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Wednesday 30 July 2025
Chinese Nationals Charged with Illegally Possessing Counterfeit and Unauthorized Gift CardsRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal grand jury in Birmingham has returned an indictment charging two Chinese nationals with possessing counterfeit devices, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
A one-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Jiadong Cao, 36, and Xuejun Zheng, 48, with possession of counterfeit and unauthorized access devices.
According to court documents, the defendants engaged in a retail scheme to steal funds from gift cards purchased by consumers at various retail stores. Perpetrators stole un-activated gift cards from stores, carefully opened the gift card packages to conceal damage to the packaging, and altered the cards so the perpetrators could access funds that were later loaded onto the gift cards by consumers at checkout. The perpetrators then put altered gift cards back into the original packaging, returned to the store, and placed the altered gift cards on the shelf for sale to the public. Once the gift cards were purchased and consumers loaded funds, the perpetrators electronically drained the funds from those gift cards for their own use.
On June 20, 2025, the Hoover Police Department issued a BOLO regarding two Asian males driving a Lexus SUV who were believed to be involved in switching gift cards at local CVS stores. The next day, the Pelham Police Department conducted a traffic stop on the Lexus SUV and received consent to search the vehicle. During the search, officers found multiple boxes containing more than 5,000 gift cards. Additional investigation revealed that parts of the gift card numbers and/or PIN number on most of these gift cards had been obliterated or altered.
The maximum penalty for this offense is 10 years.
The United States Secret Service investigated the case along with the Hoover Police Department and Pelham Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan S. Rummage is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Chesapeake fentanyl dealer sentenced to 20 years in prison for selling counterfeit pills that caused high school student’s deathRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Chesapeake man was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.
According to court documents, Izayah Dural, 23, was a regular supplier of fentanyl pills to an individual identified as C.W. and several of C.W.' s high school friends and classmates. On June 2, 2024, Dural sold two counterfeit Oxycodone pills containing fentanyl to C.W., who used a portion of one of the pills, overdosed, and died of acute fentanyl toxicity.
“As a fentanyl trafficker, Izayah Dural displayed a callous disregard for the lives of others,” said Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Even worse, he chose to target minors to sell one of the most dangerous drugs plaguing our society. His reckless pursuit of money to fuel his own consumption cut short the life of a young person who, unlike Mr. Dural, will never have the opportunity to make his own decisions as an adult. So, for drug traffickers in the Eastern District of Virginia, let this case make one thing clear--you are on notice. My office, along with our federal, state, and local partners, will not stop until we find you and hold you responsible to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Drug traffickers like Dural prioritize profit over the lives and families they destroy,” said Ibrar A. Mian, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division. “They exploit the trust of vulnerable citizens by distributing fake pills that mimic legitimate medication but are, in fact, toxic substances, many of which contain fentanyl. The quantity of pills seized from this individual could have potentially resulted in the deaths of 40 people. Such actions are unacceptable, and we are committed to investigating to hold accountable those involved in the illegal production and distribution of drugs, thereby safeguarding American lives. One Pill Can Kill, and conversations save lives.”
On June 11, 2024, investigators observed Dural engaging in what appeared to be a hand-to-hand narcotics transaction in a convenience store parking lot in Norfolk. Dural was in possession of 80 counterfeit Oxycodone pills containing fentanyl. During a search of Dural's residence, investigators recovered additional fentanyl pills, a handgun with an extended magazine, and $7,870 in cash.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Virginia Beach Police Department, and Norfolk Police Department assisted in the investigation of this case. Dural was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Olivia L. Norman and Patrick J. McGorman prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-156.
Canadian cybercriminal sentenced to a year in prison for NFT theft schemeRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Canadian was sentenced yesterday to a year in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit aggravated identity theft.
According to court documents, in May 2022, Cameron Albert Redman, 22, of Mississauga, Ontario, formed a scheme to steal non-fungible tokens (NFTs) by gaining unauthorized access to the X accounts of various digital artists. The conspirators used the artists’ online identities to direct the artists’ followers to fraudulent websites. There, victims would seek to claim new NFTs from the digital artists. Though victims thought they were authorizing a transaction to receive NFTs into their digital wallets, they unknowingly enabled the conspirators to remove cryptocurrency and NFTs from their wallets.
Within a few days, Redman and his co-conspirators defrauded over 200 victims and profited over $794,000.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Reid Davis, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance to secure the arrest and March 2025 extradition from Portugal of Redman. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Cybercrime Investigation Team, Central Region, provided valuable assistance in this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Bedell prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-129.
Bulgarian arms trafficker and three others indicted for conspiring to supply military-grade weaponry to Mexican drug cartelsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – In an indictment unsealed in the Eastern District of Virginia, the United States charged a Bulgarian arms trafficker and three other foreign nationals with conspiracy to distribute cocaine; conspiracy to possess firearms, including machineguns and destructive devices, in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and conspiracy to provide material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization.
As alleged in the indictment, since at least September 2022, Peter Dimitrov Mirchev, along with Kenyan national Elisha Odhiambo Asumo, Ugandan national Michael Katungi Mpeirwe, and Tanzanian national Subiro Osmund Mwapinga conspired to illegally supply military-grade weaponry to Mexican drug cartels, and in particular, the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), one of Mexico’s most violent and prolific transnational criminal organizations. The weaponry included machineguns, rocket launchers, grenades, night vision equipment, sniper rifles, anti-personnel mines, and anti-aircraft weapons.
The defendants allegedly believed that the CJNG intended to use these weapons in furtherance of the illegal trafficking of large shipments of cocaine into the United States. On Feb. 20, 2025, the CJNG was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization under the Immigration and Nationality Act and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224. Arms sales to transnational criminal organizations like the CJNG are prohibited by virtually every country.
In a series of meetings with individuals claiming to represent the CJNG, Mirchev allegedly agreed to arrange, coordinate, and participate in illegal arms transactions while avoiding detection by international and U.S. law enforcement. Mirchev allegedly recruited Asumo to corruptly obtain an End-User Certificate (EUC) from a nation that would falsely claim a different end-user for the weapons. Asumo recruited Mpeirwe, who recruited Mwapinga. Together, they allegedly obtained an EUC from the United Republic of Tanzania authorizing the importation of AK-47s. As a test shipment, Mirchev and others then exported 50 AK-47 automatic assault rifles and accompanying magazines and ammunition from Bulgaria, using the EUC provided by Asumo, Mpeirwe, and Mwapinga, and intending that the weapons were actually received by the CJNG.
The defendants allegedly continued to conspire to supply drug cartels with even more weaponry, potentially including surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft drones, and the ZU-23 anti-aircraft weapon system. Mirchev allegedly created a list of weaponry for the CJNG totaling approximately 53.7 million Euros (approximately $58 million U.S.). Asumo, Mpeirwe, and Mwapinga allegedly agreed to again provide arms control documents designed to obscure that these weapons were intended for the CJNG.
According to court records, Mirchev was previously implicated in supplying arms to Viktor Bout, who was convicted at trial of conspiring to kill U.S. nationals, conspiring to kill U.S. officers and employees, conspiring to acquire and export anti-aircraft missiles; and conspiring to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization in case 1:08-cr-365 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Mirchev was arrested by Spanish authorities in Madrid on April 8 and is currently pending extradition to the United States. Asumo was arrested by Moroccan authorities in Casablanca on April 8 and is currently in extradition proceedings. Mwapinga was arrested by Ghanaian authorities in Accra on April 8 and was extradited to the United States on July 25. Mpeirwe remains at large. If convicted, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Louis A. D’Ambrosio, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Special Operations Division, made the announcement.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided invaluable assistance in securing Mwapinga’s extradition, working in cooperation with the DEA Attaché to U.S. Embassy Accra and key Ghanaian partners, including the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice of Ghana, the Ghana Police Service, and Ghana’s Narcotics Control Commission.
This case was investigated by the DEA’s Special Operations Division – Bilateral Investigations Unit. The Hellenic National Police (HNP) in Greece provided substantial assistance in this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony T. Aminoff and Edgardo J. Rodriguez are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:25-CR-102.
An indictment is merely an accusation. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Attachments:
mirchev_unsealed_indictment.pdfArizona Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Farmington man pleaded guilty to federal charges for engaging in sexual acts with a 14-year-old child.
According to court records, in February 2019, Daniel Washburn, 31, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, engaged in sexual act with a 14-year-old minor when he was 24 years old.
Washburn pleaded guilty to one count of sexual abuse of a minor. At sentencing, Washburn faces up to 15 years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Washburn will be subject to not less than five years and up to life of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorneys Jesse Pecoraro and Mia Ulibarri-Rubin are prosecuting the case.
Albuquerque Man Charged in Series of Armed Bank Robberies Across Albuquerque and Rio RanchoRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man has been charged with carrying out five armed bank robberies across Albuquerque and Rio Rancho between January 2024 and July 2025.
According to court documents, between January 2024 and July 2025, federal investigators linked Daniel Ray Guliford, 39, to a series of five armed bank robberies in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho, New Mexico. In each robbery, Guliford allegedly entered a bank wearing dark clothing and a mask, brandished a handgun, and stole large sums of cash, totaling more than $140,000.
- January 4, 2024 – U.S. Bank (Albuquerque): Approximately $9,250 stolen. Guliford’s fingerprints were later found on a note left at the bank.
- March 21, 2024 – U.S. Bank (Albuquerque): Approximately $26,650 stolen. A witness saw the suspect flee in a black BMW tied to Guliford.
- July 3, 2024 – Bank of Albuquerque (Albuquerque): Approximately $1,500 stolen.
- July 5, 2024 – New Mexico Bank & Trust (Rio Rancho): Approximately $72,043 stolen. The suspect fled in a black BMW matching Guliford’s vehicle.
- July 24, 2025 – First Financial Credit Union (Albuquerque): Approximately $31,261 stolen. Surveillance footage showed a dark blue BMW matching Guliford’s car near the scene.
Guliford is charged with bank robbery. He will remain in custody pending a detention hearing which is scheduled for August 1, 2025. If convicted of the current charges, Guliford faces up to 25 years in prison for each charge.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department, Rio Rancho Police Department, Sandia Pueblo Police Department and Pueblo of Isleta Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Elena Stiteler is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Albuquerque Felon Gets 51-Month Prison Term for Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man has been sentenced to 51 months in federal prison after he illegally possessed a firearm during a 2020 vehicle breaking and entering in Santa Fe.
According to court records, on June 29, 2020, at approximately 3:30 a.m., Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a reported vehicle breaking and entering at a residence in Santa Fe and found Michael Matthew Martinez, 31, asleep in the backseat of the car. When deputies instructed Martinez to exit the vehicle, he reached toward his jacket pocket, where deputies observed what appeared to be a firearm. Martinez was immediately removed from the vehicle, restrained, and searched, and deputies recovered the firearm from his pocket.
Image from bodyworn video of Martinez's arrestThe vehicle owner told deputies he had interacted with Martinez earlier in the afternoon and later noticed his car keys were missing and became suspicious. After spotting Martinez inside the vehicle later that night, the owner contacted law enforcement.
Martinez pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to his plea agreement, Martinez admitted that he had previously been convicted of residential burglary, and he knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
Upon his release, Martinez will be subject to up to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Elena Stiteler is prosecuting the case.
Tuesday 29 July 2025
Wisconsin Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Violating Export Control Reform ActRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Andrew Pogosyan, 68, of Madison, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Madison to a four-count criminal information charging conspiracy to defraud the United States and smuggling goods from the United States. U.S. District Judge William M. Conley accepted the guilty plea and scheduled sentencing for October 7, 2025. Pogosyan is U.S. Citizen born in Russia.
“Today’s plea is the culmination of the outstanding work by our law enforcement partners,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Elgersma. “As part of our on-going commitment to protecting national security, this office will hold accountable those who violate export control laws.”
“Mr. Pogosyan threatened the national security of the United States by violating sanctions and illegally exporting scientific laboratory equipment to companies in Russia,” said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Michael Hensle. “The FBI continues to tirelessly work with our law enforcement partners to investigate anyone who helps foreign adversaries evade sanctions. Pogosyan’s actions undermined the protections put in place to ensure U.S. national security.”
The U.S. government regulates the export of goods, technology, and software from the United States. On February 24, 2022, the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security implemented specific export control regulations in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. These regulations prohibit the export of certain items from the United States to Russia without a license from the Bureau of Industry and Security. The regulations were expanded on September 16, 2022, to include a licensing requirement for items potentially useful to Russia’s chemical and biological weapons production capabilities. Under the Export Control Reform Act, it is a federal crime to willfully violate any export control regulation.
According to court filings and statements made during the plea hearing, beginning around September 2022 and continuing until October 2023, Pogosyan through his company, Omega Diagnostics, LLC, willfully violated and evaded the export restrictions imposed on Russia by exporting scientific and diagnostic research equipment components to Russia without the required licenses, using transshipment points in third-party countries to conceal the ultimate destination. Specifically, Pogosyan conspired with Russian-based companies and individuals to export controlled items from the United States to Russia through third-party countries, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Latvia, and Lithuania. Pogosyan exported the controlled items without obtaining a license, despite knowing about the license requirement.
When sentenced, Pogosyan faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison for the conspiracy charge and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each of the smuggling violations.
The charges against Pogosyan were the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry & Security, Office of Export Enforcement; and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations. Acting U.S. Attorney Elgersma and Trial Attorney Christopher Cook of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section prosecuted this case.
Wisconsin Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Violating Export Control Reform ActRead the Press Release
Andrew Pogosyan, 68, a U.S. citizen born in Russia and residing in Madison, pleaded guilty today in federal court to a four-count criminal information charging him with conspiracy to defraud the United States and smuggling goods from the United States.
The U.S. government regulates the export of goods, technology, and software from the United States. On Feb. 24, 2022, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) implemented specific export control regulations in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. These regulations prohibit the export of certain items from the United States to Russia without a license from the BIS. The regulations were expanded on Sept. 16, 2022, to include a licensing requirement for items potentially useful to Russia’s chemical and biological weapons production capabilities. Under the Export Control Reform Act, it is a federal crime to willfully violate any export control regulation.
According to court filings and statements made during the plea hearing, beginning around September 2022 and continuing until October 2023, Pogosyan through his company, Omega Diagnostics LLC, willfully violated and evaded the export restrictions imposed on Russia by exporting scientific and diagnostic research equipment components to Russia without the required licenses, using transshipment points in third-party countries to conceal the ultimate destination. Specifically, Pogosyan conspired with Russian-based companies and individuals to export controlled items from the United States to Russia through third-party countries, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Latvia, and Lithuania. Pogosyan exported the controlled items without obtaining a license, despite knowing about the license requirement.
Pogosyan faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the conspiracy charge and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each of the smuggling violations. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 7. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg, Acting U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma for the Western District of Wisconsin, and Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division made the announcement.
The FBI, BIS Office of Export Enforcement, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the case.
Acting U.S. Attorney Elgersma for the Western District of Wisconsin and Trial Attorney Christopher Cook of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
West Wareham Man Sentenced for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A West Wareham man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Joshua Roe, 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Brian E. Murphy to five years in prison and five years of supervised release. In January 2025, Roe pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. The defendant has remained in federal custody since his arrest in September 2024.
On Sept. 6, 2024, during a search of Roe’s home, approximately 11 electronic devices belonging to Roe were recovered. While on site, a forensic examination was conducted on at least one device, which revealed images and videos depicting CSAM. At a later date, further forensic examinations of the seized devices were conducted and CSAM was found on seven of those devices, including deleted CSAM files.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations; and Chief Walter Correia of the Wareham Police Department made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
Waterloo Woman Who Straw Purchased Firearms Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A woman who bought at least nine firearms for a felon was sentenced on July 28, 2025, to more than three years in federal prison.
LaDonna Henderson, age 28, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 10, 2025 guilty plea to eight counts of false statement during purchase of a firearm and one count of possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance.
Information from sentencing showed that Henderson purchased nine firearms and attempted to buy a tenth firearm in a six-week period in 2023. Henderson made false statements about her drug use and the real purchaser of the firearms in connection with these purchases. She gave these firearms to her boyfriend at the time, Christopher Hoover, who was a felon and a cocaine and marijuana user. Hoover trafficked some of the firearms. Four of the firearms Henderson bought were recovered by law enforcement from felons or drug users. Hoover was prosecuted for his possession of firearms bought by Henderson and sentenced to 93 months’ imprisonment on September 17, 2024. Four other individuals were sentenced for their possession of firearms bought by Henderson and related conduct. Jayquine Steele, a drug user, was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment on June 27, 2024. Jeremy Phillips, a felon, was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment on July 22, 2024. Patrelle Green-Bowman, a felon, was sentenced to 105 months’ imprisonment on September 9, 2024. Walter Smith, a felon, was sentenced to 37 months’ imprisonment on January 8, 2025.
Henderson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Henderson was sentenced to 37 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Henderson was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on a date yet to be set.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyndra Lundquist and investigated by a Federal Task Force composed of the Waterloo Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms assisted by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar Falls Police Department.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-2067.
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Violent Career Criminal Sentenced to Eight Years in Federal Prison for Setting Fire to IndyGo Bus and Bus StationRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Demarcus McCloud, 46, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to two counts of malicious damage to property receiving federal funds and one count of malicious damage to federal property. McCloud has also been ordered to pay $1,790,685.23 in restitution.
According to court documents, on April 24, 2024, around 7 am, Indianapolis Fire Department and IMPD officers responded to a report of a fire at the IndyGo bus stop at 38th and North Meridian Streets. When first responders arrived, the inside of the bus and front half of the exterior were completely engulfed in flames.
Bus cameras captured McCloud boarding Bus #1993 at the Julia Carson Transit Center with a jug of liquid and two butane lighters. The bus was actively operating and transporting passengers along the Red Line at the time. After boarding, he sat in the back, lit a cigarette while hiding under a blanket, discarded it on the floor, then lit and extinguished a piece of paper before relocating to another seat. As the bus neared Meridian and 38th Streets, he poured liquid down the center aisle, left the jug on its side, and began to exit the bus as the liquid continued to flow out. As he approached the bus door, he lit another piece of paper and threw it on the floor. The puddle ignited immediately, and McCloud ran from the bus.
IMPD officers located McCloud in a nearby McDonald’s parking lot holding two butane lighters in his hand.
During this incident, a passenger who had been on the bus exited to help direct traffic. While assisting, the wind direction suddenly changed, causing a large plume of smoke to envelope the victim. He was transported to the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.
During the investigation, officers learned that four days earlier, on April 20, 2024, McCloud walked onto the IndyGo Red Line Virginia Avenue and New Jersey Street bus depot and set a fire inside the trash can. He watched it burn for nearly a minute before walking away. The fire grew inside of the trash can until IFD arrived.
IndyGo operates their public transportation buses under the Federal Transit Administration. The bus depot and trash can were funded in part by federal financial assistance, specifically federal grant monies. The bus was destroyed by the fire and the depot was damaged, causing approximately $1,790,685 in damages.
McCloud has a 25-year history of violent crime, including multiple felony convictions for crimes including battery causing serious injury, firearm possession by a violent felon, burglary, attempted auto theft, drug offenses, trespassing offenses, and intimidation. He has threatened to kill police and their families, assaulted officers, attacked a woman with a broken pavement piece after she refused him money at a stop light, threatened to rob, rape, and murder another woman, and even violently assaulted his own mother.
“This defendant’s reckless actions endangered innocent lives, destroyed public property, and wasted nearly $2 million in taxpayer-funded resources,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Federal dollars are invested in our communities to serve and protect the public, not to be torched by a violent repeat offender with no regard for human life. Thanks to the swift response of first responders and the dedication of our federal and local law enforcement partners, he has been held accountable for his dangerous and destructive conduct.”“As the lead investigative agency in this tragic arson incident, the ATF was proud to work alongside our state and local partners to bring justice to the victims and the community,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge John Smerglia. “This successful collaboration ensured that McCloud was held accountable and received the sentence his actions warranted.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by Chief U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney II.
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Pamela S. Domash, who prosecuted this case.
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Vallejo Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Gun and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Darren Mitchell, 35, of Vallejo, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb to 15 years in prison for possessing methamphetamine and firearms, Acting U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Sanchez announced.
According to evidence presented at a five-day jury trial, Mitchell negotiated a transaction for 1,000 methamphetamine pills with a buyer who testified at trial. Federal law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Mitchell’s Vallejo residence a few days later. At the residence, agents encountered two infants who lived there and recovered methamphetamine-laced pills and an industrial pill pressing machine. Hidden inside the residence’s dishwasher, agents recovered a loaded AR-15 assault-style rifle and a loaded Smith & Wesson pistol with an obliterated serial number:
This case was the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cameron Desmond and Sam Stefanki prosecuted the case.
United States Attorney's Office to Participate in Community Events During National Night OutRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island will join their law enforcement partners, neighbors, and communities in National Night Out events in multiple cities and towns across Rhode Island on National Night Out on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.
“Each August this Office proudly joins in support of National Night Out, a great opportunity to for law enforcement and the community to gather together and to continue to foster good relationships,” said Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom. “We urge all Rhode Islanders to take the opportunity to share a few minutes with your local law enforcement agency at this year’s events.”
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes partnerships and camaraderie between law enforcement and the communities they serve to make our neighborhoods safer places to live. Millions take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities throughout the country on the first Tuesday of August in most areas of the country.
National Night Out was established in 1984 with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice. The program is administered by the National Association of Town Watch, a nationwide non-profit organization.
Coordinated by local law enforcement and trained volunteers, National Night Out provides an opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Neighborhoods host block parties, cookouts, festivals, parades, safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel and more. National Night Out sends a message that neighbors are united and working together to keep their communities and each other safe.
For more information, visit https://natw.org/
Tiffin Man Sentenced to 37 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Sexually Exploit a ChildRead the Press Release
A man who recorded his paramour sexually abusing her toddler child was sentenced today to 37 years in federal prison.
Benjamin Paul Egli, age 30, from Tiffin, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 17, 2024 guilty plea to conspiracy to sexually exploit a child and possession of child pornography.
Evidence at sentencing showed that on multiple occasions in 2023, Egli participated in Snapchat and video calls with his paramour, who lived in another state. Egli was in North Liberty, Iowa, during some of the calls. During the calls, which Egli recorded, Egli directed his paramour to engage in sexually explicit conduct with her toddler child. His paramour also sent him photographs and videos of herself and her toddler engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In addition, Egli possessed hundreds of images of child pornography, including images of children performing sexual acts on animals and sadistic and masochistic conduct.
Egli was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Egli was sentenced to 444 months’ imprisonment and was ordered to pay $6,000 in restitution. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Egli is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Tipton Police Department, and the Joint Forensic Analysis Cyber Team.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR-53.
Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Three Forks man sentenced to 5 years in prison on drug charges in Gallatin CountyRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – A Three Forks man who distributed methamphetamine in Gallatin County was sentenced today to 63 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Anthony Robert Catalusci, 65, pleaded guilty in March 2025 to one count of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.
The government alleged in court documents that the Missouri River Drug Task Force identified Anthony Catalusci as a suspect in an ongoing drug distribution investigation in Gallatin County, Montana that began as early as 2021. On April 6, 2021, a confidential informant bought 11 grams of methamphetamine for $500 from Catalusci. Three years later, in April 2024, an informant bought meth from a co-conspirator on three separate occasions and law enforcement later learned the drugs were supplied by “Tony.”
The task force investigators interviewed a source of information who said an Italian man named “Tony,” who lived in Clarkston, Montana, asked him to travel to Las Vegas to pick up packages of meth for “Tony.”
MRDTF also was working with a confidential informant to purchase methamphetamine from another dealer. During one of the transactions, the recording captured the dealer stating he got his drugs from “Tony.” The source confirmed “Tony” was Anthony Catalusci.
In September 2024, law enforcement searched Catalusci’s house and seized a small quantity of meth. During the search, Catalusci admitted he was distributing methamphetamine.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the Missouri River Drug Task Force.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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Three El Salvadoran Nationals Sentenced for $146 Million Construction Payroll Scheme That Defrauded the IRS and Workers’ Compensation InsurersRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan today sentenced Eduardo Anibal Escobar (45), Carlos Alberto Rodriguez (36), and Adelmy Tejada (57), all residents of Orlando, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit tax fraud. Escobar was sentenced to 4 years and 9 months in prison, Rodriguez was sentenced to 3 years and 4 months in prison, and Tejada was sentenced to 18 months in prison plus 6 months of home detention. Each pleaded guilty on April 3, 2025.
The court ordered the defendants to pay $36,957,616 in restitution to the IRS for unpaid payroll taxes and a total of $397,895 in restitution to two insurance companies for workers’ compensation claims they paid out.
Escobar and Rodriguez are legal permanent residents from El Salvador. Tejada is a naturalized U.S. citizen from El Salvador.
According to court documents and information presented in court, from approximately January 2015 through August 2024, the defendants conspired to facilitate the payment of construction workers “off the books” to avoid paying payroll taxes and workers’ compensation insurance premiums. The scheme also facilitated the employment of undocumented workers who were not legally authorized to work in the United States.
The defendants, through their companies—T. Escobar Construction and C. Escobar Construction—entered into agreements with hundreds of construction subcontractors to enable the subcontractors to obtain contracts with, and perform work for, construction contractors. In exchange for 6 to 8 percent of the subcontractors’ payroll, the defendants caused certificates of insurance in the name of the defendants’ companies to be sent to construction contractors from which the subcontractors wished to obtain work, representing that the subcontractors worked for their companies and were covered by the companies’ workers’ compensation insurance.
In fact, the companies’ insurance policies were based on applications representing that the policies would cover a handful of employees and a minimal payroll. As a result of the defendants’ using their certificate of insurance to represent that the subcontractors worked for their companies, the insurers unwittingly covered hundreds of workers.
A total of $146,077,535 in payroll checks were deposited into the bank accounts of the defendants’ companies, from which they withdrew cash to pay the subcontractors’ workers, after subtracting their 6 to 8 percent fee—all without withholding, or paying over, payroll taxes to the IRS. As a result, the U.S. Treasury lost $36,957,616 in unpaid payroll taxes. The defendants’ scheme allowed the construction contractors and subcontractors to disclaim responsibility for paying payroll taxes to the IRS, for ensuring that adequate workers’ compensation insurance was obtained, and for verifying that the workers were legally authorized to work in the United States.
“This case highlights how federal and state agencies are working together to successfully investigate and assist in the prosecution of individuals who engage in illegal financial schemes to enrich themselves,” said Special Agent in Charge Ron Loecker, IRS-Criminal Investigation Tampa Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Florida Department of Financial Services collaborated our resources to bring down a criminal enterprise that facilitated unfair competition by defrauding workers’ compensation insurers and evading their obligation to pay federal taxes.”
“These criminals defrauded the government by dodging payroll taxes and exploited vulnerable workers by not carrying proper insurance,” said Homeland Security Investigations Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tim Hemker. “Unscrupulous and illegal tactics in the construction industry damage the integrity of law-abiding contractors, and that price is eventually passed on to the consumer. These sentences are a testament to the persevering investigative work of HSI special agents and our partners with IRS Criminal Investigation and the Florida Department of Financial Services.”
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Florida Department of Financial Services. It is part of a continuing investigation by these agencies of the use of shell companies and “ghost” employees in the construction industry. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier. The asset forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Harrington.
Stamford Fentanyl Trafficker Sentenced to More Than 6 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DARIUS GAMBLE, also known as “Rell,” 39, of Stamford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 80 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and Stamford Police Department identified Gamble as a large-scale fentanyl distributor. Between April and September 2024, investigators made four controlled purchases of fentanyl from Gamble.
Gamble was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on September 12, 2024. On that date, a search of his Nobile Street residence revealed approximately 42 grams of fentanyl, a kilogram press machine, a respirator mask, additional items used to process and package narcotics, and approximately $31,307 in cash. A search of Gamble’s vehicle revealed approximately six grams of fentanyl.
Gamble has been detained since his arrest. On January 13, 2025, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
The DEA’s Bridgeport HIDTA Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Danbury, Norwalk, Stamford, and Stratford Police Departments. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Stolfi Collins.
St. Louis County Man Admits Selling Fentanyl, Methamphetamine to PoliceRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Louis County, Missouri on Tuesday admitted selling fentanyl and a pound of methamphetamine to an undercover police detective.
Stephon Murphy, 29, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine and three counts of distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl. He admitted selling the drugs to an undercover detective with the St. Charles County Regional Drug Task Force on four occasions. On May 24, 2024, Murphy sold 111.8 grams of meth in the parking lot of an apartment in St. Louis County. On June 13, 2024, Murphy sold 113.6 grams of meth and 8.58 grams of fentanyl to the detective at the same location. On July 11, 2024, outside of an apartment building in St. Louis, Murphy sold 113.3 grams of meth and 3.9 grams of fentanyl. At the final sale, on August 7, 2024, outside of the same building, Murphy sold 112.3 grams of meth and 14.4 grams of fentanyl. He had what appeared to be a pistol with a drum magazine concealed in his pants, his plea agreement says.
Murphy is scheduled to be sentenced on October 30. Each count is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. Charles County Regional Drug Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Rebar is prosecuting the case.
Somerset County Man Sentenced to 12 Months in Prison for Stealing over $600,000 in Program BenefitsRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A Somerset County, New Jersey man was sentenced to one year and one day in prison for fraudulently obtaining approximately $691,465.44 in benefits from various programs and institutions, including the Social Security Administration and the United States Department of Defense, Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.
Steven Jones, 66, of Somerset, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert Kirsch to an Information charging him with Theft of Public Money. Judge Kirsch imposed the sentence on July 25, 2025, in Trenton federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Steven Jones’ father received several federal retirement benefits before he died in October 2004. After Jones’s father died, Jones intentionally falsified his father’s death certificate so that the federal agencies would continue to issue the retirement benefits. On two occasions, Jones had a person impersonate his father to a federal agency so that the agency would think his father was still alive and continue payments. The investigation revealed that Jones unlawfully collected these payments for nearly 20 years, from October 2004 to December 2023.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Kirsch sentenced Jones to two years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $691,465.44 in restitution.
Acting U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Amy Connelly, with the investigation leading to this sentence.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chana Zuckier of the Bank Integrity and Money Laundering Recovery Unit and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Abrams of the Narcotics/OCDETF Unit in Newark.
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Defense counsel: Steven Altman, Esq.
Sioux City Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Meth ChargesRead the Press Release
Richard Martinez, 30, from Sioux City, Iowa pled guilty July 24, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City.
Martinez pled guilty to possessing and aiding and abetting another’s possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. At the plea hearing, evidence showed that on July 17, 2024, law enforcement was conducting surveillance at WinnaVegas Casino (near Sloan, Iowa) during which a vehicle was observed traveling away from the casino over the speed limit. Law enforcement attempted a traffic stop of the vehicle, which took off at high-speed. During the flight, two packages of methamphetamine were thrown out the passenger window. Law enforcement found the approximately ½ pound of methamphetamine near where it was thrown. Martinez admitted that the driver of the vehicle handed him the methamphetamine and instructed him to throw it out of the window during the pursuit, which he did.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Martinez remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Martinez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, and four years up to life of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office, and the DEA Laboratory.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-4078. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Sedalia Man Charged with Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Sedalia, Mo., man has been charged in federal court with unlawfully possessing a firearm following an investigation into a shooting in downtown Springfield on July 20, 2025.
Kenkori Lenell Grant Jr., 23, was charged in a criminal complaint that was filed under seal in the U.S. District Court in Springfield, Mo., on July 20, 2025. The complaint was unsealed and made public today following Grant Jr.’s arrest and initial court appearance. Grant Jr. remains in federal custody pending a preliminary hearing on Aug. 1, 2025.
The federal criminal complaint alleges that Grant Jr. possessed a Fort Barnes Armory pistol equipped with a high-capacity magazine. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who is convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Grant Jr. has prior felony convictions for harassment, assault, unlawful use of a weapon, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Springfield Police Department officers heard shots fired near the intersection of S. Patton Ave. and W. Walnut St. near midnight on July 20, 2025. When officers arrived on scene they located a Fort Barnes Armory pistol under a nearby car. Officers located surveillance footage of the area depicting who appeared to be Grant Jr. placing the firearm under the vehicle following the shooting.
The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.
Operation Take Back America
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Second Man Involved in Alien Kidnapping Conspiracy Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A second man involved in a conspiracy to kidnap and transport aliens and hold multiple victims for ransom before instigating a deadly shootout in a quiet, Charlottesville neighborhood, pled guilty today to federal charges as part of Operation Take Back America.
Jordan Perez, 21, of Lockhart, Texas, pled guilty today to one count of conspiracy to kidnap and one count of transporting an alien resulting in death.
“Over the last four years, we have seen millions of people illegally cross the southern border, leading to chaos, heartache and tangential crimes like human trafficking, human smuggling, and kidnapping,” United States Attorney C. Todd Gilbert said today. “Far too often, as in this case, individuals take advantage of those who illegally enter the country, and the results are tragic. Through Operation Take Back America, this Department of Justice aims to bring the rule of law back to our country.”
“Jordan Perez, and his co-conspirator Ricardo Ordaz, not only victimized families, they terrorized an entire town by initiating a shootout in one of our peaceful Virginia communities,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Washington, D.C. acting Special Agent in Charge Christopher Heck. “We will not tolerate such actions from those who seek to bring violence upon our neighbors. ICE HSI Washington, D.C. will continue to investigate and apprehend anyone who threatens the safety of our Virginia neighborhoods.”
According to court documents, in early January of 2023, Perez and co-defendant Ricardo Ordaz, and other co-conspirators, kidnapped multiple victims and held them for ransom, knowing these individuals had entered the United States illegally.
As part of the scheme, Ordaz arranged to pick up two victims from an area near the United States-Mexico border and bring them to a house near Austin, Texas. Once there, Perez, and others, held both victims against their will and under armed guard. Ordaz then called and messaged the victims’ families and friends demanding cash ransom in exchange for their release.
Ordaz exchanged one of the victims in Texas for $5,000 cash, and on January 8, 2023, Perez and a co-conspirator transported another victim to Charlottesville, Virginia, where they arranged to exchange that victim for $10,000 in cash.
During the exchange, when it was revealed that the full $10,000 ransom was not available, an argument and shootout ensued, during which Perez, and another co-conspirator, brandished firearms that led to the shooting death of one of the kidnappers.
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).
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Harrisonburg investigated the case with assistance from the Charlottesville Police Department, Albemarle County Police Department, and HSI Austin, Texas.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sally J. Sullivan is prosecuting the case.
Scott E. Bradford Appointed to Serve as U.S. AttorneyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.— The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that Scott E. Bradford has taken the oath of office—administered by U.S. Circuit Court Judge Danielle J. Forrest on Monday—to serve as the United States Attorney for the District of Oregon. On July 28, 2025, United States Attorney General Pamela Bondi appointed Mr. Bradford to serve as interim U.S. Attorney.
The District of Oregon serves approximately four million people and covers more than 98,000 square miles. Our expansive region hosts a wide variety of cultural and geographic diversity and is home to nine federally recognized Tribes. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon has approximately 100 employees, with the main office located in Portland, where nearly half the population of the state lives, and two branch offices in Eugene and Medford, Oregon.
“I am honored to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon and thank Attorney General Bondi for placing her trust in me. It is a privilege to lead this great office, serving alongside such dedicated public servants. I look forward to working with our federal, state, and local partners to protect the public and defend the interests of the United States,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Bradford is an 18-year veteran of the Department of Justice, joining the Department in 2007 through the Attorney General Honors Program and the U.S. Attorney’s Office as an Assistant United States Attorney in 2009. He has held several leadership positions in the office, including Chief of the White Collar Unit, Chief of the Economic, National Security, and Cyber Crimes Unit, and Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division. In 2022, Bradford was the Department’s Regional Cybercrime Attaché in Southeast Asia. Bradford returned the Department of Justice in 2024 in Washington, D.C., most recently serving as the Acting Chief of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section of the National Security Division. Prior to joining the Department of Justice, Bradford clerked for U.S. District Court Judge Michael W. Mosman.
Bradford received his bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and his law degree from Gonzaga University School of Law.
Salvadoran National Charged with Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Salvadoran national residing in Lynn has been indicted for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.
Emelio Neftaly Pineda, 46, is charged with one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Pineda was arrested on June 12, 2025 and will be arraigned in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the charging documents, Pineda was deported on or about July 20, 2016 after having been convicted of a felony.
The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien, having previously been convicted of a felony provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley 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 Elizabeth Riley of the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Sacramento Man Sentenced to 7.5 Years in Prison for Fentanyl Pill TraffickingRead the Press Release
Jose Luis Aguilar Saucedo, 26, of Sacramento, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to seven years and six months in prison for fentanyl distribution, Acting U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Sanchez announced.
According to court documents, Aguilar Saucedo distributed hundreds of fentanyl pills that were made to look like prescription “M-30” oxycodone pills to a DEA confidential source on three separate occasions in March, April, and August 2020.
Fifteen co-defendants have pleaded guilty, and 11 have previously been sentenced to terms of imprisonment ranging from 19 months to 27 years. Luis Lopez Zamora is scheduled to be sentenced in August 2025, Leonardo Flores Beltran and Sandro Escobedo are scheduled to be sentenced in October 2025, and Erika Gabriela Zamora Rojo is scheduled to be sentenced in December 2025.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Yuba-Sutter Narcotic and Gang Enforcement Task Force (NET 5), the California Highway Patrol, the Butte Interagency Narcotics Task Force (BINTF), the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT), the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, the Sacramento Police Department, the Roseville Police Department, the Manteca Police Department, the Yuba City Police Department, and the West Sacramento Police Department. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with Mexican authorities to secure the arrest and extradition of Luis Lopez Zamora to the United States from Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorney David W. Spencer is prosecuting the case.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about OCDETF, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
Richmond Man Sentenced for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Richmond, Ky., man, Derek Hahn, 37, was sentenced on Monday by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove to 330 months in prison, for the production of child pornography.
According to his plea agreement, on October 2, 2024, law enforcement reviewed a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that reported an incident of child sexual abuse material being uploaded and shared with another user or group of users on the Kik platform. Through an investigation, law enforcement determined that the IP address was associated with Hahn’s home and place of employment. Hahn was taken into custody, and two phones were seized from his person and searched, where multiple images and videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit activity were found. Additionally, multiple videos were also found depicting a minor undressing and completely nude. In the videos, the victim does not appear to know they are being recorded, and the camera is recording from a hidden location. Hahn admitted that he produced the videos and images.
Under federal law, Hahn 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 life. In addition to his prison sentence, Hahn was also ordered to pay $50,000 in restitution.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Rana Saoud, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Col. Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; Chief Derrick Napier, Frankfort Police Department; and Sheriff Mike Coyle, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the HSI, KSP, Frankfort Police Department, and Madison County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case 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 U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Repeat felon illegal alien sentenced to 39 months for unlawful entry into the United StatesRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 53-year-old man from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, has been ordered to federal prison for unlawfully reentering the country for the 4th time, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Rafael Cortez-Gonzalez pleaded guilty May 1.
U.S. District Judge David Morales has now ordered him to serve 39 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard about Cortez-Gonzalez’s prior criminal record, including three prior felony convictions. In handing down the sentence, the court noted this sentence will hopefully serve as a deterrence.
Cortez-Gonzalez had two previous felony convictions for illegal reentry as well as for transporting an illegal alien within the United States.
He was first removed in November 2000 and illegally returned three times. Authorities discovered him again Feb. 12 in Kenedy County with no authorization to be there.
Cortez-Gonzalez will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Yasmine K. Tucker prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Prince George’s County Fentanyl Trafficker Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Roddrick Navara Shelby, 48, of Laurel, Maryland, to 70 months in federal prison for distributing 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Washington Division, and Chief Marc R. Yamada, Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD).
According to the guilty plea, in November 2024, the DEA and MCPD began investigating Shelby in connection with suspected fentanyl trafficking. During their investigation, law enforcement conducted three controlled purchases where Shelby sold a confidential source approximately 500 pills.
The pills were blue in color and imprinted with “M30” – mimicking the markings on legitimate pills that one would receive from a manufacturer containing oxycodone hydrochloride. As confirmed by laboratory analysis, the blue “M30” pills contained fentanyl. In total, Shelby sold approximately 1,471 fentanyl pills, or more than 150 grams of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl, to the confidential source.
On the morning of March 20, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Shelby’s residence and vehicle in Laurel, Maryland. In a kitchen drawer, and other places in the residence, law enforcement identified assorted ammunition, one loaded magazine, two empty .357 caliber Glock magazines, and one empty .45 caliber Glock magazine. Law enforcement also found approximately 63 rounds of ammunition. Additionally, in a kitchen drawer, law enforcement found three digital scales with white residue and three small-knotted baggies containing what seizing officers suspected was cocaine.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DEA and MCPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan S. McKoy and Elizabeth Wright, who prosecuted the case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Previously Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegal Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Kevin Hopkins, 39, a resident of the District of Columbia, pleaded guilty on July 25, 2025, in U.S. District Court, on a firearms charge. The plea, which comes as part of the "Make D.C. Safe Again" initiative, was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
This case is being prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative. Make D.C. Safe Again is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump’s Executive Order to make D.C. Safe and Beautiful. Make D.C. Safe Again aims to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenses, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
Hopkins pleaded guilty to the indictment before U.S. District Judge Jia M. Cobb on count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Judge Cobb set a sentencing hearing for November 7, 2025.
As part of his plea, Hopkins admitted to possessing a 9mm handgun, which MPD officers had recovered from the sofa cushions in an apartment during the execution of a residential search warrant. Hopkins also admitted to possessing 14 rounds of ammunition, which had been loaded in the magazine of the 9mm handgun.
Hopkins is a previously convicted felon and was on supervised release after being convicted of assault, burglary, and stalking.
Joining in the announcement was Special Agent in Charge Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Washington Division, Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
This case is being investigated by the DEA Washington Division, the ATF Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Levy and Kate Naseef are prosecuting this case.
Philadelphia Man Sentenced to More Than 35 Years in Prison for Sexually Abusing Children, Recording and Sharing Images of the Abuse, and Related OffensesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Joshua Lang, 37, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Timothy J. Savage to 430 months in prison and lifetime supervised release for extensive child sexual exploitation and child pornography offenses. The defendant was also ordered to pay $23,545 in restitution and $14,300 in special assessments.
As detailed in court filings, the crimes of Lang and his partner, co-defendant Kenneth Miller, came to light after the Philadelphia Police Department Special Victims Unit (PPD SVU) began investigating a lead from the Tampa (Fla.) Police Department in July 2023 that Lang had purchased child pornography from a 13-year-old girl on Instagram in December 2022.
On July 19, 2023, PPD SVU and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Philadelphia executed a state search warrant at Lang and Miller’s Mayfair residence based on this information. As the search unfolded, law enforcement learned that Lang and Miller’s child sexual abuse and exploitation activities extended far beyond Lang’s online activities, to include hands-on sexual abuse of children, and their scheme to manufacture, trade, and collect videos and images of one of their victims, his siblings, and his friends.
Lang and Miller were arrested the same day and charged in Philadelphia County with numerous sexual offenses. They remained in Philadelphia County custody until they were charged in federal court via complaint and warrant in September 2023.
On February 8, 2024, a federal grand jury returned a 16-count indictment against Lang and Miller, charging them with conspiracy to manufacture child pornography and six counts of manufacture and aiding and abetting the manufacture of child pornography. Lang was also charged with three additional counts of manufacture and attempted manufacture of child pornography and three additional counts of receipt of child pornography.
Miller, who pleaded guilty to multiple offenses, was sentenced in September of last year to 400 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release.
The investigation showed, and the defendants subsequently admitted, that over the course of approximately three years, they sexually abused Minor 1 when he was between the ages of 12 and 14 years old, recording videos of the acts to forever memorialize the child’s abuse. The pair also installed hidden cameras in their bathroom and surreptitiously produced and attempted to produce sexually explicit images of at least five children, ages nine to 17, using the bathroom and showering at their residence.
Throughout this three-year period, on a near-daily basis, Lang and Miller discussed with each other their sexual interest in children, strategized ways to groom minor children for sexual abuse and exploitation, and carried out these tactics to gain the child victims’ trust and further increase their access to these children. The defendants also regularly traded and discussed the images and videos of child sexual abuse material that they created of the children.
On his own, Lang also engaged in and recorded hands-on sexual abuse of Minor 2 when she was between the ages of eight and nine years old, sharing the videos with Miller. Lang was also well immersed in the online world of child exploitation, amassing a collection of more than 13,000 unique files of child sexual abuse material (“CSAM”) on his iPhone, including the images purchased online from a 13-year-old girl that kicked off PPD SVU’s investigation.
“The crimes Lang committed are stomach-turning,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “He sexually abused two children, documented that exploitation, and violated the privacy and trust of other children for his and his partner’s gratification. Together, they strategized ways to sexually groom minors to whom they had access. Our community is emphatically safer with these predators in prison, and today’s sentence ensures Lang will remain behind bars where he can’t harm another innocent child.”
“Today’s sentencing brings a just end to the depravity of two grown men, Joshua Lang and Kenneth Miller, who conspired to sexually exploit and abuse innocent children over an extended period of time. Their actions were not only reprehensible but meticulously planned and executed,” said Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia Edward V. Owens. “The collaborative efforts of HSI Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Police Department, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania were crucial in uncovering the full extent of their vile actions and bringing them to justice. We remain steadfast in our commitment to relentlessly pursuing those who engage in such abhorrent crimes and safeguarding our communities from such predators.”
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by the Philadelphia Police Department and HSI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly Harrell and Amanda McCool.
Perry Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – David Alan Miles, 31, of Perry, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I applaud the excellent work of the state, local, and federal partners to make our community safer by getting this dangerous individual off the streets. My office remains fully committed to aggressively prosecuting those who put others at risk, fulfilling the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America by targeting criminals with the full force of the law.”
Court documents reflect that Miles was arrested on February 7, 2025, after initially fleeing from police in a high-speed pursuit, eluding officers on foot, and then pretending to have been the victim of a carjacking. A canine team from Taylor Correctional Institution responded to help track the “carjacker,” leading officers to Miles’ mothers’ house. Miles eventually admitted to officers that he had fled from the traffic stop because he had a rifle in the vehicle with him and knew he was not allowed to possess firearms. Miles is a seven-time convicted felon, who had previously been to federal prison for possession of an unregistered short-barreled shotgun and sale of a firearm to a convicted felon.
Miles faces imprisonment for up to 15 years.
The case involved an investigation by the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with assistance from the Perry Police Department and the Florida Department of Corrections. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 2, 2025 at 10:00 am at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Mark E. Walker
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Oklahoma Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Loaded FirearmRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, FL – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Andre Dominique Barnes (35, Lehigh Acres) to three years and six months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Barnes to forfeit the firearm and ammunition he possessed during the offense. Barnes pleaded guilty on April 9, 2025.
According to court documents, on September 20, 2024, Barnes was stopped by the Florida Highway Patrol in Lee County for speeding. He was identified by his Oklahoma identification card and had a suspended driver license. Upon search of his vehicle, troopers located a loaded pistol. Court records show that Barnes was previously convicted of multiple felony offenses in Oklahoma. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Nurse Sentenced to 16 Months in Federal Prison for Tampering with and Stealing Lorazepam VialsRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SEAN FALZARANO, 39, of Southbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to 16 months of imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release, for tampering with and stealing Lorazepam vials at the hospital where he was employed as a nurse.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Falzarano was employed at Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH) as a Registered Nurse. As part of his employment, Falzarano was granted access to secure locations used by YNHH to store controlled substances, including Lorazepam. On January 31, 2022, Falzarano took vials containing Lorazepam solution that he knew were intended to be dispensed to patients. He removed a portion of the Lorazepam solution from at least one of the vials, replaced the contents with an inert solution, and returned the vial to the secure location where it was available for distribution to patients. Falzarano was confronted on that date by YNHH employees who were investigating drug tampering. A search of Falzarano’s backpack revealed vials, crimping tools, saline, vial caps, and syringes.
On December 11, 2024, Falzarano pleaded guilty to tampering with a consumer product, and acquiring a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge.
Falzarano, who is released on a $50,000 bond, is required to report to prison on October 21.
Falzarano’s nursing license is currently suspended.
This matter was investigated by the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; the DEA’s Hartford Diversion Control Division; and the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Drug Control Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ray Miller.
New Haven Man Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Possessing Gun While Released on Bond in another Federal CaseRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ANTRUM COSTON, 42, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 36 months of imprisonment for unlawfully possessing a firearm while released on bond in another criminal case.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 18, 2023, Judge Underhill sentenced Coston to 37 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for pandemic relief fraud, money laundering, and drug offenses. Judge Underhill ordered Coston, who was released on bond, to surrender for service of his sentence on November 29, 2023. On October 25, 2023, New Haven Police arrested Coston after they found him in possession of a loaded Taurus G3 9mm handgun with an extended magazine.
The 36-month sentence will run consecutively to Coston’s 37-month sentence from 2023.
Coston has been detained since his arrest. On October 28, 2024, he was convicted after trial of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and possessing it while on federal release.
Coston’s criminal history includes multiple felony convictions, including two federal convictions for firearm offenses.
This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the New Haven Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathaniel J. Gentile and Sean P. Mahard through the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn.
New Castle Felon Sentenced to Six Years of Prison for Narcotics and Firearm ViolationsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A former resident of New Castle, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to violations of federal drug and firearm laws and was sentenced to six years of imprisonment on his conviction, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy imposed the sentence on Michael Rodich, 41, on July 28, 2025.
According to information presented to the Court, on September 29, 2023, Rodich was arrested by the New Brighton Police Department. At the time of his arrest, Rodich, who was wanted by the Hermitage Police Department on an open arrest warrant, had a loaded firearm in his waistband as well as drug paraphernalia, crack, fentanyl pills, and $2,380 on his person. In his backpack, Rodich also had two baggies of crack, a bag of powder cocaine, a glass container of powder cocaine, stamp bags of fentanyl, drug paraphernalia, a digital scale, a loaded magazine containing 10 rounds of ammunition, and 27 rounds of loose ammunition. Rodich was previously convicted of a felony. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
In connection with his plea, Rodich admitted to possessing controlled substances with the intent to distribute, possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking crime, and to illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.
In imposing sentence, Judge Hardy stated that, among other things, “third-party deterrence is very important to this Court” and that perhaps those who are considering committing similar crimes will realize that there are “very significant consequences” if they are caught and will “think differently” before they act.
Assistant United States Attorneys Rebecca L. Silinski and Jacqueline C. Brown prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as well as the Hermitage Police Department, New Brighton Police Department, and Ellwood City Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Rodich.
Multi-Time Convicted Burglar Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Luis Miguel Alvizures (33, Guatemala) to two years in federal prison—the statutory maximum sentence—for illegally reentering the United States following deportation. Alvizures pleaded guilty on May 7, 2025.
According to court documents and information presented during the sentencing hearing, Alvizures, an alien and citizen of Guatemala, was deported from the United States in 2017. Following his deportation, Alvizures illegally reentered the country. While unlawfully present in the United States, Alvizures committed a string of burglaries of local businesses for which he was later convicted in state court. Should he return to the United States illegally in the future, Alvizures could face up to 10 years in federal prison.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Winter.
Middleton Nail Salon Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Tam Phan, 40, Middleton, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty yesterday to tax evasion in connection to her nail salon business, Happy Nails & Spa, in Middleton.
Phan has been the operator and sole proprietor of Happy Nails & Spa since 2010. The government’s investigation revealed that a large percentage of Happy Nails customers paid for their services with cash between 2021 and 2023. However, Phan’s tax returns for that time period only reported the credit card sales. During the plea hearing, Phan admitted that she intentionally failed to report the cash sales from Happy Nails & Spa on her 2022 federal tax return.
U.S. District Judge William M. Conley scheduled Phan’s sentencing for October 28, 2025. Phan faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison.
The charge against Phan was the result of an investigation by IRS Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner is handling the prosecution.
Mexican man pleads guilty, sentenced for illegal re-entryRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Alejandro Mendez Flores, 38, a citizen of Mexico, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to illegal re-entry of a removed alien. He was then sentenced to time served and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen M. McCarthy, who is handling the case, stated that Mendez Flores is an alien without any legal status in the United States. A native and citizen of Mexico, he was physically removed in July 2019 after having illegally entered the United States. On April 30, 2025, Mendez Flores was found in Erie County in the Western District of New York.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The plea and sentencing are the result of an investigation by Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy.
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Mexican National Sentenced to 18 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Ranferi Cruz-Diaz, 33 years old, of Mexico residing in Hammond, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Senior Judge James T. Moody after pleading guilty to being an unlawful or illegal alien in possession of a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Cruz-Diaz was sentenced to 18 months in prison followed by 24 months of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, on January 31, 2025, Cruz-Diaz pointed a firearm at his roommate’s head while illegally in the country. He had previously been removed from the United States on two occasions.
“Cruz-Diaz ignored federal law by entering the country illegally, and he ignored it again by acquiring a gun that he was not permitted to have,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Proctor. “His actions showcase why Congress barred unlawful or illegal aliens like him from possessing firearms. I thank all the investigators, prosecutors, and support staff who brought him to justice.”
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force and the Hammond Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ambris Saravanan.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Racketeering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican National pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday to his role in a racketeering conspiracy to transport aliens, harbor aliens, encourage and induce aliens to reside in the United States, and falsify Form I-9 documentation.
Lorenzo Castro-Manzanarez, 43, a Mexican National living in Springfield, Mo., admitted that he was part of a RICO (racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations) conspiracy from Jan. 1, 2018, to Aug. 10, 2021, that, amongst other things, transported and harbored aliens not authorized to live or work in the United States. Castro-Manzanarez admitted that as part of the conspiracy he also encouraged and induced aliens to reside in the United States in violation of the law by providing them with employment and allowing them to work under fraudulent identification documentation. Castro-Manzanarez took these actions in furtherance of keeping multiple Mexican restaurants across the Midwest staffed and profitable, thereby gaining an illegal competitive business advantage. Castro-Manzanarez also admitted that as part of the conspiracy he falsely claimed and attested to be a United States citizen on a Form I-9 and utilized a counterfeit Social Security card as part of the Form I-9 process.
Castro-Manzanarez also admitted that after being indicted in this case—and while on bond—he continued to break federal law by employing aliens, providing aliens with housing at residences in his name, and allowing aliens to work at his restaurants utilizing fraudulent identification documentation, including counterfeit Social Security cards. Castro-Manzanarez further admitted that he took these illegal actions to ensure his restaurants in Springfield, Mo., Columbia, Mo., and Jefferson City, Mo., remained staffed and profitable.
Castro-Manzanarez was taken into custody at the conclusion of his plea hearing and will remain in custody pending sentencing.
Under federal statutes, Castro-Manzanarez is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of Castro-Manzanarez will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rudolph R. Rhodes IV, Nicholas P. Heberle, David Wagner, and Leigh Farmakidis. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the United States Postal Inspection Service; Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations; Kansas Bureau of Investigation; Kansas Department of Labor; Missouri State Highway Patrol; Kansas Highway Patrol; and Butler Police Department.
Operation Take Back America
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Memphis Man Sentenced to over 18 Years for Carjacking and Shooting of 60-Year-Old VictimRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - A federal judge sentenced a Memphis man to over 18 years in prison and five years of supervised release today for carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury and discharging a firearm during the carjacking.
“This was a calculated and brutal act of violence against an unsuspecting man in his own front yard in broad daylight,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “We are grateful to our law enforcement partners for their swift response and commitment to public safety. The Criminal Division will continue to aggressively prosecute armed offenders who threaten the safety of our neighborhoods.”
“The premeditated and horrendous acts of violence that this individual committed demonstrates a blatant disregard for human life,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Stankiewicz of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Division. “The ATF along with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, remains committed to combatting violent crime and swiftly bringing these individuals to justice before they commit other senseless acts of violence.”
According to court documents, on May 16, 2024, at around 7:45 a.m., Jaylen Simpson, 23, of Memphis, shot a 60-year-old victim in the stomach as the victim stepped outside his home to mow the lawn. Simpson, who had been hiding in the victim’s backyard, then stole the victim’s car keys and fled in his vehicle.
Home surveillance footage from the victim’s home, showing the defendant entering the victim’s vehicle with a black handgun after shooting the victim in the stomach.
After pursuing him for nearly three hours by car and on foot, Memphis Police apprehended Simpson, who was carrying inside his backpack a loaded Walther Creed 9mm pistol that had been reported stolen days before. In an interview later that day, Simpson admitted to waiting outside the victim’s home, discharging the firearm, and stealing the victim’s car. The victim was hospitalized for four weeks and underwent multiple surgeries to treat the gunshot wound.
Before any evidence was presented at trial, Simpson pleaded guilty to carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury and discharge of a firearm in furtherance of the crime.
The ATF and the Memphis Police Department Violent Crime Unit investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Ashleigh Atasoy of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods efforts to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee and surrounding areas.
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Memphis Man Sentenced to over 18 Years for Carjacking and Shooting of 60-Year-Old VictimRead the Press Release
A federal judge sentenced a Memphis man to over 18 years in prison and five years of supervised release today for carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury and discharging a firearm during the carjacking.
“This was a calculated and brutal act of violence against an unsuspecting man in his own front yard in broad daylight,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “We are grateful to our law enforcement partners for their swift response and commitment to public safety. The Criminal Division will continue to aggressively prosecute armed offenders who threaten the safety of our neighborhoods.”
“The premeditated and horrendous acts of violence that this individual committed demonstrates a blatant disregard for human life,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Stankiewicz of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Division. “The ATF along with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, remains committed to combatting violent crime and swiftly bringing these individuals to justice before they commit other senseless acts of violence.”
According to court documents, on May 16, 2024, at around 7:45 a.m., Jaylen Simpson, 23, of Memphis, shot a 60-year-old victim in the stomach as the victim stepped outside his home to mow the lawn. Simpson, who had been hiding in the victim’s backyard, then stole the victim’s car keys and fled in his vehicle.
Home surveillance footage from the victim’s home, showing the defendant entering the victim’s vehicle with a black handgun after shooting the victim in the stomach.After pursuing him for nearly three hours by car and on foot, Memphis Police apprehended Simpson, who was carrying inside his backpack a loaded Walther Creed 9mm pistol that had been reported stolen days before. In an interview later that day, Simpson admitted to waiting outside the victim’s home, discharging the firearm, and stealing the victim’s car. The victim was hospitalized for four weeks and underwent multiple surgeries to treat the gunshot wound.
Before any evidence was presented at trial, Simpson pleaded guilty to carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury and discharge of a firearm in furtherance of the crime.
The ATF and the Memphis Police Department Violent Crime Unit investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Ashleigh Atasoy of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods efforts to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee and surrounding areas.
Manchester Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute More Than 3 Pounds of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Manchester man was sentenced yesterday in federal court for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy responsible for distributing methamphetamine in the Manchester area, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.
Zachary Austin, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Joseph N. Laplante to 84 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release. On February 25, 2025, Austin pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Austin’s co-defendant, Joseph Coffey, has also pleaded guilty and will be sentenced at a later date.
“Distributing three pounds of methamphetamine is a serious crime with serious consequences,” said Acting United States Attorney Jay McCormack. “This seven-year sentence reflects the harm these drugs inflict on our communities and the commitment of law enforcement to hold drug traffickers accountable.”
“DEA stands committed to keeping highly addictive drugs like methamphetamine off the streets of New Hampshire,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget, New England Field Division. “Today’s sentence not only holds Mr. Austin accountable for his crimes but should serve as a warning to those traffickers who are contributing to the drug crisis in New England and across the United States. This investigation demonstrates the strength and continued commitment of our local, state and federal law enforcement partners and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The DEA is dedicated to bringing to justice those that commit these crimes.”
According to the plea agreement and statements made in court, Austin and Coffey operated a methamphetamine distribution business out of their shared Manchester apartment. Between July and September 2024, Austin and Coffey sold methamphetamine to law enforcement on five occasions. Searches of their apartment and vehicle later uncovered additional methamphetamine. In total, law enforcement recovered approximately 1.66 kilograms, or 3.66 pounds, of methamphetamine.
The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case.
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Man Who Attempted to Stab Flight Attendant and Open Airplane Door Mid-Flight SentencedRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Leominster, Mass. man was sentenced today for attempting to open an emergency exit door while aboard a United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Boston and then attempting to stab a flight attendant in the neck with a broken metal spoon.
Francisco Severo Torres, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to time served (approximately 26 months in prison) to be followed by five years of supervised release, during which the defendant is prohibited from flying on a commercial aircraft. In May 2025, Torres pleaded guilty to one count of interference and attempted interference with flight crew members and attendants using a dangerous weapon. Torres was charged by criminal complaint in March 2023 following his arrest at Boston Logan International Airport. He was subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2023.
On March 5, 2023, Torres was a passenger aboard a United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Boston. Approximately 45 minutes prior to landing, the flight crew received an alarm in the cockpit that a starboard side door located between the first class and coach sections of the aircraft was disarmed. Upon inspection, a flight attendant found that the door’s locking handle had been moved out of the fully locked position – approximately a quarter of the way towards the unlocked position – and that the emergency slide arming lever had been moved to the “disarmed” position. The flight attendant reported this to the captain and flight crew after securing the door and emergency slide.
In subsequent discussions, a fellow flight attendant reported that he had observed Torres near the door and believed Torres had tampered with the door. A flight attendant then confronted Torres about tampering with the door, to which he responded by asking if there were cameras showing that he had done so. The flight attendant then notified the captain that they believed Torres posed a threat to the aircraft and that the captain needed to land the aircraft as soon as possible.
Shortly thereafter, Torres got out of his seat and approached the starboard side door where two flight attendants were standing in the aisle. One of the flight attendants saw Torres mouthing something that he could not hear. Video taken by a passenger depicts Torres yelling at points that he would “kill every man on this plane” and “I’m taking over this plane.” Torres then thrust towards one of the flight attendants in a stabbing motion with a broken metal spoon, hitting the flight attendant on the neck area three times. Passengers then tackled and restrained Torres with the assistance of flight crew. Torres was immediately taken into custody upon the flight’s arrival to Boston.
During subsequent interviews, passengers who were aboard the flight reported that Torres asked a fellow passenger where on the safety card it showed where the door handle was located prior to takeoff and that Torres was seen pacing in a galley before attacking the flight attendant.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elianna J. Nuzum of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Man Admits Being Caught with Gun and Drugs After Striking City of St. Louis Worker During ChaseRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man who was fleeing from St. Louis police with a gun and drugs in his car when he struck and injured a city employee pleaded guilty Tuesday.
Jorden M. Owens, 23, of Florissant, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with the intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and one count of possession with the intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl. Owens admitted being spotted by St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers on Dec. 12, 2024, near the intersection of Page Boulevard and Vandeventer Avenue in a stolen Lexus RC350 coupe. Officers began following Owens on Grand Boulevard, then used spike strips to try and safely stop him. Owens fled at a high rate of speed. His reckless driving caused about 60 employees of a local business who were crossing the street near Tucker Boulevard and Chouteau Avenue to run out of the way. At the intersection of 7th Street and Cerre Street, Owens struck and injured an employee of the City of St. Louis Traffic Division and then crashed into her work truck. He was arrested after fleeing the crash on foot, despite his violent attempts to resist that arrest. Owens had a Glock .40-caliber pistol equipped with an auto sear, or “switch,” that rendered it into a fully automatic weapon in the bag he carried. The car contained three cell phones and a total of 824.7 grams (1.8 pounds) of methamphetamine and 342 grams of fentanyl.
Owens is scheduled to be sentenced on November 3. Each count is punishable by from five to 40 years in prison.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Delworth is prosecuting the case.
Mexican Man Charged for Illegal Possession of a Firearm in Gulf BreezeRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Teodoro Rodriguez-Alvarez, 34, of the country of Mexico, has been charged in federal court with Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Alien. The charges were announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Court documents allege that, on July 15, 2025, Gulf Breeze Police Department responded to the Pensacola Bay Bridge in reference to a pickup truck stopped in the emergency lane with an unconscious male in the driver’s seat. The driver was identified as Teodoro Rodriguez-Alvarez and was subsequently arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and illegal possession of a firearm.
The case involved an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Gulf Breeze Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey M. Tharp.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Lincoln Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Carlos Aldalberto Hernandez, Jr., 31, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on July 24, 2025, in federal court in Lincoln for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine mixture. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Hernandez to 120 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Hernandez’s release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release.
In April and May of 2024, a confidential informant made a total of four purchases of methamphetamine from two of Hernandez’s housemates in Lincoln. Those purchases ranged from approximately ¼ ounce up to approximately ½ ounce of methamphetamine. The last of those purchases occurred on May 6, 2024. A search warrant was executed at Hernandez’s residence on that date. During that search, investigators found a cardboard box containing 14 baggies of methamphetamine in Hernandez’s bedroom. Additional smaller amounts of methamphetamine were found throughout the house. The total amount of methamphetamine found was approximately 610 grams. One of Hernandez’s co-conspirators had an additional ½ ounce of methamphetamine in his vehicle. Three of the baggies found in the house were analyzed for purity and were found to contain at least 170 grams of actual methamphetamine. A cooperating witness told investigators that Hernandez had been living at the house for about six weeks prior to the search and was a source of methamphetamine for other residents of the house.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Drug Task Force.
Lincoln Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Carlos Aldalberto Hernandez, Jr., 31, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on July 24, 2025, in federal court in Lincoln for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine mixture. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Hernandez to 120 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Hernandez’s release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release.
In April and May of 2024, a confidential informant made a total of four purchases of methamphetamine from two of Hernandez’s housemates in Lincoln. Those purchases ranged from approximately ¼ ounce up to approximately ½ ounce of methamphetamine. The last of those purchases occurred on May 6, 2024. A search warrant was executed at Hernandez’s residence on that date. During that search, investigators found a cardboard box containing 14 baggies of methamphetamine in Hernandez’s bedroom. Additional smaller amounts of methamphetamine were found throughout the house. The total amount of methamphetamine found was approximately 610 grams. One of Hernandez’s co-conspirators had an additional ½ ounce of methamphetamine in his vehicle. Three of the baggies found in the house were analyzed for purity and were found to contain at least 170 grams of actual methamphetamine. A cooperating witness told investigators that Hernandez had been living at the house for about six weeks prior to the search and was a source of methamphetamine for other residents of the house.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Drug Task Force.
Justice Department Finds the University of California-Los Angeles in Violation of Federal Civil Rights LawRead the Press Release
Today, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division announced that the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by acting with deliberate indifference in creating a hostile educational environment for Jewish and Israeli students.
The Civil Rights Division’s Notice of Violation finds that UCLA failed to adequately respond to complaints of severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive harassment and abuse that Jewish and Israeli students faced on its campus from October 7, 2023, to the present.
“Our investigation into the University of California system has found concerning evidence of systemic anti-Semitism at UCLA that demands severe accountability from the institution,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This disgusting breach of civil rights against students will not stand: DOJ will force UCLA to pay a heavy price for putting Jewish Americans at risk and continue our ongoing investigations into other campuses in the UC system.”
“UCLA failed to take timely and appropriate action in response to credible claims of harm and hostility on its campus,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Its inaction constitutes a clear violation of our federal civil rights laws, and the Justice Department will hold UCLA accountable to their legal obligations so that all students can have equal protection under the law.”
The Civil Rights Division enforces federal civil rights laws that protect students from discrimination based on religion, national origin, and other protected characteristics. This includes Title VI, which prohibits such discrimination by recipients of federal financial assistance.