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Wednesday 30 July 2025
Mexican National Unlawfully Residing in Oregon Faces Federal Charges for Trafficking Large Quantities of Fentanyl and HeroinRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—Gildardo Rivera Garcia, 45, a Mexican national unlawfully residing in Salem, Oregon, has been charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin for trafficking more than 43 pounds of illicit drugs in Oregon.
According to court documents, on July 27, 2025, as part of a drug trafficking and fatal fentanyl overdose investigation, investigators from the Westside Interagency Narcotics (WIN) team, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) executed a federal search warrant on Garcia’s residence in Salem. Investigators located and seized approximately 32 pounds of fentanyl, 11 pounds of heroin, an automated money counter, and cash.
Garcia made his first appearance in federal court Tuesday before a U.S. Magistrate Judge and was ordered detained pending further court proceedings.
This case was investigated by the FBI, HSI, DEA, and WIN. It is being prosecuted by Scott M. Kerin, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 80 to 100 times more powerful than morphine and 30 to 50 times more powerful than heroin. A 2-milligram dose of fentanyl—a few grains of the substance—is enough to kill an average adult male. The wide availability of illicit fentanyl in Oregon has caused a dramatic increase in overdose deaths throughout the state.
If you are in immediate danger, please call 911.
If you or someone you know suffers from addiction, please call the Lines for Life substance abuse helpline at 1-800-923-4357 or visit www.linesforlife.org. Phone support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also text “RecoveryNow” to 839863 between 2pm and 6pm Pacific Time daily.
Mexican National Sentenced for Re-Entry of a Removed AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that LUIS A. GAMA (“GAMA”), age 38, a native of Mexico, was sentenced on July 23, 2025, for re-entry of removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
According to court documents, GAMA, a Mexican national, was found in Tangipahoa Parish on or around April 10, 2025. GAMA had previously been deported to Mexico on September 10, 2019.
At the sentencing hearing, United States District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown, sentenced GAMA to twelve months of imprisonment and one year of supervised release.
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).
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Paul J. Hubbell of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.
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Mexican Man Sentenced for Falsely Claiming U.S. Citizenship in Passport ApplicationRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, Ga. - German Madrigal, a Mexican national, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison following his conviction at trial for falsely claiming that he was a U.S. citizen in an application for a U.S. passport.
“Because Madrigal lied about his foreign citizenship and used a fake birth certificate to try to obtain a U.S. passport, his next trip will be to a federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Madrigal’s sentence sends a message to those who would use fraudulent identity documents to conceal their nationality: you will be caught, prosecuted, and punished.”
“The Diplomatic Security Service is committed to investigating and pursuing anyone who applies for or obtains a United States passport using false documents,” said Acting Director of Diplomatic Security Service Domestic Operations Gregory Batman. “The U.S. passport is the most coveted travel document in the world. There are foreign nationals who attempt to fraudulently acquire U.S. passports to carry out criminal activities, including terrorism, inside our borders. These crimes threaten the national security of the United States.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In 1976, Madrigal was born in Jalisco, Mexico. The following year, Madrigal and his parents crossed into the United States illegally. In the 1990s, Madrigal and his family relocated to Hall County, Georgia, where Madrigal was later arrested for statutory rape and multiple drug trafficking offenses. At the time of those arrests, Madrigal reported Jalisco, Mexico as his place of birth.
On December 9, 2021, Madrigal fraudulently applied for a U.S. passport at a Gainesville, Georgia post office, posing as a U.S. citizen by presenting a Georgia driver’s license and a fraudulently obtained California birth record. Madrigal’s parents obtained the fake birth record to hide Madrigal’s lack of American citizenship, and Madrigal had used the same document in 2010 to evade deportation proceedings.
On April 29, 2025, following a two-day jury trial, Madrigal was convicted of passport fraud.
On July 29, 2025, United States District Judge Steve C. Jones sentenced German Madrigal, 49, of Jalisco, Mexico, to 18 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service.
Assistant United States Attorney Brian Pearce prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Meth Trafficker Sentenced to Nearly 22 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
BOISE – Deann Tackman, 55, of Boise, was sentenced to 262 months in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced today.
According to court records, Tackman was the Idaho arm of a multi-state and multi-national drug trafficking organization. Tackman supplied the Idaho Treasure Valley area with large quantities of methamphetamine over a five-month period prior to her arrest. The investigation, which involved several law enforcement agencies and spanned multiple federal districts, revealed that Tackman distributed over 60 pounds of methamphetamine in the Treasure Valley area a few weeks before her arrest. During the execution of a search warrant at Tackman’s residence, law enforcement located over 36 individually wrapped packages, each containing approximately one pound of methamphetamine, in the gas tank of a vehicle that had just been delivered to her residence.
“Ms. Tackman’s drug trafficking organization flooded our state with immense quantities of dangerous methamphetamine” said Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott. “Fortunately for Idahoans, six law enforcement agencies worked together to dismantle the organization and stop the flow of methamphetamine. This appropriately severe sentence sends the message to drug traffickers that they are not welcome in Idaho.”
“Ms. Tackman preyed on Treasure Valley residents by poisoning our community with large quantities of methamphetamine, leaving a trail of misery in her wake,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “I am proud that DEA and our partners were able to hold her to account for her crime with this lengthy sentence that she richly deserves.”
U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Tackman to serve five years of supervised release following her prison sentence.
Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott commended the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Nampa Police Department Special Investigations Unit, the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, the Boise Police Department, the Meridian Police Department, and the Oregon High Desert Drug Task Force, which led to the charges and arrest. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Morse prosecuted this case.
The DEA Task Force and High Desert Drug Task Force are multi-jurisdictional narcotics task forces that identify, disrupt, and dismantle local, multi-state, and international drug trafficking organizations using an intelligence-driven, multi-agency prosecutor-supported approach. They are supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Marietta Man Convicted of $9.6 Million PPP Loan Fraud and $3.4 Million Tax Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Following a weeklong trial, Carl Delano Torjagbo, a/k/a Karl Lucius Delano, was convicted by a federal jury of bank fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering after obtaining a fraudulent $9.6 million Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan and filing fraudulent tax returns that generated a $3.4 million IRS refund.
“This defendant’s massive PPP fraud abused a valuable program intended to assist struggling Americans during a global pandemic. The defendant then compounded his harm by claiming a fraudulent $3.4 million tax refund,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Torjagbo’s conviction signals my office’s relentless pursuit and prosecution of those engaged in fraud, waste, and abuse at the expense of honest taxpayers.”
“Legitimate PPP loans saved small businesses across our country,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “Torjagbo chose greed over compassion. He will now be held accountable for his actions.”
“Torjagbo defrauded a federal loan program of which its intended use was to assist businesses in covering rent, utility payments, and other job saving needs during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “Taxpayers’ money that should have gone to these businesses instead went to Torjagbo, who then used it to fund his lavish lifestyle. IRS Criminal Investigation special agents, along with our federal and state law enforcement partners, will continue identifying, investigating, and bringing to prosecution individuals and companies who took advantage of a program Americans desperately needed during a period of economic hardship.”
“The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) aggressively pursues those who abuse the tax administration process for unlawful purposes,” said TIGTA Special Agent-in-Charge Joel Weaver. “We appreciate the efforts of our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure individuals engaged in such criminal activity are held accountable to the American people."According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and information presented at trial: On February 13, 2021, Torjagbo submitted two individual tax returns to the IRS. Each tax return was submitted using a different social security number and associated date of birth. The tax returns falsely alleged that Torjagbo had millions of dollars in losses that offset earnings from his purported African gold mine business, Kremkov Industries. The false representations resulted in a U.S. Treasury check being issued to Torjagbo in the amount of $3,366,240.76.
Just days later, on February 16, 2021, Torjagbo signed a PPP loan application requesting a $9,554,425 PPP loan for Kremkov Industries. He falsely certified that Kremkov Industries was in operation on February 15, 2020, which was required for a company to be eligible for a PPP loan; that he had 493 employees whose principal places of residence were in the United States; and that the company had an average monthly payroll of nearly $4 million. Torjagbo also falsely certified that all loan proceeds would be used only for business-related purposes and submitted fraudulent documents to the bank, including false tax returns and fake payroll reports that listed nearly a dozen celebrities and fictional characters as purported employees of Kremkov Industries.
On March 29, 2021, Torjagbo received approximately $9.6 million in PPP loan proceeds. Instead of using it for purposes consistent with the PPP, he commingled the funds with the fraudulently obtained $3.4 million tax refund and paid personal debts and expenses, including the following:
- $1,677,861.01 for his personal residence;
- $332,999.80 for a 2014 Lamborghini Aventador;
- $120,799.79 for a 2022 BMW M850xi;
- $90,520 for a 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Velar;
- $51,000 for the downpayment on a 72-foot yacht;
- over $1,000,000 for real estate, trucks, and trailers to start a new business; and
- more than $15,000 for plastic surgery.
On July 25, 2025, a jury convicted Torjagbo, 49, of Marietta, Georgia, of bank fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. He faces a maximum of 170 years of imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 3, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. before United States District Judge Michael L. Brown.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. The Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General provided considerable assistance.
Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly K. Connors and Nicholas L. Evert are prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Man Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Assault of a Postal EmployeeRead the Press Release
Benjamin Gregory Shirley Assaulted Postal Employee Attempting to Obtain Fentanyl
GRAND RAPIDS – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey announced that Benjamin Gregory Shirley, age 41, of East Lansing, Michigan, was sentenced today to 15 months in prison for assaulting a postal employee.
According to court records, Shirley arranged for fentanyl to be shipped from Tennessee to East Lansing in a U.S. Mail parcel to a P.O. Box that he recently opened. When it arrived at the Post Office in East Lansing, Michigan, Shirley attempted to obtain the parcel, but the parcel was mistakenly addressed to a P.O. Box different than the one Shirley opened. When the United States Postal Service clerk told Shirley she could not give him the parcel, he became agitated and eventually climbed over the counter and attempted to wrestle the parcel from the clerk’s hands. After the altercation, inspectors executed a warrant to search the parcel and found a quantity of fentanyl concealed inside a teddy bear.
“My office stands ready to investigate and prosecute those who assault federal workers; no one should be subject to attack simply for doing their job,” said U.S. Attorney VerHey. “Further, my office is dedicated to combatting fentanyl trafficking, particularly through the U.S. Mail. Postal workers should be able to come to work and do their jobs without the fear of violence or drugs.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is firmly committed to protecting our postal employees and ensuring the safety of every Post Office across the country” said Sean F. McStravick, Acting Inspector in Charge, of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Detroit Division. “This individual, who has a lengthy criminal history, brazenly jumped the counter of a Post Office to retrieve a package later found to contain fentanyl, a reckless act that put postal employees and the public at serious risk. Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of those actions. We will continue to hold offenders accountable and remain focused on our mission to safeguard the mail and the employees who serve the American public every day.”
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Vito S. Solitro prosecuted the case.
Man Charged with Arson of U.S. Post Office in San JoseRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – A criminal complaint was unsealed today charging Richard Tillman with the federal crime of malicious destruction by fire of a U.S. post office in San Jose. Tillman made his initial appearance in federal district court in San Jose today.
According to the criminal complaint, in the early hours of July 20, 2025, Tillman, 44, set fire to the Almaden Valley United States Post Office located on Crown Boulevard in San Jose. Tillman allegedly purchased “instalogs” and lighter fluid and drove to the U.S. post office. The complaint describes that Tillman then placed the instalogs throughout his vehicle, poured lighter fluid over the instalogs, backed his vehicle into the lobby of the U.S. post office, exited the vehicle, and lit the vehicle on fire with a match.
Tillman then allegedly began spray painting the words “Viva La Me” on the outside of the building after starting the fire, but did not finish the graffiti because the heat from the fire was too intense.
The Almaden Valley United States Post Office was partially destroyed by the fire, as depicted below:
The San Jose Fire Department and the San Jose Police Department responded to the fire. Tillman allegedly told law enforcement officers that he set the fire to make a statement to the U.S. government and that he livestreamed the event on YouTube using his phone.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), San Francisco Division Inspector in Charge Stephen M. Sherwood, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Topper, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement.
Tillman is currently in federal custody. He is next scheduled to appear in district court on Aug. 6, 2025, for a status conference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins.
A criminal complaint merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a minimum sentence of five years in prison, and a fine of $250,000 for the charge of malicious destruction of government property by fire in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 844(f)(1). Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael G. Pitman is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Sahib Kaur. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the USPIS, ATF, FBI, and the San Jose Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office appreciates the assistance of the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.
Tillman Complaint
Lawton Man to Serve 30 Years in Federal Prison for Aiding and Abetting in the Production of Child Pornography and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – CHRISTOPHER KYLE BUXTON, 35, of Lawton, has been sentenced to serve 360 months in federal prison for aiding and abetting in the production of child pornography and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public record, between August 2023 and April 30, 2024, Buxton induced others to produce child pornography and possessed child pornography. Public record further reflects that Buxton possessed a large collection of child pornography, distributed child pornography, and caused others to sexually exploit children for his own gratification.
“Securing justice for vulnerable child victims, and holding child predators accountable, remains an unwavering priority for my office and the Justice Department,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. “This 30-year sentence sends a clear and uncompromising message that such heinous crimes will be met with the full force of the law. I commend the relentless efforts of law enforcement and prosecutors who stand firm in protecting our children from the threat posed by this defendant.”
“A sentence of this magnitude reflects the severity of the crimes committed,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater. “I commend the efforts of agents and prosecutors in holding this dangerous predator accountable. He will now spend decades behind bars where he can no longer target children in our communities.”
On December 26, 2024, Buxton was charged by Superseding Information with aiding and abetting in the production of child pornography and possessing child pornography. On January 7, 2025, Buxton pleaded guilty to the Superseding Information and admitted to these offenses.
At the sentencing hearing on July 18, 2025, U.S. District Judge Jodi W. Dishman sentenced Buxton to serve 360 months in federal prison, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, and ordered Buxton to pay $41,500 in restitution. In sentencing Buxton, Judge Dishman stated that Buxton’s conduct was egregious and reprehensible and indicated that the depravity of his conduct was difficult to comprehend. Judge Dishman further noted that Buxton’s sentence must serve a strong retributive purpose.
This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Joynes prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC 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 PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Laplace Man Charged with Bank FraudRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that ERNEST X. TAYLOR, JR. (“TAYLOR”), age 40, a resident of LaPlace, Louisiana, was charged on July 30, 2025 in a superseding bill of information with Bank Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344(2).
According to court documents, between 2019 and 2022, TAYLOR applied for over $400,000 in loans from credit unions and falsely claimed that the funds would be utilized to purchase vehicles. TAYLOR fraudulently applied for loans under other people’s names and did not disclose to the credit unions that the loan proceeds would go to TAYLOR. In furtherance of his scheme, TAYLOR presented materially false documentation to the credit unions, including fraudulent vehicle titles and falsified pay stubs. After receiving the loan proceeds, TAYLOR defaulted on the loans.
If convicted, TAYLOR faces up to thirty years imprisonment, up to five years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that the superseding bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Maria M. Carboni and Edward Rivera of the Financial Crimes Unit are handling the prosecution.
Keizer Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl in Oregon and MontanaRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Keizer, Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison today for trafficking more than 17 pounds of fentanyl and methamphetamine in Oregon and Washington.
Caden Jay Christman, 29, was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release.
According to court documents, on February 21, 2024, as part of a drug trafficking investigation, law enforcement officers in Powell County, Montana, conducted a traffic stop and arrested Christman and his co-conspirator. Officers searched the vehicle, which had multiple hidden compartments, and seized nine pounds of methamphetamine, over 5,000 fentanyl pills, approximately $17,000 in cash, and two loaded firearms.
On February 22 and 26, 2024, investigators executed search warrants on Christman’s residence and seized 15,000 fentanyl pills, four pounds of fentanyl powder, two pounds of methamphetamine, heroin, $21,600 in cash, and twelve firearms.
On April 16, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a four-count indictment charging Christman with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
On February 4, 2025, Christman pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, and the Gresham Police Department. It was prosecuted by Nicole M. Hermann, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 80 to 100 times more powerful than morphine and 30 to 50 times more powerful than heroin. A 2-milligram dose of fentanyl—a few grains of the substance—is enough to kill an average adult male. The wide availability of illicit fentanyl in Oregon has caused a dramatic increase in overdose deaths throughout the state.
If you are in immediate danger, please call 911.
If you or someone you know suffers from addiction, please call the Lines for Life substance abuse helpline at 1-800-923-4357 or visit www.linesforlife.org. Phone support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also text “RecoveryNow” to 839863 between 2pm and 6pm Pacific Time daily.
Justice Department Releases Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful DiscriminationRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Justice released Guidance to ensure that recipients of federal funding do not engage in unlawful discrimination. In particular, it clarifies that federal antidiscrimination laws apply to programs or initiatives that involve discriminatory practices, including those labeled as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (“DEI”) programs. Entities that receive federal funds, like all other entities subject to federal antidiscrimination laws, must ensure that their programs and activities comply with federal law and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, or other protected characteristics—no matter the program’s labels, objectives, or intentions.
“This Department of Justice will not stand by while recipients of federal funds engage in illegal discrimination,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This guidance will ensure we are serving the American people and not ideological agendas.”
“The federal government must ensure that taxpayer money is used lawfully and for the public good,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. “The very foundation of our anti-discrimination laws rests on the principle that every American deserves equal opportunity, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, or other protected characteristics.”
This new Guidance emphasizes the significant legal risks of initiatives that involve discrimination based on protected characteristics and offers non-binding best practices to help entities that receive federal funds avoid the risk of violations and the revocation of federal grant funding.
Read the Guidance HERE.
Jacksonville Convicted Child Sex Offender Indicted for Using the Internet to Access Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Matthew Eric Baumgardner (49, Jacksonville) has been arrested and charged by indictment for using the internet to access child sexual abuse materials. If convicted, Baumgardner faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to 20 years, in federal prison and a potential lifetime term of supervised release. He was arrested on July 28, 2025, and has been ordered detained pending trial.
Baumgardner is a registered child sex offender who was convicted in 2017 of possessing photographs depicting the sexual performance by a child, traveling to meet a minor for unlawful activity, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
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 is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify, rescue, and seek justice for child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Illegal Alien Sentenced to More than 19 Years in Prison for Role in Trafficking More than 100 Pounds of Cocaine from Texas to OhioRead the Press Release
AKRON, Ohio – A criminal illegal alien from Mexico who supplied Cleveland-area drug traffickers with more than 100 pounds of cocaine has been sentenced to prison.
Dionicio Galindo-Salinas, age 49, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to 235 months (more than 19 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams after pleading guilty in April to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Judge Adams imposed the sentence July 28, 2025.
According to court records, Galindo-Salinas is a Mexican national who had previously been removed from the United States. Another co-conspirator Earl King, age 45, of Cleveland, regularly traveled more than 1,600 miles to the US-Mexico border to purchase bulk quantities of cocaine from Galindo-Salinas. After purchasing the cocaine, King would ship it to the Cleveland area through a UPS-Staples store in Brownsville, Texas. Investigators discovered records indicating that King had been making these longs treks from Cleveland to Brownsville since approximately 2020, and that King had purchased at least 47 kilograms (more than 100 pounds) of cocaine from Galindo-Salinas during the conspiracy. According to testimony from the lead federal investigator, the estimated street value of 47 kilograms of cocaine in the Cleveland area would have been more than $2 million during the timeframe of the conspiracy.
“Anyone who thinks they can use Northern Ohio as a marketplace to peddle illegal drugs on behalf of transnational criminal organizations will face consequences,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “We are fully committed to protecting the public by aggressively enforcing federal laws to keep our communities safe.”
“ICE HSI will continue to investigate, disrupt and dismantle cross border drug trafficking organizations that seek to poison our communities,” said ICE HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “I’m proud of the agents, prosecutors and law enforcement partners who relentlessly pursued justice in this case in order to safeguard the communities where they live and work.”
Galindo-Salinas is the fourth defendant to be convicted and sentenced in the investigation. Earl King was previously sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to his role in the conspiracy. Co-conspirator Curtis Anderson, who was involved in obtaining the cocaine and reselling it in the Cleveland area, was previously sentenced to 25 years in prison after being convicted by a jury at trial. A third co-conspirator, Donnell Gochett, age 42, of Cleveland, who provided King with addresses in Cleveland where the cocaine parcels could be shipped, was previously sentenced to 100 months (over eight years) in prison after pleading guilty.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with assistance from the DEA Cleveland Field Office and the Cleveland Division of Police.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys James P. Lewis and Yasmine Makridis for the Northern District of Ohio.
Illegal Alien Indicted for Two Death Penalty Eligible Offenses after Attempted CarjackingRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – This afternoon, a federal grand jury in Tucson returned a five-count indictment against Julio Cesar Aguirre, 42, of Mexico, for Attempted Carjacking Resulting in Death, Use or Carrying of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence Causing Death, Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Alien, Reentry of a Removed Alien, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
The first two counts carry a maximum penalty of life in prison or death.
According to court filings, Aguirre shot and killed a male driver with a 9mm caliber handgun, while attempting to carjack the victim’s Toyota Tundra on the morning of June 30, in Tucson, Arizona.
Shortly after the attempted carjacking, Tucson Police Department (TPD) officers found Aguirre hiding in a nearby shed. Aguirre, a Mexican citizen, who was previously removed from the United States in 2013, was living in the country illegally at the time of the shooting. When he was arrested, TPD officers discovered a Smith & Wesson 9mm caliber pistol within Aguirre’s reach. As a convicted felon and as an illegal alien, Aguirre was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
“The focus in this case should be on the senseless loss of the victim and the pain that loss creates for his family and friends. Our criminal laws exist to protect our community, and the United States has an obligation to enforce those laws,” said United States Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “The alleged series of crimes in the indictment, starting with illegal immigration, escalating to prohibited possession of a firearm, and culminating in the death of an innocent individual, is why the United States Attorney’s Office takes this matter so seriously.”
“This indictment represents a meaningful step toward accountability and justice for the victim, their loved ones, and all those affected by the tragic events in early July,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke. “The allegations in this case involve a senseless act of violence that claimed an innocent life and deeply impacted our community. Carjacking resulting in death is a serious federal offense. The FBI, in partnership with the Tucson Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, remains dedicated to pursuing justice and ensuring public safety.”
A conviction for Illegal Alien in Possession of a Firearm or Felon in Possession of a Firearm each carries a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in prison. A conviction for Illegal Reentry carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
The federal prosecution of this case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
TPD and the FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson office conducted the investigation in this case, with assistance from the Southern Arizona Violent Crime and Gang Task Force. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
CASE NUMBER: CR-25-3393-TUC-RM-MAA
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-128_Aguirre Indictment# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Honduran National Sentenced for Illegal Re-Entry of a Removed AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that, DARWIN XAVIER GONZALEZ-MUNOZ (“GONZALEZ-MUNOZ”), age 30, was sentenced on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, by United States District Judge Lance M. Africk, after previously pleading guilty to illegal re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
GONZALEZ-MUNOZ was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment to be served consecutively.
According to court records, GONZALEZ-MUNOZ re-entered the United States after being previously deported on or about June 24, 2024.
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.
Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson praisedthe work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Enforcement Removal Operations. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mary Katherine Kaufman of the General Crimes Unit.
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Honduran National Sentenced for Re-Entry of a Deported AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that CARLOS MASARIEGO ROSALES (“ROSALES”), age 48, a native of Honduras, was sentenced on July 22, 2025, after previously pleading guilty to illegal re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
According to court documents, ROSALES, a Honduran national, was found in Jefferson Parish on or around March 30, 2025. He had previously been deported to Honduras on November 20, 2006.
ROSALES was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Wendy B. Vitter to time served and one year of supervised release, as well as payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
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).
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Paul J. Hubbell of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.
Hays man sentenced to 4 years in prison on gun chargesRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Hays man who possessed illegal firearms was sentenced today to 48 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Wylon Alfred Plainfeather, 54, pleaded guilty in March 2025 to one count of possession of an unregistered firearm and one count of possession of an unregistered silencer.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on December 27, 2022, law enforcement officers responded to a Billings residence to search for a probationer. The probationer was not present, but officers searched the house and found three firearms in the basement.
As law enforcement was preparing to leave the residence following the search, Plainfeather pulled into the driveway. He admitted owning all three guns and acknowledged one was a sawed-off shotgun and another, a .22 caliber rifle, had a tube on it. Plainfeather said he fired the gun with the tube and claimed it was not very effective at making it quieter. He said he got all the firearms from the reservation and that he traded for them. Law enforcement officers confirmed the firearms were in operable condition but not registered to Plainfeather (or anyone else) in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Hendricks prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the ATF, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, and Montana Probation and Parole.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Harrison County Doctor Sentenced for Unlawful Distribution of Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Harrison County doctor, Michael Gainey, 70, was sentenced on Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove to 80 months in prison, after previously pleading guilty to seven counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
According to his plea agreement, Gainey practiced as a family medicine specialist in Harrison County. In that role, Gainey treated and prescribed controlled substances to a number of patients with whom he maintained personal relationships. Gainey knew that the prescriptions he issued to these patients were outside the scope of legitimate medical practice, in part because of the ongoing relationships he maintained with these patients and because Gainey relaxed applicable prescribing standards for these patients. Gainey issued unlawful controlled substance prescriptions for hydrocodone, oxycodone, gabapentin, and other controlled substances to at least seven patients with whom he had ongoing relationships; his misconduct began as early as 2015 and continued through the fall of 2023.
Under federal law, Gainey must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
“While the nature of the opioid epidemic in Kentucky has changed, bad prescriptions for these highly addictive drugs continue to be contributing factor,” said Acting United States Attorney Paul McCaffrey. “Solving this crisis requires a zero-tolerance policy for physicians like Dr. Gainey who intentionally abuse their prescribing authority.”
“The vast majority of doctors take their oath to first do no harm very seriously, but every now and then we arrest one that is just a drug dealer in a white lab coat, like Dr. Gainey,” said Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott, head of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Louisville Division. “Dr. Gainey chose to put his own needs above those of his patients and now he will have to answer for his misdeeds.”
Acting U.S. Attorney McCaffrey, DEA Special Agent in Charge Scott, and Director Mark Burden, Bluegrass Narcotics Taskforce, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA and the Bluegrass Narcotics Taskforce. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy Boone is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Gulfport Man Sentenced to 87 Months for Possession of Videos and Images of Minors Engaging in Sexually Explicit ConductRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – A Gulfport, Mississippi man was sentenced yesterday to 87 months in prison, followed by twenty-five years of supervised release, for possessing images and videos of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
In 2020, Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) in Gulfport learned that Nicholas Snyder, a now 29-year-old male, was in possession of images and videos of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. In May 2020, HSI and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, Cybercrime Division, seized the defendant’s cellphone.
A forensic examiner with the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, Cybercrime Division, conducted a forensic extraction on those devices. The evidence showed Snyder possessed multiple images of children engaging in sexually explicit conduct, including children under the age of five years old.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Eric P. DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, Cybercrime Division.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lee Smith and Andrea Jones 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 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.
Guatemalan National Guilty of Illegal Re-Entry into the United StatesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that RUBEN URIZAR-BETETA, age 49, a citizen of Guatemala, pled guilty and was sentenced on July 15, 2025, for illegal re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
According to court records, RUBEN URIZAR-BETETA illegally re-entered the United States sometime prior to March 23, 2025, after having been previously removed on or about September 30, 2014.
RUBEN URIZAR-BETETA was sentenced to 30 months unsupervised probation and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Irene González of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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).
Gregg County man sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for trafficking fentanylRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A Longview man who sold fake prescription drugs has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Kym Andrew Wallace, also known as Trigga, 28, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl resulting in death and was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on July 30, 2025.
According to information presented in court, Wallace admitted to selling what were supposed to be prescription pills, which a 17-year-old juvenile consumed them and died from a fentanyl overdose on May 29, 2024. Following the overdose of the juvenile victim, investigators analyzed pills purchased from Wallace and determined they contained fentanyl. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid commonly used as an analgesic or anesthetic that is 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The pills purchased from Wallace were round and light blue, bearing the markings “M” and “30,” which are the same manufacturer’s markings for 30 milligram tablets of generic oxycodone.
“Thirty years in a federal prison cannot compare to the lifetime sentence of grief that the victim’s family faces as the result of Wallace’s actions,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. “Wallace deserves every day of this 360-month sentence. Our office, and our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively work to protect our communities from drug traffickers like Wallace.”
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 was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Gregg County Sheriff’s Office; and Longview Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucas Machicek.
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Grayson County man sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamineRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas – A Sherman man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Ryan Deshaun Edd, 37, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III, on July 30, 2025.
According to information presented in court, in November 2022, law enforcement received information that Edd was trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine in the Grayson County area. On November 16, 2022, Edd’s vehicle was stopped for traffic violations on U.S. Highway 75 in Sherman. Zacheriah Alexander, of Denison, was driving the vehicle and Edd was a backseat passenger. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement officers located a large plastic bag containing 1.22 kilograms of methamphetamine and a loaded revolver. Further investigation revealed that Alexander had been working with Edd to sell methamphetamine for approximately six months before being arrested. Alexander was previously sentenced by Judge Mazzant to 135 months in federal prison for his role in the offense. Edd will begin serving his federal prison sentence after he completes a 45-year state sentence for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon committed in Sherman in January of 2023.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sherman Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson.
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Grand jury indicts Buffalo man on multiple drug chargesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Jaime Smith, 37, of Buffalo, NY, with narcotics conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and crack cocaine. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $10,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Donna Duncan, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, between January 2022, and May 2024, Smith conspired with others to possess and sell methamphetamine, fentanyl, and crack cocaine.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The indictment is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarantino, III, New York Field Division, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie P. Feroleto.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Georgia Man Sentenced to 5 Years Probation Including 2 Years Home Confinement for Money Laundering During Internet ScamsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced today that EMMANUEL UGBAJA (“UGBAJA”), age 56, of Duluth, Georgia, was sentenced by United States District Judge Darrel James Papillion to 5 years probation with two years of home confinement, after previously pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.
Court records show that in 2018, two persons were victimized by two separate internet scams – one victim from Kansas sent money to an unknown co-conspirator posing as a love interest in a “romance scam,” and the other victim from California sent money to a person posing as an attorney in an “inheritance scam.” At the direction of the co-conspirators, the victims were told to send the funds to a bank account controlled by UGBAJA. UGBAJA retained a portion of the funds for himself and then sent the victims’ funds, in the total amount of $60,000, to a local maritime broker as part of a down payment for the unrelated purchase of a vessel.
In addition to probation and home confinement, UGBAJA was ordered to pay restitution of over $97,000 to the two fraud victims and over $135,000 to the Small Business Administration for uncharged CARES Act COVID-19 funding fraud, in addition to a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
This indictment is part of an ongoing national effort by the Department of Justice to address online fraud schemes often based overseas that target U.S. citizens. The public is encouraged to report potential online fraud activity or scams to the Federal Bureau of Investigation at https://www.ic3.gov/.
The United States Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation with this matter. The prosecution of this case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera of the Financial Crimes Unit.
Galveston man sentenced to federal prison for trafficking drugs through the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Galveston man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Alan Anthony Gomez, 29, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on July 30, 2025.
According to information presented in court, in November 2022, Gomez was the passenger in a vehicle stopped for a traffic violation in Liberty County. There was an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and the driver and passenger gave conflicting stories of where they had been. A search of the vehicle revealed marijuana, air fresheners, and bundles containing nine kilograms of powder cocaine. Gomez told law enforcement the bundles were cocaine and not fentanyl.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Grove.
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Four Members and Associates of Paterson Based Gang Known as “4K” Indicted for Violent Crime in Aid of Racketeering for their Role in a ShootingRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Four members of the Paterson based neighborhood street gang known as “4K” were indicted for their roles in a shooting, Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.
The Superseding Indictment charges Jatrail Avent, a/k/a “Curry” (“Avent”); Shequan Roberts, a/k/a “Shingy” (“Roberts”); Jahmir Moody, a/k/a “Jahdi” (“Moody”); and Wizair Johnson, a/k/a “Wababy” (“Johnson”), all of Paterson with one count of committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering activity and one count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The Superseding Indictment also incorporates individual firearms charges, which were previously charged in the Indictment.
These charges are the result of a long-running investigation coordinated between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office, among other law enforcement agencies.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Avent, Roberts, Moody, and Johnson are all members and associates of the neighborhood based street gang known as “4K,” which operates in the area of Rosa Parks Boulevard near Lyon Street, Keen Street, and Mercer Streets in Paterson, New Jersey (the “4K Enterprise”). These members and associates of the 4K Enterprise have engaged in numerous criminal acts in furtherance of their gang, including shootings, robberies, homicides, and drug trafficking. Members and associates of the 4K Enterprise have engaged in acts of violence against members of rival gangs.
On or about November 6, 2022, Avent, Roberts, Moody, and Johnson opened fire on members of a rival gang, called the 230 Boyz, who were inside a van, as part of a dispute between 4K and the 230 Boyz.
The defendants face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on the violent crime in aid of racketeering charge, and a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison on the firearm offense, which must run consecutively to any other sentence imposed. Both offenses carry a maximum fine of $250,000.
Acting U.S. Attorney Habba credited law enforcement members with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks, Jr.; the New Jersey State Police, Gangs and Organized Crime North Unit, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan; the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Thomas Adamo; the Paterson Police Department, under the direction of Officer In Charge Patrick Murray, with the investigation leading to yesterday’s charges.
This case is part of the Paterson Violent Crime Initiative (VCI), which was formed in 2020 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, and the City of Paterson’s Department of Public Safety for the purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Paterson. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate and pool resources to prosecute violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals, the Paterson Department of Public Safety, the Paterson Police Department, the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office, N.J. State Parole, Bergen County Jail, N.J. State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center, and N.J. Department of Corrections.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Sussman and Dan Rosenblum of the U.S Attorney’s Office Narcotics/OCDETF Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the Superseding Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Defense counsel:
Jatrail Avent – Michael T Simon
Shequan Roberts - Richard J. Verde
Jahmir Moody - Ernesto Cerimele
Wizair Johnson - Mary Toscano
avent.indictment.pdfFort Thompson Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Shulte, has sentenced a man from Fort Thompson, South Dakota, who had been convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on July 29, 2025.
Stuart Dion, age 41, was sentenced to time served through August 4, 2025, equal to 11.5 months in custody, followed by five years of supervise release, and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Dion was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2025. He pleaded guilty on July 14, 2025.
Dion is required to register as a sex offender under federal law due to a prior federal conviction for Sexual Abuse of a Minor. Dion has been convicted of Failure to Register in the past. Following his release from prison on the most recent conviction, Dion registered an address in Ft. Thompson, SD, on the Crow Creek Sioux Indian Reservation in March 2024. On April 11, 2024, Dion moved from his registered address and knowingly failed to update his registration with authorities as required by law.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshal’s Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.
Former and Present Owners of Standish Surveying Company Plead Guilty in Scheme to Defraud the United States Department of Transportation, Corporation to Enter Compliance Agreement and Pay $1.1 million in Connection with the SchemeRead the Press Release
BAY CITY – Anthony Thelen, current co-owner and executive of Surveying Solutions Inc. (SSI), a surveying firm based in Standish, Michigan, and Adam Ball, a former owner and executive of SSI, have pleaded guilty today to defrauding the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) through the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. announced. United States Attorney Gorgon also announced that SSI has agreed to enter a non-prosecution agreement with the United States, enabling the corporation to avoid criminal prosecution in exchange for enhanced internal controls, corporate reporting requirements, and a criminal monetary penalty.
Gorgon is joined in this announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Michigan Division, and Anthony Licari, Special Agent in Charge United States Department of Transportation – Midwestern Region.
Adam Ball, 48, of Saginaw, Michigan and Anthony Thelen, 47, of Pewamo, Michigan, pleaded guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Defraud the United States. On July 28, 2025, their co-defendants Jeffrey Bartlett, Brian Bartlett, and Andrew Semenchuk pleaded guilty. According to facts made public at the plea hearings, from approximately February 2011 through July 2019, Adam Ball and Anthony Thelen, along with their co-defendants, owned and operated SSI, a surveying company that was directly or indirectly awarded millions of dollars in highway construction contracts by MDOT. Those contracts were funded almost entirely by federal funds through USDOT. In the course of seeking and participating in MDOT contracts and reimbursement for work performed on those contracts, Ball, Thelen, and their co-defendants engaged in fraudulent overbilling resulting in MDOT making millions of dollars of overpayments to SSI, a large portion of which Ball, Thelen and their co-defendants distributed among themselves. The fraudulent overbilling included reporting false and non-existent employee and information technology costs, reporting improper and inflated equipment and real property lease costs, and concealing the true ownership of and control over the SSI entities to justify the overbillings.
Under the terms of the non-prosecution agreement SSI has entered with the United States Attorney’s Office, SSI has agreed to, among other things, enter into an enhanced compliance program, to report to the government regarding remediation and implementation of their enhanced compliance program, and to pay $1.1 million in a monetary penalty. If SSI satisfies the terms of the agreement, the company will not be charged criminally.
The United States Attorney’s Office reached this agreement with SSI based on numerous factors, among those the fact that SSI cooperated with federal agencies investigating the case and that SSI has implemented extensive remedial measures, including reorganizing under new management, and establishing a compliance program to detect and prevent similar fraud in the future.
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Karen L. Reyolds, T. Patrick Martin, William Vailliencourt, and K. Craig Welkener.
npa_ssi_-_executed_7-30-2025.pdfFormer NBA Star, Suspected Israeli Crime Figure Arrested on Federal Indictment Alleging High-Stakes Illegal Poker Games at Encino MansionRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas and five other defendants – including a suspected high-level member of an Israeli transnational organized crime group – were arrested today on a federal indictment alleging they operated an illegal gambling business in which high-stakes poker games were played at an Encino mansion Arenas owned.
Arenas, 43, a.k.a. “Agent Zero,” of Woodland Hills, is charged with one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, one count of operating an illegal gambling business, and one count of making false statements to federal investigators.
He is scheduled to make his initial appearance and be arraigned this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
Also charged in the indictment and arrested today in connection with the illegal gambling business charges are:
- Yevgeni Gershman, 49, a.k.a. “Giora,” of Woodland Hills; a suspected organized crime figure from Israel;
- Evgenni Tourevski, 48, a.k.a. “Eugene,” of Tarzana;
- Allan Austria, 52, a.k.a. “Elica,” of West Hills;
- Yarin Cohen, 27, a.k.a. “YC,” of Tarzana; and
- Ievgen Krachun, 43, of Tarzana.
Each of these defendants is charged with one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and one count of operating an illegal gambling business. Their initial appearances and arraignments are scheduled for this afternoon in United States District Court in Los Angeles.
According to the indictment returned on July 15 and unsealed today, from September 2021 to July 2022, Gershman, Arenas, and the other defendants operated an illegal gambling business. Arenas rented out an Encino mansion he owned for the purpose of hosting high-stakes illegal poker games. At Arenas’ direction, Arthur Kats, 51, of West Hollywood, staged the mansion to host the games, found co-conspirators to host the games, and collected rent from the co-conspirators on Arenas’ behalf.
Gershman, Tourevski, Austria, and Cohen managed illegal “Pot Limit Omaha” poker games, among other illegal games, at the Encino mansion, collected a “rake” – a fee the house charged from each pot either as a percentage or a fixed amount per hand – and invited players to compete.
Gershman hired young women who, in exchange for tips, served drinks, provided massages, and offered companionship to the poker players. The women were charged a “tax” – a percentage of their earnings from working the games. Chefs, valets, and armed security guards also were hired to staff these illegal poker games.
Krachun worked as a “chip runner,” in which he tracked players’ wins and losses, distribute poker chips to players, and pay employees.
Gershman, an Israeli citizen, also is charged along with Valentina Cojocari, 35, of Woodland Hills, with three additional counts – conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, marriage fraud, and making a false statement on an immigration document. In early 2022, Gershman conspired with Cojocari to enter into a sham marriage for the purposes of obtaining permanent legal status in the United States and lied to immigration authorities to procure legal status for Gershman, who provided financial support to Cojocari in exchange for her participation in the sham marriage.
Both Gershman and Cojocari submitted false information on their U.S. immigration forms, including Gershman’s answers of “no” as to whether he had ever been detained by any law enforcement official and as to whether he intended to engage in illegal gambling or any other form of commercialized vice.
Cojocari also was arrested today and is scheduled to make her initial appearance and be arraigned this afternoon in United States District Court in Los Angeles.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
If convicted, the defendants would face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each count.
Homeland Security Investigations’ Northridge Office, the Los Angeles Police Department’s Major Crimes Division – Transnational Organized Crime Section, and IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Samuel J. Diaz of the Transnational Organized Crime Section is prosecuting this case. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan J. Waters of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section is handling the asset forfeiture-related portion of this case.
Former Manager Charged with Embezzling $500,000 from Gainesville Trucking CompanyRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, Ga. – A former operations manager at Tribe Transportation, Dustin Jarrard, was arraigned on federal charges after he allegedly embezzled more than half a million dollars from the company.
“Jarrard allegedly stole more than $500,000 that was intended to help truckers on the road,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “We will hold accountable those who abuse their positions of trust and embezzle funds for their personal use.”
“This case is a clear example of financial fraud fueled by greed,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Jarrard allegedly manipulated internal processes to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars. The FBI is committed to uncovering and stopping this kind of corporate theft.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: From May 2018 through May 2024, Dustin Jarrard served as an operations manager for Tribe Transportation, a large trucking business located in Gainesville, Georgia. As an operations manager, Jarrard had the authority to request expense reimbursements on truck drivers’ behalf. To submit a request, Jarrard would send the company’s accounting department the driver’s name, the reason for the expense, and the amount of the reimbursement.
Over the course of more than three years, Jarrard sent fraudulent reimbursement requests to Tribe Transportation. In certain cases, Jarrard requested reimbursement for drivers who were not actually employed by the company, which resulted in payments Jarrard personally redeemed for his own use. In other cases, Jarrard enlisted Tribe Transportation drivers in his scheme and falsely submitted payment requests for expenses never incurred and layover bonuses that were not earned. After receiving funds that were not owed to them, the drivers transferred some of the money to Jarrard for his personal use.
Dustin Jarrard, 38, of Gainesville, Ga., was arraigned yesterday before United States Magistrate Judge Anna W. Howard after he was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 22, 2025 for wire fraud.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Keen is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Floridians sentenced to federal prison in the Eastern District of Texas for conspiring to defraud military retail exchanges across the nationRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas – Two Floridians have been sentenced to federal prison in a fraud scheme targeting military retail exchanges, announced Eastern District of Texas Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Gilda Rosenberg, 60, of Golden Beach, Florida, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on July 30, 2025. Judge Mazzant also ordered Rosenberg to pay restitution of over $1.6 million.
Amit Biegun, 46, of Aventura, Florida, was also sentenced to 30 months in federal prison by Judge Mazzant on June 24, 2025.
According to information presented in court, Rosenberg was the president and owner of Gilly USA, Inc., GBR Enterprises, Inc., and Gilly Vending, Inc., and Biegun was the chief financial officer of Gilly Vending.
The Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) is a government entity under the Department of Defense (DoD), responsible for operating stores located on U.S. Army bases, known as Post Exchanges (PX), and U.S. Air Force bases, known as Base Exchanges (BX). These stores provide retail services to military service members, veterans, and their families. AAFES is self-funded, operating mostly through the revenue of its sales of goods and services. AAFES stores and locations typically host a variety of vendors, also called concessionaires.
Beginning in 2016, AAFES awarded Gilly Vending over 20 contracts to provide vending services, snack contracts, beverage contracts, and micro-markets at military installations in California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Texas. Depending on the size and location, these individual contracts generated anywhere from $24,000 to $1 million annually. As part of the contracts, Gilly Vending paid commissions to AAFES based on those sales. Rosenberg and Biegun conspired to defraud AAFES by significantly underreporting sales figures resulting in a loss of commissions fees to AAFES.
“The Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) is an integral part of the Department of Defense, providing vital services to our military service members, veterans, and their families,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. “By stealing from AAFES, the defendants have stolen from the United States taxpayer and those who served their country with honor and distinction. This sentence sends a strong message that this kind of fraud and abuse will not be tolerated.”
“The Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) and our law enforcement partners will methodically investigate allegations of fraud and corruption that impact the DoD and America’s warfighters,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Chad Gosch, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, DCIS Southwest Field Office. “Today’s outcome reflects our unwavering commitment to ensuring the integrity of the DoD contracting process and holding accountable those who illegally enrich themselves at the taxpayer’s expense.”
“Today’s sentencing should serve as a stark reminder that our agents, and those of our partner law enforcement agencies, are relentless in their pursuit of those who choose to defraud the government,” said Special Agent in Charge John McCabe of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Mid-Central Field Office. “Army CID remains committed to protecting the resources that support our service members and their families.”
“The Department of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) is undeterred from hunting down fraud impacting the goods and services supporting our military community worldwide” said Special Agent in Charge Nicholas J. Groesbeck, OSI Procurement Fraud Detachment 3, San Antonio, TX. “We appreciate the efforts of our joint partners who ensure those violating the law are held accountable.”
This case was investigated by the Department of Defense (DoD); Defense Criminal Investigative Services (DCIS); the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division (DACID); the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI); and Army Air Force Exchange Services – Office of General Counsel. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson.
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Five Co-Conspirators Plead Guilty to Smuggling Contraband into the D.C. JailRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – LaTara Brown, 31, of Capitol Heights, Maryland, Kiya Holland, 33, of Oxon Hill, Maryland, Darius Robertson, 31, of Washington, D.C., Marcel Vines, 28, of Washington, D.C., and Stefon Freshley, 28 of Washington, D.C. have all pleaded guilty in a conspiracy to provide a knife, cell phones, and fentanyl and other controlled substances to inmates in the D.C. jail as they awaited trial for murder and assault with intent to kill while armed. The pleas were announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Brown, Holland, Robertson, Vines and Freshley pleaded guilty in District Court. They were previously indicted on November 14, 2024 for providing or possessing contraband in a prison, as well as conspiring to do so. The sixth co-conspirator, Rashaad Roper, 45, of Gaithersburg, MD is set to go to trial.
As part of the plea, Brown, Holland, Robertson, Vines and Freshley admitted to their role in the conspiracy which included Holland and Brown admitting to packaging contraband, such as a knife, cell phones, and controlled substances to include fentanyl, into Tupperware containers which would then be brought to the Central Detention Facility, also known as the D.C. Jail. Robertson, Vines, and/or Freshley, who were inmates inside the housing unit, admitted to receiving the contraband from Officer Roper or another corrections officer after they were smuggled into the jail.
Sentencings are scheduled for August 13, 2025 (Vines), September 5, 2025 (Holland), September 16, 2025 (Robertson), September 25, 2025 (Freshley), and October 21, 2025 (Brown). Each defendant faces a statutory maximum sentence of 5 years in prison for conspiracy to provide or possess contraband in a prison. Judge Timothy J. Kelly will determine the appropriate sentence at each of the respective sentencings.
Joining in the announcement was FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis and Chief Investigator Kevin L. Hammond of the D.C. Department of Corrections Office of Investigative Services.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the D.C. Department of Corrections Office of Investigative Services with the assistance of the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Gold and Sarah Santiago.
Federal grand jury indicts former Rochester couple for defrauding VA out of hundreds of thousands of dollarsRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Michael Joyce, 53, and Sarah Joyce, aka Sarah Shultis, 33, both formerly of Rochester, NY, now living in New Jersey, with theft of government funds, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to defraud the United States. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas M. Testani, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment and a previously filed complaint, in April 2016, Michael Joyce submitted claims for disability compensation to the Department of Veterans Affairs for several purported disabilities, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and a back issue. Following multiple consultations and examinations for these various issues, Michael Joyce was awarded a 100% disability rating for reported PTSD, 30% for his reported symptoms of TBI, and 40% for his back. In February 2018, he applied for a status of permanent and total disability (PTD), which removes an individual’s obligation to continue getting re-evaluated for various disabilities and makes them eligible for other veteran benefits. In his Statement in Support of Claim, Michael Joyce asserted, “Every disability that I have either is the same but will not get better or has gotten worse.” He stated that his PTSD has not improved, that he is more housebound, and feels that he will die if he goes outside. Michael Joyce was subsequently granted a PTD status in April 2018.
In November 2017, the couple applied for Sarah Joyce, as Michael Joyce’s proposed caregiver, to receive payments through the VA Caregiver Support Program (CSP), claiming that Michael Joyce is wholly reliant on Sarah Joyce for multiple life tasks, including feeding, bathing, and dressing. Sarah Joyce was approved and received a retroactive payment of $8,345.82 and began to receive $2,890.14 per month for the care of Joyce. As of March 2024, Sarah Joyce has received over $250,000.
A review of Michael Joyce’s Army personnel file and during interviews with former members of his unit, investigators found multiple inconsistencies in his claims. Unit members described Michael Joyce as having never been deployed to a combat zone. Subsequent investigation and surveillance documented, on multiple occasions, Michael Joyce walking with no apparent difficulty or assistance, driving a motor vehicle, and performing household maintenance tasks, including climbing a ladder and snow shoveling.
The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Amy Connelly, and the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Christopher F. Algieri, Northeast Field Office.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Federal Jury Convicts Texas Man of Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Jorge Luis Guerrero, of Socorro, Texas, was found guilty by a federal jury in Pittsburgh of possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The jury returned its verdict on July 29, 2025, after deliberating for five-and-a-half hours following a six-day trial.
Guerrero, 39, was tried before Senior United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti.
The evidence presented at trial established that Guerrero transported five kilograms of cocaine to the Western District of Pennsylvania hidden in a secret compartment in the bumper of a vehicle registered to his wife. Accessing the cocaine required removing the bumper cover and bumper of the vehicle and then additional metal plates that concealed the compartment housing the cocaine.
Judge Conti scheduled sentencing for December 10, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based on the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorneys Robert C. Schupansky and V. Joseph Sonson prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
Agents and task force officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as personnel from the Socorro Police Department, United States Customs and Border Protection, and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, assisted in the trial.
Federal Correctional Officer Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Federal Prison for Accepting Bribes and Introducing Contraband into PrisonRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Samuel Brandon Smith (38, Ocala) to three years and one month in federal prison receipt of a bribe by a public official and providing contraband to a federal prisoner. The court also ordered Smith to forfeit $43,901, which represents the proceeds of these offenses. Smith pleaded guilty in February 2025.
According to court records, Smith was a correctional officer with the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and worked at the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex (FCC Coleman) in Sumter County. As an employee of a government agency, Smith was a “public official” under federal law. Between December 18, 2023, and September 4, 2024, Smith received $43,901 in bribes to smuggle contraband into FCC Coleman for inmates. On September 4, 2024, when Smith reported to work at FCC Coleman, staff members searched him and found 668 grams of marijuana and other controlled substances hidden within his duty vest. Smith was smuggling this contraband into the facility with the intent to distribute it to federal prisoners in exchange for monetary payments.
This case was investigated by the United States Department of Justice - Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson.
Ecuadorian National Sentenced for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Ecuadorian national was sentenced today for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.
Luis Ernesto Caguana-Caguana, 33, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to time served (approximately 37 days in prison). Caguana-Caguana is now subject to deportation proceedings. Earlier in the hearing, Caguana-Caguana pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien.
Caguana-Caguana was most recently deported from the United States on March 6, 2014. Sometime after his March 2014 removal, Caguana-Caguana illegally reentered the United States without permission.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra W. Amrhein of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Drug Trafficker Sentenced to More Than 15 Years for Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Kevin Ray Marcano (37, Cambridge, MA) to 15 years and 8 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, specifically 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. Marcano pleaded guilty on April 22, 2025.
According to court documents, in March 2022, Marcano began supplying methamphetamine across the country by shipping multi-pound packages to known customers, including an individual in Jacksonville. From March 2022 to July 2023, Marcano sent approximately 5 packages each containing about 10 pounds of methamphetamine to the Jacksonville customer. In September 2023, the same individual called Marcano and ordered another shipment of four pounds of methamphetamine in exchange for $4,900. Within five days of placing the order from Marcano, the four-pound shipment of methamphetamine arrived.
“This criminal was responsible to shipping large quantities of methamphetamine across the country, fueling addiction and poisoning communities far beyond his own,” said Homeland Security Investigations Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tim Hemker. “Thanks to the dedicated efforts of HSI and FBI special agents, this individual’s nationwide narcotics distribution network has been dismantled.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Milliron.
Dominican National Indicted for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Dominican national deported in 2021 after being convicted in federal court on a heroin trafficking charge and serving a 60-month prison sentence has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Rhode Island on a charge of illegal reentry, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Wandy Alcibiades Diaz-Diaz, 45, most recently came to the attention of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through an automated biometric fingerprint match of fingerprints entered into the National Crime Enforcement Center in January 2025, following his arrest on multiple state drug charges. Subsequently, Diaz-Diaz was convicted in Rhode Island Superior Court on multiple drug charges and is currently at the ACI serving a term of 66 months of incarceration.
The current case in federal court is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S Attorney Ronald R. Gendron.
The matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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).
Dermatology Providers Agree to Pay Nearly $850,000 to Resolve Allegations of False Wound Repair ClaimsRead the Press Release
Forefront Dermatology S.C. and Henghold Surgery Center LLC, have agreed to pay $847,394 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly causing the submission of falsely coded claims to Medicare for wound repair procedures.
Forefront owns and operates a dermatology practice in Florida doing business as Henghold Dermatology. Henghold Surgery Center is an ambulatory surgery center that closed in 2023, and is wholly owned by William B. Henghold, M.D. Both the practice and surgery center performed wound repair procedures following Mohs micrographic surgery, a method of skin cancer removal.
The United States alleged that Henghold Dermatology and Henghold Surgery Center caused the submission of false claims to Medicare by using inaccurate wound repair billing codes for which Medicare paid more money than it would have paid for the wound repairs that were actually performed — a practice known as “upcoding.” Specifically, Henghold Dermatology and Henghold Surgery Center falsely coded linear repairs as if they were flap repairs and falsely coded smaller flap repairs as if they were larger flap repairs.
“Improperly billing Medicare depletes valuable government resources that provide necessary medical care to millions of Americans,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will hold accountable health care providers who enrich themselves by defrauding federal health care programs.”
“This office will continue to aggressively root out fraud, waste, and abuse in our healthcare system by pursuing providers who submit false claims to Medicare,” said U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin for the Northern District of Florida. “We will hold those who attempt to defraud the federal government accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Schemes that cause Medicare to pay for costlier services than were actually performed waste taxpayer funding, threatening the integrity of this federal health care program,” said Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the U.S. Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Working together with our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG will continue to investigate allegations of improper billing schemes to protect taxpayer-funded health care programs and the people served by them.”
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Christopher Wolfe, M.D., a former Forefront employee. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Wolfe v. Henghold et al., No. 3:23-cv-21624 (N.D. Fla.). Dr. Wolfe will receive $152,531 in connection with the settlement.
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 U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, with assistance from HHS-OIG.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The matter was investigated by Trial Attorney Colin Shannon and Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Spaccarotella, Mary Ann Couch, and Marie Moyle for the Northern District of Florida.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Department of Energy Employee Indicted for Attempted Bribery of a Public OfficialRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Security Specialist with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for allegedly trying to bribe another DOE employee in order to secure government contracts for a private company.
Edward Doherty, 34, of Washington, D.C. and Weymouth, Mass., was charged with honest services fraud, payment of illegal gratuities and bribery of a public official. Doherty had previously been charged by criminal complaint and was arrested on July 1, 2025. He will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the indictment, Doherty worked for the DOE as Security Specialist until he agreed to participate in the deferred resignation program in February 2025. Just before he started working with the DOE, in November 2024, Doherty allegedly started a company in Massachusetts called MAE Systems, LLC (MAE). It is alleged that, in February 2025, Doherty offered a DOE employee money in exchange for the DOE employee ensuring that MAE received DOE contracts. The DOE employee reported the incident to law enforcement. Between February and June 2025, it is alleged that Doherty was recorded agreeing to pay the DOE employee at least $10,000 in exchange for the DOE employee awarding a DOE contract to MAE. In June 2025, Doherty allegedly made two downpayments on the bribe, totaling $2,500, to the DOE employee.
“Federal contracts are not for sale. Attempting to buy influence in our government is a serious crime, and we will treat it as such,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “Bribery corrodes trust in our public institutions and we will not tolerate efforts to manipulate government contracts for personal enrichment.”
“Here’s another public servant, accused of fully embracing the practice of pay to play in an attempt to benefit from an illicit quid pro quo,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Edward Doherty was indicted today for trying to generate business for his firm – not by working harder or smarter, but allegedly through what we believe to be blatant bribery. Now, he’s facing justice and will answer for his alleged actions.”
“The Department of Energy, Office of Inspector General will continue to ensure that there is no place in federal service for bribery and corrupt schemes,” said Department of Energy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Lewe Sessions. “Anyone who suspects such conduct is encouraged to report it immediately. We appreciate the diligent work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our federal law enforcement partners on this joint investigation.”
The charge of honest services wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of payment of illegal gratuities provides for a sentence of up to two years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of bribery of a public official provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
U.S. Attorney Foley, FBI SAC Docks and DOE Assistant IG Sessions made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina E. Barclay of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Deming Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A police officer from Deming has pleaded guilty to federal charges related to the sexual exploitation of a minor.
According to court records, between March and November 2024, Jesus Lopez, Jr., 35, a Deming Police Department officer, engaged in illegal sexual conduct with a minor, Jane Doe. Despite knowing Jane Doe was under the age of 18, Lopez participated in and recorded sexually explicit acts with her on multiple occasions. The investigation revealed that Lopez received more than ten images and videos of child pornography from Jane Doe.
Lopez pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography. At sentencing, Lopez faces between five and 15 years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Lopez will be subject to not less than five years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Jason T. Stevens of Homeland Security Investigations El Paso made the announcement today.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case with assistance from the New Mexico State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jackson K. Dering V is prosecuting the case 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.
Defendant who trafficked drugs while absconding from federal drug trafficking sentence, gets additional five years in prisonRead the Press Release
Seattle –A citizen of Mexico who resided in Renton, Washington before being sent to the Federal Correctional Institution Lompoc, California for drug trafficking, was sentenced today to an additional five years in prison for a second drug trafficking conviction, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Humberto Lopez Rodriguez, 31, was previously sentenced to five years in prison. He failed to report to federal prison and was arrested in December 2023 with 13 kilos of cocaine and a loaded gun in a vehicle driving to Washington from California. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Tana Lin said the sentence should run consecutively. “You committed this crime after you failed to surrender to corrections…. You’ll be deported after serving your sentence and the American Dream is dead for you.”
“This defendant continued to deal drugs while on pretrial release and later was arrested in a car with a drug load when he should have been serving his federal sentence,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Miller. “Such conduct – ignoring our laws and criminal justice system – appropriately results in additional prison time.”
Lopez Rodriguez was charged in connection with a lengthy investigation of drug traffickers with ties to Mexico and Colombia. In June 2024 law enforcement teams from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Seattle Police Department and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) executed 24 search or arrest warrants. At that time Lopez Rodriguez was already in prison having been arrested on a drug run six months earlier.
Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement seized 84,000 fentanyl pills, more than a kilogram of fentanyl powder, 32 kilograms of cocaine, 15 kilograms of methamphetamine nearly three kilograms of heroin, 18 firearms and $71,000 in drug proceeds.
Five of the 16 defendants charged in this drug trafficking investigation have now pleaded guilty: Ramon Duarte Garcia, 38, a citizen of Mexico residing in Kent, Washington was sentenced in May 2025 to ten years in prison; Curtis McDaniel, 56, a U.S. citizen residing in Tukwila, Washington was sentenced to five years in prison. Jose Luis Villafañe Osorio, 36, a citizen of Colombia, residing in Plainfield, New Jersey, has pleaded guilty and is scheduled for sentencing on August 13, 2025; and Manuel Garcia Hernandez, 39, a citizen of Mexico, residing in Renton, Washington has pleaded guilty and is scheduled for sentencing on September 9, 2025.
In asking for a six-year prison sentence for Lopez Rodriguez, prosecutors wrote to the court with the latest figures on fatal overdoses in our area. “Indeed, drug overdoses resulted in 1,044 deaths in King County in 2024. Through not quite seven months of 2025, there have been 541 confirmed overdose deaths, with another 47 suspected overdose deaths. Though fentanyl gets the lion’s share of attention with respect to overdose deaths—and rightly so―cocaine was the third most common drug involved in overdose deaths in King County in 2024. Specifically, cocaine was involved in 26% of overdose deaths―often in combination with fentanyl.”
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Justice Department 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).
The investigation is being led by the DEA and Seattle Police Department. Additional assistance was provided by Renton Police Department, Centralia Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of the Inspector General (HUD OIG), Washington State Patrol, Pierce County and Valley SWAT teams.
The Colombian National Police (CNP) and Colombian Prosecutor’s Office (Fiscalia General) partnered with U.S. law enforcement on this investigation. The Justice Department’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of the Judicial Attaché in Bogotá provided critical assistance.
The cases from this investigation are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joe Silvio and C. Andrew Colasurdo in the Western District of Washington.
Dayton man arrested for threatening to kill CongressmanRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – Federal agents arrested a Dayton man on charges related to threatening to kill a United States Congressman.
Jeffrey Dorsey, 60, formerly of Columbus, was arrested yesterday evening and his case was unsealed this morning. He appeared in U.S. District Court in Dayton today at 1:30pm.
According to charging documents, Dorsey left a voicemail on the Congressman’s main office line threatening to kill the representative if he voted to make cuts to Medicaid.
He stated, in part, “If you vote to take my f***ing Medicaid away, I’m gonna cut your f***ing head off…But I tell you this, clearly to your brain, if you f*** with my Medicaid, you’re a dead f***.”
Making interstate communications with a threat to injure is a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison.
"The FBI takes all threats seriously," stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola. "Threats to harm others, including public officials, will never be tolerated.”Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders is representing the United States in this case.
A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Dauphin County Man Sentenced to 115 Months’ Imprisonment for Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Philip Shearer, age 49, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on July 14, 2025, to 115 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release by United States District Judge Karoline Mehalchick for one count of possession of an unregistered firearm.
According to Acting United States Attorney John Gurganus, Shearer previously pled guilty to possession of an unregistered firearm—specifically, a privately-manufactured short-barrel rifle. Shearer further admitted to possessing over 1,000 rounds of ammunition, several high-capacity magazines, and other tactical gear including night vision goggles and a ghillie suit, all of which were found in Shearer’s Harrisburg home. Shearer had 14 prior criminal convictions, including five driving under the influence convictions, an indecent assault conviction, and a domestic violence conviction. Shearer also attempted to purchase a firearm twice but was denied based on his background check. He then turned to making the firearms himself.
"The sentencing of Philip Shearer emphasizes the serious dangers posed by felons who unlawfully possess and manufacture firearms,” said Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia Edward V. Owens. “Homeland Security Investigations is dedicated to collaborating with our law enforcement partners, like ATF and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, to ensure that dangerous criminals with a history of violence are not allowed to possess firearms."
“Protecting our communities from dangerous criminals like Philip Shearer is a top ATF priority,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Philadelphia Field Division. “With 14 criminal convictions, including multiple driving under the influence, indecent assault, and a domestic violence conviction, the law duly prohibits him from owning the unregistered short-barrel rifle he manufactured for himself after he was prevented from buying a firearm. Working with Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Attorney’s Office, we are making our communities safer one case at a time.”
The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Dukes prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Dallas County man sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for money laundering and ordered to pay over $14 million in restitutionRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas – A Dallas man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution for defrauding numerous individuals out of more than $14 million in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Rahool Amin Makani, 32, pleaded guilty to money laundering and was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant on July 30, 2025. Judge Mazzant also ordered Makani to pay restitution in the amount of $14,732,023.31.
According to information presented in court, Makani was identified as a multi-million-dollar money launderer who conned victims into investing large amounts of cash into fictitious businesses. Further investigation revealed that Makani used a variety of schemes to defraud numerous investors. Makani used the money he fraudulently obtained to maintain a lavish lifestyle, including leasing private jets, purchasing numerous Rolex watches, purchasing luxury cars including an Aston Martin, a Lamborghini, a Maserati, a Rolls Royce, a McLaren, and a Ferrari. Makani also frequently traveled to Las Vegas to gamble thousands of dollars of the investors’ money.
As part of his plea agreement, Makani admitted he defrauded multiple individuals by his schemes and further admitted that the amount of restitution owed was over $14 million dollars.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Batson.
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Court Sentences Mobile County Man to 110 months Imprisonment for Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – On July 25, 2025, United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer sentenced Brandon Demetrius Pettaway to 110 months imprisonment for Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted Felon. Documents filed with the Court established that on November 22, 2023, the Mobile Police Department (MPD) Homicide Unit, sent out an all-police lookout for Pettaway, who was wanted for questioning in reference to a recent homicide. Pettaway also had three active arrest warrants for his arrest. On the same day an officer with the U.S. Marshalls Fugitive Task Force advised that he had visual confirmation that Pettaway was inside a Hardee's restaurant located on Highway 90 in Theodore.
MPD units responded to the area to apprehend Pettaway on the active warrants. Pettaway exited the restaurant and entered a vehicle. At this time, members of the MPD entered the parking lot in marked police vehicles surrounding Pettaway’s vehicle. Instead of stopping, Pettaway put his vehicle in drive and rammed one of the police vehicle’s head-on with significant force. Unable to force his way out by going forward, Pettaway placed his vehicle in reverse as another officer came forward to close the gap and the vehicles collided. Pettaway, at this point, was successfully boxed-in and was unable to get past the police patrol vehicles. However, Pettaway then fled from his vehicle on foot.
One of the officers gave chase on foot behind Pettaway and gave him numerous verbal commands to stop running and get on the ground. Pettaway refused to obey commands, and the officer drew his Taser and fired it twice at Pettaway. One of the probes made contact but to no avail as Pettaway continued fleeing on foot through the parking lot of a pawn shop. Pettaway attempted to jump over a wooden fence topped with barbed wire. At this point the officer caught up with the defendant and grabbed hold of both of his legs in an attempt to remove him from the fence to take him into custody. Pettaway resisted arrest and continued to keep his grip on the barbed wire until another officer arrived to assist. The officers had to use physical force to remove Pettaway from the fence and break his grip on the barbed wire and he was subsequently detained.
A later search of Pettaway’s vehicle revealed a Glock, Model 20, 10mm handgun in the vehicle along with a magazine extender and a magazine designed to insert into the extender. Officers also found three small baggies of marijuana, a small baggie of crack cocaine, a small baggie of crystal methamphetamine and two digital scales in the vehicle.
Pettaway had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses, prior to possessing the firearm: Felon in Possession of a Firearm, on January 18, 2018 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama; Burglary Third Degree, on November 10, 2011, in the Circuit Court of Mobile County, Alabama, and Robbery First Degree on September 12, 2011, in the Circuit Court of Mobile, County, Alabama.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Mobile Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney George F. May.
Convicted felon pleads guilty to gun and drug chargesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Jeremy Hodge, 39, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and being a felon in possession of a firearm, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $5,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey E. Intravatola, who is handling the case, stated that on April 4, 2025, the FBI executed a search warrant at Hodge’s Ernst Avenue residence, on his vehicle, and person. Law enforcement seized a semi-automatic handgun, ammunition, and drug paraphernalia. Hodge was arrested at the scene. He was previously convicted of felony charges in April 2008 and March 2009, and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Grimm.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 8, 2025, before Judge Vilardo.
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Columbia Falls man sentenced to prison for pointing a laser at a helicopterRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – A Columbia Falls man who pointed a laser-mounted firearm at a helicopter was sentenced today to eight months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, and a $15,000 fine, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Travis Kurt Myers, 57, pleaded guilty in March 2025 to one count of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Flathead County Sheriff’s deputies received a report from a delivery driver that had a green laser pointed at his vehicle and then heard a gunshot in Columbia Falls, Montana. Another witness also reported Myers had pointed a gun at her and discharged it at the ground. As deputies were interviewing the witness, they continued to hear gunshots coming from the area. Aerial surveillance was requested.
A helicopter equipped with thermal-capable cameras was able to locate Myers outside his residence with a firearm. Myers repeatedly pointed the firearm with a laser mounted on it at the helicopter. The pilots were able to see the laser and able to capture it on their cameras. The pilots observed the gun being fired but were unsure if he had it pointed in their direction. Law enforcement officers on the ground near Myers’ residence could hear the helicopter in flight, supporting Myers had knowledge he was aiming the laser at the helicopter.
Law enforcement took Myers into custody without incident. They obtained a search warrant for the property and located numerous firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammo. They located an unregistered silencer and a rifle with a green laser attached.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the ATF and the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office.
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Collin County felon sentenced to 19 years in federal prison for drug trafficking and firearms violationsRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas – A Princeton man has been sentenced to 19 years in federal prison for drug trafficking and firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Larry Wayne Culverhouse, 39, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; felon in possession of a firearm; and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and was sentenced to 228 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III, on July 30, 2025.
According to information presented in court, on August 30, 2023, Culverhouse was found in possession of 504.3 grams of methamphetamine and a firearm. Further investigation revealed Culver was a convicted felon and prohibited from owning or possessing firearms.
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 was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
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Chippewa Falls Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Jason Barnard, 39, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 10 years in prison for possessing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine intended for distribution. Barnard pleaded guilty to this charge on May 9, 2025.
Barnard sold methamphetamine and fentanyl to a confidential informant two times in October 2024. While traveling back from his source of supply in Minnesota, law enforcement stopped and arrested Barnard. They searched his car and found more than two kilograms of methamphetamine, 85 grams of fentanyl, and $3,696 cash.
At sentencing, Judge Peterson described Barnard’s trafficking of “vast” quantities of drugs as a “very serious crime” that results in devastating consequences for the community.
The charge against Barnard was the result of an investigation conducted by the West Central Drug Enforcement Task Force, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Remington prosecuted this case.