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26 August 2025
Seventeen Charged in Alleged Fentanyl, Cocaine Distribution Ring in AthensRead the Press Release
ATHENS, Ga. – U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes today announced the unsealing of two federal indictments and one criminal complaint charging a total of 17 people allegedly involved in an armed drug trafficking network accused of distributing fentanyl, cocaine and other controlled substances in the Athens community, with more than two dozen firearms seized and a grenade launcher in connection with the case.
Thirteen federal, state and local law enforcement agencies assisted in executing 12 search warrants in Athens and Atlanta on Aug. 26, resulting in 13 arrests. As part of the ongoing investigation, law enforcement seized 26 firearms, including 12 rifles and a grenade launcher (the grenade launcher was seized at a location in Jefferson, Georgia); 26 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value of $780,000; 1.7 kilograms of fentanyl with an estimated street value of $60,000; approximately 500 grams of methamphetamine; 5.14 ounces of crack cocaine; 2.4 pounds of marijuana; 128 controlled pharmaceuticals; and $63,532 in cash. The initial appearances for the defendants are occurring in the U.S. Magistrate Court in Macon, Georgia.
The federal indictment in Case No. 3:25-CR-00010, filed on May 14 and unsealed on Aug. 26, charges the following individuals:
Alicio Yanez-Pineda, aka “Cochito,” 48, of Mexico, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and faces a maximum of life in prison if convicted;
Josue Serda, 26, of Jefferson, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, four counts of distribution of fentanyl, one count of distribution of methamphetamine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine where a person under 18 was present and faces a maximum of life in prison if convicted;
Ulises Borja, aka “Liche,” 33, of Cedartown, Georgia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and faces a maximum of life in prison if convicted;
Travis Arnold, aka “Trav,” 33, of Athens, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, nine counts of distribution of fentanyl, one count of distribution of methamphetamine, one count of distribution of methamphetamine where a person under 18 was present, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises and faces a maximum of life in prison if convicted;
Ariel Collins, 32, of Athens, is charged with one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison if convicted;
Patrick Wilkins, 32, of Athens, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and three counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and faces a maximum of life in prison if convicted;
Edgar Jara, 27, of Jefferson, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and faces a maximum of life in prison if convicted;
Tyler Parr, 27, of Jefferson, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and faces a maximum of life in prison if convicted;
Gregory Robinson, 32, of Athens, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one count of distribution of fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute oxycodone and one count of maintaining drug involved premises and faces a maximum of life in prison if convicted; and
Deshun Muckle, 51, of Athens, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of distribution of fentanyl and faces a maximum of life in prison if convicted.
According to the Yanez-Pineda et al indictment, from January 2024 until May 2025, Yanez-Pineda, Serda, Borja, Arnold, Wilkins, Jara, Parr, Robinson and Muckle allegedly conspired to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl and more than 50 grams of methamphetamine in the Athens region. The indictment alleges that Arnold and Collins illegally maintained a location on Sartain Drive in Athens to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine; co-conspirator Robinson is accused of distributing fentanyl, cocaine and oxycodone from a location on Essex Court in Athens. According to the indictment, Borja served a prison sentence for a prior serious felony drug conviction and Wilkins is a convicted felon who is charged with allegedly possessing five firearms illegally.
The federal indictment in Case No. 3:25-CR-00020, filed on Aug. 12 and unsealed on Aug. 26, charges the following individuals:
Orlando Muckle, aka “Lando,” 51, of Athens, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, four counts of distribution of cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of maintaining drug involved premises and faces a maximum of life in prison if convicted;
Joey Campbell, aka “Jay,” 41, of Winterville, Georgia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of distribution of fentanyl and faces a maximum of life in prison if convicted;
Bernard Walker, aka “Nard,” 53, of Athens, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and five counts of distribution of fentanyl and faces a maximum of life in prison if convicted;
Lanier Cooper, aka “Nier,” 22, of Athens, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of maintaining drug involved premises and faces a maximum of life in prison if convicted;
Myles Kolbe Cooper, aka “Wop,” 27, of Athens, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, two counts of distribution of fentanyl and one count of maintaining drug involved premises and faces a maximum of life in prison if convicted; and
Tommy Lee Smith, 65, of Athens, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and faces a maximum of life in prison if convicted.
According to the Muckle et al indictment, the defendants allegedly conspired to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl and more than five kilograms of cocaine and cocaine base in the Athens region beginning in October 2020. The indictment alleges that both Cooper co-conspirators distributed controlled substances from a premises on Commerce Parkway in Athens and that co-conspirator Muckle allegedly stored cocaine from an apartment on Jennings Mill Parkway in Athens. According to the indictment, Muckle, Campbell and Walker served prison sentences for prior serious felony drug convictions.
A newly unsealed federal criminal complaint in Case No. 3:24-MJ-00020 charges Halie Marie Money, 26, of Jefferson, with one count of possession of a firearm by an unlawful drug user. If convicted, Money faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
According to the Money criminal complaint, Money and Serda were allegedly found unconscious in the front seat of a parked car outside the Walmart on Epps Bridge Parkway in Athens in the mid-afternoon of June 20, 2025. Oconee County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the scene and called for an ambulance. Money was allegedly slumped over in the passenger seat with a piece of tinfoil in her lap with burn marks on it, commonly used to inhale narcotics like fentanyl; Serda was passed out in the driver’s seat with “snot and saliva” running out of his nose and mouth. After the ambulance arrived, Money and Serda woke up when their car door was opened. Deputies allegedly saw drug paraphernalia in plain view, including what appeared to be fentanyl. Deputies located a Glock pistol that Money allegedly claimed while admitting to her drug addiction. A court-authorized search of Money’s phone found alleged text conversations between Money and Serda discussing the consumption of controlled substances and Money and Parr discussing the distribution of illegal controlled substances, along with a photo of a significant amount of cash and another picture of a bag containing a large amount of drugs. In addition, law enforcement found a photo of Money cradling her baby and a Glock pistol.
The collaborative effort is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
The FBI-Athens Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force investigated this case in partnership with FBI-Atlanta, FBI-Birmingham, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the Georgia Department of Corrections, the Georgia Department of Community Supervision, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, the Gwinnett County Police Department, the Sandy Springs Police Department, the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office, the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Morrison is prosecuting the case for the Government.
An indictment and criminal complaint are merely allegations of criminal conduct, and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt.
Seven Defendants Charged with Wide-Scale Narcotics Conspiracy, Racketeering Conspiracy, and MurderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Christopher G. Raia, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging CARLOS MOLINA RODRIGUEZ; SAMUEL BLAIN, a/k/a “Lobo,” a/k/a “Snipes,” a/k/a “Loboferoz”; CARLOS MARTINEZ, a/k/a “Bway”; KALIF COX, a/k/a “Leef,” a/k/a “LG”; JUSTICE BEARD, a/k/a “Just”; CALVIN LEWIS, a/k/a “Ski”; and EMMANUEL IDYIS with narcotics distribution, narcotics importation, continuing criminal enterprise, racketeering conspiracy, murder, and other related charges in and around Middletown and Newburgh, New York. MOLINA, MARTINEZ, COX, BEARD, LEWIS, and IDYIS were arrested earlier this year in New York, California, and North Carolina. On August 22, 2025, BLAIN was expelled from Mexico and arrested at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. MOLINA, BLAIN, MARTINEZ, COX, BEARD, and LEWIS have been ordered detained pending trial. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Vincent L. Briccetti.
“As alleged, these defendants operated a large-scale narcotics distribution, importation, and racketeering conspiracy to smuggle dozens of kilograms of illegal crystal methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl from Mexico and drive them in specially modified minivans all over the United States, including to New York,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “The defendants are also charged—in connection with their participation in a violent street gang—with murdering an innocent bystander during a gunfight in Newburgh, in September 2019, committing numerous robberies, illegally trafficking firearms, and creating child pornography. The wide-ranging criminal conduct described in this Indictment shows a troubling indifference to the safety of New Yorkers that cannot be tolerated. This Office and our partners will not rest until every individual responsible for these heinous crimes—wherever they may be hiding, whether in Mexico or New York—is brought to justice.”
“These seven defendants allegedly used any illicit means necessary to support their criminal enterprise, including smuggling large amounts of narcotics into this country, trafficking illegal firearms, and shooting at rivals, which included the murder of an innocent bystander by one of the defendants,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia. “Their alleged nondiscriminatory criminality depicts a relentless appetite to promote the gang’s operations, regardless of the affected community left in its turmoiled wake. This Summer Heat indictment demonstrates the FBI’s steadfast dedication to crushing all forms of violent crime and eradicating any criminal organization using our communities to perpetuate their unlawful activities.”
According to the allegations contained in the Indictment unsealed yesterday in White Plains federal court, court filings, and statements made in court proceedings:[1]
MOLINA, BLAIN, MARTINEZ, COX, BEARD, LEWIS, and IDYIS are charged with running large-scale narcotics and racketeering conspiracies that involved the importation and cross-country movement of massive quantities of dangerous drugs, including crystal methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl.
Between at least about 2022 and April 2025, the defendants ran and participated in a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization (the “MOLINA DTO”). The MOLINA DTO was led by MOLINA and BLAIN, among others. The MOLINA DTO recruited drivers from the U.S. to import narcotics from Mexico. At the MOLINA DTO’s direction, the drivers would make their way to California, where they would cross into Mexico and receive a specially modified minivan loaded with narcotics and/or narcotics proceeds. The drivers then drove those narcotics/narcotics proceeds-laden vehicles back across the U.S.-Mexico border and then across the country, including to Middletown, staying in regular contact with their MOLINA DTO recruiter to receive instructions about where next to take the vehicle. In total, the MOLINA DTO is responsible for smuggling dozens of kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl into the U.S. through this scheme.
Between at least 2019 and April 2025, MARTINEZ led a highly organized gang known as the Forbes List, which was a subset of the national gang known as the Makk Ballas. MARTINEZ’s gang was based in Middletown and its members included COX, BEARD, LEWIS, and IDYIS, among others. Through BLAIN and MARTINEZ, the Forbes List was connected with the MOLINA DTO and began trafficking the MOLINA DTO’s drugs from Mexico into the U.S.
Forbes List members also committed shootings, firearms trafficking, robberies, drug dealing, and fraud as part of their participation in the gang. Specifically, COX is charged with the murder of an innocent bystander, Amed Alberto Alvarado Baquedano, during a gang-related gunfight in Newburgh on September 21, 2019; inducing a minor victim to record herself engaging in sexually explicit conduct and then send that recording to him; illegally trafficking firearms across state lines; and committing a drug‑related shooting in the Bronx, New York, in July 2024. MARTINEZ is also charged with illegally possessing ammunition in Middletown in May 2024, and BEARD is additionally charged with possessing a firearm in connection with drug dealing in Yonkers, New York, and illegally possessing a firearm in Yonkers in July 2024.
* * *
A chart containing the defendants’ names, ages, charges, and maximum penalties is set out below.
COUNT
CHARGE
DEFENDANTS
MAX. PENALTIES
I
Narcotics distribution conspiracy
21 U.S.C. § 846
CARLOS MOLINA RODRIGUEZ, 31
SAMUEL BLAIN, a/k/a “Lobo,” a/k/a “Snipes,” a/k/a “Loboferoz," 36
CARLOS MARTINEZ, a/k/a “Bway," 35
KALIF COX, a/k/a “Leef,” a/k/a “LG," 28
JUSTICE BEARD, a/k/a “Just," 36
CALVIN LEWIS, a/k/a “Ski," 36
EMMANUEL IDYIS, 25
LifeII
Narcotics importation conspiracy
21 U.S.C. § 963
CARLOS MOLINA RODRIGUEZ
SAMUEL BLAIN, a/k/a “Lobo,” a/k/a “Snipes,” a/k/a “Loboferoz”
CARLOS MARTINEZ, a/k/a “Bway”
KALIF COX, a/k/a “Leef,” a/k/a “LG”
JUSTICE BEARD, a/k/a “Just”
CALVIN LEWIS, a/k/a “Ski”
EMMANUEL IDYIS
LifeIII
Continuing criminal enterprise
21 U.S.C. § 848
CARLOS MOLINA RODRIGUEZ
SAMUEL BLAIN, a/k/a “Lobo,” a/k/a “Snipes,” a/k/a “Loboferoz”
CARLOS MARTINEZ, a/k/a “Bway”
LifeIV
Racketeering conspiracy
18 U.S.C. § 1961(d)
CARLOS MARTINEZ, a/k/a “Bway”
KALIF COX, a/k/a “Leef,” a/k/a “LG”
JUSTICE BEARD, a/k/a “Just”
CALVIN LEWIS, a/k/a “Ski”
EMMANUEL IDYIS
LifeV
Murder in aid of racketeering
18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(1)
KALIF COX, a/k/a “Leef,” a/k/a “LG”LifeVI
Murder through the use of a firearm
18 U.S.C. § 924(j)
KALIF COX, a/k/a “Leef,” a/k/a “LG”LifeVII
Attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering
18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(3), (a)(5)
KALIF COX, a/k/a “Leef,” a/k/a “LG”20 yearsVIII
Sexual exploitation of a child
18 U.S.C. §§ 2251(a), (e)
KALIF COX, a/k/a “Leef,” a/k/a “LG”30 yearsIX
Receipt of child pornography
18 U.S.C. §§ 2252A(a)(2)(B), (b)(1)
KALIF COX, a/k/a “Leef,” a/k/a “LG”20 yearsX
Firearms trafficking conspiracy
18 U.S.C. § 933
KALIF COX, a/k/a “Leef,” a/k/a “LG”15 yearsXI
Discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), (iii)
KALIF COX, a/k/a “Leef,” a/k/a “LG”LifeXII
Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i)
JUSTICE BEARD, a/k/a “Just”LifeXIII
Possession of a firearm after a felony conviction
18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)
JUSTICE BEARD, a/k/a “Just”15 yearsXIV
Possession of ammunition after a felony conviction
18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)
CARLOS MARTINEZ, a/k/a “Bway”15 yearsThe statutory maximum and minimum sentences are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force. Mr. Clayton also thanked the FBI Los Angeles Office; the FBI Dallas Office; Mexican law enforcement partners and the FBI Mexico Legal Attache; the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of California, Northern District of Texas, and Eastern District of North Carolina; the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; the Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Customs and Border Patrol; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the New York State Police; the City of Newburgh Police Department; the Town of New Windsor Police Department; the Middletown Police Department; the New York Police Department; and the Kingston Borough Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.
This case is being prosecuted by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan W. Allison, Justin L. Brooke, Jennifer N. Ong, and Margaret N. Vasu are in charge of the prosecution.
u.s._v._molina_et_al_indictment.pdf
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth in this release constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Serial Domestic Abuser Sentenced to More than a Decade in Prison for Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Ronnie Bila Shaka, 44, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 140 months’ imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release for possessing firearms as a felon, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.
“Domestic abusers are among the most dangerous offenders we face,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “They prey on the very people they should protect and in doing so endanger their victims, police officers, and the community as a whole. When someone shows they are willing to terrorize their own family, they have forfeited their right to walk free. More than a decade in federal prison is exactly what this conduct deserves, and it should serve as a warning: we will not tolerate domestic violence and we will hold these offenders accountable before they can destroy more lives.”
According to court documents, on November 2, 2023, officers were dispatched to Shaka’s residence on a report of a domestic dispute involving a firearm. Police ultimately had to force entry into the residence, where they located Shaka along with his pregnant girlfriend and her baby. Shaka threatened the victim with a ghost gun to prevent her from leaving the house.
A later search warrant uncovered five firearms from safes next to Shaka’s bed, along with a large quantity of magazines and ammunition. Two of the firearms were Polymer 80 “ghost guns” without serial numbers that were equipped with machinegun conversion devices (commonly called “switches”) that rendered them fully automatic. Videos located on Shaka’s cell phone showed him firing the handguns with switches outside the residence, with accompanying texts messages where Shaka bragged about how powerful they were.
Shaka’s criminal history is long and violent. He has eight prior felony convictions, and six prior convictions for firearms offenses. His convictions for domestic violence-related offenses date back to when he was 18 years old and include multiple domestic assaults, terroristic threats, and repeated violations of no-contact orders.
Shaka was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 140 months imprisonment before Senior U.S. District Judge Paul A. Magnuson following his guilty plea. In imposing the sentence, Judge Magnuson emphasized the dangerousness of the weapons that Shaka possessed, noting that guns with “switches” are not possessed for any legitimate purpose: “they’re made to kill people.” The judge also credited the evidence that Shaka had threatened his girlfriend with a gun on the night of his arrest, remarking that Shaka’s treatment of her was “unconscionable.”
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by ATF and Robbinsdale Police Department, with assistance from the Crystal Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ruth S. Shnider and William C. Mattessich prosecuted the case.
Schenectady Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Firearm CrimesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jabree Jones a.k.a. “Breezy,” age 33, of Schenectady, New York, pled guilty today to drug trafficking and firearms crimes, including a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, and to possess firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
In pleading guilty, Jones admitted to his participation in a drug conspiracy from January to May 2023, that included eleven instances of drug distribution between January and May 2023, and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine on May 23, 2023, when the ATF and DEA searched a property on Western Avenue in Albany where they found one of Jones’ coconspirators, Brandon Bartley, with 34 firearms, including an illegal machinegun, as well as more than 400 grams of fentanyl pills, more than 7,000 grams of pills containing methamphetamine, and more than 700 grams of cocaine. That same day, the DEA and ATF also searched a property in Halfmoon, New York, where they found another one of Jones’ coconspirators, Anthony Luizzi, along with about 11 kilograms of fentanyl pills along with five firearms, including a defaced shotgun.
Another suspect in the investigation, Anthony Zaremski, was fatally shot during the execution of a federal search warrant on May 23, 2023, at Zaremski’s apartment in Clifton Park, New York, after Zaremski opened fire and wounded two officers.
Acting United States Attorney John Sarcone stated, “Mr. Jones and his coconspirators were engaged in a significant drug and firearms trafficking conspiracy in 2023 that had a huge impact on the Capital Region. Mr. Jones trafficked illegal firearms, including machineguns, as well as distributed deadly substances like methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine. His guilty plea is the result of a multi-agency partnership that brought down one of the biggest drug and gun dealers this region has seen in recent years.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III stated, “DEA New York continues work with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners in targeting those individuals who are responsible for the trafficking of cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and firearms in our communities. As we have seen, many of these individuals use violence to conduct their illicit drug and gun trafficking business which often has senseless and deadly consequences. The DEA remains committed to protecting our communities and saving lives.”
ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller stated, “This defendant’s guilty plea underscores the devastating impact that firearms trafficking, and drug distribution have on our communities. By conspiring to move dozens of firearms and significant quantities of drugs, he created conditions that fuel addiction, death and violence. ATF NY remains committed to working with our federal, state, and local partners to disrupt these dangerous networks, seize illegal firearms before they reach the streets, and protect the safety of the public.”
Sentencing is scheduled for December 19, 2025, before United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci. Jones faces at least 15 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, and a supervised release term of at least 5 years and up to life, to begin after he finishes his prison term. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
The following defendants have been charged in connection with this investigation:
- Anthony Luizzi pled guilty to drug and gun crimes in connection with his trafficking of large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, and his possession of the guns found at the Western Avenue property and Halfmoon property. Luizzi was sentenced to 210 months in prison and a $10,000 fine on October 1, 2024.
- Brandon Bartley also pled guilty to drug and gun crimes in connection with his trafficking of large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, and his possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. He was sentenced to 180 months in prison and a $5,000 fine.
- Devon Newsome pled guilty to transferring 29 firearms to Jones that were ultimately found at the Western Avenue property and was sentenced to 60 months in prison.
The DEA and the ATF are investigating the case, with assistance from the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO), the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG), the Rotterdam Police Department, and the Henry County, Georgia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping is prosecuting the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.
Previously Convicted Felon Who Crashed Stolen Car, Punched Officer, Is Sentenced for Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Lamar Redfield, 34, a previously convicted felon from the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 65 months in prison in connection with an October 2024 incident during which he was on probation when he crashed a stolen car into a parked vehicle, discarded a loaded Glock 17 pistol as he fled from police, and then punched an officer in the face as police attempted to arrest him, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Redfield pleaded guilty May 12, 2025, before U.S. District Court Judge Loren L. AliKhan to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to the 65-month prison term, Judge AliKhan ordered Redfield to serve three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on Oct. 21, 2024, members of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Sixth District Crime Suppression Team were on patrol when they spotted a stolen black Hyundai Sonata on the 3100 block of Minnesota Ave. SE. The Hyundai, occupied by two men, entered the 3500 block of A Street, SE, and then began to reverse backwards down the street.
The passenger bailed from the car and ran away from the police. The driver, identified as Redfield, continued in reverse and crashed into a parked vehicle. Redfield abandoned the car and ran with police in pursuit. As Redfield ran, he repeatedly reached into his jacket pocket with his right arm. Redfield removed a black firearm from his jacket and placed it on the ground. After discarding the firearm, Redfield continued to run. Officers caught Redfield, who hit one of the officers in the face with a closed fist. After the assault, Redfield was stopped and detained without further incident.
In a search incident to his arrest, officers found Redfield was in possession of half an ounce of suspected methamphetamine and one ounce of suspected synthetic cannabinoids, commonly known as “K2” or “Spice.”
Redfield has previous felony convictions in Arlington County, Virginia, on narcotics and firearms offenses. He was serving a five-year sentence (suspended) when he was arrested on Oct. 21, 2024.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI Washington Field Office. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole.
24cr478
Portland Woman Faces Federal Charges for Failing to Obey a Lawful OrderRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—Tracy Molina, 52, of Portland, Oregon, has been charged by information with failing to obey a lawful order.
According to court documents and information shared in court, on August 21, 2025, Molina entered the grounds of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in Portland. Molina failed to comply with the lawful direction of federal officers and was arrested.
Molina made her first appearance in federal court on August 22 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. She was ordered released pending further court proceedings.
Failure to obey a lawful order is a Class C misdemeanor and is punishable by up to 30 days in prison.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Protective Service and is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
An information is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Philadelphia Company and Its Founder Charged with Fraudulently Claiming That Pesticide Products Were Effective at Killing Covid VirusRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that ViaClean Technologies, LLC and its founder, James Young, 46, of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, were charged by indictment with conspiring to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, mail fraud, and violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (“FIFRA”). Sean Storrie, 59, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was also charged with FIFRA violations.
Young and Storrie made their initial appearances in federal magistrate court in Philadelphia this afternoon. ViaClean Technologies, LLC will have its initial appearance on September 5.
The indictment alleges that ViaClean Technologies, LLC and Young conspired with others to sell registered pesticides using false and misleading claims about the products, knowingly misleading potential customers by claiming that the pesticide products, which were used to inhibit the growth of odor-causing and stain-causing bacteria, fungi (mold and mildew), and algae, were effective at killing the SARS-CoV-2 virus. All defendants are also charged with misdemeanor FIFRA violations for selling the pesticide products by making claims that differed from the approved master labels for the products.
The case was investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division and the United States Postal Inspection Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Abrams.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Pharmacy Owner Sentenced to Federal Prison for Filing False Tax Returns in Connection with More Than $1-Million Tax LossRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Today, Judge James K. Bredar sentenced Moshe Gabay, 55, of Baltimore, Maryland, to one year and one day in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment, for filing false tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Judge Bredar also ordered Gabay — a Baltimore pharmacy owner — to pay the IRS $1,039,585 in restitution. On the fraudulent tax returns, Gabay underreported his income by more than $3.5 million which meant he owed more than $1 million in taxes.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington D.C. Field Office.
In his guilty plea, Gabay acknowledged that he owned and operated SINU-RX Pharmacy Inc. (SINU-RX), located in Baltimore. Gabay controlled SINU-RX’s finances and was responsible for directing interactions and providing information to SINU-RX’s bookkeepers and tax preparers.
From tax years 2017 through 2022, Gabay’s tax returns were filed on his behalf. Gabay’s tax returns included Form 1120S, U.S. Income Tax Return for an S Corporation, for SINU-RX and Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.
Prior to the filing of the returns, Gabay intentionally and knowingly provided information to his bookkeepers and tax-return preparers that falsely categorized funds taken from SINU-RX. These funds were listed as business expenses, specifically for the cost of goods sold. But Gabay had diverted these funds to himself for his personal use. As a result, Gabay underreported his income by more than $3.5 million which meant he owed more than $1 million in taxes. Pursuant to the guilty plea, Gabay agreed to pay restitution of more than $1 million.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the IRS-CI for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared W. Murphy and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew P. Phelps, who prosecuted the federal case, and Paralegal Specialist Joanna B.N. Huber for her valuable assistance.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Pensacola Man Indicted on Charges of Interstate Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering Involving Hundreds of Thousands of DollarsRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Jovon “Playa Pat” Booker, 32, of Pensacola, Florida, has been indicted in federal court on charges of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, conspiracy to commit money laundering, money laundering through high-end jewelry purchases, and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges.
Booker is scheduled for arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Hope Thai Cannon at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida, on August 28, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.
If convicted, Booker faces up to life imprisonment on the charges in the Indictment.
The case is being jointly investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Pensacola Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jessica S. Etherton.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Orleans Parish Man Guilty of Violating Federal Gun Control ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that ELIJAH MARTIN (“MARTIN”), age 27, a resident of New Orleans, plead guilty on August 21, 2025, to violating the Federal Gun Control Act before United States District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown.
MARTIN plead guilty to two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). On each count MARTIN faces a up to 15 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
According to court documents, on December 16, 2023, an officer with the East Jefferson Parish Levee Police Department found MARTIN, a convicted felon, in possession of a firearm, a Smith & Wesson Model M&P Shield, 9mm pistol, during a traffic stop. On January 25, 2024, New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) officers, again found MARTIN in possession of a firearm, a Glock Model 26, 9mm. MARTIN is prohibited from possessing a firearm dur to his prior felony convictions.
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.
This case was investigated by the East Jefferson Parish Levee Police Department, the New Orleans Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Sarver of the Narcotics Unit.
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Oregon Man Charged with Coercing A Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity and Production of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Aleksandr Golovchenko (49, Oregon) with three counts of production of child sexual abuse material and two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. If convicted on all counts, Golovchenko faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison.
According to court documents, around February 2025, Golovchenko began a relationship with a 12-year-old girl after meeting her online. Between February and April 2025, Golovchenko persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced the victim to engage in sexual activity over the social media application Snapchat. Golovchenko also employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced the victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry.
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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to 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.
Nigerian National Pleads Guilty to Role in Business Email Compromise SchemeRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – James Junior Aliyu, 30, a Nigerian national residing in South Africa at the time of his criminal conduct, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. Aliyu, who was extradited from South Africa to the United States, is the last of three defendants to plead guilty to his role in a business email compromise (BEC) scheme. Eight other defendants previously pled guilty in the District of Maryland in separate cases related to the same conspiracy.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Acting Special Agent in Charge Evan Campanella, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Baltimore.
On June 24, 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment, charging Aliyu, Kosi Goodness Simon-Ebo, 30, and Henry Onyedikachi Echefu, 31, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. All three are Nigerian citizens who resided in South Africa at the time of the crimes. Federal authorities unsealed the indictment on July 6, 2022, upon the defendants’ arrests outside of the U.S. All three were extradited to the United States from outside the country to face their federal charges.
According to his plea agreement, from February 2017 until at least July 2017, Aliyu conspired with others to perpetrate a BEC scheme. Specifically, Aliyu and his co-conspirators, including co-conspirators residing in Maryland, gained unauthorized access to email accounts associated with individuals and businesses that they targeted. The co-conspirators sent false wiring instructions to the victims’ email accounts from “spoofed” emails — accounts associated with forged sender addresses — to deceive the victims into sending money to bank accounts controlled by the scheme’s perpetrators, which are called “drop accounts.”
Additionally, during the same timeframe, Aliyu and his co-conspirators plotted to commit money laundering. They conspired to disburse the fraudulently obtained funds into the drop accounts and to other accounts by initiating account transfers, withdrawing cash, obtaining cashier’s checks, and writing checks to other individuals and entities to hide the true ownership and source of the assets. As detailed in the plea agreement, the intended loss for transactions Aliyu was directly involved in was at least $4,162,211.65. The actual loss resulting from these transactions was at least $1,570,475. Aliyu directly controlled at least $1,194,565 of the funds they obtained from victims.
According to the plea agreement, Aliyu is required to pay a money judgment of at least $1,194,565, and restitution in the full amount of the victims’ losses, which the parties agree is at least $2,389,130. Aliyu is facing a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for the wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy. U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman scheduled sentencing for Monday, November 24, at 10 a.m.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended HSI’s Mid-Atlantic El Dorado Task Force for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked the South African Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa, and South African Police Service. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) provided significant assistance in securing Aliyu’s extradition from South Africa. OIA and the Department of Justice Canada’s International Assistance Group also provided substantial aid in securing the arrest and extradition of both Echefu and Simon-Ebo. Ms. Hayes also recognized Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan S. McKoy who is prosecuting the federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Nigerian Monarch Sentenced to over 4 Years in Prison After Pleading Guilty to Wire and Tax Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A dual American and Nigerian citizen has been sentenced to prison for creating and leading a scheme that bilked more than $4.2 million from federal loan and grant programs that were intended to assist small businesses with economic hardship they suffered as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Joseph Oloyede, 62, who holds both U.S. and Nigerian citizenship and resides in Medina, Ohio, was sentenced to 56 months (4 and ⅔ years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Christopher A. Boyko on Aug. 26, after he pleaded guilty in April to the following charges:
- One count of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Three counts of Engaging in Monetary Transactions in Criminally Derived Property
- Two counts of Making and Subscribing a False Tax Return
Oloyede was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $4,408,543.38 in restitution. He also forfeited his Medina home on Foote Road, which he had acquired with proceeds of the scheme, and an additional $96,006.89 in fraud proceeds investigators had seized.
Court documents show that from about April 2020 to February 2022, Oloyede and his co-conspirator, Edward Oluwasanmi, 62, of Willoughby, conspired to submit fraudulent applications for loans that were made available through the U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Among these were the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, which aided small businesses that suffered financial hardship as a result of the pandemic with loans and grants.
During the investigation, agents found that Oloyede operated as a tax preparer and owned five businesses and one nonprofit. His co-defendant—and tax client—Oluwasanmi, owned an additional three business entities; all were incorporated in Ohio. Both defendants used their businesses to submit loan applications using false information. They obtained approximately $1.2 million in SBA funds for Oluwasanmi’s entities and $1.7 million for Oloyede’s entities.
In addition, Oloyede submitted fraudulent PPP and EIDL applications in the names of some of his clients and their businesses. In exchange, Oloyede would receive 15-20% of their loans as the fee, or kickback, for obtaining the loans for them, without reporting this income to the IRS on his own tax returns. Investigators learned that the defendant used funds obtained from these loans to acquire land and build a home and purchase a luxury vehicle. In total, Oloyede caused the SBA to approve 38 fraudulent applications, amounting to $4,213,378 in disbursed loans and advances.
According to information presented to Judge Boyko, Oloyede is a naturalized U.S. citizen who also holds a position as the monarch, or traditional ruler, of the Nigerian city of Ipetumodu.
In July 2024, Oluwasanmi was sentenced to 27 months in prison for his role in the conspiracy. He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release, pay a $15,000 fine, and pay more than $1.2 million in restitution. Oluwasanmi also forfeited much of the proceeds he received from the scheme, including a commercial property on Green Road in South Euclid that he acquired with fraud proceeds, and more than $600,000 he had transferred to financial accounts.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Transportation-Office of the Inspector General, as part of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee Fraud Task Force; FBI Cleveland Division; and IRS-Criminal Investigations.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Edward D. Brydle and James L. Morford for the Northern District of Ohio.
New Orleans Man Guilty of Fentanyl and Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – ALTON TUMBLIN (“TUMBLIN”), age 44, of New Orleans, pled guilty on August 20, 2025, to violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson.
Specifically, TUMBLIN pled guilty to Counts 1 through 4 of the indictment pending against him. Counts 1, 3, and 4 each charge TUMBLIN with distributing fifty (50) grams or more of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A). Count 2 charges TUMBLIN with distributing a quantity of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C).
As to Counts 1, 3, and 4, TUMBLIN faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and at least 5 years of supervised release. As to Count 2, TUMBLIN faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and up to 3 years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on three separate occasions, including August 7, 2023, August 9, 2023, and August 16, 2023, TUMBLIN distributed over 50 grams of methamphetamine during controlled purchases to individuals TUMBLIN thought were individual buyers. Also, on August 7, 2023, TUMBLIN distributed a quantity of fentanyl to an undercover agent.
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.
This case was part of Operation Big Easy Operation Big Easy was a National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN) enforcement initiative of collected firearm casings for the time period of August 1, 2023, to January 31, 2023, that produced data points of high-density shootings and homicides in seven areas of New Orleans related to individuals engaged in criminal activity.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the New Orleans Police Department, and the Louisiana State Police. This case is being prosecuted by Rachal Cassagne of the Narcotics Unit.
New Orleans Man Guilty of Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –RYAN JOHNSON (“JOHNSON”), age 22, pleaded guilty on August 13, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance, to conspiracy to possess firearms, in furtherance of drug trafficking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(o); possession with intent to distribute tapentadol, tramadol, and marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), 841(b)(1)(D), and 841(b)(2); and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i).
According to court documents, on September 1, 2023, JOHNSON was arrested driving a stolen car in Joe Brown Park in New Orleans. After he was ordered out of the car, New Orleans Police Department officers recovered a Glock Model 23 firearm underneath his seat and marijuana and tapentadol in the car. JOHNSON was released on bond following his arrest and resumed selling marijuana and tapentadol. In March of 2024 JOHNSON was observed driving another stolen car. On March 28, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at JOHNSON’s residence. They recovered firearms belonging to JOHNSON, and a co-defendant. They also recovered JOHNSON’s backpack, that contained marijuana, tapentadol, a face mask, gloves, and burglary tools.
As to his convictions for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, JOHNSON faces up to 20 years in prison, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least three years of supervised release. As to his firearms conspiracy conviction, he faces up to 20 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. As to his conviction for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to life in prison, which must run consecutively to any other count, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. Each count also carries a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
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.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Nevada Man with Ties to South Dakota Sentenced to 15 ½ Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child Pornography and CyberstalkingRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange has sentenced a man from Las Vegas, Nevada, convicted of Production of Child Pornography and Cyberstalking. The sentencing took place on August 25, 2025.
Jaykob Elijah Varner, age 25, was sentenced to 15 years and six months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200.
Varner was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2024. He pleaded guilty on June 2, 2025.
The conviction stemmed from incidents occurring between August 1, 2023, and April 13, 2024, when Varner coerced a juvenile female to send him nude photographs and videos of herself. Varner cyberstalked another juvenile female and similarly coerced her into sending nude photographs of herself. In both instances, Varner threatened to expose the victims’ photographs to their family, friends, and classmates if the victims refused to comply with Varner’s intensifying demands. These communications took place through Snapchat.
“This case is a sobering example of the real and serious threats our children face online,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. “The victims in this case were sextorted by a complete stranger, whose escalating demands for compromising photos led the victims to believe they had no other choice than to comply. Although Varner will rightfully spend the next 15 years of his life in federal prison, there are others out there attempting to perpetrate the same crime. It is therefore critical that we talk with the children in our lives about the dangers associated with social media and how to report this type of illegal activity.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and DCI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Ebert-Webb 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 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.
Varner was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Nacogdoches felon guilty of federal drug trafficking and firearms violationsRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Nacogdoches felon has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking and firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Jonathan McArthur Brewer, 55, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christine L. Stetson on August 26, 2025.
According to information presented in court, on June 30, 2024, local law enforcement responded to a “shots fired” call and observed Brewer fleeing the scene in a vehicle matching the description of the suspect. A high-speed chase ensued, and Brewer was stopped. A search of the vehicle revealed a firearm and a large amount of methamphetamine. Further investigation revealed Brewer is a convicted felon and prohibited from owning or possessing firearms.
Brewer was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 15, 2025, and faces up to life in federal prison at sentencing. The maximum sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing 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 U.S. Probation Office.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald S. Carter.
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Mobile Woman Sentenced to over Two Years Imprisonment for Felon in Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A woman was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, Pharah Molette, 28, after being convicted of Robbery 2nd out of the Circuit Court of Mobile County, armed herself with a firearm and discharged two rounds down a residential street on September 19, 2024. The shooting was captured on video. After serving a term of 27 months’ imprisonment, Molette will serve three years of supervised release with the United States Probation Office.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tandice Blackwood prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Mexican National Sentenced to 23 Years in Federal Prison for Producing, Distributing, and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – An illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced today to 276 months in federal prison for befriending a 13-year-old girl, providing her with alcohol, and sexually assaulting her, taking photographs and making videos of the attack.
Jonathan Gonzalez-Reyes, 39, of Anaheim, was sentenced by United States District Judge David O. Carter, who also ordered Gonzales-Reyes to pay $3,000 in restitution to the victim.
At the conclusion of a three-day trial, a federal jury on April 30 found Gonzalez-Reyes guilty of one count of production of child pornography, two counts of distribution of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. He has been in federal custody since June 2024.
In February 2021, Gonzalez-Reyes and a co-defendant, Nanci Jasmin Castillo, 32, of Anaheim, befriended the victim, a 13-year-old girl identified in court documents as “Minor Victim 1.”
At Castillo’s home, Castillo and Gonzalez-Reyes sexually assaulted the victim – to whom Castillo had given an alcoholic beverage after the victim previously had taken Xanax anti-anxiety medication – while the victim was going in and out of consciousness. Gonzalez-Reyes and Castillo photographed and made videos of the attack.
A search of Gonzalez-Reyes’ phone and Castillo’s iCloud account by law enforcement revealed the existence of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) depicting the victim and the defendants. Additionally, law enforcement found evidence that Gonzalez-Reyes sent copies of the CSAM to Castillo.
In September 2021, Gonzalez-Reyes used a cellphone to knowingly possess and distribute images of the same victim, knowing the images showed a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Castillo, who also has been in federal custody since June 2024, pleaded guilty on February 5 to one count of production of child pornography. On July 28, Judge Carter sentenced her to 20 years in federal prison and ordered her to pay $3,000 in restitution.
The FBI investigated this matter with assistance from the Anaheim Police Department, the Los Angeles Regional Human Trafficking Task Force, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, and ZOE International.
Assistant United States Attorney Chelsea Norell of the Major Crimes Section and Special Assistant United States Attorney Blake Hannah of the General Crimes Section prosecuted this case.
Mexican National Sentenced to 18 Months Imprisonment for Reentry of Removed AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ENRIQUE TORRES-BEIZA, a/k/a “Enrique B. Torres,” age 40, a native of Mexico, was sentenced on August 14, 2025, for reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson. He was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, one-year of supervised release and a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee.
According to court documents, ENRIQUE TORRES-BEIZA, a/k/a “Enrique B. Torres,” (“TORRES-BEIZA”)reentered the United States after being previously deported on December 26, 2018. On or about October 26, 2024, TORRES-BEIZA was found to be unlawfully present in the United States while being housed in the Terrebonne Parish Jail, Terrebonne, Louisiana, and serving his sentence for a second offense, driving under the influence, conviction.
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 United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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Mexican National Indicted for Drug and Firearm CrimesRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A Mexican national, whose immigration status was revoked at the time of his arrest, is facing federal charges for drug and firearm crimes, and was ordered by the court to remain in federal custody.
Ignacio Gonzalez, 27, a Mexican citizen living in Riverton, Utah, was initially charged in a complaint earlier this month and indicted by a federal grand jury last week.
According to court documents, on August 5, 2025, federal law enforcement agents assisted Taylorsville Police Department during an executed search warrant at a residence in Riverton. During the search of the residence, law enforcement seized approximately 51.7 pounds of methamphetamine, a stolen Glock 43X, 9mm pistol, and other illegal drugs. Each of the seized bags of methamphetamine contained approximately 2.1 pounds of methamphetamine.
Gonzalez is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. A three day jury trial is scheduled for November 3, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. in courtroom 3.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Taylorsville Police Department. Special assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Assistant United States Attorney Mark E. Woolf of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Attachments:
ignacio_gonzalez.indictment.pdf ignacio_gonzalez._felony_complaint.pdfMexican Citizen Pleads Guilty to Alien SmugglingRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jose Rodriguez Barajas, age 40, and a citizen of Mexico, pled guilty today to conspiracy to commit alien smuggling and three counts of alien smuggling. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Chief Patrol Agent Robert Garcia of the U.S. Border Patrol’s Swanton Sector made the announcement.
Rodriguez Barajas, an illegal alien himself, admitted that on March 14, 2025, he smuggled three aliens at the border who were hiding in the woods after entering the United States illegally from Canada. The defendant admitted he expected to be paid for helping the aliens get across the border and transporting them further into the United States.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated, “Rodriguez Barajas—an illegal alien from Mexico—thumbed his nose at our laws, snuck into our country and conspired to sneak more aliens through our Northern Border for his own profit. This administration, unlike past administrations, is committed to fully enforcing the immigration laws of this country. If you smuggle aliens through our Northern Border, you will be caught, you will be prosecuted, and you will be deported.”
Swanton Sector Border Patrol Chief Robert N. Garcia stated, "Jose Rodriguez Barajas' blatant disregard for U.S. immigration law, ranging from his illegal entry into the country to his involvement in smuggling others, poses a significant threat to our national security and the safety of our communities. Swanton Sector Border Patrol remains unwavering in its commitment to disrupting and dismantling criminal networks that exploit our immigration system. We commend the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their invaluable partnership in ensuring those who violate our laws are held accountable."
At his sentencing on December 23, 2025, Rodriguez Barajas faces at least 5 years and up to 15 years in prison. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
Border Patrol investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Stitt is prosecuting this case.
Members of Jacksonville Drug Trafficking Organization Plead Guilty to Operating Multi-Kilo Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Aaron Jarvis McGhee (39, Sumterville), Shikita Lashelle James (38, Jacksonville), Johnny Angelo Pack (50, Jacksonville), Natra Antonio Jones (33, Jacksonville), and Bobby Warren Harvey, Jr. (28, Jacksonville) have each pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl. James, Pack, Jones, and Harvey also each pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, or both. Each faces a minimum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The sentencing hearings for McGhee, James, Pack, and Harvey are set for December 11, 2025. Jones’s sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.
According to the court documents, in 2022 and 2023, these individuals operated a drug trafficking organization that purchased fentanyl and methamphetamine from Mexican supply sources and transported the drugs through Houston, Texas, to Jacksonville, Florida, where they were sold. Already serving a federal prison term for a prior drug conspiracy conviction, McGhee used a contraband cellphone from prison to coordinate these drug transactions, which resulted in drug shipments across the southern U.S. border from Mexico into Texas. There, Pack secured these drug shipments and transported them back to Florida. Once in Jacksonville, Pack delivered the drug shipments to residences belonging to James, who stored and distributed the drugs to retail dealers in Duval and Clay Counties. Jones and Harvey served as runners for the organization in Jacksonville and were responsible for transporting drugs and drug proceeds.
Between April and May 2023, members of the organization routinely flew commercially between Jacksonville and Houston, staying one day at a time in Houston before taking return flights back to Jacksonville. On April 28, 2023, DEA agents observed James travel to the Jacksonville International Airport, where she dropped off Jones and Harvey, both of whom were scheduled to fly to Houston. Agents observed Jones and Harvey check in two bags each as luggage. Agents seized the four bags and secured search warrants for them. Agents recovered a total of $399,800 in cash from inside Jones’s two suitcases. In Harvey’s suitcases, agents recovered approximately five kilograms of fentanyl and an additional $373,980.
On May 16, 2023, DEA agents executed search warrants at two of James’s residences in Jacksonville. Inside one house, agents recovered approximately $824,909 in cash, approximately 6.7 kilograms of fentanyl, 4.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1 kilogram of heroin, and five loaded firearms. Inside the second house, agents recovered approximately $28,000 in cash, approximately 5.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, and four loaded firearms.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kirwinn Mike and Elisibeth Adams.
Member of Violent Bridgeport Gang Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
AMIRE NEWSOME, also known as “Mire,” 22, last residing in Stamford, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 180 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for his involvement in a violent Bridgeport street gang.
Today’s announcement was made was made by David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Joseph T. Corradino, State’s Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District; Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter; P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bryan DiGirolamo, Acting Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England; and Acting Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal John Iverson.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Connecticut State Police and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder, and other acts of violence. Newsome was a member of the Original North End (“O.N.E.”), a gang based in the Trumbull Gardens area of Bridgeport that committed acts of violence against rival gangs, including the East End gang, the East Side gang, a West End gang, and the PT Barnum gang. O.N.E. members also robbed drug dealers, customers, and others, sold narcotics, and stole cars from inside and outside Connecticut, often using the cars to commit crimes. They frequently used social media to promote and coordinate their criminal activities.
Analysis of numerous social media posts and text messages revealed that Newsome possessed firearms, including firearms with extended magazines, and that he sold a variety of drugs. He also participated with other O.N.E. members in the theft and possession of stolen vehicles, some of which were used to commit gang-related shootings, and conspired with them to murder O.N.E.’s rivals.
The investigation also revealed that on March 25, 2020, Newsome and O.N.E. member Tyiese Warren stole a car that was in front of the Citgo 6M Service Station and Quik Mart located at 2000 Barnum Avenue in Stratford. During the theft, they dragged the car’s driver, who was trying to stop the theft and was hanging onto the car, several hundred yards before he let go. Warren and Newsome then engaged in a carjacking involving a Toyota Corolla in Bridgeport, holding the owner at gunpoint and ultimately driving away in the car. Minutes later, Warren and Newsome committed a gunpoint robbery of the Citgo in Stratford, taking cash from the store and a cellphone from a store employee. They stole three other cars that same night.
In addition, Newsome and fellow O.N.E. member Jahaz Langston conspired to murder rival gang members and, on March 7, 2021, shot and severely injured the mother of two rival gang members as she drove her vehicle on I-95.
Newsome has been detained since his arrest on August 10, 2021. On August 16, 2023, he pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy.
Warren and Langston each pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy. On March 9, 2022, Warren was sentenced to 40 years of imprisonment, and on April 17, 2025, Langston was sentenced to 188 months of imprisonment.
Approximately 47 members and associates of multiple Bridgeport-based gangs have been convicted of federal offenses stemming from this investigation, which has solved eight murders and approximately 20 attempted murders.
This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory, and the police departments from Norwalk, Stamford, Fairfield, Stratford, Ansonia, Monroe, Waterbury, Naugatuck, Eastchester (N.Y.), Rye (N.Y.), and Newburgh (N.Y.). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen L. Peck, Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis, Stephanie T. Levick, and Rahul Kale.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
Luzerne County Man Sentenced to 160 Months for Drug Trafficking and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Kevin Neysmith, a/k/a Kevin Blackwood, age 45, a resident of Kingston, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 160 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Julia K. Munley, for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to the Acting United States Attorney John Gurganus, on September 9, 2022, members of the Lackawanna County Drug Task Force arrested Neysmith in Moosic, Pennsylvania, as he was attempting to make a fentanyl delivery. During the arrest, Neysmith exited his moving vehicle and fled through a parking lot. His car continued to move and struck an unoccupied car. Task Force Officers arrested him as he tried to hide behind a dumpster. Officer seized from Neysmith--and from a compartment in his car--methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin, and an unregistered 9-millimeter Canik 55 Model TP9 semi-automatic pistol equipped with a tactical laser.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)—Scranton Office, the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office, members of the Lackawanna County Drug Task Force, and the Moosic Borough Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tatum R. Wilson.
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Long Beach Man Sentenced to 110 Years in Prison for Production of Images of Minors Engaging in Sexually Explicit ConductRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – A Long Beach, Mississippi man was sentenced today to 110 years in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for producing images and videos of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
In February 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) in Gulfport learned that Jason Leonard Rhodes, a 47-year-old male, had sexual contact with three minor boys. With that information, the FBI and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, Cybercrime Division, conducted a search warrant at the defendant’s residence on February 8, 2023.
During the search warrant, the FBI found various electronic devices belonging to Rhodes. A forensic examiner with the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, Cybercrime Division conducted a forensic analysis on those devices and found videos of Rhodes performing oral sex on three minor boys, beginning when at least one of the boys was 5 years old. The forensic examiner also found chats between Rhodes and others in which Rhodes sent some of those videos to other people as well as videos of other children being sexually abused.
During the search warrant, Rhodes gave a confession to law enforcement, admitting to videoing himself performing oral sex on the minor boys and to sending out pictures and videos of children being sexually abused.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the FBI, Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, Cybercrime Division, and the Long Beach Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lee Smith, Glenda Haynes, and Andrea Jones prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Local Man Sentenced for Armed Carjacking in SouthavenRead the Press Release
Aberdeen, MS – A Southaven man was sentenced today to over seven years in prison for carjacking.
According to court documents, on September 16, 2024, Lacyrus Green, 27, met two victims in the Walmart parking lot in Southaven to test drive a car the victims had for sale. Upon returning from the test drive, Green brandished a BB gun designed to look like an AR-style pistol and threatened to kill the victims, then took the key fob and stole the car. Green was subsequently apprehended in Memphis, Tennessee.
Senior Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Green today to 95 months imprisonment. Upon release from prison, Green will be on supervision for a period of three years. He was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal following sentencing.
“This office is committed to the fairly straightforward principle that violent criminals such as this defendant should go to prison,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “We will continue, alongside our law enforcement partners, with our commitment to protect victims from those who would threaten them with harm.”
"Lacyrus Green’s vicious crime endangered lives and created fear amongst the community,” stated Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jackson Field Office Robert Eikhoff. “The brazen act of brandishing a gun and carjacking unsuspecting sellers will not be tolerated. Collaborative teamwork between the FBI, the US Attorney’s Office, the Southaven Police Department, and the Memphis Police Department sends a clear message that law enforcement will relentlessly pursue violent offenders, restoring safety and security to our communities."
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Southaven Police Department, and the Memphis Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Mims prosecuted the case.
Leader of Meth, Fentanyl Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 27 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark on Tuesday sentenced a man who built a drug trafficking organization that brought hundreds of pounds of fentanyl and methamphetamine to the St. Louis area to 27 years in prison.
Stephen Griffin Jr., 51, received a 25-year sentence for the main case, filed in 2021, and two more years for violating his supervised release in a 2015 heroin trafficking case.
In all, 20 people were indicted. Griffin’s top lieutenant, Troy Mills, 22, was also sentenced Tuesday to 16 years in prison on meth and fentanyl conspiracy charges and a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Crystal Miller, 37, of Florissant, who ran stash houses, was sentenced in December of 2023 to 20 years in prison. Twelve others have been sentenced. The remaining five defendants will be sentenced in October and November.
During the investigation, investigators seized about 39 firearms, 499 pounds of meth, 22 pounds of heroin, 49 pounds of fentanyl, four vehicles, ammunition, and more than $500,000 in assets.
Griffin pleaded guilty in April to two counts of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, two counts of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He admitted being part of a large-scale drug trafficking organization that brought meth and fentanyl from Arizona and California to the Eastern District of Missouri.
Initially, Griffin’s organization received meth and fentanyl in the mail, in multiple-kilogram packages, his plea agreement says. Those packages were taken to “stash” houses, where they were prepared for sale. Griffin and his co-conspirators also used a home health care business in a shopping center in Northwoods, Missouri as a base of operations where they coordinated shipments and sales of drugs, collected and stored drug proceeds, communicated with coconspirators, sources of supply and customers, and as a centrally located location to congregate between drug sales. Griffin’s organization later developed a second source of drugs in Arizona, and would obtain multiple-kilogram quantities of meth and fentanyl via the mail or couriers. Mills obtained drugs from Griffin and sold them to others.
In March of 2021, Griffin was arrested leaving a “stash” apartment with about one kilo of meth, a gun and multiple cell phones. Inside the apartment, investigators found about seven kilos of meth, 15 grams of fentanyl, a drug press and scales.
“Stephen Griffin rolled the dice when he started pushing fentanyl and methamphetamine in the St. Louis region,” Drug Enforcement Administration St. Louis Division Special Agent in Charge Michael Davis said. “His selfish greed destroyed families who were impacted by the fallout of his poisonous sales. Today, he faces the consequences of those actions. Griffin’s 21 years in federal prison will allow him plenty of time to reflect on the lives he ruined, including his own.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service mission is to protect the nation’s mail system. With the collaborative efforts of our federal law enforcement partners, Postal Inspectors investigate those utilizing the U.S. Mail for illicit activities, including the distribution of narcotics. Today’s sentencing reflects the diligent investigative work by Postal Inspectors and our law enforcement partners,” said Inspector in Charge, Ruth Mendonça, who leads the Chicago Division, which includes the St. Louis Field Office.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Marshals Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Casey is prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.
Jacksonville Convicted Child Sex Offender Sentenced to 50 Years for Producing Videos and Photos Depicting Sexual Abuse of A ChildRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Chief United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Kevin John Merritt (63, Jacksonville) to 50 years in federal prison for coercing and using a minor child to produce videos and photos that depicted the child being sexually abused. Merritt was arrested on March 16, 2023, and has been in custody since that time. He pleaded guilty on November 7, 2024. Merritt is a registered child sex offender following his 2011 federal conviction for possessing videos depicting the sexual abuse of children.
According to court documents, this investigation began when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a “CyberTipline Report” from the company that owns Facebook. This report advised that files depicting child sexual abuse materials had been sent through Facebook Messenger on September 14, 2022, by user “Jackie Frost” to another Facebook user in Jacksonville. This report was forwarded to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO). Subsequent investigation by JSO identified Merritt as “Jackie Frost.” At the time, Merritt was serving a 30-year term of supervised release as part of his prior child sex conviction.
On March 16, 2023, JSO detectives and other personnel executed a search warrant at Merritt’s residence. Merritt was at the home and was arrested. Several electronic devices were seized, including a cellphone belonging to Merritt. Subsequent review of the cellphone revealed an email account that was linked to the “Jackie Frost” Facebook account as well as other items attributable to Merritt. The device also contained numerous photos and videos depicting the sexual abuse and exploitation of an identified minor child that were produced by Merritt using his cellphone. Merritt’s hand is visible in two of the videos.
This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Jacksonville. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys D. Rodney Brown and Elisibeth Adams.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify, rescue, and seek justice for child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Iranian Couple Pleads Guilty After June Confrontation with ICERead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Mehrzad Asadi Eidivand, 41, an Iranian national, and his wife, Linet Vartanniavartanians, 37, a naturalized United States citizen, pleaded guilty on August 21 after a confrontation in June with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Eidivand pleaded guilty to Alien in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition. Vartanniavartanians pleaded guilty to Threats Against a Federal Law Enforcement Officer. Sentencing is scheduled for November 26, 2025, before United States District Judge David G. Campbell.
In his plea, Eidivand, a citizen of Iran without legal authority to be in the United States, admitted that, on or about June 21, 2025, in Tempe, Arizona, he possessed two firearms, which is prohibited for illegal aliens.
Vartanniavartanians admitted that, on the same date, when ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) came to her residence in Tempe, Arizona to contact her husband, she made threats intended to impede, intimidate, and interfere with the officers engaged in the performance of their official duties. Vartanniavartanias made the following threats:
- “I’m not letting anybody enter my home without my, you know, permission. So anybody that tries to invade my home, I’m going to shoot them. Like I said, I have a gun, and it’s loaded.”
- “Anybody trying to enter my house is going to be shooted. I don’t allow anybody in my house, including ICE.”
- When asked about the location of the gun, I responded “in my hand right now.”
- “I go outside the backyard, and I’ll just shoot them in the head.”
A conviction for Alien in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition carries a maximum term of 15 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000.00, or both, and a term of supervised release of up to three years. The maximum term of probation is five years, including a minimum term of one year if probation is imposed.
A conviction for Threats Against a Federal Law Enforcement Officer carries a maximum term of 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000.00, or both, and a term of supervised release of up to three years. The maximum term of probation is five years, including a minimum term of one year if probation is imposed.
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).
ICE ERO, Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI’s Phoenix Division conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-25-00931-PHX-DGC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-140_Asadi Eidivand, et al# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Inmate Sentenced to Prison for Possessing Weapon at FCI McDowellRead the Press Release
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Demetrius McKinney, 45, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) McDowell, was sentenced today to one year and one month in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a weapon by an inmate at a federal prison. Today’s prison sentence will run consecutive to the term McKinney is currently serving.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 24, 2024, McKinney was involved in an altercation while an inmate at FCI McDowell. After the altercation, an FCI McDowell staff member conducted a search of McKinney and found a handcrafted weapon commonly known as a “shank” in his right front pants pocket. The shank was a piece of metal about six and a half inches long, with one end sharpened to a point and a cloth handle on the other end.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Brian D. Parsons and Timothy D. Boggess prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-31.
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Houston man sentenced to federal prison for Denton-area violent crime spreeRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas – A Houston man has been sentenced to federal prison for a violent crime spree in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Victor Guardado Zepeda, 43, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery; conspiracy to carry a firearm during a crime of violence; two counts of Hobbs Act robbery; and two counts of brandishing firearm during a crime of violence and was sentenced to a total of 231 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III on August 26, 2025.
According to information presented in court, Zepeda led a violent crime spree in which he and others robbed two convenience stores in Denton and Lewisville of over $100,000. During the robberies, the assailants entered the stores, brandished firearms, and placed an employee on her knees at gunpoint, while the others went into the manager’s office and severely beat one of the employees.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This case was investigated by the FBI, Denton Police Department and Lewisville Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chalana A. Oliver.
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Houston County felon guilty of federal firearms violationRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Crockett felon has pleaded guilty to a federal firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Clifford Heniser, 35, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christine L. Stetson on August 26, 2025.
According to information presented in court, on March 15, 2025, Heniser entered the Houston County Sheriff’s Office and requested their “federal reports.” A dispatcher asked Heniser to wait for a deputy to arrive. Heniser became angry and left the building before returning with a firearm. He then exited the building again and began firing the firearm in the parking lot. Multiple law enforcement officers were dispatched to the scene and Heniser was disarmed. Two firearms were seized from Heniser, and he was arrested. Further investigation revealed Heniser is a convicted felon and prohibited from owning or possessing firearms.
Heniser was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 2, 2025, and faces up to 15 years in federal prison at sentencing. The maximum sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing 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 U.S. Probation Office.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Houston County Sheriff’s Office; Crockett Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety – Criminal Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald S. Carter.
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Guatemalan Man Guilty of Reentry of Removed AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – FRAILYN ARGUETA-JERONIMO, a/k/a “Frailyn Argeta-Jeronimo,” (“ARGUETA-JERONIMO “), age 25, a native of Guatemala, pled guilty on August 12, 2025, to reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson. His sentencing is set for November 12, 2025, before Judge Zainey.
According to the charging document, ARGUETA-JERONIMO was found in the United States on March 27, 2025, having reentered the United States without authorization from the Attorney General of the United States, after being previously deported on February 6, 2020. On March 27, 2025, federal agents were performing targeted enforcement operations in Terrytown, Louisiana, and observed a maroon Toyota Tundra arrive at a Terrytown residence and pick up a Hispanic male. The Toyota Tundra was registered to a Guatemalan national who had been removed from the United States on at least three prior occasions. Based on the prior intelligence gathered on the residence, when a federal agent conducted a vehicle stop on the Toyota Tundra, a passenger, later identified as ARGUETA-JERONIMO, a Guatemalan citizen, admitted to being in the country illegally.
ARGUETA-JERONIMO faces up to two years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to one year of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
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 United States Border Patrol in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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Gary Man Sentenced to 77 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Montell Efrem Ward, 51 years old, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to two counts of robbery, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Ward was sentenced to 77 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, in January 2023, Ward robbed two hotels located in Merrillville, Indiana. In the first robbery, he threatened the hotel clerk with a knife and tied the victim up with computer cords to complete the robbery. The next day, he robbed a second hotel clerk with a knife. Ward took a total of $300 from both robberies.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joel L. Mathur.
Fresno Restaurant Operator Charged with Hiring a Gang Member to Set Fire to RestaurantRead the Press Release
Fresno restaurant operator Robert “Bobby” Salazar, 63, has been arrested on a federal complaint for arson of commercial property and arson in furtherance of a felony for directing a motorcycle gang member to set fire to an underperforming restaurant property, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on April 2, 2024, a fire broke out at the vacant Bobby Salazar’s restaurant on Blackstone Avenue in Fresno. Fire investigators determined that the cause of the fire was arson, with partially burned gas cans located inside the restaurant and extensive fire damage to the interior:
Fire damage inside the restaurant
Partially burned gas cans
According to court documents, agents learned that the person who set the fire was the president of the local Screamin’ Demons Motorcycle Club. Salazar allegedly hired the motorcycle gang member to start the fire and then claimed to his insurance company that he had nothing to do with the arson. He was ultimately paid out at least $980,739 for his insurance claim.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Fresno Fire Department, with assistance from the Fresno Police Department, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert L. Veneman-Hughes and Brittany M. Gunter are prosecuting the case.
Salazar is expected to make an initial court appearance on Aug. 27, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara A. McAuliffe in Fresno at 2:00 P.M.
If convicted, Salazar faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison for commercial arson, as well as 10 years in prison mandatorily consecutive for arson in furtherance of a felony. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Criminal Complaint
salazar_complaint_25mj92.cr_.comp_.0825_redacted_v.1.pdfFormer FAA Contractor Sentenced for Illegally Acting as an Agent of the Iranian GovernmentRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Abouzar Rahmati, 43, a naturalized U.S. citizen and resident of Great Falls, Virginia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 12 months in federal prison for acting as an illegal agent of the Iranian government in the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Rahmati, a former Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) contractor, pleaded guilty on April 16, 2025, to acting as an agent of the Iranian government without prior notification to the Attorney General and to conspiracy to do so, before U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan. In addition to the 12-month prison term, Judge AliKhan ordered Rahmati to serve three years of supervised release.
Joining in the announcement were Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Daniel Wierzbicki of the Counterintelligence and Cyber Division.
According to court documents, from at least December 2017 through June 2024, Rahmati worked with Iranian government officials and intelligence operatives to act on their behalf in the United States, including by meeting with Iranian intelligence officers in Iran, communicating with Iranian intelligence officers and government officials using a cover story to hide his conduct, obtaining employment with an FAA contractor with access to sensitive non-public information about the U.S. aviation sector, and obtaining open-source and non-public materials about the U.S. solar energy industry and providing it to Iranian intelligence officers.
“By secretly doing the bidding of the Iranian government, Mr. Rahmati violated the trust placed in him as a U.S. citizen and as a federal contractor with access to sensitive information,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Ensuring that sensitive U.S. information does not fall into the hands of hostile foreign intelligence services remains one of our highest priorities.”
“Rahmati exploited his trusted position to obtain sensitive information about the U.S. aviation sector and share it with the Iranian government, said FBI Special Agent in Charge Wierzbicki. “Today’s sentencing demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to disrupt threats to U.S. critical infrastructure, especially those emanating from the nefarious activities of Iranian intelligence officers who seek to harm our nation.”
In August 2017, Rahmati offered his services to the Iranian government through a senior Iranian government official who previously worked in Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security and with whom Rahmati had previously attended university.
Four months later, in December 2017, Rahmati traveled to Iran, where he met with Iranian intelligence operatives and government officials and agreed to obtain information about the U.S. solar energy industry, to provide that information to Iranian officials, and to conduct future communications under a cover story based on purported discussions about research with fellow academics.
Upon returning to the United States in early 2018, Rahmati obtained various private and open-source materials related to the U.S. solar energy industry and provided them to an official from the office of Iran’s Vice President for Science and Technology in response to tasking from Iranian government officials.
In response to tasking from Iranian officials, and in furtherance of his role as an agent of the Government of Iran, Rahmati exploited his employment as an FAA contractor by downloading at least 172 GB of the company’s files. Rahmati stored those files on removable media, which he took to Iran, where he provided sensitive documents to the Government of Iran in April 2022.
At the April 2022 meeting in Iran, Iranian intelligence officers told Rahmati and his brother that they were seeking information, including new ideas and technology not available in Iran. They further explained that if Rahmati brought such information to Iran, the Government of Iran could provide Rahmati with financial incentives, including free or low-interest loans and grants.
Later in April 2022, also in response to tasking from Iranian government officials, Rahmati sent additional information relating to solar energy, solar panels, the FAA, U.S. airports, and U.S. air traffic control towers to his brother, who lived in Iran, so that he would provide those files to Iranian intelligence.
The FBI’s Washington Field Office investigated the case, with significant assistance from the FAA’s Office of Counterintelligence and Technical Operations.
Prosecuting the case were Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Tortorice and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Paschall for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorneys Beau Barnes and Alexander Wharton of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia provided significant assistance.
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Former Department of Labor Employee Indicted for Fraudulently Obtaining over $40,000 in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance BenefitsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former employee of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) was charged today with fraudulently obtaining over $40,000 in pandemic unemployment assistance (PUA) benefits.
Mo Yuong Kang, 50, formerly of Woburn and Dracut, Mass., was indicted today and charged with wire fraud. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the indictment, Kang worked as an Industrial Hygienist with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, an agency of the DOL, from June 2016 until July 2023. In 2020 and 2021, Kang was a full-time employee of the DOL and earned $86,667 and $90,738, respectively.
According to the indictment, in April 2020, Kang allegedly submitted a false PUA application to the Division of Unemployment Assistance (DUA). It is alleged that, in the application, Kang claimed under the penalty of perjury that he was “self-employed, an independent contractor, or a gig worker and COVID-19 has severely limited [his] ability to perform [his] normal work,” and that he had not earned more than $89 a week since March 8, 2020. The DUA approved Kang’s claim, and through September 2021 Kang subsequently submitted weekly certifications to the DUA allegedly claiming that he did not work and did not receive any income during those weekly periods. Based upon his application registration and those weekly certifications, Kang allegedly received $45,868 in PUA benefits he was not entitled to.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Labor Racketeering and Fraud, Northeast Region; and Christopher Silvestro, Special Agent in Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Northeast Field Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina E. Barclay of the Public Corruption and Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting the case.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted in March 2020 and designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who were suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act created a new temporary federal unemployment insurance program called pandemic unemployment assistance (PUA), which provided unemployment benefits for individuals who were not eligible for standard unemployment benefits. To receive PUA benefits, Massachusetts claimants were required to certify in an initial registration and in weekly certifications whether or not they worked or received any income during the relevant time period. The PUA program was administered in Massachusetts by the Division of Unemployment Assistance (DUA).
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Former Box Elder Teacher’s Aide Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Enticement of a Minor StudentRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a woman from Tonganoxie, Kansas, convicted of Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet. The sentencing took place on August 18, 2025.
Duncan Sioux Witt, 29, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $100 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. A federal grand jury indicted Witt for the charge in August 2024. She pleaded guilty on April 30, 2025.
During the commission of her crime, Witt was employed at Douglas High School in Box Elder, South Dakota, as a special education paraprofessional teacher’s aide. The victim was a student receiving special education services at the school. No later than February 2024, Witt began sending the boy sexually explicit messages, as well as sexually explicit images and videos of herself, using Snapchat. Over time, Witt induced the boy to send her sexually explicit pictures and videos of himself, which she saved in her Snapchat account. Witt and the boy exchanged thousands of messages over the course of several months. When the victim turned 18, Witt convinced her former husband to allow him to move into their home. Then, Witt provided the victim with alcohol and began a sexual relationship with him. Witt repeatedly told the victim she was pregnant with his child and convinced him she intended to leave her marriage to be with him.
The investigation revealed Witt had inappropriate conversations over Snapchat with multiple other students, in addition to the victim in this case. Witt was arrested in South Carolina while working at an elementary school.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the Box Elder Police Department and the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.
Witt was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Florida Resident Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Charge in Nationwide Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS – U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey announced that Florida resident Danielle Diarbakerly, age 38, pled guilty in federal court to money laundering conspiracy for her role in a multi-state fraud scheme that caused more than $3 million in losses to victims. Diarbakerly faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine, and will owe restitution to the victims.
Diarbakerly was indicted by a grand jury in January 2025 and accused of participating in a conspiracy to launder the proceeds of a fraud scheme that ran from at least January 2020 to September 2024. Court records reflect that Diarbakerly admitted that she and others were members of a conspiracy that was designed to defraud people living throughout the United States, including in West Michigan, and conduct financial transactions using that money to conceal the source, control, or location of the fraudulent proceeds. Some members of the conspiracy contacted victims and persuaded them that they had won large prizes in a multistate lottery. To claim these prizes, the victims were told that they would have to pay taxes and fees associated with their winnings. The victims were instructed to send their money, by wire transfer or mail, to shell companies created by Diarbakerly for that purpose. Once the money arrived, she quickly moved the funds into other shell companies that she controlled or sent it to other conspirators. Diarbakerly knew the funds were fraudulent proceeds.
“Every day, fraudsters attempt to steal money earned by hardworking Americans and from vulnerable retirees living on fixed incomes. Federal law enforcement is relentlessly pursuing everyone responsible for committing those frauds, including those who facilitate these reprehensible financial crimes. We all must remain vigilant when receiving unsolicited communications to avoid falling victim to these schemes,” said U.S. Attorney Tim VerHey.
“These schemes have sadly become increasingly widespread across our state and across the country,” said ICE HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “Thankfully, our agents, law enforcement partners and prosecutors will do everything they can to track down these culprits and hold them accountable under the law. This case is a good reminder for the community to check in on their loved ones, discuss these schemes and how families can protect themselves.”
“Schemes that drain the bank accounts of everyday people are terrible and steal the safety and security of victims across the county,” said Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “IRS Criminal Investigation is dedicated to flushing out fraudsters and protecting tax-paying Americans from crimes like these that jeopardize their way of life.”
Homeland Security Investigations and IRS Criminal Investigation continue to investigate this matter.
Fifth Defendant Convicted for Laundering Funds from Fraud Schemes to Nigerian Transnational Organized Crime GroupsRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Puerto Rico yesterday convicted a fifth individual for conspiracy to launder funds in connection with multiple wide-ranging wire, mail, and access device fraud schemes.
Oluwasegun Baiyewu was convicted of a money laundering conspiracy following a 22-day trial in San Juan. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Oluwaseun Adelekan 40, and Temitope Omotayo, 40, both of Staten Island, New York; Ifeoluwa Dudubo, 37, of Austin, Texas; and Temitope Suleiman, 37, and Oluwasegun Baiyewu, 37, of Richmond, Texas, conspired to launder funds from different international organized fraud schemes, including romance, pandemic relief unemployment insurance fraud, and business email compromise scams. These fraud schemes disproportionately impacted elderly or otherwise vulnerable Americans.
“The Department of Justice will continue to identify and prosecute the fraudsters who design complex fraud schemes and the launderers that receive victim proceeds and make sure the crimes are profitable,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This conviction is a message to the transnational organized crime groups and their accomplices who take advantage of our open financial system: you cannot victimize Americans with impunity.”
“The defendant participated in a money laundering scheme turning illicit gains into a facade of legitimacy, especially those involving seniors or other vulnerable people, and businesses in Puerto Rico and the United States,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico. “The United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners commitment to investigate criminals who steal money sends a clear message: justice will prevail, and those who exploit others for personal gain will be held accountable. We thank all our partners who assisted in this prosecution.”
“The FBI is committed to taking down the key service providers that support cyber scammers and transnational organized crime,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “This conviction is a reminder of the durable impact we are having in targeting the entire cybercriminal ecosystem, which is made possible by working in tandem with partners who have unique authorities and capabilities.”
“The criminals involved in this scheme thought there was safety in numbers, but the U.S. Postal Inspection Service doesn’t stop until everyone involved in schemes that target older Americans is brought to justice,” said Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Boston Division. “The defendants lined their pockets by defrauding vulnerable members of our society through various schemes designed to entice their victims to give up their hard-earned cash. This conviction is proof that anyone involved with transnational crimes will be tracked down, exposed, and made to face the consequences.”
A superseding indictment against the five defendants alleged that in 2020 and 2021, the defendants worked together to profit from efforts to “clean” money from scams involving victims, many of whom were older adults, in California, Illinois, Washington, and Nevada, and business email compromise schemes affecting victim companies in Puerto Rico and Missouri. After receiving the proceeds, according to the indictment, the defendants or their co-conspirators conducted hundreds of transactions with the funds to, among other things, purchase used cars that were shipped overseas to Nigeria.
The defendants will be sentenced before the Honorable Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach for the District of Puerto Rico.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, and FBI San Juan Cyber Task Force are investigating this case, with assistance from the National Unemployment Insurance Fraud Task Force supporting the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force teams.
Trial Attorneys Emily C. Powers and Richard S. Greene IV of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Linet Olinghouse for the District of Puerto Rico are prosecuting the case.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available.
More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints can be filed with the FTC at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.
Federal Prison Inmate Sentenced to Life Term for Murdering Fellow Inmate Due to His Religious FaithRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — An inmate at Thomson Penitentiary in Thomson, Ill., has been sentenced to a life term of imprisonment after being convicted of murder and hate crime in the death of a fellow inmate.
BRANDON SIMONSON conspired with a co-defendant, KRISTOPHER MARTIN, to beat Matthew Phillips because Phillips was Jewish. Simonson and Martin assaulted Phillips to gain recognition and membership into a white supremacist antisemitic prison gang called the Valhalla Bound Skinheads. Simonson punched and kicked Phillips in the face and head, despite Phillips being knocked unconscious and unable to defend himself. The assault occurred on March 2, 2020, leading to Phillips’ death three days later.
A jury in U.S. District Court in Rockford earlier this year convicted Simonson 41, of Moorhead, Minn., of second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, hate crime, and assault. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston sentenced Simonson to life in federal prison.
Martin, 43, of Brazil, Ind., pleaded guilty earlier this year and will be sentenced on Oct. 9, 2025.
Simonson’s sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Lucas Rothaar, Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vincenza L. Tomlinson and Ronald DeWald.
“Antisemitic violence has no place in our society,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “Violence against people of faith is illegal and unacceptable and will not be tolerated anywhere in our district, including in our prison system. My Office and our law enforcement partners will aggressively enforce federal laws to ensure that all Americans feel safe in practicing and expressing their faith.”
“The FBI and our law enforcement partners hold those who compromise the safety or lives of others accountable, even those serving sentences in prison,” said FBI ASAC Rothaar. “We continue to ask the public to help keep our communities safe from any acts of violence like those detailed in this case by reporting threatening or suspicious behavior immediately to local law enforcement or the FBI.”
Federal Detainee Sentenced for Possessing Contraband Inside Wyatt Detention CenterRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A federal detainee at the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Center was sentenced today on charges of conspiracy and providing and possessing contraband in prison, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Anthony Whyte, 50, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to 12 months of incarceration. Whyte pleaded guilty on May 8, 2025.
On May 21, 2023, Whyte took possession of multiple documents from a visitor that had the appearance of having been contaminated with some sort of substance. One of the eight pages later analyzed by the FBI was determined to have been treated with synthetic cannabinoids.
Court documents reflect that Whyte arranged for the delivery of the contaminated pages during recorded telephone conversations he made from inside the Wyatt Detention Center. The papers and the manilla envelope they were contained in were seized moments after Whyte took possession of them. At the time, Whyte was detained in an unrelated criminal matter brought in the District of Connecticut.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr.
The matter was investigated by the FBI, with the assistance of the Wyatt Detention Center Professional Standards Unit.
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Fayetteville Man Sentenced to 24 Years for Federal Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II sentenced Celestio Lefranz Harrington, 34, of Lillington, to 24 years in federal prison on Wednesday for his role in a large-scale drug trafficking conspiracy involving methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl.
“Drug traffickers like Harrington flood our communities with meth, cocaine, and fentanyl that kill our children and destroy our families. They prey on the devastation these poisons inflict,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “We will relentlessly target major suppliers, dismantle their networks, and hold them accountable by sending them to federal prison for decades.”
In early 2023, detectives with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office received information identifying Harrington as a source of supply for multiple types of drugs in the Fayetteville area. Surveillance showed that he traveled throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, and to Philadelphia to meet drug suppliers and addicts.
On March 29, 2023, investigators stopped Harrington’s car as he travelled back from Philadelphia. During the search, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol troopers discovered approximately 4.4 kilograms of methamphetamine and 4.1 kilograms of cocaine hidden in the trunk. Investigators then searched Harrington’s Fayetteville apartment and found an additional 3.7 kilograms of methamphetamine, approximately 489 grams of fentanyl, and items used to package drugs for resale.
In total, the investigation revealed that Harrington distributed over 180 kilograms of methamphetamine, which is about 400lbs, 15 kilograms of cocaine, and a kilogram of fentanyl, which is enough to kill five times the population of Lillington.
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Webb prosecuted the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office appreciates the outstanding efforts of these dedicated law enforcement officers in cleaning up the streets of Eastern North Carolina.
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).
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. 5:23-CR-336.
Fort Walton Beach Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug and Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Taj Tariq Tamboura Robinson, 35, of Fort Walton Beach, was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I applaud the substantial efforts of our state and federal law enforcement partners to investigate, arrest, and help bring this drug trafficker to justice. This is yet another important case by my office fulfilling the promise of President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America by aggressively pursuing criminal offenders who victimize our communities.”
Court documents establish that between 2018 and 2023, Robinson was a high-level distributor in a drug trafficking and money laundering organization who provided large quantities cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana to other dealers in the Northern District of Florida and elsewhere. Robinson and his co-conspirators further laundered the proceeds of their drug conspiracy by purchasing and selling real estate and vehicles in other people’s names.
“Bringing this polydrug distributor to justice was a group effort, and I appreciate the work our law enforcement partners did to make this happen,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “Our North Florida communities will be safer with him off the streets.”
“The ongoing commitment and teamwork leading to arrests like Robinson’s shows the level of local dedication that exists to rid our streets of dangerous narcotics,” said Sheriff Eric Aden, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. “We are proud to play a key role in putting those who peddle these poisons behind bars.”
“Today’s sentencing serves as a reminder to criminals that if you attempt to launder drug money in Northern Florida, you will be caught and sentenced to serious prison time,” said Special Agent in Charge Ron Loecker, IRS Criminal Investigation Tampa Field Office. “Through the outstanding joint investigative efforts of the IRS, DEA, and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, this defendant is off the street and no longer able to peddle poison in our communities.”
Robinson received a total sentence of 13 years in prison, which will be followed by 6 years of supervised release. In addition, the government administratively and judicially forfeited over $265,000, two vehicles, and multiple pieces of jewelry from Robinson and his co-conspirators.
The sentence was the result of a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, and the Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alicia Forbes and former Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Love.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
FBI Arrests Seven Alleged Members of DC Fentanyl and PCP Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The FBI this morning executed approximately 20 residential search warrants across the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Los Angeles, following a year-long investigation into an alleged D.C.-based drug trafficking organization that sold PCP and fentanyl in and around the 2900 block of Knox Place SE, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Law enforcement seized 18 firearms including one AR-Style rifle, a shotgun, and one Draco-style pistol. Agents also seized a pill press commonly used to manufacture fentanyl pills, at least two kilograms of suspected narcotics, and over $50,000 in cash.
Last week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia indicted eight individuals – two from California, one from Baltimore, and five from metropolitan Washington D.C. – and charged them in the conspiracy.
This morning, the FBI in partnership with the DEA and the Metropolitan Police Department took seven of the indicted defendants into custody. They are Leonard Edwards, 52, of Washington D.C.; Eric “Marbury” Prather, 43, of Washington D.C.; Thomas Wilton Hancock, Jr., aka “Fresh,” 43, of Baltimore, MD; Sarda Smith, 36, of Oxen Hill, MD; Michael Thomas, 49, of Los Angeles, CA; Reginald Lassiter, 39, of Washington, D.C.; and Darryl Riley, 39, Washington, D.C.
Joining in the announcement were FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Phil Bates, DEA Special Agent in Charge Christopher C. Goumenis, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
One additional defendant remains at large and is considered a fugitive. The indictment against that defendant remains sealed.
The Knox Place neighborhood has experienced at least five homicides in the past year, among other violent crimes. The alleged D.C.-based traffickers who operated around Knox Place sourced their narcotics through a Baltimore-based co-conspirator, who in turn was importing narcotics from California. One of the shipments from California included 17-gallons of PCP that was intercepted earlier this year by law enforcement outside of Topeka, Kansas.
Six of the eight defendants face 10-year mandatory minimum sentences based on the drug quantities for which they were charged. Two of them face 15-year mandatory minimum sentences.
Federal agents arrested five additional individuals who face an array of charges that include conspiracy to distribute narcotics, felon in possession of firearms, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and illegal re-entry into the country.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office with valuable assistance from the DEA and the MPD. It is being prosecuted Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sitara Witanachchi, Matthew W. Kinskey, and John Parron of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
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Effingham County area drug dealers sentenced on meth-related chargesRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – This year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in conjunction with the Effingham Police Department, the Southeastern Illinois Drug Task Force, the Effingham County Sheriff’s Department, and the Effingham County State’s Attorney’s Office, have prosecuted several methamphetamine dealers in the Effingham County area.
“Trafficking drugs in southern Illinois will earn dealers a federal prison sentence,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Thanks to the efforts of our local law enforcement partners in the Effingham County area, less meth is circulating on the streets. We will continue to work together to eliminate drugs from our communities.”
“These cases show what can be accomplished when local, county, and federal agencies work together toward a common goal,” said Effingham Police Chief Kurt Davis. “I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Effingham County Sheriff’s Department, the Southeastern Illinois Drug Task Force, the State’s Attorney’s Office, and the staff of the Effingham Police Department for their partnership and commitment. Their efforts make our community safer by keeping dangerous drugs off our streets.”
Jeramy C. Hoffman, 49, of Effingham, Illinois, was convicted of two counts of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. On May 15, 2025, the Court sentenced Hoffman to 110 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by four years of supervised release.
Corey W. Dasenbrock, 48, of Effingham, Illinois, was convicted of two counts of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. On Aug. 19, 2025, the Court sentenced Dasenbrock to 110 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by four years supervised release.
Hayden L. Limes, 29, of Effingham, Illinois, was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On May 1, 2025, the Court sentenced Limes to 96 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by five years’ supervised release.
Taylor K. Nathan, 31, of Effingham, Illinois, was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On April 3, 2025, the Court sentenced Nathan to 84 months’ incarceration, to be followed by four years supervised release.
Robert J. Beckler, II, 55, of Effingham, Illinois, was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The Court sentenced Beckler to 120 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by five years’ supervised release.
Russell A. Beldi, 45, of Teutopolis, Illinois, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On May 15, 2025, Beldi was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by four years supervised release.
Jodi L. Corbella, 48, of Citrus Heights, California, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Although from California, Corbella was sending methamphetamine to Russell Beldi for resale in the Effingham area. On Aug. 5, 2025, the Court sentenced Corbella to 144 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by four years supervised release.
Jesse D. Blain, 40, of Effingham, Illinois, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. On Aug. 12, 2025, the Court sentenced Blain to 60 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by four years of supervised release.
Three additional Effingham area individuals were indicted on July 25, 2025, on federal methamphetamine related charges in a seven-count indictment. The defendants indicted include:
- Chelsea J. Sipes, 41, of Effingham, Illinois,
- Timothy E. Finfrock, 66, of Effingham, Illinois and
- Philip M. Blair, 43, of Effingham, Illinois.
Count 1 charges that from July 2024, until on or about June 2025, in Effingham County, within the Southern District of Illinois, Sipes, Finfrock, and Blair conspired to knowingly and intentionally distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Count 2 charges that on Jan. 30, 2025, in Effingham County, Sipes knowingly and intentionally distributed 5 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Count 3 charges that on Feb. 25, 2025, in Effingham County, Sipes knowingly and intentionally distributed 5 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Count 4 charges that on March 6, 2025, in Effingham County, Sipes knowingly and intentionally distributed 5 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Count 5 charges that on March 14, 2025, in Effingham County, Sipes knowingly and intentionally distributed 5 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Count 6 charges that on Feb. 20, 2025, in Effingham County, Blair knowingly and intentionally distributed methamphetamine.
Count 7 charges that on Jan. 24, 2025, in Effingham County, Finfrock knowingly and intentionally distributed methamphetamine.
With respect to Count 1, all three Defendants face 10 years to life imprisonment, up to a $10 million fine, and supervised release of not less than 5 years.
With respect to Counts 2-5, Sipes faces 5-40 years’ imprisonment, up to a $5 million fine, and supervised release of not less than 4 years.
With respect to Count 6, Blair faces up to 20 years imprisonment, up to a $1 million fine, and supervised release of not less than 3 years.
With respect to Count 7, Finfrock faces up to 20 years imprisonment, up to a $1 million fine, and supervised release of not less than 3 years.
Indictments are merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
East Weymouth Woman Charged with Bank FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An East Weymouth woman was charged today in federal court in Boston with scheming to fraudulently obtain Social Security benefits.
Debora A. Siler, 68, was charged with one count of bank fraud and will appear in U.S. District Court in Boston on Sept. 11, 2025.
According to the charging documents, Siler fraudulently obtained approximately $61,685.13 in Social Security benefits from June 2015 through September 2020. Siler is alleged to have had access to the checkbook and debit card of a Social Security beneficiary who died in May 2015. Instead of reporting the beneficiary’s death to the Social Security Administration or the bank where the benefits were deposited, Siler allegedly accessed the improperly paid benefits by forging the deceased beneficiary’s name on several checks and regularly depleting the account funds through debit card transactions.
The charge of bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Amy Connelly, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Dayton Man Sentenced for Fentanyl Analogue TraffickingRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Dayton, Ohio, man, Germel Hughes, 45, was sentenced on Friday, by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning to 222 months in prison, for conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of a fentanyl analogue and aiding and abetting the intended distribution of 100 grams or more of a mixture containing a fentanyl analogue.
According to court documents, on January 2, 2024, law enforcement used a confidential informant to arrange a controlled purchase of fentanyl from Earnest Bryson, who agreed to sell a kilogram of fentanyl to the informant. On the following day, Bryson and co-defendants Julius Cole and Gerald Young traveled from Dayton, Ohio, to Fort Wright, Kentucky, to deliver the drugs to the informant. Soon after they arrived, law enforcement parked behind their vehicle and forcibly removed them from the vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed that an attempt was made to destroy the drugs by mixing them with Coca-Cola. Some of the mixture was tested, however, and found to contain fentanyl as well as fluorofentanyl, a fentanyl analogue. Further investigation revealed that Hughes supplied 100 grams or more of drugs intended to be distributed to the informant.
Cole and Young have both pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges and have been sentenced to 132 months and 18 months, respectively.
Under federal law, Hughes must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Director Scott Hardcorn, Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force; and Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by ATF, DEA, Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force and KSP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Winslow is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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DC Man Arrested at San Francisco Airport, Charged in Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –Hershel Andrew Green, III, 42, of the District of Columbia, was arrested Aug. 24 at San Francisco International Airport and charged in a complaint filed in U.S. District Court with possessing and distributing child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Hershel is expected to make his first court appearance in U.S. District Court today in San Francisco.
As part of the investigation, Green was identified after law enforcement agents discovered electronic communications between Green and another individual related to the sexual abuse of children. Green distributed and received images and videos that included the sexual abuse of prepubescent children.
This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and Metropolitan Police Department’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking.
The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Janani Iyengar.
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