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4 September 2025
Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Transport Illegal AliensRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican national has pleaded guilty in federal court today to conspiracy to transport illegal aliens.
Lisandro Garcia-Ramirez, 23, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lajuana M. Counts to one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens. Garcia-Ramirez was arrested on Feb. 20, 2025, traveling on I-70 in Saline County, Mo. Garcia-Ramirez admitted to transporting individuals he knew were present in the United States illegally.
Under federal statutes, Garcia-Ramirez is subject to a sentence of up to 10 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 Garcia-Ramirez 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. Attorney Teresa Moore. It was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations.
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).
Mexican National Indicted for Passport FraudRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on September 3, 2025, Erik J. Paz-Zavaleta (Age: 46), who resides in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, was arraigned on a previously sealed indictment that charges Paz-Zavaleta for making a false statement in the application for a passport in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1542.
The indictment alleges that on or about March 7, 2022, Paz-Zavaleta “willfully and knowingly made a false statement in the application for a passport” and that he “used another person’s identity” to obtain a passport “under the authority of the United States.” If convicted Paz-Zavaleta faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years’ of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Chicago Field Office of the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, with the assistance of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Kaukauna Police Department.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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For further information contact:Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
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Mexican Citizen Guilty of Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that JOSE DAVID MORALES-VAZQUEZ (“MORALES-VAZQUEZ”), age 29, a native of Mexico, pleaded guilty on September 2, 2025 to illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
According to court documents, MORALES-VAZQUEZ was previously removed from the United States on November 19, 2018, and had not received permission from the Attorney General of the United States or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to reenter. United States District Judge Brandon S. Long set sentencing for November 4, 2025.
MORALES-VAZQUEZ faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two (2) years, a fine of up to $250,000, up to one year of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the United States Border Patrol in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Duane A. Evans of the General Crimes Unit is prosecuting the matter.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Massachusetts Tax Preparer Sentenced for Filing False Returns for ClientsRead the Press Release
Note, the release has been updated with minor factual corrections and that Isidor was ordered to serve one year of supervised release.
A Massachusetts tax return preparer was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for filing false tax returns for clients.
The following is according to court documents and evidence presented at trial: Yves Isidor, of Somerville, Massachusetts, owned and operated Tax Realty Pro, a tax preparation service located in Malden, Massachusetts. From 2012 to 2019, Isidor prepared over 1,500 returns for taxpayers. During that time, Isidor falsified returns for clients by preparing fraudulent schedules that claimed inappropriate expenses or deductions. On multiple occasions, Isidor inflated clients’ total itemized deductions by fabricating medical expenses, charitable contributions, employment expenses, and taxes. Additionally, on a few occasions, Isidor inflated expense deductions when clients were self-employed or owned rental properties. These activities reduced his clients’ tax liabilities and generated fraudulent refunds. At trial, clients testified that Isidor falsified their individual tax returns without request or consent.
Isidor caused a loss to the United States of $443,000.
In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Judge William G. Young for the District of Massachusetts ordered Isidor to serve one year of supervised release.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Christina M. Grimes of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor A. Wild for the District of Massachusetts prosecuted the case.
Mason City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Cleon Mitchell, Jr., 46, from Mason City, Iowa, was sentenced on September 4, 2025, to 12 years’ imprisonment. Mitchell, Jr. pled guilty April 30, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City to possession of child pornography.
At the plea and sentencing hearings, evidence showed that from August 2022, through April 2024, Mitchell used the applications Kik and Snapchat to receive and possess visual depictions of child pornography which involved a prepubescent minor or minor under the age of 12. Snapchat reported Mitchell Jr.’s account to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children who in turn reported the information to law enforcement. Law enforcement connected the account back to Mitchell, Jr. and obtained a search warrant for his home and electronics. During the execution of the search warrant, Mitchell, Jr. admitted he had received and possessed child pornography, and it would be located on his phone. Forensic analysis of his electronics showed that Mitchell, Jr. possessed 30 videos and 50 images of child pornography including materials that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct as well as prepubescent children and toddlers. Mitchell also later admitted he had engaged in a pattern of activity involving the sexual abuse or exploitation of a minor and he plead guilty to Lascivious Acts with a Child in February 2025 in Cerro Gordo County District Court.
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.”
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Mitchell, Jr. was sentenced to 144 months’ imprisonment, was ordered to pay $600 in fines and assessments, and must serve a 5-year term of supervised release following his prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system. Mitchell, Jr. remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by the Mason City Police Department and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 24-3038. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Man Pleads Guilty to the Sextortion of at least 68 Children via Social Media and Sex Trafficking at least Five of those ChildrenRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Ryan Austin Lauless, 31, of, Colorado, has pleaded guilty to 21 counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Child, 5 counts of Sex Trafficking of a Minor, 2 counts of Noticing and Advertising Child Sexual Abuse Material and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material.
According to court documents, between late 2019, and May 19, 2023, Ryan Lauless used social media applications such as Instagram, Snapchat, Discord, Yubo, Purp, and others, to coerce, sexually exploit and threaten at least 68 minor victims into producing thousands of images and videos of sexually explicit conduct. The victims ranged in age from 13 to 16 at the time of the offenses and lived in nearly every state in the United States and in at least five foreign countries.
Using the above social media applications, and others, Lauless misrepresented his identity, and falsely represented to minors that he was “Cason Fredrickson,” purporting to be a teenager from New York or other cities. In reality, Lauless was in his late 20’s, unemployed, and living in various hotels and motels in Texas and Colorado. To conceal his identity, Lauless accessed the public Instagram page of Individual A, and without Individual A’s knowledge or consent, saved their images and videos to falsely claim that he (Lauless) was Individual A, posing as “Cason Fredrickson.”
Lauless’ criminal tradecraft included misrepresenting his age, identity, background, and likeness, to groom minor children, and provide a false sense of safety in their online communications. Lauless’ tradecraft further included the use of voice modulators and third-party image and video applications to edit images and videos to make them appear as though they were taken live through social medial applications, such as Snapchat.
Lauless also feigned interest in his victims, told his victims that they were attractive, and pretended as though they were in an online romantic relationship. He purchased items for many of the minor victims over Amazon, including fishnet stockings, sexual devices, and unique t-shirts that he instructed minor victims to wear when producing sexually explicit images and videos, and shipped those items either directly to victims, or to a designated Amazon locker for pickup.
As part of Lauless’ efforts to avoid detection and continue the sexual exploitation of minor victims for a prolonged period, he threatened many of the minor victims with dissemination of their images and videos if they failed to comply with his demands, or if they intended to seek help from parents or law enforcement. At least one minor victim told Lauless that she was contemplating suicide.
Further, Lauless sex trafficked at least five different minor victims by forcing them to them engage in oral, vaginal, and anal intercourse with adult males, and producing numerous videos of the commercial sex acts. Some victims were forced to engage in sadomasochistic abuse at Lauless’ direction.
Once Lauless received images and videos from his victims, he advertised the sexually explicit material he enticed them to produce for sale on social media applications such as Discord, Instagram, Telegram, and MEGA. He engaged in at least 141 transactions in which he sold the child sex abuse material for payment via Venmo, PayPal, Bitcoin, and CashApp. Lauless admits that his collection of child pornography included images and videos depicting prepubescent children in sexually explicit conduct, as well as children engaged in bestiality and sadomasochistic behavior.
“Thanks to the courage of these victims and the dedication of our law enforcement partners, we are one step closer to justice. Exploiting children is one of the most reprehensible crimes, often going unnoticed by those closest to the victims,” said First Assistant United States Attorney John E. Childress. “In today’s digital age, predators use sophisticated tactics to target our kids and manipulate them into feeling trapped and ashamed. I urge parents and caregivers to have open, honest conversations with children in their lives to help stop this abuse before it starts.”
"Protecting children from online predators is a responsibility we all share,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy O’Malley. “Crimes that target and exploit children are among the most egregious we investigate, and they too often remain unseen until it is too late. We urge parents to stay engaged, talk with their children, and remain vigilant. The FBI’s mission is clear: we will relentlessly pursue those who prey on children, hold them accountable, and stand with victims every step of the way.”
"Today’s guilty plea is a stark reminder of the dangers our children face online. This defendant exploited the trust and vulnerability of children through social media, committing acts of unimaginable cruelty, said Boone County Prosecutor, Kent Eastwood, on behalf of the C.A.S.E Task Force. “We will continue to pursue these cases relentlessly, and we remain committed to supporting survivors and holding predators fully accountable.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Boone County Child Abuse and Sexual Exploitation (CASE) Task Force investigated this case, with valuable assistance provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Lauless faces up to life in federal prison and will be sentenced by a U.S. District Judge later.
The Child Abuse and Sexual Exploitation, or CASE, Task Force was established in 2023 to support the investigatory and prosecution efforts of Boone County law enforcement as they pursue persons who use the internet to sexually exploit or entice children. The task force is made up of law enforcement personnel from the following Boone County agencies; the Boone County Sheriff’s Office, the Boone County Prosecutor’s Office, the Lebanon Police Department, the Whitestown Police Department, and the Zionsville Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tiffany Preston and Carolyn Haney are prosecuting this case.
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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.
If you are a victim of child sexual exploitation, please contact your local police department. Resources for victims of child exploitation can be found on our website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/project-safe-childhood.
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Man Charged with Armed Robbery and Firing Machine Gun That Killed 69-Year-Old BystanderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton; Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Ricky J. Patel; and Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, announced the unsealing of a Complaint charging FAISIL McCANTS in connection with an August 27, 2025, armed robbery and shooting in which McCANTS fired 15 rounds from a machine gun on a public street in East Harlem, New York, striking and killing a 69-year-old woman. McCANTS was arrested today and is expected to be presented tomorrow before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn.
“As alleged, after robbing a drug dealer at gunpoint, Faisil McCants fired a machine gun in the middle of the day on the busy streets of New York City, killing another person,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “The death of that wholly innocent bystander, a 69-year-old woman who was merely standing with her walker on the sidewalk in East Harlem, is as tragic as it is senseless. It is unacceptable. Because of the hard work of our partners at HSI and the NYPD and the prosecutors of this Office, McCants will now answer for his alleged crime. This tragic and senseless act shows again we must do all we can to get violent criminals off our streets.”
"As a result of this defendant’s allegedly ruthless and utterly reckless violence, an innocent victim was gunned down in broad daylight while simply going about her daily life,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel. “New Yorkers deserve better—full stop. HSI New York—together with our partners at the NYPD and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York—will not rest until the other individuals involved are captured and, like this defendant, face the full force of the criminal justice system for their accused, unacceptable crimes.”
“Faisil McCants allegedly armed himself with a machine gun during a robbery and opened fire in broad daylight, killing a 69-year-old mother, grandmother, and beloved East Harlem community member,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “Robin Wright was an innocent bystander who lost her life to gun violence—and today, justice was served in her memory. Removing illegal firearms from our streets remains at the forefront of the NYPD’s public safety mission, and we will continue to ensure that those who carry them are held accountable. I am grateful to the NYPD investigators, HSI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their swift work to keep our streets safe.”
As alleged in the Complaint:[1]
On or about August 27, 2025, shortly before 12:30 p.m., FAISIL McCANTS and two co-conspirators (“CC-1” and “CC-2”) robbed a drug dealer (“Individual-1”) near East 109th Street and Madison Avenue in Manhattan. During the robbery, McCANTS and his co-conspirators got into a physical altercation with Individual-1 before both McCANTS and CC-2 grabbed backpacks from Individual-1—which contained marijuana—and then fled north on Madison Avenue, turning onto East 110th Street.
As he fled the robbery, McCANTS pulled a black machine gun out of his right sweatshirt pocket and fired 15 shots in rapid succession in the general direction of Individual-1. A 69-year-old woman who was standing with a walker on the northwest corner of East 110th Street and Madison Avenue—in the direction that McCANTS shot the machine gun—was hit by the gunfire. From the scene, she was transported to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
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McCANTS, 18, of New York, New York, is charged with one count of Hobbs Act robbery, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of the use, carrying, and possession of a machine gun, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison, and which must be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed.
The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI and the NYPD. He also thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the New York State Board of Parole.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandra S. Messiter and Kathryn Wheelock are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
u.s._v._mccants_complaint.pdf
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Louisville Man Sentenced to 7 years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy and Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A Louisville man was sentenced on August 28, 2025, for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute it.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to court documents, Joseph Cook, 46, was sentenced to 7 years in prison, followed by 6 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute it.
Between August 20, 2024, and August 22, 2024, Cook conspired with other persons to possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Cook supplied 111.35 grams of methamphetamine to codefendant, John Jecker, on August 20, 2024. Again, on August 20, 2024, Cook possessed 111.35 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute it and supplied the 111.35 grams of methamphetamine to codefendant, Jecker. Finally, on August 22, 2024, Cook possessed 799 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute it. The methamphetamine was stored in a safe in Cook’s apartment. The total amount of methamphetamine from both the conspiracy and possessed by Cook was 910.35 grams. The methamphetamine was tested at the DEA laboratory, where it was confirmed to be methamphetamine.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the ATF, with assistance from the DEA Louisville Field Division, and the Louisville Metro Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erwin Roberts prosecuted the case.
This conviction is a part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Louisville Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A Louisville, Kentucky man was sentenced on August 21, 2025, to 14 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine and distribution of over 50 grams of methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
Antonio O’Neal, 40, admitted as part of an open plea on May 21, 2025, to one count of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine from January 1, 2021, through August 16, 2023, and five counts of distribution of methamphetamine on April 1, April 24, May 1, May 8, and May 10, 2023. Specifically, O’Neal was held responsible for distributing 960 grams of methamphetamine which was purchased through law enforcement-controlled purchases.
Based on this conduct and his criminal history, the Court imposed a sentence of 14 years in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
The FBI and LMPD investigated the case.
Assistant United States Attorneys Joshua Porter and Frank Dahl III prosecuted the case with assistance from paralegal Adela Alic.
This conviction is a part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Louisville Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A Louisville man was sentenced on August 27, 2025, for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute it.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to court documents, Tremell Smith, 34, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by 6 years of supervised release, for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute it.
Mr. Smith’s conviction stems from two instances in which he sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant. On March 11, 2024, Smith sold 460 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant. Again, on March 19, 2024, Smith sold 231 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant. Each methamphetamine transaction was audio and video recorded. The total amount of methamphetamine from both of the controlled purchases was 691 grams. The methamphetamine was tested at the DEA laboratory, where it was confirmed to be methamphetamine.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the ATF, with assistance from the DEA Louisville Field Division and the Louisville Metro Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erwin Roberts prosecuted the case.
This conviction is a part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Lincoln Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Nathaniel Lee Stephenson, 28, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on September 4, 2025, in federal court in Lincoln for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine actual (pure). United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Stephenson to 140 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Stephenson’s release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release.
On June 13, 2024, Stephenson sold 83 ½ grams, (approximately three ounces), of methamphetamine to an undercover Lincoln Police Department officer for $1,000 in Lincoln. Purity testing at the Nebraska State Patrol Crime Lab showed the methamphetamine was at least 93% pure.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Drug Task Force.
Level 3 sex offender pleads guilty to new child pornography chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.- U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that James M. Lajoie, 30, of Appleton, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to possession of child pornography following a prior conviction under New York law relating to sexual abuse, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, and a maximum penalty of 20 years, and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that in June 2016, Lajoie was convicted of Attempted Sexual Abuse in the 1st Degree and sentenced to serve three years in prison and 10 years post release supervision. In August 2023, a New York Parole Officer conducted a home inspection at Lajoie’s residence and found an unauthorized cellular telephone in his possession. A review recovered approximately 54 images and four videos of child pornography stored on the device. Lajoie obtained these images and videos of child pornography over the internet. Some of images depicted prepubescent minors and violence against children.
The plea is the result of an investigation by Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Grimm, the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Stauffiger, and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 4, 2025, before Judge Arcara.
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Laredo Weapons Trafficking Coordinator Pleads Guilty to Charges for Conspiring to Smuggle Military Grade Firearms to Mexican Drug CartelRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A Laredo man pleaded guilty in a federal court in San Antonio today to four conspiracy counts related to his role as the coordinator for a weapons trafficking organization that illegally obtained hundreds of firearms and smuggled them from the U.S. to Mexico in support of the Cartel Del Noreste (CDN).
According to court documents, Gerardo Rafael Perez Jr. aka Jerry, 24, and his network of straw purchasers illicitly obtained the firearms, including FNH SCAR rifles, Barrett .50 caliber rifles, FNH M249S rifles, M240s and M1919s, from gun stores and unlicensed dealers in San Antonio and other Texas cities. They also acquired FightLite MCR belt-fed upper receivers, which allow standard AR-15 lower receivers to use belt-fed ammunition and provide for a greater capacity of continuous fire before reloading. Perez directed the acquisition, trafficking, and illegal export of guns and parts in support of the cartel, all without an export license or a license to deal firearms.
Agents searched the cell phones of multiple straw purchasers of firearms who were receiving directions from Perez, revealing communications in which Perez sent instructions on specific guns to buy from specific sellers across Texas. On one occasion, a straw purchaser purchased six firearms for Perez in San Antonio with nearly $50,000 in cash, including three FN SCAR 17S 7.62 caliber rifles, an FN SCAR 20S 7.62 caliber rifle, an FN M249S belt-fed rifle 5.56 caliber, and a Barrett M82A1 .50 caliber rifle, all of which Perez acquired for the purpose of delivery to Mexico. Communications showed Perez telling another straw purchaser he was obliterating serial numbers from trafficked guns so there was no way the gun could be tracked to the original seller.
On Sept. 26, 2023, law enforcement conducted a search of Perez’s residence and recovered multiple firearms and various types of ammunition, blank ATF Form 4473s, and CDN jewelry. Agents seized and searched Perez’s cell phone and found photos depicting him in tactical gear and wearing CDN jewelry, as well as photos of numerous guns. His phone also contained messages in which Perez solicited firearms, coordinated their purchase, and negotiated prices with sellers.
Perez was arrested March 20, 2024, along with co-defendants Antonio Osiel Casarez, Luis Matias Leal, Francisco Alejandro Benavides Jr., and Mark Anthony Trevino Jr. Three other co-defendants, Gerardo Ibarra Jr., Gerardo Corona Jr., and Jose Emigdio Q. Mendoza were named in an earlier indictment and arrested in 2023. The ninth and tenth co-defendants, Armando Mata Jr., and Felipe Vasquez III, were charged in a superseding indictment and arrested in March 2025.
Perez pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to traffic firearms, conspiracy to straw purchase firearms, conspiracy to smuggle goods from the United States, and conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He faces up to 25 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William Calve is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Lackawanna man going to prison for distributing child pornographyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Maxwell H. Gawley, 34, of Lackawanna, NY, who was convicted of distribution of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan K. Glaberson, who handled the case, stated that in August 2022, Gawley engaged in sexually explicit conversations via Snapchat with a minor victim, who was a 14-year-old male. During these conversations, Gawley asked the minor victim to send him pictures of himself and discussed having sexual contact with him, which the minor victim complied with. In response, Gawley told the minor victim that he “might even have to make a road trip ... [come] see you if we were dating.” In September 2022, Gawley engaged in a sexually explicit conversation with another individual over Snapchat, during which Gawley shared images and videos of child pornography over the internet via Snapchat.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
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Kenyan National Charged with International Money Laundering in Feeding Our Future Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Ahmednaji Maalim Aftin Sheikh, 28, a resident of Kenya, was indicted today with Conspiracy to Commit International Money Laundering for his role in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. Sheikh is the 74th defendant charged in this scheme, the largest Covid fraud scheme in the country.
“I share the outrage of my fellow Minnesotans at seeing money meant to feed hungry children converted into fortunes half a world away,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “Sheikh’s indictment shows yet again what we are up against. It is another window into the many fraud schemes that have seeped into every corner of our state. But we cannot shrink from confronting this crisis. We must come together as Minnesotans and demand that the frauds stop now. We must protect the future of our children and our state.”
Sheikh is a Kenyan national who helped launder and send abroad millions of dollars in Feeding Our Future fraud proceeds for his brother, Abdiaziz Farah. Abdiaziz Farah was the leader of the “Empire” group and the lead defendant in the first Feeding Our Future trial. Earlier this month, United States District Judge Nancy E. Brasel sentenced Abdiaziz Farah to 28 years in prison for his role in the fraud scheme. Abdiaziz Farah is pending sentencing in the juror bribery case before United States District Judge David S. Doty.
As set forth in the indictment, from 2020 to 2022, Abdiaziz Farah and others carried out a massive scheme to defraud the federal child nutrition program, a program designed to provide free meals to children in need. Abdiaziz Farah and his co-conspirators obtained, misappropriated, and laundered more than $40 million in federal child nutrition program funds that were intended to serve hungry children.
Defendant Ahmednaji Sheikh is a citizen and resident of Kenya. Sheikh helped his brother, Abdiaziz Farah, launder and hide his fraud proceeds abroad, beyond the reach of federal law enforcement. Abdiaziz Farah sent millions of dollars in fraud proceeds abroad, including to Sheikh. Sheikh received those funds and helped his brother conceal the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the fraud proceeds by investing them in Kenyan real estate through a series of sham corporate entities and bulk cash smuggling.
Sheikh helped Abdiaziz Farah use fraud proceeds to purchase a 20 percent stake in a Kenyan real estate company. For example, in April 2021, Abdiaziz Farah purchased an apartment building in the South C neighborhood of Nairobi, located adjacent to Nairobi National Park. Defendant Sheikh also helped Abdiaziz Farah use proceeds to purchase land in Mandera Town, a city located in Kenya, on the boarder with Somalia and Ethiopia.
Defendant Sheikh and Abdiaziz Farah regularly exchanged text message about their ill-gotten wealth. For example, on July 3, 2021, Abdiaziz Farah texted Sheikh, “You are gonna be the richest 25 year old InshaAllah.” Sheikh responded, “I love you so much.” Abdiaziz Farah and Sheikh also exchanged messages and photos of the cash that was sent from Farah in the United States to Sheikh in Kenya.
For example, on August 29, 2021, Sheikh sent Abdiaziz Farah a photo of $138,000 in cash.
On December 9, 2021, Sheikh sent Abdiaziz Farah a photo of banker’s boxes filled with $270,000 in cash that Farah sent to Sheikh.
On December 16, 2021, Sheikh sent Abdiaziz Farah photos of a receipt documenting a $300,000 money transfer from Abdiaziz Farah in Minneapolis to Sheikh in Kenya. Abdiaziz Farah reported the transfer purpose as “family support” and the source of the income as his “salary.”
On December 27, 2021, Sheikh sent a text message explaining that he had received $1,287,000 from Abdiaziz Farah in the prior days.
As the indictment notes, Individual S.D. is Abdiaziz Farah’s sister-in-law; she is the sister of Abdiaziz Farah’s wife. Individual S.D. is a naturalized U.S. citizen who lives in Minnesota. She worked at one of the companies that sponsored Abdiaziz Farah’s fraudulent participation in the federal child nutrition program.
In October 2021, Abdiaziz Farah purchased a townhome in Burnsville, Minnesota for $575,000 using the proceeds of his fraud scheme. Individual S.D. then moved into that townhome.
On December 30, 2021, Sheikh married Individual S.D., in Nairobi, Kenya. Individual S.D. flew to Nairobi on December 21, 2021 and returned to the United States on January 11, 2022.
On June 9, 2023, Individual S.D. filed a petition for alien relative seeking to sponsor Sheikh’s immigration to and permanent residency in the United States. On the petition, Individual S.D. identified Sheikh as her husband.
On November 7, 2024, Sheikh applied to enter the 2026 Diversity Immigrant Visa lottery. The Diversity Immigrant Visa program, also known as the “green card lottery,” is an annual immigration lottery run by the United States Department of State. The program seeks to diversify the immigrant population of the United States by selecting applicants from countries with low number of immigrants. Each year, the State Department issues immigrant visas followed by permanent resident cards (or “green cards”) to approximately 55,000 winners of the green card lottery. On his application, Sheikh stated that he was unmarried.
“The federal child nutrition program was designed to provide meals to children in need,” said FBI Minneapolis SAC Alvin M. Winston, Sr. “According to the indictment, Ahmednaji Maalim Aftin Sheikh saw this instead as an opportunity to steal from taxpayers and from hungry children. The indictment alleges Sheikh and his co-conspirators laundered more than $40 million in federal funds. Sheikh allegedly used the proceeds of his fraud to invest in an upper-class Kenyan real estate company. The FBI will use every resource to stop this shameful theft, and to ensure that taxpayer resources are used appropriately for their intended purpose.”
These cases result from an investigation conducted by the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Jacobs and Daniel W. Bobier are prosecuting these cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Baune is handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Kent County Man Facing Federal Child Sexual Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Stephen Nicholas Westcott, 35, of Kennedyville, Maryland, charging him with Sexual Exploitation of a Child, Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material, Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material, and Illegal Possession of an Unregistered Silencer. Law enforcement arrested Westcott in Manistee County, Michigan, after he fled the state of Maryland to avoid arrest when a warrant was issued in February 2025.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Colonel Roland L. Butler, Jr. Superintendent, Maryland State Police (MSP); James A. Dellmyer, State’s Attorney for Cecil County; and Bryan DiGregory, State’s Attorney for Kent County.
According to the 13-count indictment, Westcott produced sexually explicit images of a young child under the age of 5. Westcott also communicated and distributed child sexual abuse materials over various internet platforms including Snapchat, Discord, and Telegram while maintaining a collection of child sexual abuse material on his personal electronic devices.
If convicted, Westcott faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for each count of Sexual Exploitation of a Child, and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of 20 years for each count of Distribution of Child Pornography. Additionally, Westcott is facing a maximum sentence of 20 years for each count of Possession of Child Pornography and a maximum 10-year sentence for the count of Possession of an Unregistered Silencer.
Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.
This case is also 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 Attorney’s 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.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, ATF, and MSP for their work in the investigation, and the Manistee County Sheriff's Office and FBI Detroit for their valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen E. McGuinn who is prosecuting the federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Kansas City Woman Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud Using a Stolen and Altered CheckRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., woman pleaded guilty in federal court today to taking part in a bank fraud scheme.
Aviance Shepard, 34, admitted that in March 2023, she obtained a $881,324 check belonging to another person which was stolen from the United Parcel Service mail stream. Shepard opened a business account at a local financial institution in the name of the check payee. On March 27, 2023, Shepard deposited the stolen and altered check into the newly opened account.
The next day, on March 28, 2023, Shepard obtained five cashier’s checks in the total amount of $320,000 for herself and others. Shepard also withdrew $20,000 in cash from the account.
On March 27, 2023, the check payor discovered that the check had been lost or stolen from the UPS package and stopped payment on the check. The bank did not receive the stop payment until Shepard had withdrawn $340,000 in cashier’s checks and cash.
Under federal statutes, Shepard is subject to a sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison without parole for bank fraud. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of Shepard 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. Attorney Kathleen D. Mahoney. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Postal Inspection Service.
Kansas City Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to Making False Statements to a Financial Institution and Preparing Fraudulent Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., woman pleaded guilty in federal court today to taking part in two separate fraudulent schemes.
Bianca Cobbins, 42, pleaded guilty to a seven-count Information charging two counts of making a false statement to a financial institution and five counts of aiding in the preparation of a false tax return.
False Statements to a Financial Institution
Cobbins admitted that, in December 2019, she obtained personal information belonging to a victim, including the victim’s legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, address, and credit score. Utilizing this information, Cobbins obtained a fraudulent driver’s license containing the victim’s personal information and a photograph of another individual, Quanisha Capelton. Cobbins and Capelton then utilized the fraudulent driver’s license to apply for a checking account at a local financial institution.
After opening the checking account, Cobbins manufactured two fraudulent paystubs. The paystubs falsely indicated that the above-mentioned victim worked for a healthcare company in Kansas City, Mo., and that the victim’s paychecks were directly deposited into the fraudulently opened checking account. Cobbins and Capelton used the fraudulent paystubs to apply for a consumer loan at the above-mentioned local financial institution.
As part of her plea agreement, Cobbins admitted that the procurement and use of the victim’s personal information to commit fraud resulted in an intended loss of at least $36,128.32.
Quanisha Capelton was previously charged, convicted, and sentenced to the Bureau of Prisons for her use of the victim’s personal information.
Aiding in the Preparation of False Tax Returns
Cobbins, a professional tax preparer, further admitted that for tax years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, she knowingly prepared false federal tax returns aimed at fraudulently inflating her clients’ refunds. In many instances, Cobbins attached fraudulent Schedule C forms to her clients’ returns. The fraudulent Schedule C forms falsely claimed business profits and/or losses in an effort to ensure her clients received the maximum amount of Earned Income Credit.
As part of her plea agreement, Cobbins admitted to preparing at least 55 false federal tax returns, resulting in an actual loss of at least $312,656.00.
Under federal statutes, Cobbins is subject to a sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison without parole for each count of making a false statement to a financial institution and is subject to a sentence of up to 3 years in federal prison without parole for each count of aiding in the preparation of false tax returns. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of Cobbins 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. Attorney Nicholas P. Heberle. It was investigated by the United States Secret Service, IRS-CI, and the Lee’s Summit, Mo., Police Department.
Justice Department Opens Investigation into Rainsville, Alabama for Disability and Religious Liberty DiscriminationRead the Press Release
Today, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division launched an investigation into the City of Rainsville, Alabama, to determine whether the City violated Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA), and the Fair Housing Act (FHA) by denying a faith-based organization’s application to operate an addiction-recovery facility in the City.
The Department opened this investigation after receiving a complaint alleging that the City denied a Christian recovery organization the ability to establish a Christian discipleship program, motivated by a desire to keep away “drug addicts.” The program was intended to rehabilitate men with drug and alcohol dependency, and other life-controlling problems.
“The ADA affords every individual, including those on the path to recovery, the dignity and opportunity to fully participate in society,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division stands guard to protect not only the rights of Americans with disabilities, but also the rights of religious institutions to minister to those recovering from substance abuse.”
The ADA prohibits discrimination based on disability by public entities. People in recovery from substance use disorders who are not currently engaging in illegal drug use are protected by the ADA. The ADA prohibits public entities from discriminating against people with disabilities on that basis. The FHA further prohibits such discrimination by municipalities in making housing unavailable to people with disabilities.
RLUIPA is a federal law that guards religious institutions from unduly burdensome, unequal, or discriminatory land use regulations. More information about RLUIPA and the department’s work can be found on the Place to Worship Initiative’s webpage.
If you believe you have been a victim of disability discrimination, please file a complaint with the Civil Rights Division online at https://www.ada.gov/file-a-complaint/, or by calling the Department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 (1-833-610-1264 (TTY)). For more information on the ADA and the Civil Rights Division, please visit www.ada.gov or www.justice.gov/crt.
And individuals who believe they have been subjected to discrimination in land use or zoning decisions may contact the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section at (833) 591-0291 or may submit a complaint through the RLUIPA complaint portal. More information about RLUIPA, including questions and answers about the law and other documents, may be found at www.justice.gov/crt/about/hce/rluipaexplain.php.
Jenks Man Sentenced for Receiving and Distributing Sexually Explicit Material of ChildrenRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Jenks man was sentenced today after a forensic analysis of his cellphone revealed 99 images and 39 videos of children engaging in sexually explicit conduct, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Jason Gardner Davis, 52, for Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography. Judge Russell ordered Davis to 78 months imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release. Judge Russell ordered Davis to pay $5,100 in restitution and monetary assessments. Upon his release, Davis will also be required to register as a sex offender.
From October 2022 through February 2023, Davis admitted to receiving sexual gratification after receiving and sharing sexually explicit images and videos of minor children engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Court records show that Davis was chatting with an undercover agent through a social media app and distributed child sexual abuse material to the undercover agent. The investigation led agents to Davis’ home with a search warrant, where agents found 99 images and 39 videos of child sexual abuse material, including images of pre-pubescent children being sexually abused, and images of sadistic conduct, on Davis’ cellphone.
Davis was taken into custody at his guilty plea in May, and he will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Robert and Nathan Michel prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Jefferson Parish Man Guilty of Possessing Machine GunRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that on August 21, 2025, JAHBRELL PRICE (“PRICE”), age 25, of Marrero, La. plead guilty before United States District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown to a two-count indictment pending against him. Count 1 charged PRICE with possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(3). Count 2 charged PRICE with possession of a machine gun, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(o) and 924(a)(2). Sentencing is set for December 4, 2025.
According to court documents, on January 7, 2024, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives located PRICE at a motel in the 6700 block of Westbank Expressway, Marrero, Louisiana. He was taken into custody for an outstanding Orleans Parish arrest warrant. Detectives then secured a search warrant for PRICE’s hotel room and located twenty (20) bottles of promethazine (9,460 ml), $1,375.00 in United States currency, and a Glock Model 45 nine-millimeter handgun with an attached external and visible machine gun conversion device.
PRICE faces up to 1 year imprisonment, up to a $100,000 fine, and a $50 mandatory special assessment fee as to Count One, and up to 10 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release for Count Two, as well as payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee for each count.
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.
Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mary Katherine Kaufman of the General Crimes Unit .
Jamaican National Sentenced to Six Months in Prison for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Jamaican national was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for illegally reentering the United States after deportation.
Tanya James, 53, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to six months in prison. The defendant is now subject to deportation proceedings. In July 2025, James pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. James was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2025.
In 2003, Tanya James was convicted of possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base. She was ordered removed from the United States and deported to Jamaica in 2004. In 2011, James was again ordered removed from the United States and deported to Jamaica in 2012. According to court documents, in March 2024, James was charged with motor vehicle offenses. On or about May 12, 2025, James was taken into custody by immigration officials after she was found to be in the United States without having received permission to reenter.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
Jamaican National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Julie S. Sneed has sentenced Garville Gary Gayle (37, Jamaica) to one year and six months in federal prison for illegal reentry by a deported alien. Gayle pleaded guilty on June 3, 2025.
According to court documents, Gayle is a citizen and national of Jamaica. He was previously deported from the United States on November 19, 2009, and May 26, 2016, following two felony convictions. Prior to his 2009 deportation, Gayle was convicted of possession of marijuana with intent to sell. Prior to his 2016 deportation, he was convicted of illegal reentry. On April 29, 2024, Gayle was found to be voluntarily back in the United States when he was arrested by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office for possession of cocaine. He was subsequently convicted of that offense.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO). It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Del Mastro.
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.
Independence Woman Admits to Role in National Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Independence, Mo., woman pleaded guilty in federal court today to taking part in a fraud scheme impacting the U.S. Small Business Administration and numerous state governments.
Cathy M. Kelley, 69, pleaded guilty to knowingly receiving stolen government money. Specifically, Kelley admitted, in September 2020, she received $59,900 in Economic Injury Disaster Loan proceeds from the U.S. Small Business Administration after another individual submitted a fraudulent application requesting the funds. After receipt, Kelley converted the stolen funds to her use and the use of others by purchasing personal items and making large cash withdrawals.
Kelley also admitted that, in 2020 and 2021, she knowingly received stolen unemployment benefits from the State of Washington, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, State of Colorado, State of Florida, State of Kansas, State of California, and State of Nevada. Specifically, knowing the unemployment benefits had been procured by others through fraud, Kelley received the benefits in multiple financial accounts in her name and control as well as through numerous state-issued debit cards delivered to her personal residence. Upon receipt, Kelley converted the money to her use and the use of others. As part of her plea agreement, Kelley admitted that the stolen unemployment benefits contained federal funds and admitted that she received a total of at least $250,000 in stolen funds over her course of conduct.
Under federal statutes, Kelley is subject to a sentence of up to 10 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 Kelley will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Jan. 6, 2026.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas P. Heberle. It was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General; U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Humboldt County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for 25 Years on Multiple ConvictionsRead the Press Release
A man who was convicted of two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine after having been previously convicted of a serious drug felony, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and failure to appear, was sentenced yesterday to 25 years in federal prison.
Nathan Nickless, age 40, from Dakota City, Humboldt County, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 1, 2025, guilty plea.
At the plea and sentencing hearings, evidence showed that on August 12, 2023, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, law enforcement attempted a traffic stop on a truck Nickless was driving. Nickless attempted to evade law enforcement onto a river road. After ramming his truck into a non-law enforcement vehicle, Nickless stopped his truck and fled on foot but was apprehended while trying to climb a river embankment. During the flight by foot, Nickless was in possession of a backpack. In the backpack, law enforcement found a loaded 9mm pistol, multiple bags of narcotics including approximately 200 grams of methamphetamine, marijuana, psychedelic mushrooms, pills, THC gummies, ammunition, a scale, and multiple small baggies.
Nickless was federally charged but was allowed to remain released pending his July 8, 2024, federal trial. Nickless failed to appear as required for trial and absconded from law enforcement over the next several months.
Evidence at the hearings further showed that, on September 28, 2024, in Humboldt County, Iowa, law enforcement became aware Nickless was in the area. Law enforcement located Nickless and attempted to stop the vehicle he was driving. He refused to stop and began a vehicle pursuit with law enforcement where he again abandoned the vehicle he was driving in a field by a river. Law enforcement lost sight of Nickless when he went on foot along the river. The abandoned vehicle was seized, and a search warrant was granted.
Law enforcement searched the vehicle and found methamphetamine, multiple baggies of marijuana, pills, a scale, empty baggies for distribution, a methamphetamine pipe, and a marijuana pipe. On October 2, 2024, Nickless was found hiding inside a residence in Humboldt County and was arrested.
Nickless was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Nickless was sentenced to 300 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Nickless 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 Attorneys Patrick T. Greenwood, and was investigated by the Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Dodge Police Department, Iowa DCI Laboratory, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 23-3040. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Honduran National Sentenced for Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that JHOSMY JOSUE PEREZ-ALVAREZ (“PEREZ-ALVAREZ”), age 24, a native of Honduras, was sentenced on August 26, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(5)(A) and 924(a)(8).
According to court documents, on or about January 2, 2025, PEREZ-ALVAREZ, an individual unlawfully present in the United States, was found in possession of a Glock nine-millimeter handgun and was arrested by authorities. PEREZ-ALVAREZ admitted that he was unlawfully present at the time of the offense and due to his status, was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
PEREZ-ALVAREZ was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment, followed by (2) two years of supervised release, and payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Upon completion of his prison sentence, he will be transferred to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation to Honduras.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations and the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) for their roles in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.
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Hoffmann Quality Tools USA Inc. Agrees to Pay $1.4M Following Improper Receipt of PPP LoanRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Hoffmann Quality Tools USA Inc. (“Hoffmann”) has paid $1,400,027.39 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by applying for, receiving, and obtaining forgiveness of a loan under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) for which it was not eligible.
Congress created the PPP in March 2020, as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, to provide relief to small businesses experiencing economic hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic. On December 27, 2020, the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act (“Economic Aid Act”) was signed into law. The Economic Aid Act authorized the Small Business Administration to guarantee second-draw PPP loans. To be eligible for second-draw PPP loans, borrowers were required to have no more than 300 employees, among other requirements. On May 21, 2020, an Interim Final Rule was published that clarified that affiliated foreign employees were to be included when a borrower calculated their total number of employees for purposes of determining PPP loan eligibility.
The United States contends that Hoffmann failed to include employees employed by foreign entities affiliated with Hoffmann through common ownership when it applied for a second-draw PPP loan and forgiveness thereof. Had Hoffmann included the employees of the foreign entities affiliated with Hoffmann, Hoffmann would have exceeded the 300-employee size limitation applicable to second-draw PPP loans and would not have been eligible to receive the second-draw PPP loan.
This Settlement resolves a lawsuit filed under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to sue on behalf of the government for false claims and receive a share of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Blockquote, Inc. v. Hoffmann Quality Tools USA Inc., No. 3:24-cv-297 (E.D. Tenn.).
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ben Cunningham and Alexa Ortiz Hadley represented the United States, with assistance from the Small Business Administration.
“The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) stood as vital resource for small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III. “Our office will continue to work with SBA and other federal partners to recover from those who take advantage of vital resources at the expense of the public.”
SBA’s General Counsel, Wendell Davis, stated, “This recovery is a direct result of the concerted efforts of SBA and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee to investigate claims of fraud in SBA’s COVID-relief programs and to recover funds lost through false statements from individuals and companies that engage in such activities.”
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
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Guatemalan National with Negligent Homicide Conviction Admits Illegally Reentering U.S., Attempting to Engage in Sex with MinorRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RAFAEL VINCENTE VINCENTE, also known as “Rafael Vicente Vicente,” “Vincente Carlos Vincente,” “Carlos Vincente,” “Carlos Vicente,” “Rafael A Vincente,” and “Rafael A Vicente,” 41, a citizen of Guatemala last residing in New London, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to illegally reentering the United States after being deported. In pleading guilty, he also admitted that he attempted to entice, patronize, or solicit a minor in violation of federal law.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in October 2004, Vincente, who has never held legal immigration status in the U.S., was convicted in Connecticut Superior Court of negligent homicide and evading responsibility for a motor vehicle accident resulting in death, and was sentenced to a 10-year term of incarceration, suspended after 13 months. In July 2005, he was deported to Guatemala.
Vincente subsequently reentered the U.S. and, on June 7, 2024, was arrested by Groton Town Police and charged with attempted commercial sexual abuse of a minor, attempted sexual assault in the second degree, and attempted risk of injury to a child. The state charges stem from Vincente being caught in an undercover law enforcement operation in which he responded to an advertisement on Skip the Games, a website commonly used to advertise commercial sexual activity, and traveled to a hotel in Groton to meet a 15-year-old girl for sex.
Vincente has been detained since his federal arrest on November 21, 2024.
Judge Nagala scheduled sentencing for January 7, 2026, at which time Vincente faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
This matter has been investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Gordon.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the State’s Attorney’s Office for the Judicial District of New London for its cooperation in the prosecution of this case.
Guatemalan National Sentenced for Illegal Reentry into the United StatesRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Guatemalan national deported from the United States in November 2024 who illegally reentered the United States shortly thereafter was sentenced today in federal court, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Rigoberto Cano Perez, 28, was removed from the United States by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on November 20, 2024, having been convicted in Rhode Island state court in December 2023 on charges of simple assault and/or battery and disorderly conduct.
On May 12, 2025, Immigration Officers learned through an automated biometric fingerprint match of fingerprints entered into the National Crime Information Center that Perez was arrested in Rhode Island the day before for violating a domestic no contact order and on a domestic disorderly conduct charge.
Perez was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Melissa R. DuBose to time served. An immigration detainer has been lodged by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Taylor A. Dean and Peter I. Roklan.
The matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Guatemalan National Sentenced for Illegal Re-entry into the United States, Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – A Guatemalan national convicted and sentenced in Rhode Island state court in 2014 for second degree sexual assault and subsequently deported, was sentenced today in federal court for reentering the United States illegally and for failing to register as a sex offender, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Court records reflect that after being deported in May 2014, Nelson Leonel Yocute Samayoa, 34, a/k/a Marvin Gomez, reentered the United States illegally, and lived and worked in Newport for approximately nine years. He failed to comply with the obligation that he register as a sex offender, as mandated by his 2014 sentence.
Yocute, detained in federal custody since June 23, 2025, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to time served and five years of supervised release. He continues to be held in federal custody while awaiting deportation proceedings.
The case was prosecuted in U.S. District Court by Assistant United States Attorney Denise M. Barton.
The matter was investigated by the Newport Police Department, with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Marshals Service.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Greenbrier County Couple Plead Guilty to Immigration CrimesRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Today, Rajesh N. Patel, 51, of Ronceverte, pleaded guilty to knowingly transporting an illegal alien and his wife Avanibahen Patel, 44, pleaded guilty to unlawful employment of aliens.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from November 2020 through at least September 2024, Aakash Prakash Makwana, 30, a citizen of India unlawfully residing in Ronceverte, was employed at a Fairlea business owned and operated by the Patels. Makwana assisted with the daily running of the business during the time period. As part of their guilty pleas, the Patels each admitted that they agreed to hire Makwana knowing that he was living in the United States illegally after his immigration visa expired.
Rajesh N. Patel further admitted that he drove Makwana to and from work and other locations because Makwana did not own a vehicle. Rajesh N. Patel also admitted that he did not collect or pay over to the United States government any payroll taxes from Makwana’s gross pay, and paid Makwana’s rent and supplied him with groceries during most of the time Makwana was employed at the business.
Makwana pleaded guilty on May 14, 2025, to aggravated identity theft, admitting that he committed the offense as part of a scheme to marry a United States citizen to evade U.S. immigration laws. In or around August 2021, Makwana conspired with others to marry a U.S. citizen so he could apply for Lawful Permanent Residence status, also known as obtaining a Green Card. The marriage fraud scheme was not successful. Makwana is scheduled to be sentenced on September 26, 2025.
As part of his guilty plea, Rajesh N. Patel admitted that he knew of the marriage fraud conspiracy and aided and abetted it by making cash payments to Makwana’s co-conspirators. Kalee Ann Huff, 28, of Fairbury, Illinois, admitted to marrying Makwana as part of the conspiracy and was sentenced on June 12, 2025, to five years of federal probation for marriage fraud and perjury. Huff’s brother-in-law, Joseph Sanchez, admitted to helping to arrange the fake marriage and to pressuring Huff to take part. Sanchez, 33, of Fairbury, Illinois, was sentenced to five years of federal probation on May 28, 2025, for participating in an immigration marriage fraud conspiracy.
Rajesh N. Patel is scheduled to be sentenced on January 9, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Avanibahen Patel is scheduled to be sentenced on January 5, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of six months in prison, up to one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $3,000.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearings. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage is prosecuting the cases.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 5:25-cr-136 (Rajesh N. Patel) and 5:25-cr-137 (Avanibahen Patel).
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Grand jury indicts Hilliard man for distributing fentanyl resulting in overdose deathRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Hilliard man is charged with trafficking in fentanyl that caused at least one overdose death.
A second superseding indictment against Raymond A. McGhee, 37, was returned today. In addition to being charged with distributing fentanyl resulting in death – a crime punishable by at least 20 years and up to life in prison – McGhee is also charged with five other drug counts and two firearms crimes.
According to charging documents, McGhee, who is also known as “Red” and “Draco,” distributed the fatal fentanyl on Feb. 22.
McGhee was previously charged by criminal complaint in April after patrol officers with the Columbus Division of Police stopped McGhee for two traffic violations. They discovered a pistol and a sock filled with baggies of fentanyl and cocaine hidden under the carpet of the passenger side floorboard.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Thomas A. Greco, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorneys Noah R. Litton and Jennifer M. Rausch are representing the United States in this case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Gloucester Man Charged with Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Gloucester man was arrested and charged yesterday with sexual exploitation of a minor.
Robert Burnham, 44, is charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor. Burnham was arrested yesterday and made his initial appearance in federal court in Boston. He has been detained pending a hearing on Sept. 8, 2025.
According to the charging documents, from on or about June 11, 2024 to Oct 4, 2024, Burnham allegedly persuaded and coerced a 13-year-old minor female to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing pictures and videos of such conduct and transmitting the pictures and videos to him via social media.
Specifically, it is alleged that Burnham met the minor victim on Snapchat and told her he was in her grade. Burnham then allegedly started asking the minor victim about people that she knew and sent her a picture of her father’s Facebook account. It is alleged that Burnham claimed he had sexually explicit photos of the minor victim, that he knew her father and that he would send the pictures to her father if she did not send him sexually explicit pictures and videos of herself. Burnham then allegedly told the minor victim to make an account on JusTalk, a China-based messaging application, and moved their conversation to that application.
Over the course of four months, Burnham allegedly coerced the minor victim into creating and sending numerous sexually explicit videos and pictures. It is alleged that Burnham would give the minor victim detailed instructions about what to do in each video or picture and, when she did not comply or respond right away, he would threaten her. Specifically, Burnham allegedly told the minor victim that he was “going to put f*****g hands on [her]” and that he was going to rape her.
It is further alleged that Burnham communicated with other minors on Snapchat to whom he similarly suggested that he had nude images of them that he would send to the minors’ families if they did not do what he asked. Burnham allegedly exchanged messages with two different users who told him that they were 12 years old.
The charge of sexual exploitation of a minor provides for a sentence of at least 15 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Harper County Sheriff’s Office, FBI Kansas City and the Gloucester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allegra Flamm of the Major Crimes 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.
Gary Man Sentenced to 60 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Montrell Douglas Patterson, 31 years old, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Patterson was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by 24 months of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, on July 10, 2024, the Gary Police Department were dispatched to a location in response to a citizen’s complaint. Upon arrival, an officer observed Patterson possessing a firearm with an extended magazine in his waistband. Patterson fled, attempted to jump a fence, and dropped the firearm. The firearm was recovered and found to have a live round in the chamber, and the extended magazine was loaded with ammunition. Patterson’s criminal history revealed he was previously convicted of intimidation, criminal recklessness, and escape, which were felonies that disqualified him from possessing any firearm or ammunition.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force with assistance from the Gary Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Padilla.
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.
Four Men Indicted for Expansive Scheme to Defraud State Employees' Credit Union (SECU)Read the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal grand jury indicted Keyondre Deionta Purvis, 27, Calvin Daminice Stewart, 29, Michael Raekwon Ryner, 29, and Quavedrian Da’mon Gibson, 27. The indictment alleges the defendants engaged in an expansive scheme to defraud the State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU).
“Protecting the integrity of banks and credit unions that serve North Carolina’s public is a top priority,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to investigate allegations of fraud and safeguard the trust and money placed in these institutions.”
According to the indictment, in the summer of 2022, the defendants allegedly carried out a fraud upon SECU by exploiting a security vulnerability. After securing access to numerous SECU accounts, the defendants engaged in sham transactions – repeatedly depositing and withdrawing funds from member accounts to artificially inflate the accounts’ assumed balances during a reconciliation period. The defendants were then alleged to have withdrawn large amounts of cash in excess of the true account balances. According to the indictment, after the defendants completed the sham activity and the inflated withdrawals during the reconciliation period, the accounts were left with negative balances that were not repaid, thus defrauding SECU.
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge James E. Gates presided over Stewart's initial appearance. The FBI is leading the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Beraka is prosecuting the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-CR-00204.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Four Charged in Conspiracy to Smuggle Children from MexicoRead the Press Release
Note: View a copy of the criminal complaint.
Four people were charged for their roles in a scheme to smuggle children from Mexico into the United States, sometimes using candy laced with THC to sedate them during smuggling events.
“This Department of Justice is investigating and prosecuting human smuggling more aggressively than ever before, and Joint Task Force Alpha is the tip of the spear,” said U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We will not rest until those who profit from the suffering of vulnerable people — including many unaccompanied children — face severe, comprehensive justice.”
“These defendants allegedly risked the lives of children by using drug-laced candy to keep them quiet while being smuggled into the United States,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Targeting children in this way is especially dangerous and cruel. The Criminal Division is dedicated to safeguarding vulnerable populations and dismantling the for-profit smuggling networks that exploit them.”
“When these cartels and the Alien Smuggling Organizations with which they partner see children, they see dollar signs,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “This case shows that cartels and alien smuggling organizations care nothing for the wellbeing of the people they move into the United States. They only care about enriching themselves. In the Western District, we will muster all our resources to remove from society those who would profit off of the hopeless and helpless.”
“Every child placed in a smugglers hands is a life placed in danger,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason T. Stevens of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso. “These predators see desperation as an opportunity. To these criminals, vulnerable children as nothing more than currency-a means to turn human lives into profit. The smuggling of children is one of the most callous and reprehensible crimes HSI investigates, and we won’t stop pursuing those who profit by endangering young lives.”
Mexican nationals Susana Guadian and Daniel Guadian, both 50; Dianne Guadian, 32, a U.S. citizen; and Manuel Valenzuela, 35, a lawful permanent resident residing in El Paso, Texas, were charged in the Western District of Texas by a criminal complaint with conspiracy to transport aliens and bringing aliens to the United States for financial gain. Defendants Dianne Guadian and Manuel Valenzuela were arrested in El Paso on Aug. 30 and had their initial appearances on Sept. 2.
According to the complaint, between on or about May 1 through Oct. 17, 2024, the defendants were part of an alien smuggling organization (ASO) that brought unaccompanied alien children between the ages of five and 13 illegally into the United States from Juarez, Mexico. The complaint alleges that Susana Guadian and Daniel Guadian recruited drivers to transport the children by car from Mexico to a port of entry at the U.S. border. The drivers and their coconspirator would then present U.S. documents to inspecting officers falsely claiming the documents belonged to the children, and that they were the parents of the children. During at least one smuggling event, the alien children were given gummy candies containing marijuana to sedate them. One of the children was taken to a local hospital and later diagnosed with marijuana poisoning. Once inside the United States, the children were then transported to El Paso, where, according to the complaint, Dianne Guadian and Manuel Valenzuela would pick up the children and provide payment to the drivers. The drivers were paid $900 for each minor that they brought into the United States.
The investigation and indictment were supported by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded by the Attorney General with a mandate to target cartels and transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the northern and southern borders. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, the Office of Enforcement Operations, and the Office of International Affairs (OIA), among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 410 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 355 U.S. convictions; more than 305 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.
HSI El Paso and U.S. Border Patrol led investigative efforts, with substantial assistance from HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. and Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force.
Trial Attorney Bethany Allen of the Criminal Division’s HRSP and Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Hines for the Western District of Texas 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
U.S. V. GUADIAN ET. AL., WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS, CASE NO: EP-25-M-04855-MAT, FILED 08/29/2025 U.S. V. GUADIAN ET. AL., WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS, CASE NO: EP-25-M-04855-MAT, FILED 08/29/2025 U.S. V. GUADIAN ET. AL., WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS, CASE NO: EP-25-M-04855-MAT, FILED 08/29/2025Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 420 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Detric L. Cummings, 43 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor. Prior to trial, Cummings pled guilty to counts charging him with distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl. After a four-day trial, a jury then found him guilty of armed drug trafficking, firearms possession, and maintaining drug-involved premises.
Detric Cummings was sentenced to 420 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.According to documents in the case, Cummings sold quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl to an undercover officer with the Fort Wayne Police Department between July and August 2022. Cummings was armed with at least one firearm while conducting a drug transaction. He later sold that undercover officer a revolver during another drug deal. A subsequent search of one of his drug houses resulted in the seizure of six firearms, ammunition, two digital scales, and additional quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine.
Cummings has a violent criminal history spanning most of his life. As a juvenile, he committed an attempted robbery and escaped from lawful detention. As an adult, he was convicted of battery for shooting a man. While imprisoned for this offense, he was convicted of two additional battery offenses, one for punching a correctional officer and breaking his nose and another for spitting on a correctional officer. About four months after being released from prison, Cummings shot a woman multiple times while trying to collect a drug debt, almost killing her. While serving a lengthy prison term for these crimes, Cummings was sentenced for possessing a dangerous weapon, an eight-inch metal shank. Once released, Cummings continued to harm the community through the armed drug trafficking that resulted in his conviction in this case.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with assistance from the Fort Wayne Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Indiana State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lesley J. Miller Lowery and Justin C. Sheridan.
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.
Former Senior Aide to Newark Mayor Admits Conspiracy to Commit Honest Services FraudRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A former Senior Aide to the Mayor of Newark pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Alina Habba announced.
Al-Tarik Onque, 49, of East Orange, New Jersey pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge William J. Martini to an Information charging him with conspiracy to commit honest services fraud.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Onque previously worked as a Senior Aide to the Mayor of Newark. As a Senior Aide, Onque primarily responded to constituent complaints, performed constituent services, and worked with organizations in the community.
Onque used his official position in the City of Newark to solicit individuals seeking Certificate of Code Compliance (“CCCs”) or Certificate of Occupancy (“COs”) and to offer them expeditated acquisition of those documents in exchange for payments of cash bribes. Onque and others induced these individuals to pay cash bribes in connection with multiple properties in or around Newark
Under City of Newark regulations, a CCC had to be obtained from the Newark Department of Engineering, Office of Inspections and Enforcement before certain changes of occupancy; and property owners had to obtain a CO, sometimes referred to as a Certificate of Continued Occupancy (a “CCO”) to ensure a building or premises satisfied Newark code requirements.
The charge of conspiracy to commit honest service fraud carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for January 15, 2026.
Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Habba credited special agents of Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Francesca Liquori and Matthew Specht of the Special Prosecutions Division.
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Defense Counsel: Ernesto Cerimele, Esq., Newark, New Jersey
onque.information.pdfFormer Employee Pleads Guilty to Security Violation at Philadelphia International AirportRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Tiriq Henson, 33, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty before United States District Judge Gail A. Weilheimer yesterday to one count of entering an airport area in violation of security requirements.
The defendant was charged by information in May of this year.
As detailed in court filings, on March 9, 2024, Henson, then employed as a wheelchair assistant at the Philadelphia International Airport, aided and abetted the entry of Person #1 into a secure airport area in violation of security requirements, by permitting Person #1 to use the defendant’s airport-issued Secure Identification Display Area badge to gain access to the secured and sterile area of the airport.
Henson is scheduled to be sentenced on December 16 and faces a maximum possible term of 10 years’ imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Priya De Souza.
Former Delaware County Teacher Sentenced to 327 Months in Federal Prison for Coercing, Transporting, and Sexually Abusing StudentsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Paul Geer, age 58, of Hancock, New York, was sentenced today to 327 months (27 years and 3 months) in federal prison for two counts of coercing and enticing two children to travel across state lines to engage in unlawful sexual activity and two counts of transporting the children across state lines with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity with those children.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
Geer was found guilty on March 3, 2025, following a two-week trial. The evidence proved that, while Geer was a teacher at the Family Foundation School in Hancock, New York, from 1994 through 2001 he imposed disciplinary sanctions on students that were tantamount to torture. The sanctions included depriving children of food or forcing them to eat food that had been regurgitated, binding children in rugs and leaving them in isolated rooms for extended periods of time, and forcing children to perform physical labor. The evidence at trial further proved that Geer used his position of authority and his ability to impose these brutal sanctions to coerce two students to travel with him, on separate occasions, to Maine and Toronto, Canada, respectively. The jury found that Geer transported those students across state lines with the intent to engage in unlawful sexual activity with them. While on those trips, Geer raped and otherwise sexually abused each of the two children.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino imposed a 3-year term of supervised release to follow Geer’s release from prison. Geer will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “Paul Geer was a monster. As a teacher, Geer was supposed to help his students become better versions of themselves. Instead, Geer used his position of power to torture these children physically, emotionally, and psychologically. When Geer believed his tactics had been sufficiently effective in breaking these children and scaring them into silence, he proceeded to sexually abuse them. These children deserved to be protected, to be cared for, and to be helped, but Geer viewed these children only as a means to his sadistic and predatory end. Geer is now paying the price for his heinous conduct and will spend the next 27 years where he deserves to be, in a cage.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli stated: “The depth of Mr. Geer’s sexual, physical, and psychological abuse is so depraved it’s truly hard to comprehend. He was entrusted to care for the students at the Family Foundation school but instead tortured them for years. Now he’s being held accountable for those actions and heading to federal prison. Nothing was more important than delivering justice to those students. Today, our thoughts are with them – and their peers who never got to tell their stories – as they continue to process the unimaginable impact his abhorrent behavior had on their young lives.”
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Albany Division Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force with assistance from the Colonie Police Department and New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica N. Carbone, Adrian S. LaRochelle, and Michael D. Gadarian prosecuted the case as a part of Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Former CEO of Tribal Telecom Subsidiary Pleads Guilty to Embezzling over $500,000 from Yurok TribeRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Jessica Engle pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday afternoon to embezzling more than $500,000 from the Yurok Tribe.
Engle, 42, of Gold Hill, Oregon, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Sept. 25, 2024, on charges of embezzling approximately $579,574 from an Indian tribal organization and theft from programs receiving federal funds. She pleaded guilty to both counts in the indictment. In connection with pleading guilty, Engle admitted that she embezzled funds from the Yurok Tribe while she served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Yurok Telecommunications Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Yurok Tribe, and converted the funds to her own use.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement.
Engle’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 14, 2026, before Senior U.S. District Court Judge Maxine M. Chesney. Engle faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the count of theft from programs receiving federal funds in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 666 and five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the count of embezzlement from an Indian tribal organization in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1163. Any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colin Sampson and Sophia Cooper are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Laurie Worthen. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI appreciate the assistance of the Yurok Tribal Police.
Fentanyl Sale that Killed St. Louis County Woman Leads to 15-Year Prison SentenceRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Thursday sentenced a man who admitted selling the fentanyl that killed a St. Louis County, Missouri woman to 15 years in prison.
Forrest L. Smith, 37, of St. Louis County, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in May to one count of distribution of a controlled substance and two counts of distribution of fentanyl.
The victim was found dead in her bedroom on Oct. 5, 2021. Investigators found four capsules containing fentanyl, and messages on her phone showing that she bought drugs from Smith the day before via an intermediary, Smith’s plea agreement says. In November 2021, an undercover officer began texting Smith, and on Nov. 8, 2021, purchased fentanyl from Smith. The officer bought more fentanyl eight days later.
The Drug Enforcement Administration seized over 55.5 million fentanyl pills and 7,800 pounds of fentanyl last year. Half of the pills tested by DEA contained a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl. There were more than 258,000 opiate overdose deaths between 2013 and 2021, primarily due to illicitly manufactured fentanyl, according to the DEA.
The FBI and the Town and Country Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Granger prosecuted the case.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Two in Gold Bar Scam Conspiracy that Targeted Senior VictimsRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an indictment on August 5, 2025, charging a man and woman for their roles in a “gold bar scam” conspiracy that impacted senior victims in Kentucky and across the United States.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd, Cincinnati Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation, and Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the FBI Louisville Field Office made the announcement.
According to court documents, Antonio Peña, 39, who has ties to both Florida and New York, and Brandi Durst, 43, of Florida, were charged with one count each of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. Specifically, the indictment alleges that between April 2024 and July 2025, both Peña and Durst traveled around the United States and collected gold bars from victims who were convinced to liquidate their retirement funds and buy gold. Unindicted co-conspirators would deceive victims into believing that they were victims of a prior identity theft scam, and that purchasing gold would help protect their assets. Peña, Durst, and others posed as Federal Reserve agents or other government officials, supposedly picking up the gold for safekeeping, only to steal victims’ savings and launder the proceeds.
On August 14, 2025, Peña and Durst were arraigned before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, each defendant could face a maximum of up to 40 years in prison, in addition to owing fines and victim restitution. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
“As alleged in the indictment, these defendants preyed upon folks who were simply trying to secure their retirement nest egg,” said U.S. Attorney Bumgarner. “They will be held accountable to the maximum extent of the law.”
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is being investigated by IRS-CI and FBI with assistance from HSI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Corinne E. Keel is prosecuting the case.
This case was investigated and prosecuted as part of the National Elder Justice Task Force and the Kentucky Elder Justice Task Force. The Department of Justice’s mission of its Elder Justice Initiative is to support and coordinate the Department’s enforcement and programmatic efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial fraud and scams that target our nation’s older adults. Kentucky’s task force is comprised of investigators, prosecutors, and others at the local, state, and federal level with a common objective of protecting seniors across Kentucky.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Former Tallahassee Church Worship Leader Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a ChildRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Hunter Chase Eubanks, 31, of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to sexual exploitation of a child. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the excellent investigative work of our local and federal law enforcement partners, this offender has been brought to justice for victimizing a vulnerable child. My office will not hesitate to aggressively pursue prosecutions of these crimes to keep our children safe from sexual exploitation by predators like this defendant.”
Court documents reflect that between July 4, 2024, and October 9, 2024, Eubanks engaged in a sexual relationship with a minor who attended Morningside Church, where Eubanks served as a worship leader and led a church music internship program. The Leon County Sheriff’s Office opened a criminal investigation in October 2024 after it received a report about the sexual relationship. The investigation revealed that Eubanks engaged in sexual activity with the minor on multiple occasions at the church and elsewhere in Tallahassee. During their communications using an iPhone app, Hunter requested that the minor produce and send him images that would constitute child pornography.
Eubanks faces a minimum mandatory of 15 years’ imprisonment and a maximum of 30 years’ imprisonment, followed by five years to life of supervision upon release.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’ Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 24, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida, before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor.
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 and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The 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.
Eleven Drug Trafficking Arrests Made in North Arkansas as Part of Operation Take Back AmericaRead the Press Release
FAYETTEVILLE - Six individuals federally indicted, and 5 individuals charged by the State of Arkansas, are in custody after federal and state authorities made a series of arrests this morning as part of the Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America and an FBI initiative designated Operation Summer Heat.
The arrests stem from an investigation that began in 2023, which targeted methamphetamine and fentanyl distributors operating in and around the Mountain Home, Arkansas area. The investigation, which was headed by the FBI, involved numerous undercover buys of methamphetamine, and drug and firearm seizures from members of the drug trafficking organization. Since its inception, a total of 23 individuals have been arrested as part of the investigation.
This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The FBI initiative designated “SUMMER HEAT” is a nationwide initiative targeting violent crime during the summer months. As part of this effort, the FBI has launched a multi-pronged offensive to crush violent crime. By surging resources alongside state and local partners, executing federal warrants on violent criminals and fugitives, and dismantling violent gangs nationwide, the FBI seeks to aggressively restore safety in communities across the country.
Those arrested today are anticipated to be arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Christy D. Comstock on Tuesday.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.
Today’s arrests are the result of an investigation by the FBI, and assisted by the 14th Judicial Drug Task Force, the Mountain Home Police Department, the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office, the Boone County Sheriff’s Office, the Harrison Police Department, the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, the Benton County Sheriff’s Department, the Springdale Police Department, the Washington County Sheriff’s Department, and the Arkansas State Police.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Briana Robbins.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov.
Eight Men Charged with Smuggling High-End Vehicles OverseasRead the Press Release
DETROIT - An indictment was unsealed today charging eight Southeast Michigan men with running a sophisticated car theft and international smuggling operation, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. The charges stem from an investigation initiated by the Dearborn Police Department and involving U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from Customs and Border Protection and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Stentz, ICE Homeland Security Investigations Detroit; Marty C. Raybon, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Reuben Coleman Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division; Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation, and Chief Issa Shahin, Dearborn Police Department.
Charged were Haydar Al Haydari, 41, of Garden City; Karar Alnakash, 43, of Detroit; Abbas Al Othman, 42; of Dearborn Heights; Mohammed Al Hilo, 36, of Detroit; Moustapha Al Fetlawi, 46, of Dearborn Heights; Terrill Davis, 33, of Detroit; David Roshinsky Williams, 32, of Harper Woods; and Mohammed Al Abboodi, 35, of Detroit. All defendants face one count of conspiracy to transport stolen vehicles, and each also faces one or more counts of transportation of a stolen vehicle.
According to the 12-count indictment, beginning in July 2023 and continuing through August 2025, the defendants conspired with each other and others to receive stolen vehicles at one of four commercial/industrial lots. Conspirators would then pack two or more vehicles at the lots into shipping containers and cause the containers’ transportation to port cities via freight or rail. From the port cities, if law enforcement had not already interdicted the containers, the containers with cars would ship overseas.
If convicted on the charge of conspiracy, the defendants each face a maximum penalty of no more than five years in prison and a fine of not more than $250,000. If convicted on the charge of transportation of stolen motor vehicles, the defendants each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
“Stolen cars have no place in interstate commerce and foreign trade,” said United States Attorney Gorgon. “I very much appreciate the diligent work of our many law-enforcement partners in recovering countless vehicles and putting an end to this criminal scheme. Our work to secure justice for the conspirators and their victims continues.”
“Our efforts have led to the recovery of over 350 stolen vehicles and behind every one of those stolen cars is a victim” said ICE HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Stentz. “This case hits even closer to home in a state like Michigan, where auto theft doesn’t just hurt our wallets, but our culture. Our HSI special agents and law enforcement partners will continue to do the work necessary to take down these operations that harm everyday Americans.”
“This indictment underscores the importance of law enforcement collaboration to ensure those who exploit our borders through unlawful commercial vehicle smuggling operations are brought to justice,” said Reuben Coleman, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “The FBI in Michigan is proud to work alongside our local, state, and federal partners in disrupting both domestic and international trafficking networks. We remain committed to protecting our community and safeguarding the integrity of our infrastructure.”
"This case demonstrates the strength of partnerships between local and federal law enforcement,” said Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin. “I want to thank our partners in the Southeast Michigan Auto Crimes Consortium (SMACC), whose collaboration was instrumental in this case. I also want to acknowledge the critical funding and support provided by Auto Theft Prevention Authority (ATPA), which makes this type of proactive investigation possible. Together, we are protecting victims, safeguarding our communities, and holding criminals accountable."
“In light of efforts by transnational criminal organizations to victimize the America people and our businesses through illicit vehicle trade, we aim to counter their methods with every available resource at our disposal,” said CBP Director of Field Operations Marty C. Raybon. “We will continue to work alongside our regional law enforcement partners to ensure we put the brakes on vehicle smuggling through the Motor City and beyond.”
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by agents of ICE HSI with significant assistance from CBP, FBI, IRS-CI, Bureau of Industry and Security, Dearborn Police, Dearborn Heights Police, Livonia Police, Garden City Police, Detroit Police, CSX Police, Norfolk Southern Police, HSI Newark, HSI Norfolk, CBP Norfolk and CBP Newark and task-force officers affiliated with the Southeast Michigan Auto Crimes Consortium. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Louie Meizlish, Hank Moon, and Catherine Morris.
Anyone with information relevant to this case is asked to contact HSI at [email protected]
Ecuadorian man pleads guilty to illegal re-entryRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today Wilson Paul Loja-Angamarca, 28, a citizen of Ecuador, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to re-entry of a removed alien. He was sentenced to time served and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Smith, who handled the case, stated that Loja-Angamarca is an alien without any legal status in the United States. He was removed from the United States in October 2019. On July 24, 2025, Loja-Angamarca was found in Cattaraugus County, NY, and did not have any documents allowing him to be legally present in the United States.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The plea and sentencing are the result of an investigation by U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Acting Chief Patrol Agent James D’Amato.
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East Helena man convicted of illegal possession of guns and ammunitionRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – An East Helena man who possessed guns and ammunition illegally was found guilty by a federal jury yesterday, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Following a two-day trial, Justin Curtis Huckaby, 43, was found guilty of two counts of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Huckaby faces 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Brian M. Morris presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for January 8, 2026. Huckaby will remain in custody pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents and at trial that Huckaby was convicted of a felony in the Montana Thirteenth Judicial District on June 5, 2019. He was sentenced to a period of custody of up to 15 years, with 5 years suspended, followed by a period of supervision with the Department of Corrections. Huckaby’s judgment set out the conditions of his supervision, which included a prohibition of “using, owning, possession, transferring, or controlling any firearm, [or] ammunition….” That condition was also read to Huckaby in open court.
On June 13, 2023, Huckaby signed the Firearms and Voting Regulations form, which states:
I further understand that my right to possess or own firearms or ammunition is suspended while under supervision. Federal law prohibits a convicted felon from possessing or receiving firearms or ammunition [Title 18, United States Code Section 922(g)(1)]. Therefore, I understand I could be prosecuted for a violation of Federal law. I also understand that I could be punished for violating my conditions of supervision AND federally prosecuted.That same day, Huckaby signed his conditions of probation and parole. Condition 15 states: “Weapons: I will not use, own, possess, transfer, or be in control of any firearms, ammunition (including black powder), or weapons.”
On August 5, 2024, around 4 a.m., law enforcement officers responded to a casino in East Helena, Montana. Officers were informed Huckaby was at the casino and had drugs and a firearm in his vehicle. Upon arrival, law enforcement contacted Huckaby who was in the driver’s seat of his white Chevrolet pickup parked outside the casino. Huckaby confirmed he was on parole but denied there was anything his truck that would violate his parole. During contact with Huckaby, law enforcement saw a glass pipe with burnt residue on the center console. The pipe later field tested positive for methamphetamine. A probation search was then authorized and performed on the vehicle.
During the search, a loaded 9mm handgun was located under the driver’s rear passenger seat. It was loaded with 9mm caliber ammunition. A box of 9mm caliber ammunition was also located in a backpack. Huckaby later admitted to touching and handling the firearm earlier that day.
Huckaby also threatened to shoot an individual after he suspected the individual took his 8-ball of methamphetamine and money that he won at other casinos that evening.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office, and State of Montana Probation and Parole.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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EPA Reaches Settlement with Homeworks ConstructionRead the Press Release
CHICAGO – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Justice reached a $10,000 settlement with Homeworks Construction Inc. to resolve alleged lead paint renovation violations in South Bend, Indiana. EPA alleged that beginning in 2018, Homeworks Construction performed renovations in 17 residential properties constructed prior to 1978 without complying with federal Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) regulations. The company has now obtained RRP certification and confirmed compliance with the current rules.
“Protecting the health and safety of our communities, particularly our children, is a top priority for EPA,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator Anne Vogel. “We are committed to ensuring that companies comply with these regulations; it is a critical step in protecting all Americans from the harmful effects of lead exposure.”
“We must enforce lead paint laws to protect public health, especially the health of vulnerable children,” said Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor. “This settlement promotes and advances public health by remedying past violations and monitoring future compliance. I would like to extend my thanks to the public servants who successfully pursued this case.”
Dust from lead-based paint is one of the most common causes of elevated blood lead levels in children. Infants and children are especially vulnerable to lead, which can create irreversible and lifelong health effects. Lead dust can be generated when lead-based paint is disturbed by renovation work such as window installation, demolishing painted surfaces like walls and porches and scraping or repainting homes.
Companies and individuals performing renovations on housing built before 1978 are required to comply with regulations under EPA’s lead renovation program. The regulations require companies to train employees on safe work practices and obtain certification from EPA prior to renovations. The companies must also comply with recordkeeping requirements and notify homeowners about the hazards of renovation-related lead exposure.
The proposed consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, is subject to a public comment period and final court approval. Information on submitting comment and access to the settlement agreement is available on the Department of Justice Proposed Consent Decree webpage.
For more information about EPA’s enforcement program, visit the Agency’s website.
Learn more about EPA’s Lead RRP rule.EOIR Announces Significant Immigration Court MilestonesRead the Press Release
FALLS CHURCH, Va. – The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) announced today its completion of more than 722,000 cases during the first 11 months of fiscal year (FY) 2025, exceeding all of FY 2024 case completions and constituting the highest single-FY completion total in the agency’s history. EOIR has also reduced its pending caseload in immigration courts by over 447,000 cases since Jan. 20, 2025, bringing the pending caseload down from more than 4.18 million to under 3.75 million, the sharpest decrease in caseload in EOIR’s history.
“Reducing the immigration court backlog is one of the highest priorities for the agency,” said EOIR Acting Director Sirce E. Owen. “This Administration is committed to using all of its resources to continue to adjudicate immigration cases fairly, expeditiously, and uniformly.”
Since January, EOIR has issued numerous policy memoranda, which returned to its adjudicators the ability to decide cases consistent with the law and restore EOIR’s integrity as a preeminent administrative adjudicatory agency. EOIR accomplished this by implementing measures such as restoring adjudicator impartiality, expanding the Dedicated Docket, and rescinding over 20 policies that were unfounded in law or discouraged the timely completion of cases.
EOIR is committed to making further advancements to its operational efficiency, thereby helping to ensure timely justice for both parties involved and the public it serves.