers in the performance of their official duties.
According to Navarro’s plea agreement, on October 8, 2024, ICE-ERO officers began an operation to arrest Jorge Iban Cuellar-Avendano, a citizen of Mexico who had illegally re-entered the United States. Cuellar-Avendano had previously evaded arrest by fleeing in a vehicle. On this occasion, officers observed the fugitive and Navarro, the driver, get into the vehicle. When officers approached the vehicle, Navarro refused to open its doors, and attempted to evade the officers by lunging, accelerating and attempting to flee. In doing so, three officers suffered cuts, abrasions, and bruising; one officer was knocked to the ground and dragged by the vehicle, causing deep lacerations on both arms. Officers ultimately had to break the window to stop the vehicle.
Under federal law, Navarro must serve 85 percent of her prison sentence. Upon her release from prison, she will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years. Separately, Cuellar-Avendano was sentenced to 12 months in prison for illegal reentry into the United States after a prior deportation or removal, and will be subject to deportation following service of his sentence.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Sam Olson, Director, Department of Homeland Security, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, (ICE-ERO) Chicago Field Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by ICE-ERO. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Walker is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Kenner Woman Pleads Guilty to FEMA FraudRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – Acting U.S. Michael M. Simpson announced that SONJA LEE (“LEE”), age 49, pled guilty on July 29, 2025, to filing a false claim with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 287.
According to the indictment, LEE, filed a false claim with FEMA for financial assistance alleging that, after Hurricane Ida, her primary residence and personal property were damaged, knowing that her claim was false.
At sentencing, LEE faces up to five years’ imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. LEE also will be ordered to pay restitution to FEMA.
Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Tiwana Wright of the Financial Crimes Unit handled the prosecution.
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Jamestown woman sentenced for her role in drug conspiracyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Holly Berenguer, 43, of Jamestown, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, was sentenced to time serve and four years’ supervised release by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who handled the case, stated on September 5, 2021, a Jamestown Police Officer arrested Berenguer on an active bench warrant for failure to appear in Jamestown City Court. While she was being processed, police personnel discovered a white powdery substance and $450 hidden in Berenguer’s clothes. The substances field tested positive for heroin and methamphetamine. As part of the conspiracy, between September 2020, and September 2021, Berenguer distributed large amounts of heroin and fentanyl in the Jamestown area.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarantino.
Ithaca Man Arrested for Enticement of a Minor and Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – David Pastorello, age 42, of Ithaca, New York, was arrested Tuesday evening and had his initial appearance on Wednesday on charges of enticement of a minor and distribution of child pornography. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
The complaint alleges that Pastorello sent text messages to a girl under the age of 12, repeatedly requesting that the child have sex with him. Pastorello also sent the victim indecent images of himself, in addition to two images constituting child pornography under federal law. Later, Pastorello entered the victim’s apartment without permission before fleeing. The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Prior to this offense, in May 2025, Pastorello was arraigned in Tompkins County Court for the New York State offense of possessing a sexual performance by a child less than 16 years old. In July 2025, just a few days prior to the incident that gave rise to the federal charges, Pastorello pled guilty in Cortland County Court to the New York State offense of disseminating indecent material to a minor. The Cortland County case was reset for sentencing. Pastorello was out on bond in both pending state cases.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “Thanks to the quick work of federal, state, and local law enforcement, children have been protected and a dangerous predator has been apprehended. Despite having committed other crimes relating to child sexual abuse, Pastorello was allowed by state authorities to be out of custody. His new crimes demonstrate how dangerously unwise that decision was. Pastorello will be held fully accountable for the federal offenses he has committed.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli stated: “Mr. Pastorello, a repeat offender with an alarming criminal history, is a dangerous predator who is now facing serious federal charges. These charges would not have been possible without the incredible assistance and coordination provided by our partners from the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office, Ithaca Police Department, and New York State Police. Our communities should know the FBI is committed to leveraging these strong partnerships to bring the full weight of the federal government down on these disturbing predators looking to harm our children.”
Following the initial appearance, Pastorello was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending further proceedings.
If convicted of enticement of a minor, Pastorello faces a maximum term of life in prison and a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and for distribution of child pornography, a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 5 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute(s) the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Pastorello would also be required to register as a sex offender if convicted.
The FBI and New York State Police are conducting this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Gillis 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.
Illumina Inc. to Pay $9.8M to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Arising from Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities in Genomic Sequencing SystemsRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – llumina Inc. has agreed to pay $9.8 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act when it sold to federal agencies certain genomic sequencing systems with cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Illumina is a Delaware corporation, headquartered in California, that manufactured and sold genomic sequencing systems throughout the United States.
The settlement resolves allegations that, between February 2016 and September 2023, Illumina sold government agencies genomic sequencing systems with software that had cybersecurity vulnerabilities, without having an adequate security program and sufficient quality systems to identify and address those vulnerabilities. Specifically, the United States contended that Illumina knowingly failed to incorporate product cybersecurity in its software design, development, installation, and on-market monitoring; failed to properly support and resource personnel, systems, and processes tasked with product security; failed to adequately correct design features that introduced cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the genomic sequencing systems; and falsely represented that the software on the genomic sequencing systems adhered to cybersecurity standards, including standards of the International Organization for Standardization and National Institute of Standards and Technology.
“Companies that sell products to the federal government will be held accountable for failing to adhere to cybersecurity standards and protecting against cybersecurity risks,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This settlement underscores the importance of cybersecurity in handling genetic information and the Department’s commitment to ensuring that federal contractors adhere to requirements to protect sensitive information from cyber threats.”
“This settlement demonstrates our continuing commitment to combat cybersecurity risks by ensuring that federal contractors protect private and sensitive government information.” said Acting U.S. Attorney Sara Bloom for the District of Rhode Island.
“This settlement demonstrates our continued commitment to work with our law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice to ensure companies fulfill their contractual obligations,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Christopher M. Silvestro of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Northeast Field Office, the law enforcement arm of the Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General. “Safeguarding the validity of Department of Defense research and data is vital to supporting the warfighter.”
“Significant damage can result from a failure to adhere to required cybersecurity standards, especially when the systems involved include sensitive genomic data,” said Special Agent in Charge Roberto Coviello of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG and our law enforcement partners remain dedicated to ensuring that entities who do business with the government uphold their cybersecurity obligations.”
The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to sue on behalf of the government when a defendant has submitted false claims for government funds and receive a share of any recovery. The settlement in this case provides for the whistleblower, Erica Lenore, a former Director for Platform Management, On-Market Portfolio at Illumina, to receive $1,900,000 as her share of the settlement. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex. rel. Lenore v. Illumina Inc., No. 1:23-cv-00372 (D.R.I.).
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island, with assistance from DCIS, the Army Criminal Investigation Division, the HHS Office of the Inspector General, Department of Commerce Office of the Inspector General, and Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
The matter was investigated by Trial Attorney Erin Colleran of the Justice Department’s Civil Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Sara Bloom of the District of Rhode Island.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Note: Read the Settlement here
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Illumina Inc. to Pay $9.8M to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Arising from Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities in Genomic Sequencing SystemsRead the Press Release
Illumina Inc. has agreed to pay $9.8 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act when it sold to federal agencies certain genomic sequencing systems with cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Illumina is a Delaware corporation, headquartered in California, that manufactured and sold genomic sequencing systems throughout the United States.
The settlement resolves allegations that, between February 2016 and September 2023, Illumina sold government agencies genomic sequencing systems with software that had cybersecurity vulnerabilities, without having an adequate security program and sufficient quality systems to identify and address those vulnerabilities. Specifically, the United States contended that Illumina knowingly failed to incorporate product cybersecurity in its software design, development, installation, and on-market monitoring; failed to properly support and resource personnel, systems, and processes tasked with product security; failed to adequately correct design features that introduced cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the genomic sequencing systems; and falsely represented that the software on the genomic sequencing systems adhered to cybersecurity standards, including standards of the International Organization for Standardization and National Institute of Standards and Technology.
“Companies that sell products to the federal government will be held accountable for failing to adhere to cybersecurity standards and protecting against cybersecurity risks,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This settlement underscores the importance of cybersecurity in handling genetic information and the Department’s commitment to ensuring that federal contractors adhere to requirements to protect sensitive information from cyber threats.”
“This settlement demonstrates our continuing commitment to combat cybersecurity risks by ensuring that federal contractors protect private and sensitive government information.” said Acting U.S. Attorney Sara Bloom for the District of Rhode Island.
“This settlement demonstrates our continued commitment to work with our law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice to ensure companies fulfill their contractual obligations,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Christopher M. Silvestro of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Northeast Field Office, the law enforcement arm of the Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General. “Safeguarding the validity of Department of Defense research and data is vital to supporting the warfighter.”
“Significant damage can result from a failure to adhere to required cybersecurity standards, especially when the systems involved include sensitive genomic data,” said Special Agent in Charge Roberto Coviello of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG and our law enforcement partners remain dedicated to ensuring that entities who do business with the government uphold their cybersecurity obligations.”
The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to sue on behalf of the government when a defendant has submitted false claims for government funds and receive a share of any recovery. The settlement in this case provides for the whistleblower, Erica Lenore, a former Director for Platform Management, On-Market Portfolio at Illumina, to receive $1,900,000 as her share of the settlement. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex. rel. Lenore v. Illumina Inc., No. 1:23-cv-00372 (D.R.I.).
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island, with assistance from DCIS, the Army Criminal Investigation Division, the HHS Office of the Inspector General, and the Department of Commerce Office of the Inspector General.
The matter was investigated by Trial Attorney Erin Colleran of the Justice Department’s Civil Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Sara Bloom of the District of Rhode Island.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Note: Read the Settlement here
Hogback Man Charged After Violent Altercation Involving Firearm Leaves Woman InjuredRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Hogback man is facing federal charges after an argument escalated into violence in front of multiple witnesses
According to court documents, on June 19, 2025, Renaldo Descheny, 43, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, assaulted Jane Doe by strangling her and striking her in the face with a firearm. The assault resulted in a laceration requiring hospital treatment. During the altercation, Descheny also pointed the firearm at multiple individuals and discharged the weapon several times, including firing towards the vehicle as the victims attempted to flee.
Descheny is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, Descheny faces up to 10 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Mondragon is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
H-Block Gang Member Sentenced for Drug Distribution and Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A member of the violent Boston-based gang, H-Block, was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for drug distribution and firearms charges.
Jerry Gray, 28 of Roxbury, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley to 51 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. In April 2025, Gray pleaded guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Gray was one of 10 H-Block gang members and associates charged in August 2024 following a multi-year investigation of H-Block that began in 2021 in response to an uptick in gang-related drug trafficking, shootings and violence. According to court documents, over 500 grams of cocaine, cocaine base (crack cocaine) and fentanyl, as well as over 20,000 doses of drug-laced paper were seized during the investigation.
In February 2024, Gray, a long-time H Block gang member, sold crack cocaine to a cooperating witness, and then subsequently stole “buy” money from the cooperating witness during a controlled purchase in March of 2024. At the time of Gray’s arrest in August of 2024, a Glock pistol, along with numerous rounds of various calibers of ammunition, were located in his residence. Gray was on probation in Suffolk Superior Court for two separate firearm-related convictions at the time of the offenses.
According to the charging documents, the H Block Street Gang is one of the most feared and influential city-wide gangs in Boston. Originally formed in the 1980s as the Humboldt Raiders in the Roxbury section of Boston, the gang re-emerged in the 2000s as H Block. Current members of H Block have a history of violent confrontation with law enforcement, including an incident in 2015 when a member shot a Boston Police officer at point blank range without warning or provocation.
Gray is the fourth H-Block defendant to be sentenced in the case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Special Agent in Charge Andrew Murphy of the U.S. Secret Service Boston Field Office; Ted E. Docks Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement. The investigation was supported by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office; Massachusetts Department of Corrections; and the Braintree, Quincy, Randolph and Watertown Police Departments. Assistant United States Attorney John T. Dawley of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit and Jeremy Franker of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime & Racketeering Section prosecuted the cases.The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Gunrunner Who Illegally Trafficked More than 200 Firearms to DC Area Sentenced to 84 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Michael Pittman, 30, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 84 months in federal prison in connection with trafficking more than 200 illegal firearms from Georgia and North Carolina to the Washington D.C. area where he sold many of them to convicted felons, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Pittman pleaded guilty on April 14, 2025, to conspiracy to commit firearms trafficking.
“It’s bad enough we have a gun problem in D.C. but even worse when you traffic them in from other states,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “Firearms traffickers present an immediate danger to the community. My office will aggressively prosecute these criminals and take them off the street for a significant amount of time.”
In addition to the 84-month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Tanya S. Chutkan ordered Pittman to serve three years of supervised release.
Joining in the announcement was Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
According to court documents, from at least April 2023 through May 2024, Pittman rented cars and drove to Georgia and North Carolina where he purchased guns from illegal firearm suppliers. Pittman re-sold the firearms in the D.C. area, advertising them through different means. He took photos of the firearms displayed on his bed with prices.
Between April 2023 through May 2024, Pittman obtained, advertised, or sold 200 or more firearms.
On May 30, 2024, Virginia State Police arrested Pittman in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, as he was returning to D.C. from a buying trip. Pittman fled from a traffic stop before he crashed and ran into the nearby woods. Police recovered Pittman’s backpack which contained 16 firearms, an additional firearm he had dropped, and two firearms he had left in his vehicle.
Law enforcement subsequently obtained a warrant and searched Pittman’s residence. In Pittman’s home, law enforcement recovered hundreds of rounds of ammunition, firearm cleaning and repair tools, firearm magazines, and three additional firearms. Law enforcement also observed the same red-and-black patterned bed spread observed in the images from Pittman’s phone.
Pittman has one prior felony conviction for second degree assault in Prince George’s County, Maryland, for which he was sentenced to two years in prison suspended as to all but 30 days.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division with valuable assistance from the Virginia State Police. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cameron A. Tepfer and Sarah Martin.
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Greensboro Woman Sentenced in Conviction with Multi-Million Dollar Urine Drug Testing SchemeRead the Press Release
Greensboro, NC – A Greensboro woman was sentenced to 44 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release in connection with a scheme to submit claims for fraudulent urine drug testing screens to Medicaid, announced Clifton T. Barrett, United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC).
Jasmine Hoyle, 35, pled guilty to one count of health care fraud and one count of money laundering on April 9, 2025. In addition to prison time and supervised release, the court also ordered Hoyle to pay restitution totaling $6,299,738.89.
According to court documents, Hoyle owned and operated two businesses located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina: Harvest Focused & Consulting Services, LLC and The Ultimate Sacrifice. Both of these businesses billed Medicaid for services that were not performed, including significant quantities of urine drug tests. For example, on 97 occasions between August 2020 and July 2022, Harvest Focused submitted claims to Medicaid for urine drug tests for a Medicaid beneficiary who had never heard of Harvest Focused or The Ultimate Sacrifice, never received services from those companies, and did not provide any urine for urine drug testing.
Over the course of the scheme, Medicaid reimbursed Harvest Focused and The Ultimate Sacrifice over $6 million. Hoyle used the fraudulently proceeds on personal expenses, including the purchase a Dodge Challenger.
“Stealing taxpayer dollars from a program that enables our most vulnerable citizens to access health care is reprehensible,” said U.S. Attorney Barrett. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to supporting investigation and prosecution of Medicaid fraud. We thank the federal and state agencies that partner in this effort.”
“Health care providers that fraudulently bill Medicaid for services not provided divert valuable taxpayer funds intended for some of the most vulnerable populations,” said Special Agent in Charge Kelly J. Blackmon with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of Medicaid and other federally funded health care programs.”
“Taxpayer’s money allocated to the Medicaid budget is used to provide healthcare services to our vulnerable populations,” said Special Agent-In-Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins, IRS-CI Charlotte Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation special agents, together with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office will identify, investigate, and prosecute those who enrich themselves by stealing from the federal government and subsequently the taxpayers.”
“This case is a great example of a successful joint investigation, where we followed the financial footprint of the defendant to uncover evidence and bring them to justice. The resulting prison sentence sends a strong message that we will continue to aggressively purse and investigate those who engage in fraudulent schemes,” said Acting U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge J. “Buck” Buckley, of the Atlanta Division.
Hoyle’s former business partner, LaTameria Davis, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States on July 8, 2025. Davis’s sentencing is scheduled to take place on September 26, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. in Greensboro, North Carolina. Davis faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a period of supervised release of up to three years, and monetary penalties.
The Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, North Carolina Attorney General’s Office, Medicaid Investigations Division, Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, and the United States Postal Inspection Service are investigating the case, and it is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Waid and Special Assistant United States Attorney Daniel Spillman.
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Fugitive Member of Chilean ATM Crew Arrested after ATM Bombing in San RamonRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A member of an ATM robbery crew has been arrested and charged with bank robbery and conspiracy to commit bank robbery arising from a string of robberies from banks and ATMs throughout California, Oregon, and Washington, Acting U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Sanchez announced.
According to court documents, Diego Ananias Arellano Diaz, aka Fabio Cristian Hernandez, was arrested July 29, 2025, in Newport Beach for his participation in a conspiracy to break into and steal money from financial institutions between May and October 2024. To avoid detection, the crew rented short-term vacation properties near their intended targets and used cars rented on the black market. Conspirators identified ATMs in vulnerable locations and then, using construction-crew disguises, blowtorches, cellphone jammers, and other sophisticated tactics, broke into the ATMs and stole their cash. More than 29 banks and credit unions were targeted during the period of the conspiracy, with more than $4 million in cash taken.
On Oct. 31, 2024, a grand jury returned an indictment charging 11 defendants with conspiracy to commit bank robbery and bank robbery. Arellano was separately charged by complaint as “John Doe 2” on Oct. 21, 2024, and again as Diego Arellano once his true name was learned on May 14, 2025.
According to the San Ramon Police Department, Arellano was identified as the one of the suspects responsible for a bombing and burglary of an ATM in a Target in San Ramon that occurred on July 20, 2025. Court records reflect that Arellano is also charged in the Los Angeles Superior Court with assault with a deadly weapon under an alias, Fabio Hernandez.
Arellano is presently in state custody and is expected to make his appearance in federal court following state proceedings.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the police departments of the cities of Burbank, Citrus Heights, Clovis, Elk Grove, Fresno, Garden Grove, Modesto, Newport Beach, Rocklin, Roseville, Sacramento, and San Ramon, and the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Office, and the Seattle Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California also received assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the District of Oregon, the Central District of California, and the Western District of Washington. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert L. Veneman-Hughes and Justin J. Gilio are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, the defendant face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison for bank robbery and five years in prison for conspiracy to commit bank robbery. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Founder of Punjabi Devils Motorcycle Club Stockton Charged with Firearms Offenses, including Unlawfully Possessing a Machine GunRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Jashanpreet Singh, 26, of Lodi, charging him with unlawful dealing of firearms; unlawful possession of a machine gun; and possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle, Acting U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Sanchez announced.
According to court documents, Singh was the founder of the “Punjabi Devils” Motorcycle Club, a Stockton based outlaw motorcycle gang (OMG) associated with the Hells Angels. On June 6, 2025, Singh attempted to sell several weapons to an undercover officer, including a short-barreled rifle, three other assault weapons, three machine gun conversion devices, and a revolver. A subsequent search of Singh’s residence resulted in the discovery of additional firearms, including a machine gun, another machine gun conversion device, and a silencer.
Firearms (including machine guns and a short-barreled rifle), firearms parts (including a silencer and high-capacity drum magazines) and other items seized from Singh’s vehicle and residence on June 6, 2025
Officers also discovered a single “pineapple”-style capped and fused hand grenade, as well as what law enforcement believed was a military electronic capped “claymore” mine. The Explosives Ordinance Detail of the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department bomb team destroyed these items at the scene.
Singh was initially facing state charges in San Joaquin County related to these offenses. On July 21, 2025, he failed to appear at a court appearance and the state court issued a bench warrant for his arrest. On July 23, 2025, the FBI received an alert from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection that Singh had booked a ticket to India and was scheduled to depart from the San Francisco International Airport on July 26, 2025. On that date, officers located and arrested Singh at the airport before he could flee. Singh remains in federal custody.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; Enforcement and Removal Operations; Homeland Security Investigations; the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office; the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office Explosive Ordinance Detail; the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit; the Stockton Police Department; and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alex Cárdenas and Adrian Kinsella are prosecuting the case.
If convicted of unlawful dealing in firearms, Singh faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. If convicted of possession and transfer of a machine gun, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and if convicted of unlawful possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle, he faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Former Guam Corrections Officer Sentenced to 120 Months in Federal Prison for Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
Hagåtña – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announces that, Raymond T. Tammed, age 30, from Piti, Guam, was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment in the U.S. District Court of Guam for Attempted Enticement of a Minor, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b). The Court also ordered five years of supervised release and a $100 mandatory assessment fee. Under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, Tammed must register in every jurisdiction he resides, works, and goes to school.
In May of 2024, federal investigators conducted an internet-based operation to identify and arrest individuals seeking to engage in sexual activity with minors on Guam. During that operation, Tammed contacted an undercover agent posing as a 13-year-old girl. Despite believing that he was conversing with an underage girl, Tammed sent sexually explicit messages, sought to arrange a sexual encounter, and sent the undercover agent a selfie and a picture of his genitals. Tammed later arranged to meet the undercover agent at the Andersen Air Force Base Visitors Center, where Tammed was arrested upon arrival.
“This case demonstrates the dangers faced by our children during online activity,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “We will continue these undercover operations to protect our communities from sexual predators. I applaud the efforts of law enforcement in bringing Tammed to justice.”
“Keeping our children safe from exploitation and abuse is the highest priority. By taking predators like Tammed off the street, we are ensuring the safety of the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Lucy Cabral-DeArmas. “HSI will continue to seek justice to keep our children safe with zero tolerance for this heinous crime.”
Investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and Air Force Office of Special Investigations Service, Detachment 602.
This case was prosecuted by Benjamin K. Petersburg, Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Guam.
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.
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Former Federal Prison Employee Admits to Methamphetamine ChargeRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – A former teacher at Federal Corrections Institution Gilmer has admitted to smuggling methamphetamine and other contraband into the prison for an inmate.
Jordyn Peters, age 29, of Burnsville, West Virginia pled guilty to providing a prohibited object in prison – methamphetamine. According to court documents, over a three-month period in 2024, Peters delivered methamphetamine to an inmate in exchange for $4,000 while employed at FCI Gilmer.
Peters faces up to 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Cogar is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Department of Justice Office of Inspector General investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Florida Woman to Pay $400,000 to Settle Allegations of Falsifying Diagnoses in connection with an Amherst Compounding PharmacyRead the Press Release
CONCORD –Georgina Exposito of Florida, owner of 3rd Party Services of Florida, agreed to pay $400,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by submitting false claims to Medicare and TRICARE based on fake medical diagnoses, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.
According to the settlement agreement and the complaint in partial intervention, Exposito and her company altered patients’ medical diagnoses to obtain prior authorizations on behalf of pharmacies, including PerforMix Specialty Pharmacy, a compounding pharmacy located in Amherst. This resulted in the submission of false claims to Medicare and TRICARE.
“Submitting false claims to federal health care programs like Medicare and TRICARE undermines the integrity of our health care system and diverts critical resources away from patients who need them,” said U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack. “Accountability in cases like this helps restore trust in our health care system and ensures taxpayer dollars are protected.”
“The submission of falsified prior authorization requests undermines an important safeguard against unnecessary Medicare costs,” said Special Agent in Charge Roberto Coviello of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “This settlement highlights HHS-OIG’s ongoing commitment to combatting fraud in the taxpayer-funded Medicare program, and we will continue to thoroughly pursue allegations of False Claims Act violations.”
The False Claims Act permits whistleblowers to file civil lawsuits alleging that false claims have been submitted to the United States. This FCA settlement resolves allegations against Georgina Exposito’s company originally brought in a lawsuit filed by a whistleblower. As part of the settlement the whistleblower will receive a portion of the settlement amount.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. The United States’ case against the other defendants named in the complaint in partial intervention continues.
This case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Defense, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Raphael Katz.
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