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Tuesday 15 July 2025
Cherokee County felon sentenced to federal prison for firearms violationRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas –A Rusk man has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Justin Jones, 37, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on July 15, 2025.
According to information presented in court, on December 4, 2023, was seen driving on County Road 2120 in Cherokee County. The Sheriff recognized Jones and attempted to stop him for an outstanding arrest warrant. Jones abandoned his vehicle and fled the scene on foot. A search of the abandoned vehicle revealed Jones’ cell phone, two rifles, and a pistol. The phone also contained a photo of Jones holding one of the rifles. Jones has several prior felony convictions, including four prior convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm. As a convicted felon, Jones is prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This case was investigated by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives – Tyler Field Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.
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Cape Coral Man Indicted for Running Fraudulent, All-Virtual Pain Clinic That Dispensed More Than 100,000 Tablets of OxycodoneRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Eric Strom Holland (55, Cape Coral) with four counts of wire fraud and six counts of distributing and dispensing controlled substances. If convicted, Holland faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. The indictment also notifies Holland that the United States intends to forfeit any property used in or proceeds traceable to the offense.
According to court documents, Holland recruited unwitting doctors for his unlicensed pain clinic using lies designed to induce them to work for him and to prescribe controlled substances, including oxycodone. These lies included that the pain clinic had a physical location (when in fact all operations during the pertinent periods were purely virtual), that patients were being physically examined by medical practitioners, such as nurse practitioners, before doctors were asked to prescribe, that there were long-term doctors with whom the patients had a standing relationship and that the temporary doctors were just refilling prescriptions as part of an established regimen of care, and that safeguards to prevent against drug abuse, such as urine screens, were being used. Numerous doctors stated that, had they known that the representations made by Holland about the operation of the clinic were false, they would not have prescribed for him. Holland also falsely told doctors that he would pay them for their work. In fact, Holland routinely failed to pay doctors and replaced them with new temporary doctors once they ceased working for him. As a result of Holland’s actions, and in addition to other controlled substances, more than 900 prescriptions were issued for more than 100,000 tablets of oxycodone, with a street value of more than $4 million.
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 Drug Enforcement Administration’s Miami Tactical Diversion Squad. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Winter.
C. Todd Gilbert Sworn in as United States Attorney for the Western District of VirginiaRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – Christopher Todd Gilbert was sworn in yesterday as United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia. Appointed by Attorney General Pamela Bondi, U.S. Attorney Gilbert took the oath of office administered by United States District Judge Thomas T. Cullen.
“I am honored to serve as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia,” Mr. Gilbert said today. “In my heart, I have always been a prosecutor and to return to that role now is the opportunity of a lifetime. My wife and I have spent our lives in the Western District and to play a part in keeping it safe is a privilege. I look forward to working with all our state, local, and federal law enforcement partners to make the Western District of Virginia safer for all its residents.”
As the United States Attorney, Mr. Gilbert serves as the chief federal law enforcement officer in the Western District of Virginia, responsible for representing the United States in all civil and criminal litigation. U.S. Attorney Gilbert leads an office of nearly 30 federal prosecutors and support staff.
The Western District of Virginia comprises approximately sixty percent of the land area in the Commonwealth of Virginia and approximately 2.2 million of its citizens. The district covers a large geographic area. While the northern corner is less than fifty miles from Washington D.C., Lee County, the western tip of the district, is farther west than Detroit and is closer to six other state capitols than it is to Richmond.
Before becoming U.S. Attorney, Mr. Gilbert was a state prosecutor with nearly fifteen years’ experience in four different Commonwealth's Attorneys offices, all located within the Western District of Virginia- Lynchburg, Shenandoah, Warren and Frederick. U.S Attorney Gilbert has significant experience prosecuting violent crimes, including homicides, as well as robberies, drug conspiracies, sex crimes, gun crimes, and fraud. He has also taught the art of trial advocacy to young prosecutors.
In addition, U.S. Attorney Gilbert served nearly twenty years in the Virginia legislature as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, serving as the 57th Speaker of the House from 2022-2024. A core focus of Mr. Gilbert's legislative experience was in the area of public safety. He served as a member of the Virginia State Crime Commission, the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission, the Criminal Justice Services Board, and The Commission on VASAP (Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program) as well as Chairman of the Criminal Subcommittee of the Courts of Justice Committee. He was named Legislator of the Year by the Virginia Sheriff's Association, the Virginia State Police Association and the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police.
U.S. Attorney Gilbert and his family have deep ties to the Western District of Virginia. He was raised in the Shenandoah Valley and graduated from the University of Virginia and the Southern Methodist University School of Law where he served as president of the Student Bar Association (student body) and won the school's annual mock trial competition. He and his wife Jennifer live on a small farm in the Shenandoah Valley with their two young boys. Jennifer Wishon Gilbert is a native of Bedford County, Virginia, attended Virginia Tech and worked as a broadcast journalist for WDBJ in Roanoke.
Buffalo man pleads guilty to illegally possessing postal keysRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Fortino Pilier, 28, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to possession of a postal service key which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright, who is handling the case, stated that on October 23, 2024, Pilier was a passenger in a vehicle that was pulled over by Erie County Sheriff’s deputies. During the traffic stop, Pilier fled from the vehicle and deputies pursued and arrested him. After he was arrested, Pilier was searched, and two United States Postal arrow keys were found in his pocket. An arrow key can be used to open authorized mail receptacles owned by the Postal Service. Pilier admitted that he planned to use the arrow keys to unlawfully access mail receptacles.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, under the direction of Inspector-in-Charge Ketty Larco-Ward.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 14, 2025, before Judge Sinatra.
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Blue Springs Man Charged with Illegal Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Blue Springs, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 15, 2025, for illegally possessing ammunition.
William Anthony Chaney, 38, was charged with being a felon in possession of ammunition after previously being convicted in federal court in the Western District of Missouri for conspiracy to distribute PCP and conspiracy to commit money laundering in 2016. The indictment specifically alleges that, on or about May 24, 2025, Chaney illegally possessed ammunition that had previously travelled in interstate commerce, knowing that he was a prior felon. Chaney was on federal supervised release for his prior conviction at the time he was discovered in possession of the ammunition.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth W. Borgnino. It was investigated by the Blue Springs Missouri Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF).
Operation Take Back America
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Armed Drug Trafficking Felon from Duquesne Sentenced to More Than 20 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Duquesne, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 248 months of imprisonment, to be followed by six months of supervised release, on his conviction of federal drug trafficking and firearm offenses, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand imposed the sentence on Courtney Washington Jr., 31, who a federal jury in September 2024 found guilty of two counts of violating federal firearms laws. Prior to that trial, Washington pleaded guilty to related charges of distribution of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to information presented to the Court, Washington was a large-scale fentanyl trafficker on whose residence law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on April 17, 2023. As officers called for Washington to exit the home, Washington unsuccessfully attempted to destroy drugs by placing them in a washing machine, with officers later finding approximately $45,000 worth of fentanyl in the machine. Law enforcement also recovered, approximately six feet from the fentanyl, a loaded and stolen .45 Glock handgun that Washington attempted to conceal in the rafters above the washing machine. Having previously been convicted of a federal drug trafficking felony, Washington is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
Assistant United States Attorneys Brendan T. Conway and V. Joseph Sonson prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Allegheny County Police Department, and Duquesne Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Washington.
$4 million electricity fraud scheme sends Texan to prisonRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 51-year-old Houston man has been ordered to federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Daniel Rodriguez Martinez pleaded guilty May 1.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Martinez to serve 54 months in prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that detailed how Martinez directly benefited from the scheme by personally receiving $1.4 million and that he played an integral role by creating a fraudulent company to conceal payments.
From March 2021 to May 2024, Martinez and others ran the scheme by creating a fake utility company to conceal profits. They used stolen personal information, including Social Security numbers, to open electricity accounts with real providers. The stolen identities were linked to actual service addresses, allowing customers to receive power while the billing responsibility fell on unsuspecting victims.
When providers shut off service for nonpayment, the group reopened accounts under new fake identities. In exchange for uninterrupted electricity, customers paid a flat fee of $80 per month to the fraudulent company. The operation allowed participants to avoid legitimate charges while the organizers profited from the deception.
Martinez admitted to creating a fake electricity services company solely to conceal the theft scheme. He received payments from clients through peer-to-peer apps such as CashApp and Zelle, then transferred the funds into a business account to mask their origin.
As a part of his plea, he agreed to forfeit $456,859.76 in U.S. currency as well as his interest in multiple properties.
He will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose A. Garcia prosecuted the case.
Monday 14 July 2025
Wilmington Man Sentenced to 144 Months for Interstate Kidnapping ConspiracyRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – Julianne E. Murray, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that the Honorable Richard G. Andrews sentenced Donnie Taylor, 21, to a period of 144 months of incarceration on July 11, 2025, for his role in an interstate kidnapping.
According to the court documents, in the early hours of October 17, 2022, Donnie Taylor, of Wilmington, Delaware, conspired with an unnamed juvenile and Kyaire Finch to lure the victim to a New Castle parking lot on the promise of sex. Once there, Taylor and Finch punched the victim in the head and robbed him of his wallet and cell phone. They then used a banking application on the victim’s cell phone to transfer $1,400 from the victim to themselves. Finch then restrained the victim in the back seat of a vehicle while the Taylor drove the group across state lines to the victim’s home in Pennsylvania.
Once they arrived at the victim’s Pennsylvania apartment complex, Finch continued to restrain the victim in the parking lot while Taylor and the juvenile coconspirator invaded the victim’s apartment. Before Taylor and the juvenile coconspirator returned to the parking lot, the victim broke free from Finch and Finch fled the area.
Inside the apartment, Taylor encountered and assaulted a second victim, causing lacerations to his face and head. Taylor and the juvenile coconspirator stole $865 and various items, such as a Sony PlayStation 5, from the apartment. Taylor then fled to Delaware after escaping a miles-long pursuit with the Pennsylvania State Police.
After they returned to Delaware, Taylor then assaulted a 68-year-old woman, stole her keys, and then stole her vehicle. Taylor and the juvenile coconspirator then fled to Georgia in the stolen vehicle. While on the lam, Taylor wrote a “Fugitive to-do list” on his phone, reminding himself to “get a new phone. Burner phone.”
On October 20, 2022, Taylor engaged in a high-speed chase with Georgia State Police in the stolen vehicle, nearly causing a crash and running red lights. Georgia State Police immobilized the car using a PIT maneuver, Taylor fled on foot but was quickly apprehended.
U.S. Attorney Murray stated, “This was a disturbing case that began with deception and ended in brutality. Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of those actions and delivers a measure of justice for the victims. I want to commend the swift, coordinated efforts of the FBI, state, and local authorities whose dedication ensured the defendant was apprehended and held accountable. Our communities are safer because of their dedication, and combined with my office, we remain committed to protecting the public from violent offense wherever they may hide.”
“Donnie Taylor's dangerous and violent crime spree spread through multiple states for several days. He acted with zero regard for the safety of anyone who crossed his path, and actively plotted ways to hurt others, steal from them, and get away with it. He now faces the consequences for his shameful actions thanks to concerted efforts of law enforcement from Delaware to Georgia. This sentence should serve as a message to Taylor, and others seeking to harm, that the FBI and our partners will not tolerate violence and will ensure you are held accountable,” said FBI Baltimore Acting Special Agent in Charge Amanda M. Koldjeski.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin P. Pierce and Carly A. Hudson prosecuted the case. The FBI’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force, New Castle County Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Georgia State Police investigated this case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-CR-60.
West Linn Man Faces Federal Charges for Unlawfully Possessing Machine Guns, Unregistered Firearms, and SilencersRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A West Linn, Oregon man has been charged with illegally possessing machine guns, unregistered short-barreled rifles, and firearm silencers.
Lucas Christopher Perillo, 41, has been charged by criminal complaint with unlawful possession of a machinegun and unlawful possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle or silencer.
According to court documents, on June 17, 2025, FBI agents executed federal search warrants on Perillo, his residence, and his vehicle. Agents located and seized 36 firearms, including three firearms converted with machine gun switches and 13 unregistered short-barreled rifles, firearm silencers, and other firearm parts.
Machine gun conversion devices, sometimes referred to as switches, are small attachments used to convert firearms from semi-automatic to fully-automatic.
On July 11, 2025, Perillo was arrested in West Linn. He made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge and was ordered detained pending further court proceedings.
This case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Oregon State Police. It is being prosecuted by Parakram Singh, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Wake County Illegal Alien Sentenced to More Than 10 Years for Drug and Gun ConvictionsRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – Daniel Oswaldo Santos-Soto, age 25, was sentenced to 130 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Santos-Soto pleaded guilty to the charges on April 14, 2025.
According to court records and evidence presented at sentencing, on August 27, 2023, the Nash County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) utilized a confidential source of information to arrange a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Santos-Soto. The next day, August 28, Santos-Soto contacted the source of information and agreed to meet the source at a gas station in Spring Hope with approximately 10 ounces of methamphetamine. When Santos-Soto arrived at the meeting location, NCSO approached him, and he was detained. A K-9 was deployed on Santos-Soto’s vehicle and alerted to the presence of narcotics. NCSO searched the vehicle and found 83.61 grams of pure methamphetamine packaged in four plastic bags. They also found an SKS rifle in the backseat of the vehicle.
Santos-Soto is an illegal alien who crossed the border from Mexico to the United States in 2017. He has been living in Wake County and had no prior criminal history until the current conduct in August 2023.
Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. Agencies involved in the investigation include the NCSO and the Drug Enforcement Administration and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Dixon prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-CR-00074-D-RJ.
United States Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr. Announces Selection of Michael G. Considine as First Assistant United States AttorneyRead the Press Release
Today, United States Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr. announced his selection of Michael G. Considine to serve as First Assistant United States Attorney (FAUSA) for the Eastern District of New York. Mr. Considine was sworn in today and will oversee the Criminal, Civil, Appeals, and Administrative Divisions of the United States Attorney’s Office.
“I am pleased to welcome Mike back to the Eastern District of New York as First Assistant U.S. Attorney. We have known each other for over 30 years since working together as federal prosecutors in this Office. Mike is not only an outstanding lawyer who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Office, but he also possesses impeccable judgment and the utmost integrity,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.
Mr. Considine served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of New York from 1988 to 1994 when he was appointed to the position of Deputy Chief of the Long Island Offices in Garden City and Hauppauge, serving under then Long Island Chief Loretta Lynch. During his tenure, Mr. Considine supervised numerous complex and difficult criminal investigations and trials and specialized in organized crime prosecutions as well, serving as lead counsel in various trials and appeals, including those involving the Colombo and Gambino crime families.
Prior to his return, Mr. Considine was a litigation partner at the law firm Seward and Kissel LLP where he represented corporations, municipalities, and individuals in regulatory probes and parallel civil litigations and co-managed the firm’s Litigation Department and Government Investigations Practice Group. He was also appointed as independent monitor by the Securities and Exchange Commission for a leading global alternative investment firm, and by the DOJ and EPA as federal monitor for a midwestern utility pursuant to an administrative agreement.
After leaving the United States Attorney’s Office in 1995, Mr. Considine was a litigation partner at Day Pitney LLP, where he chaired the firm’s Government Investigations Practice Group. He was selected by DOJ’s Enron Task Force as federal monitor to oversee an international bank’s compliance with the terms of a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA). Mr. Considine was subsequently appointed as a member of the federal monitoring team to oversee a national health care services provider’s compliance with federal and state health care laws, regulations and programs, also as part of a DPA.
Mr. Considine is currently Vice-Chair of the Federal Bar Council and serves on its Executive Committee and Audit Committee. He has written and co-authored numerous articles on government investigations, corporate compliance, and representation of individuals and companies in parallel criminal and civil proceedings.
Mr. Considine is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center, Boston College, and Fordham Preparatory School. He served as law clerk to the Honorable Shirley W. Kram, of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York prior to his appointment as an Assistant U.S. Attorney.
Two Tren de Araqua Associates Plead Guilty to Bank TheftRead the Press Release
JACKSON, MS – Two individuals with ties to the Venezuelan organized crime syndicate Tren de Araqua pleaded guilty to bank theft, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff.
According to court documents and statements made in open court, Jesus Rene Cabrera Tobias, 25 and Darwin Javier Delgado, 46, pleaded guilty after being indicted by a federal grand jury for bank theft. On August 8, 2024, Tobias and Delgado stole $21,500 from an ATM machine in Enterprise, Mississippi by hacking the ATM operating system and disabling the ATM security features by installing a foreign device that allowed them to assume control of the ATM.
Surveillance footage recovered by FBI on the night of the theft captured Tobias unlock the ATM and open the machine to access the internal system that controlled the ATM operating system and security features. The footage showed that after manipulating the ATM, Tobias returned to their vehicle and retrieved a small electronic device to install within the ATM. After a brief period of manipulating the ATM using the small electronic device, the ATM then emptied by continuously producing United States currency from the cash tray. Tobias collected the cash as it was disbursed from the ATM and transferred it to another individual in the vehicle.
Investigators identified the suspect vehicle and its owner through the surveillance footage. The registered owner of the vehicle was Delgado. Surveillance footage from a nearby store captured Tobias and Delgado traveling in the suspect vehicle and shopping within the store.
The suspect vehicle was stopped the next day in Texas by officers with the Texas Department of Public Safety. Delgado and Cabrera were found in the vehicle and arrested. Two cell phones and clothing matching the clothing worn during the bank theft operation were recovered from the suspect vehicle upon execution of a search warrant. A forensic examination of the cellular phones contained photographs and videos from the instant offense, including multiple videos of the defendants manipulating other ATMs and withdrawing cash. The forensic examination also showed that the photographs and videos taken during the theft contained metadata placing the defendants at the scene of the crime. The ATM hard drive was forensically examined by FBI and was shown to have been compromised with malware that disabled the ATM security features.
Tobias and Delgado are citizens of Venezuela. During the investigation, Investigators discovered that Tobias and Delgado committed the theft in coordination with members of the transnational criminal organization Tren de Araqua from Venezuela.
"Today’s announcement sends a clear message: Tren de Aragua transnational criminal operations will not be tolerated and the FBI will aggressively pursue TdA's scourge of criminal activity. Tobias and Delgado brazenly tampered with ATM machines defrauding banks and the American people,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff. “These guilty pleas underscore the FBI's commitment in collaboration with our state and federal partners in identifying, pursuing, disrupting, and dismantling organized crime syndicates, ultimately eradicating TdA’s presence and influence in the U.S."
Tobias is scheduled to be sentenced on September 10, 2025. Delgado is scheduled to be sentenced on October 7, 2025. Tobias and Delgado face a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment followed by possible deportation. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office, Meridian Police Department, Decatur Police Department, Enterprise Police Department, and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel Goff and Brett Grantham are prosecuting the case.
Two New Bedford Men with Significant Criminal Histories Charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two New Bedford men have been arrested for their alleged participation in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and other drugs.
Jose Santiago, 43, and Samuel Rodriguez, 39, were each charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. The defendants were arrested on July 13, 2025 and, following initial appearances in federal court in Boston, were detained pending further proceedings on July 16, 2025.
According to the charging documents, Santiago has previously been convicted of multiple felonies including: two state convictions in 1999 for distribution of a class A substance and for possession of a firearm, for which he was sentenced to six months in prison and 2.5 years in prison, respectively; a 2001 federal conviction for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm, for which he was sentenced 46 months in federal prison; and a 2006 state conviction for trafficking controlled substances for which he was sentenced to 15-20 years in prison.
According to the charging documents, Rodriguez’s criminal history includes: 2003 convictions for assault and battery on a police officer and resisting arrest; 2004 convictions for disturbing the peace and motor vehicle offenses; 2005 convictions for possession of a class B controlled substance and motor vehicle offenses; 2006 convictions for breaking and entering with the intent to commit a felony and a firearm offense for which he was sentenced to two years in prison; a 2007 conviction for possession with intent to distribute a class D substance; 2010 convictions for motor vehicle offenses; 2011 convictions for disturbing the peace and threats; 2013 convictions for carrying a dangerous weapon, property damage, and motor vehicle offenses; a 2015 conviction for assault and battery on a police officer; and 2017 convictions for carrying a dangerous weapon and trafficking heroin for which he was sentenced to six to eight years in prison. Additionally, Rodriguez has pending 2024 state charges of assault and battery using a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury for allegedly stabbing another person multiple times.
In early 2025, an investigation began into Santiago and Rodriguez’s alleged distribution of narcotics in New Bedford and other communities. The investigation revealed that, from at least March 2025 through the present, the defendants allegedly utilized at least 10 storage units in New Bedford, and other locations, to further their drug trafficking activities – including to store narcotics and drug trafficking materials as well as to conduct drug deals. The defendants allegedly rented several of these storage units under the names of others, including under the name of a living 101-year-old woman. It is further alleged that, over the course of the investigation, the defendants routinely closed a number of storage units and moved their operations to new units in different facilities – in an effort to avoid detection by law enforcement.
Search warrants executed at the storage units and other locations resulted in the seizure of various drugs and drug trafficking materials. Among other items, significant amounts of suspected fentanyl, cocaine and unidentified pills; cutting agents; multiple small “presses” used to compress powdered fentanyl into finger-sized packages for drug distribution; and two large hydraulic presses were seized.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. 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; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration; and Jason Thody, Chief of the New Bedford Police Department made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Attleboro, Brockton, Fairhaven, Fall River, Norton, Scituate, Taunton and Westport Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kunal Pasricha of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Two Louisville Men Sentenced for Distribution of over 21,000 Fentanyl Pills and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – Two local men were sentenced last week for conspiracy to possess fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department, Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman, Chief Barry Wilkerson of the St. Matthews Police Department, and Sheriff Joe Milam of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement.
According to court documents, Jamie Shelby, Jr., 26, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to possess fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Kevon Smith, 25, was sentenced to 5 years and 10 months in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to possess fentanyl with intent to distribute and possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute.
Between April 12, 2024, and July 9, 2024, Shelby, Jr. and Smith conspired with each other to possess fentanyl with intent to distribute it and distributed fentanyl. The investigation involved four controlled purchases for a total of 4,200 fentanyl pills from Shelby, Jr. and Smith. During the execution of a search warrant at Shelby Jr.’s residence on July 12, 2024, over 17,000 fentanyl pills and four firearms were seized. The firearms seized included a Glock, Model 43X, 9-millimeter pistol; a Springfield, Model 911, .380 caliber pistol; a Glock, Model 22, .40 caliber pistol; and a Sig Sauer, Model P320, 9-millimeter pistol. The estimated street value of the over 21,000 fentanyl pills seized in the case is $106,000.
Shelby, Jr. had been convicted of the following felony offenses.
On September 26, 2019, in Harrison Superior Court, Harrison County, Indiana, Shelby, Jr. was convicted of the offense of conspiracy to commit robbery.
On March 12, 2020, in Clark Circuit Court 3, Clark County, Indiana, Shelby, Jr. was convicted of the offense of domestic battery committed in the presence of a child less than sixteen years old.
“These defendants earned every second of the sentences imposed for their callous disregard of the people of the Western District of Kentucky,” said U.S. Attorney Bumgarner. “The pattern of fentanyl pouring across the border and into our community must stop; with these sentences, two more distributors of illicit substances are off our streets.”
“Counterfeit pharmaceuticals laced with deadly doses of fentanyl continue to devastate our communities. But thanks to the strong partnerships with our federal, state, and local partners, the dangerous criminals responsible for trafficking this poison for profit have been taken off our streets. The DEA remains committed to protecting lives and holding those who profit from this crisis accountable,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the DEA, with assistance from the ATF Louisville Field Division, the Louisville Metro Police Department, the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, the St. Matthews Police Department, and the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erwin Roberts prosecuted the case.
This conviction is a part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Two Foreign Nationals Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the United States After DeportationRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that two men convicted of illegally reentering the United States after prior deportations have been sentenced.
Hugo Henry Hernandez-Bonilla, 49, a Salvadoran national, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Mia Roberts Perez to time served, approximately four months, for illegal reentry. Having completed his prison sentence, he again will be removed from the country.
Hernandez-Bonilla had been previously removed from the United States in September 2011.
Following his removal, the defendant illegally reentered the United States and was arrested in July 2024 by the Lancaster City (Pa.) Bureau of Police on a charge of driving under the influence.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) learned of Hernandez-Bonilla’s arrest and took him into custody in February of this year. In March, he was charged by federal indictment with illegal reentry, and he pleaded guilty in May.
Noel Velasquez-Basurto, 33, a Mexican national, was sentenced by United States District Judge Paul S. Diamond last week to time served, approximately four months, for illegal reentry. Having completed his prison sentence, he again will be removed from the country.
Velasquez-Basurto had previously been removed from the U.S. in October 2013, after being encountered by the U.S. Border Patrol near Nogales, Arizona. Later that month, after authorities again found him in Arizona, he was charged by criminal complaint with illegal entry, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to 60 days’ imprisonment. Velasquez-Basurto was deported in January 2014, after completing his term.
In February of this year, ICE encountered the defendant in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, determined that he was in the country illegally, and took him into custody.
In April, Velasquez-Basurto was charged by indictment with illegal reentry, and he pleaded guilty this month.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
The cases were investigated by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations and are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Amanda McCool, Brittany Jones, and Lindsey Mills.
Tucson Man Sentenced to over 8 Years for Possession of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Jose Antonio Ornelas, Jr., 33, of Tucson, was sentenced on July 10, by United States District Court Judge Rosemary Márquez to 98 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release. Ornelas, Jr. previously pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
On October 3, 2024, Ornelas, Jr. met with another person to purchase methamphetamine for $2,250. When law enforcement tried to stop Ornelas, Jr., he fled at a dangerous speed, ran a red light, and drove in the opposite lane of traffic. Police eventually located Ornelas, Jr. at a nearby apartment complex. In addition to the methamphetamine, Ornelas, Jr. was in possession of fentanyl pills, a .45 caliber extended magazine, a drug ledger, and a scale.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Culver, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-07594-TUC-RM (MSA)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-116_Ornelas, Jr.# # #
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.Tampa Shooter Sentenced to More Than 10 YearsRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Milton Anthony Bradshaw (45, Tampa) to 10 years and 5 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. A federal jury found him guilty in March 2025.
According to evidence presented at trial, in the early morning hours of September 20, 2022, Bradshaw got into an argument with three unknown individuals at the Manchester Apartments in Tampa. As the three individuals walked to their car, Bradshaw grabbed a firearm and proceeded to hide behind a dumpster in the parking lot. As the three individuals drove away, Bradshaw started firing at them.
Deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office were called to the scene where they recovered a firearm that Bradshaw had left outside of an apartment after the shooting. Bradshaw was identified in surveillance video that captured the argument and the shooting, and DNA recovered from the firearm matched Bradshaw’s.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael R. Kenneth and Chelsey Hanson. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne C. Nebesky.
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.
Tampa Man Indicted for Possessing A Firearm and Ammunition as A Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Michael Devante Curry (30, Tampa) with possessing a firearm or ammunition as a convicted felon. If convicted, Curry faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Curry that the United States intends to forfeit two Glock firearms and assorted ammunition used in the commission of the offense.
According to the indictment, on June 1, 2025, Curry possessed two Glock firearms and assorted rounds of ammunition. At the time, Curry had multiple prior felony convictions including two prior convictions for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. As a convicted felon, Curry is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tampa Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.
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).
Suspect in Shooting Death of Toddler Arrested and ChargedRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Charles Rucker, 24, of the District of Columbia, was arrested and charged Saturday with first-degree murder while armed for the July 5 shooting death of a three-year-old girl in Southeast Washington D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Rucker made his initial appearance July 12 before Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt. Judge Brandt found probable cause that Rucker committed the offense and ordered him to be held without bond pending trial. This case is being prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative.
Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department joined in the announcement.
According to court documents, Rucker fired several shots in the direction of a parked car that H.C. and several other individuals occupied. After the shooting, Rucker attempted to collect and remove evidence from the scene. H.C. was transported to the hospital with a gunshot wound to the head and succumbed to her injuries on July 7, 2025.
This case is being investigated by the Homicide Major Case Section of the Metropolitan Police Department. This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emma McArthur.
Charges in a complaint are merely allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
St. Elmo man sentenced to 32 years’ imprisonment after he shot a rifle at federal agentsRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A district judge sentenced a St. Elmo man to 32 years in federal prison after he shot at law enforcement agents serving an arrest warrant at his residence in Fayette County.
Dax Baldrige, 47, pleaded guilty in January to seven counts of assault of a federal officer, two counts of using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. Following imprisonment, he will serve five years of supervised release.
“Law enforcement officers are brave, underappreciated, and underpaid heroes who risk their lives every day to protect others,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Those, like Dax Baldrige, who target our officers for violence represent a form of evil against the very foundation of society. Few things are as serious, and our office will bring the full weight of federal law to bear, relentlessly pursuing the harshest prison terms to hold such people accountable.”
On Oct. 17, 2022, task force members with the U.S. Marshals Service attempted to serve an arrest warrant for Baldrige at his residence in Fayette County. When they arrived, the officers knocked and gave Baldrige an opportunity to present himself for arrest.
As they began to make entry to the residence, Baldrige used a stolen short barrel rifle equipped with 60 rounds of ammunition to shoot through the wall of his residence, nearly striking multiple officers. All agents were able to retreat from the residence safely and without injury.
“We are pleased that this case has been adjudicated. We want to thank the Illinois State Police, the ATF, and all our partner agencies for their steadfast commitment to our mission. We also want to extend our sincere appreciation to the United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Illinois, who successfully prosecuted this case and brought it to a successful conclusion,” said U.S. Marshal David C. Davis. “This case continues to illustrate the inherent dangers of this profession, and we continue to be grateful that none of our task force members were injured during the arrest of Baldrige.”
After firing at officers, Baldrige barricaded himself in his residence and engaged in a standoff with law enforcement that lasted over 10 hours.
“The defendant’s decision to open fire on law enforcement showed a blatant disregard for human life and the safety of the surrounding community. This sentence sends a clear message—violence against law enforcement will not be tolerated. ATF is grateful to our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners who assisted in bringing this individual to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon, ATF Chicago Field Division.
Following his arrest, investigating agents conducted a search of Baldrige’s residence and recovered nine firearms including six rifles, a revolver, two pistols and ammunition.
"When law enforcement officers, who have selflessly taken an oath to safeguard the public, are literally fired upon while trying to protect communities from known offenders, those individuals must be held accountable," said Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly. "We appreciate the U.S. Attorney's Office's diligence in pursuing justice and supporting officers who put their lives on the line every day."
“When someone opens fire on law enforcement, they're not just attacking an individual; they're attacking the very foundation of our community's safety and security,” said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Christopher J.S. Johnson. “The sentence imposed sends an unequivocal message: such aggression against those who protect us will be met with the full force of justice.”
The U.S. Marshal Service Great Lakes Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, the Illinois State Police, the FBI Springfield TOC West Task Force and the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department contributed to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Arshi prosecuted the case.
Six Defendants Charged with Federal Immigration CrimesRead the Press Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A federal grand jury in Huntsville has charged six individuals with immigration crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona.
The following defendants were indicted for illegally reentering the United States after having previously been deported:
- Adalberto Guerrero-Alba, 63, a citizen of Mexico;
- Gustavo Bueno-Zamora, 59, a citizen of Mexico;
- Israel Islas-Martinez, 34, a citizen of Mexico;
- Benjamin Ulloa-Cabrera, 38, a citizen of Mexico;
- Roxana Silva-Tejada, 38, a citizen of Mexico;
Jose Mena-Villeda, 57, a citizen of Mexico, was charged with illegally reentering the United States after having been previously deported, for making a false statement to a federal agency, and for making false statements when submitting immigration paperwork.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Operation Take Back America partner Homeland Security Investigations investigated these cases.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
Shreveport Woman Guilty of Embezzlement from Her EmployerRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that KRISTEN LEVIN a/k/a “KRISTEN CASSELS” (“LEVIN, age 42, of Shreveport, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on July 3, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Barry W. Ashe to wire fraud in connection with her embezzlement from her employer.
According to court documents, LEVIN created and submitted fake invoices to her employer for payment. Specifically, in October of 2020, LEVIN submitted a fake invoice via email to another employee and requested payment. The invoice generated a wire transfer of approximately $4,600 to LEVIN’s personal account, unbeknownst to the employer.
Sentencing will occur on October 23, 2025. At sentencing, LEVIN faces up to twenty years in prison for the wire fraud, up to $250,000 in fines, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward J. Rivera, Katherine McHugh, both of the Financial Crimes Unit, and Sarah Dawkins, of the Violent Crimes Unit, are in charge of the prosecution.
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Seattle real estate owner convicted at trial for tax fraud schemeRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 69-year-old Seattle real estate owner was convicted late last week in U.S. District Court in Seattle of six counts of tax evasion and six counts of making false tax returns, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Steven T. Loo will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lauren King on October 9, 2025.
According to records in the case and testimony at trial, Loo had an ownership interest in, and operated multiple commercial real estate properties, in western Washington and California. Loo hired property management companies to manage the properties. Loo had the property management companies send profits from the properties to two bank accounts he controlled. Loo spent this money for his benefit and that of his family and friends, and also re-invested funds in various businesses he controlled. However, Loo did not declare that income -- over $4.7 million -- on his tax returns. Loo used shell companies and repeated transfers of funds to conceal the income from the IRS.
At trial, the government presented evidence detailing the eight properties operated by Loo via various limited liability companies (LLCs). The income from the LLCs was funneled into bank accounts associated with two specific inactive entities that were established in Washington in 1999. Loo did not report this income to the IRS. Loo failed to inform his tax return preparer of these funds that were income from his properties.
In closing arguments Assistant United States Attorney Sean Waite told the jury, “Mr. Loo was strategic - he was deceptive – and he was incredibly profitable…. This isn’t a mistake. This isn’t forgetfulness. This isn’t sloppiness. This is strategic. It is deceptive. And its willful…. It’s criminal. Mr. Loo made 4.7 million dollars. He reported negative income. That feels wrong because it is wrong. No one wants to pay taxes, but nurses, firefighters, and teachers all pay them. Mr. Loo needs to pay his share well.”
The jury deliberated about 7 hours before finding Loo guilty of the six counts of tax evasion and six counts of making and subscribing to a false tax return.
Each count of tax evasion is punishable by up to five years of imprisonment. Making and subscribing to a false tax retuning is punishable by up to three years of imprisonment. The actual sentence will be determined by Judge King after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mike Dion and Sean Waite for the Western District of Washington and Trial Attorney Regina Jeon of the Department of Justice Tax Division.
Seattle Businessman Convicted of Tax Evasion and Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
Note, the release has been corrected to reflect that Loo had around $4.7 million in unreported income, not $4.8 million.
A federal jury convicted a Washington man on Friday for tax evasion and filing false tax returns related to a scheme to conceal income received from his commercial property business.
The following is according to court documents and evidence presented at trial: Steven Loo, of Seattle, controlled and operated eight companies that owned commercial real estate. Each was managed by independent property management companies, which were responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the real estate. Loo diverted the income he earned from his real estate by instructing the property management companies to issue checks, categorized as asset management fees, to two other entities that Loo controlled. Loo knew that the funds deposited into these bank accounts, around $4.7 million, were income to him and that he was required to report and pay tax on the funds. Nevertheless, Loo filed tax returns for 2015 through 2020 that did not report or pay tax on these funds.
Evidence presented at trial showed that Loo owes $1.6 million in taxes on his unreported income.
Loo is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 9. He faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each of the false tax return charges and a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each of the tax evasion charges for which he was convicted. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller for the Western District of Washington made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Regina Jeon of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Dion and Sean Waite for the Western District of Washington prosecuted the case.
Repeat International Drug Trafficker Sentenced to Almost 20 Years’ Imprisonment for Trafficking $82 Million of Cocaine on A Self-Propelled Semi-Submersible Near French PolynesiaRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung today sentenced Vicente Lopez Mero (67, Ecuador) to 19 years and 6 months in federal prison for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute cocaine on a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Lopez Mero pleaded guilty on March 26, 2025.
According to court documents, on October 27, 2024, Lopez Mero and four co-conspirators smuggled cocaine in the Eastern Pacific Ocean aboard a self-propelled semi-submersible vessel, which is a closed hull boat specifically configured for transporting large quantities of narcotics in its interior cargo hold. Guardsmen from the USCGS Munro, a United States Coast Guard Legend-class cutter, interdicted the semi-submersible vessel 960 nautical miles north of French Polynesia, in international waters. The United States Coast Guard seized 3,749 kilograms of cocaine, which has an approximate wholesale value of $82 million. Lopez Mero had previously been convicted of and sentenced in 2020 for smuggling large quantities of cocaine within the ballast tanks of an international container ship.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location.
This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transitional criminal organizations.
The specific mission of the OCDETF Panama Express Strike Force is to disrupt and dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations involved in large scale drug trafficking, money laundering, and related activities. The OCDETF Panama Express Strike Force is comprised of agents and officers from the Coast Guard Investigative Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations. The prosecution is being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David W.A. Chee.
Raleigh Drug Trafficker Sentenced to Nine YearsRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – Enrico Ferrante Cotton, a 55-year-old resident of Raleigh, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for distribution of a quantity of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine, and 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Cotton pleaded guilty on March 26, 2025.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, law enforcement received a tip from a confidential source in February 2024, indicating that Cotton was selling fentanyl and cocaine in the Raleigh area. On March 1, 2024, law enforcement conducted a controlled purchase of 32.82 grams of fentanyl from Cotton for $1,500. During this transaction, Cotton and the buyer discussed the sale of cocaine.
In the following days, authorities learned that Cotton frequently visited a storage unit. On March 6, 2024, the K-9 unit detected substances at the storage unit, leading law enforcement to execute a search warrant. During this search, law enforcement located and seized heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, 4-anilino-N-phenethylpiperidine (ANPP), and various drug paraphernalia.
On the same day, law enforcement conducted a follow-up search at Cotton’s residence, where they discovered 47.35 grams of fentanyl and ANPP hidden in the toilet. Additionally, they seized $9,231 in cash, four cellular phones, a loaded magazine, a money counter, and 55 rounds of ammunition from various locations within the house.
Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Raleigh Police Department investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Nucci prosecuted it.
Related court documents and information can be found on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina's website or on PACER by searching for case number 5:24-CR-00328-BO.
Raleigh County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Quenin Owen Brown, 34, of Shady Spring, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 28, 2024, law enforcement officers encountered Brown at a gas station in Nitro. Officers arrested Brown on a warrant alleging a parole violation and found he possessed a loaded HS Produkt (Springfield) model Hellcat 9mm pistol in a belly holster. Officers searched his vehicle and found a loaded Glock model 43 9mm pistol and a loaded Taurus model G3 9mm pistol. Officers determined all three firearms were reported stolen.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Brown knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for unlawful wounding on February 6, 2012, and for fleeing with reckless indifference to the safety of others and possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine on November 13, 2018, all in Kanawha County Circuit Court.
Brown is scheduled to be sentenced on October 27, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Nitro Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum 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).
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. 3:25-cr-84.
Puerto Rican Man Sentenced for Role in Trafficking 25 Kilograms of Cocaine on Jet SkisRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Acting U.S. Attorney Adam F. Sleeper announced today that Emanuel Rodriguez Rodriguez, 34, of Puerto Rico, was sentenced on Tuesday, July 7, 2025, by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Robert A. Molloy to 121 months imprisonment and five years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 25 kilograms of cocaine.
According to court documents, on December 11, 2021, at approximately 9:00 a.m., Customs and Boarder Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) air patrol detected four jet skis traveling from Culebra, PR towards St. Thomas, USVI. AMO air patrol watched the jet skis, each operated by a sole occupant, as they approached the west side of St. Thomas. Air patrol watched as the jet skis made way to the beach at Mermaid’s Chair where they were met by four individuals waiting on the beach. AMO agents saw duffle bags being loaded on to the skis, and the skis quickly leaving towards Culebra, PR. AMO agents also noticed that a red Jeep Wrangler was the only vehicle parked in the parking area above the beach while the skis were being loaded with the duffle bags.
AMO law enforcement vessels pursued the four jet skis towards Culebra, PR. One driver drove his ski on to a Culebra, PR beach and fled on foot. A duffle bag was recovered near the abandoned ski. Inside the duffle bag, officers recovered 26 packages containing cocaine. Three other operators were apprehended.
Meanwhile, DEA, CBP, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents responded to the Botany Bay Preserve community to investigate the red Jeep Wrangler seen by AMO air agents. As the Jeep was approaching the gated exit of the community, agents stopped it. Rodriguez-Rodriguez and five other individuals. were detained. A Glock pistol was seen in plain view inside the rear pocket of the driver’s seat where Vazquez Lopez was seated. Another Glock pistol without a serial number was in the center console.
The investigation was conducted by CBP-AMO, Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Virgin Islands Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Payne prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands.
This effort was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten
the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.Possession of a Glock and 17 Rounds of Ammunition Nets Convicted Felon 37 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Dominique Davis, 26, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 37 months in federal prison for being a previously convicted felon in possession of a handgun when he was stopped by a Metropolitan Police officer for smoking marijuana in public, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Davis pleaded guilty March 4, 2025, to a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. In addition to the 37-month prison term, Judge Trevor N. McFadden ordered Davis to serve three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on Sept. 26, 2024, MPD officers were on patrol in a marked cruiser on the 4300 block of 4th Street, SE, when they smelled the odor of burning marijuana. The officers exited the cruiser and walked toward a group of four men who were smoking. One of the men, later identified as Davis, attempted to gather his belongings as he held a large, lit marijuana cigarette in his hand. Davis extinguished the cigarette at the officers’ request, then provided ID. Officers ran his name and learned that Davis had a warrant for his arrest out of Prince George’s County, Maryland, for first degree assault.
Police searched Davis and recovered a Glock 23 .40 caliber handgun loaded with one round in the chamber and 16 additional rounds in a large-capacity magazine.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Helfand and Emily Reeder-Ricchetti
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Ponte Vedra Man Posing as A Tutor Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Attempting to Entice A Minor to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Chief U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Kevin Patrick Wilson (39, Ponte Vedra) to 10 years in federal prison for attempted enticement and coercion of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Wilson pleaded guilty on March 12, 2025.
According to court documents, on July 20, 2024, a social media user posted a public message in a Facebook group seeking a tutor for a child. On the day of the post, an individual posing as a woman, but later identified as Wilson, reached out and directed the poster to contact her “husband,” Wilson, by text message. The poster contacted Wilson and had a short text conversation. The poster said she was seeking tutoring assistance for an 11-year-old child. Wilson sent a photo of himself and asked for a photo of the child. The text message conversation ended shortly thereafter. The poster later contacted the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office about the interaction.
On July 24, 2024, an undercover detective posing as the guardian of a 12-year-old female “child” reached out to Wilson about tutoring services for the “child.” After the undercover detective initiated the conversation, Wilson began discussing sexual topics involving the “child” and meeting the “child” to perform sexual acts with the “child.” Wilson also spoke to undercover detectives portraying the 12-year-old child via phone and text message. Wilson and the undercover detective portraying the guardian of the “child” ultimately agreed to meet during the evening of July 24, 2024, for Wilson to engage in sexual acts with the “child.” Wilson traveled to the predetermined meeting location and was arrested.
This case was investigated by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Jacksonville. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Washington.
It is another case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Philadelphia Man Who Robbed Four Banks Sentenced to Seven Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Joseph Perkins, 31, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 84 months in prison and three years of supervised release by United States District Judge Karen S. Marston for robbing multiple city banks in a two-week span.
Perkins was charged by indictment in October 2024 with four counts of bank robbery and pleaded guilty in March. As detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, he would present threatening demand notes to bank personnel in order to obtain and abscond with money.
The offenses committed by Perkins are as follows:
- the August 26, 2024, robbery of the Citizens Bank branch located inside the ACME Market at 2497 Aramingo Avenue, Philadelphia
- the August 29, 2024, robbery of the Citizens Bank branch located at 2101 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia
- the September 4, 2024, robbery of the TD Bank branch located at 6304 Roosevelt Boulevard, Philadelphia
- the September 7, 2024, robbery of the TD Bank branch located at 2267 East Butler Street, Philadelphia
Perkins received cash in the first three robberies but fled the fourth empty-handed.
The case was investigated by the FBI Philadelphia Violent Crimes Task Force and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kwambina Coker.
One LASD Deputy Charged, Another Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Violate Civil Rights While Providing Off-Duty Security for ClientsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Federal prosecutors today secured a guilty plea from a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) deputy and charged and filed a plea agreement with another LASD deputy – both of whom used their positions in law enforcement while acting as private security for their off-duty clients, including a now-jailed cryptocurrency businessman who proclaimed himself “The Godfather.”
David Anthony Rodriguez, 43, of La Verne, pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy against rights.
Relatedly, Christopher Michael Cadman, 33, of Fullerton, agreed to plead guilty to a two-count information charging him with conspiracy against rights and subscribing to a false tax return. Cadman, who will face up to 13 years in federal prison at his sentencing hearing after he pleads guilty, is expected to make his initial appearance in United States District Court in the coming days.
Rodriguez and Cadman formerly were employed by Adam Iza, 24, who resided in Beverly Hills and Newport Beach, a cryptocurrency businessman who has been in federal custody since September 2024. Iza pleaded guilty on January 30 to one count of conspiracy against rights, one count of wire fraud, and one count of tax evasion. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 15.
According to court documents, in August 2021, Cadman and a law enforcement officer identified as “LASD Deputy 6” intimidated and threatened a victim who was one of Iza’s adversaries. LASD Deputy 6 held the victim at gunpoint during a meeting at Iza’s office inside his Bel Air mansion. Immediately afterward, the victim transferred approximately $25,000 from his bank account to Iza’s bank account in response to the threat and demand.
In September 2021, Cadman and other law enforcement officers orchestrated a traffic stop in Paramount to arrest the same victim. Cadman admitted in his plea agreement to helping organize the traffic stop and arrest on Iza’s behalf and to receiving cash payments while he worked for Iza.
Cadman also received income he knowingly failed to report – at least $40,500 – on his 2021 federal tax return, which he signed and filed with the IRS in February 2022. Cadman admitted to owing approximately $11,000 in federal taxes for that year.
In a separate plea agreement, Rodriguez admitted to using his powers as a law enforcement officer in July 2022 to improperly obtain a court-authorized search warrant, lying to a judge that it was related to a robbery investigation, to obtain GPS location information associated with another victim’s cellular phone on behalf of a client – other than Iza – who hired Rodriguez as a private security guard.
After securing the GPS location information for the victim’s phone, Rodriguez shared the coordinates with co-conspirators, including Eric Chase Saavedra, 42, of Chino, an LASD deputy and former federal task force officer who ran a private security company, who pleaded guilty on February 6 to one count of conspiracy against rights and one count of subscribing to a false tax return. LASD deputies and other co-conspirators would use information obtained from the court-authorized search warrant to harass, threaten, and intimidate the victim.
Saavedra, who is free on $50,000 bond, is expected to be sentenced in the coming months.
United States District Judge Percy Anderson scheduled a November 10 sentencing hearing for Rodriguez, who faces a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating this matter. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has assisted.
Assistant United States Attorney Maxwell K. Coll of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section is prosecuting these cases.
Ohio Man Sentenced for Cocaine Trafficking and Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Cincinnati, Ohio, man, Anthony Wynn, 33, was sentenced on Monday by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning, to 384 months in prison, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to testimony at trial, in August 2020, law enforcement stopped a vehicle being driven by Wynn to investigate a possible DUI. During the stop, officers located two bags of crack cocaine and a bag of marijuana on Wynn’s person. Officers also found a loaded firearm in the glove box and a digital scale in the center console. An additional loaded firearm was found in the trunk. Wynn possessed the firearms to protect himself, drugs, and drug proceeds during his drug trafficking activities. Also, Wynn was aware at the time of his arrest that he had prior felony convictions and was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Wynn was previously convicted of facilitation of robbery and first degree trafficking in a controlled substance in Campbell County Circuit Court in 2010; and first degree trafficking in a controlled substance, cocaine, and two counts of first degree trafficking in a controlled substance, heroin, in Kenton County Circuit Court in 2015.
Under federal law, Wynn 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 6 years.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Office; and Chief Brian Valenti, Covington Police Department, jointly announced the conviction.
The case was referred to the ATF by the Kenton County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office. The investigation was conducted by ATF and Covington Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tony Bracke and Joel King.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, Acting U.S. Attorney McCaffrey coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
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New Port Richey Woman Charged with FEMA FraudRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Shelby Sigler (34, New Port Richey) with fraud in connection with a major disaster or emergency benefits. If convicted, Sigler faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison.
According to the indictment, between November 2023 and January 2024, Sigler knowingly made false and fraudulent statements and representations to obtain money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) when submitting an application for assistance from FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program as a result of Hurricane Idalia.
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 Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General with assistance from the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Greg Pizzo.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement related to any man-made or natural disaster can report it by visiting the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www. justice. gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Multiple Defendants Charged in Cockfighting and Illegal Gambling OperationRead the Press Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A federal grand jury charged multiple defendants for conspiring to violate the Animal Welfare Act and operate an illegal gambling business, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
A two-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges James Shawn Murphree, 48, of Blountsville, Alabama, Denny Gonzalez-Guzman, 30, of Albertville, Alabama, Kasten Finis Murphree, 22, of Blountsville, Alabama, Kelby Shawn Murphree, 27, of Blountsville, Alabama, and Kimberly Ann Evans, 48, of Hayden, Alabama, with conspiracy to violate the Animal Welfare Act and the Prohibition on Illegal Gambling Businesses.
According to the indictment, a cockfight is a contest where roosters fight each other. The fights are supervised by a referee, and the fight ends when one rooster is dead or refuses to continue fighting. Typical cockfights employ weapons that are attached to the backs of the roosters’ legs. Owners and operators of cockfighting arenas, called “pits,” hold organized fights where people can fight their trained roosters against other roosters in cockfighting tournaments called “derbies.” In a derby, large numbers of cockfighters pit their roosters against one another for entertainment. Spectators gamble on the outcomes of the cockfights, and the owners of the roosters stand to gain financially through their own wager, an arrangement where the derby winners receive a pre-determined portion of the derby entry fees, or through the enhanced value of their winning roosters.
The indictment alleges that between March 2025 and June 2025, Kimberly Evans, James Murphree, Kasten Murphree, and Kelby Murphree conspired to organize multiple cockfighting derbies in Blountsville, Alabama. Attendees paid $40 to watch the fight. Competitors who entered roosters in the derbies paid an entry fee between $700 and $1,000. The winner of the derby would receive a share of the prize pool money.
The Gulf of America (“GoA”) Homeland Security Task Force, in partnership with United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, conducted this long-term investigation. The GoA Homeland Security Task Force is comprised of authorities from Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. This investigation and operation received significant support from the United States Marshals Service, Customs and Border Protection, and ICE-Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John M. Hundscheid and Jonathan S. Cross are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Monterey County Man Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – Mario Jose Villagrana was sentenced today to 80 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and manufacturing firearms without a license. Senior U.S. District Judge Edward J. Davila handed down the sentence.
Villagrana, 30, who previously resided in Pacific Grove, was charged in a three-count information on Nov. 7, 2022. On Feb. 10, 2025, he pleaded guilty to possessing multiple firearms, manufacturing firearms, and possessing with intent to distribute approximately 1.45 kilograms of fentanyl.
According to court documents, on Feb. 15, 2022, law enforcement searched Villagrana’s residence and found eight firearms, numerous firearm magazines and ammunition, tools to manufacture firearms, 13,439 “M30” pills containing fentanyl, and $23,105. The firearms that law enforcement recovered included assault rifles, ghost guns, and a Glock pistol, converted to fire ammunition fully automatically, with an extended 30-round magazine. Villagrana, who had multiple prior felonies, was on state parole at the time he committed these offenses.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Davila also sentenced the defendant to a four-year period of supervised release and ordered him to pay a $300 special assessment. Villagrana was immediately remanded back into custody to begin serving his sentence.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Bob P. Beris, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Topper made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Neal C. Hong prosecuted the case with the assistance of Sahib Kaur. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the DEA, ATF, and the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.
Miske Enterprise Member Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Racketeering Conspiracy, Robbery, and Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – Acting United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Lance L. Bermudez, 34, of Honolulu, Hawaii was sentenced yesterday in federal court by U.S. District Chief Judge Derrick K. Watson to 360 months of imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, racketeering conspiracy, and Hobbs Act Robbery. Bermudez is the last defendant to be sentenced for his role in the Miske Enterprise.
As part of his 2022 plea agreement, Bermudez admitted that he and other members of the Enterprise participated in a murder-for-hire conspiracy with codefendant Michael J. Miske and other Enterprise members. Miske put a murder contract out on an individual he believed was cooperating with law enforcement. Bermudez agreed to commit the murder for $60,000 and laid in wait outside of the victim’s home on multiple occasions, waiting for the right opportunity to kill the victim. The murder did not ultimately occur because Miske eventually rescinded the contract. Bermudez also admitted to taking part in multiple attempted murders where he shot victims from his vehicle. Further, Bermudez admitted to burning a van at Miske’s direction that Bermudez later discovered was utilized in the abduction and murder of 21-year-old Johnathan Fraser. Bermudez also admitted to committing several armed robberies of Honolulu area drug dealers and then selling the stolen drugs to others in the community.
Bermudez was charged alongside twelve other defendants, all of whom pled guilty except for Michael J. Miske who proceeded to trial and was found guilty of racketeering conspiracy, murder, and 11 other felony charges on July 18, 2024.
Seven other members and associates of the Miske Enterprise pled guilty to various offenses in related cases.
“You terrorized this city and this county to a greater extent than anyone I can remember,” Judge Watson advised Bermudez during today’s sentencing before reciting the litany of racketeering acts for which the Court found Bermudez responsible. Judge Watson called out the “brazenness” and “unprecedented” nature of Bermudez’s acts of violence, noting that he had never seen the same level of violence even collectively among multiple coconspirators that here was attributed solely to Bermudez.
“For his grisly work in pummeling victims with his fists, Lance Bermudez was coined with the nickname, ‘The Hammah.’ Yesterday, Bermudez was at the business end of the federal justice hammer as U.S. District Chief Judge Derrick Watson sentenced him to a lengthy 30-year sentence for his violent role in promoting the nefarious and illicit activities of the Miske organization. Bermudez’s sentence is the final one to be handed down against the members of the Miske Enterprise and is the capstone of our investigation into the violent and corrupt activities of Michael Miske and his henchmen,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “Our decade-long effort with our outstanding law enforcement partners has now resulted in the federal convictions of 20 Miske confederates who now can no longer victimize Hawaii’s citizens and communities. While the work against the Miske Enterprise is done, the people of Hawaii can rest assured that the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii and our dedicated and resolute law enforcement partners at the Honolulu Division of the FBI, Internal Revenue Service, and Homeland Security Investigations, among others, will continue to tirelessly hunt down and prosecute those who operate violent criminal enterprises in our state and endanger our citizens.”
“Mr. Bermudez was a key member of the Miske Enterprise, actively participating in a longstanding pattern of violence and racketeering activity involving murder-for-hire, armed robbery, and drug trafficking,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “This sentencing reflects years of collaboration between FBI Honolulu and our law enforcement partners. The FBI remains steadfast in its commitment to dismantle violent criminal enterprises, hold their members accountable, and pursue justice for victims.”
“Mr. Bermudez’s account of attempted murder-for-hire reminds us that even the worst crimes have a price,” said Adam Jobes, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Seattle Field Office. “IRS-CI follows the money to uproot organizations that profit from violence.”
“Today's sentencing marks a significant step towards justice for the victims and the community terrorized by the Miske Enterprise. The severity of the crimes committed by Lance L. Bermudez underscores the necessity of our relentless collaborative efforts to dismantle such criminal organizations and ensure the safety and security of our citizens,” said Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Lucy Cabral-DeArmas. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to holding accountable those who engage in such egregious acts of violence and criminal conduct.”
This prosecution was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Criminal Investigation Division of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with assistance from the Honolulu Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Coast Guard Investigative Service, the United States Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, the Cybercrime Lab of the Department of Justice Criminal Division Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center, the Honolulu Fire Department, the Hawaii National Guard, 93rd Civil Support Team, the Office of Investigations–Office of the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration, and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Inciong, Michael Nammar, KeAupuni Akina, and Aislinn Affinito prosecuted the case.
Mechanics Charged with Trafficking over a Ton of Methamphetamine from Auto Repair ShopRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Two DeKalb County auto mechanics face federal drug trafficking charges after agents seized approximately 2,500 pounds of methamphetamine from their vehicles. Daniel Santana-Lopez, 39, an illegal alien from Guanajuato, Mexico, was arraigned earlier today on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and illegal reentry by a removed alien. Jared Thompson, 41, of Snellville, Georgia, was arraigned on June 30, 2025, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crime.
“These defendants, including a twice-deported illegal alien, allegedly tried to conceal a major methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy in a local automobile repair shop,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Through a tenacious investigation, our federal and local law enforcement partners rooted out the defendants’ operation in our continued effort to eliminate the scourge of drug dealing from our communities.”
“DEA’s mission remains the same: seize dangerous drugs before they reach our communities and bring to justice those criminals responsible,” said Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “DEA will continue to aggressively pursue criminals that are harming our communities with dangerous drugs.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in Court: On October 23, 2024, law enforcement stopped Santana-Lopez after he drove away from a DeKalb County auto repair shop where he worked as a mechanic. During a search of Santana-Lopez’s vehicle, officers allegedly found approximately 1,000 kilograms of methamphetamine. The investigation revealed that Santana-Lopez was illegally in the United States, having been deported in 2014 and 2017, and had allegedly distributed methamphetamine on several previous occasions in June, July, and August 2024.
Approximately an hour after arresting Santana-Lopez, law enforcement stopped Thompson leaving the same auto repair shop, where he also worked as a mechanic. Inside of Thompson’s vehicle, officers allegedly found approximately 140 kilograms of methamphetamine and a firearm.
Santana-Lopez and Thompson were indicted by a federal grand jury seated in the Northern District of Georgia on June 11, 2025.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, North Georgia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement with valuable assistance provided by the DeKalb County Police Department and DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Dwayne A. Brown, Jr. is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Maryland IT Company Agrees to Pay $14.75M to Resolve Alleged False ClaimsRead the Press Release
Hill ASC Inc., doing business as Hill Associates, of Rockville, Maryland, agreed to pay at least $14.75 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act in connection with a General Services Administration (GSA) contract for information technology services.
This settlement relates to a contract under which Hill provided information technology services to federal agencies from 2018 to 2023 through GSA’s Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program. The MAS program provides the government with a streamlined process to buy commonly used commercial goods and services. GSA negotiates contract terms and other agencies can then buy goods and services from the contractor under that GSA MAS contract. The settlement resolves allegations that Hill billed federal agencies for labor of information technology personnel who did not have the experience or education required under the contract. In addition, it resolves allegations that, although GSA required technical evaluations for contractors who sought to offer highly adaptive cybersecurity services to government customers, and Hill had not passed such an evaluation, Hill submitted claims for such cybersecurity services and other services that were not within the scope of the MAS contract. Finally, it resolves allegations that Hill charged the government for unapproved fees, failed to provide government customers with required information about discounts for prompt payment, and included unallowable incentive compensation in a cost submission in connection with a new contract proposal.
Under the settlement with the United States, Hill has agreed to pay $14.75 million, plus additional amounts if certain financial contingencies occur. The settlement amount was based on the company’s ability to pay.
“Information technology contractors are expected to charge the government appropriately for their services,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue to pursue cyber fraud and hold accountable those companies that knowingly fail to meet contractual obligations to the American taxpayers.”
“Federal agencies should get what they have paid for from GSA contractors, nothing less,” said GSA Deputy Inspector General Robert C. Erickson. “I appreciate the hard work of all the attorneys, auditors, and special agents involved in this investigation.”
“False claims and similar unfair advantage by contractors undermine the integrity of the contracting process and can result in significant adverse effects to vital security concerns,” said Treasury Deputy Inspector General Loren Sciurba. “Treasury OIG is committed to conducting and assisting other agencies to the utmost in investigations, audits, and other work to detect and prevent these violations of the public trust.”
“As the nation’s tax watchdog, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) is dedicated to safeguarding the integrity of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)’s contracting and procurement processes,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jessica Cipolla of TIGTA’s Gulf States Field Division. “We remain steadfast in our mission to expose and hold accountable those who attempt to defraud the IRS. Anyone doing business with the IRS or the Department of the Treasury is expected to operate with the highest levels of honesty and integrity. We are grateful to the U.S. Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners for their continued collaboration and critical support in this investigation.”
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, the GSA’s Office of the Inspector General, the Treasury Department’s Office of Inspector General, and TIGTA. The matter was handled by Senior Trial Counsel Christopher Terranova of the Fraud Section.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Man from Dominican Republic pleads guilty, sentenced for forging an alien resident cardRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Jose Miguel Nunez Carmona, 30, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to forged or falsely made alien resident card. He was hen sentenced to time served and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sasha Mascarenhas, who handled the case, stated that on April 23, 2025, during an encounter with U.S. Border Patrol Agents, Nunez Carmona admitted to being in the United States illegally. He had in his possession a United States Permanent Resident Card as proof of his identity and lawful status in the United States. The card contained Nunez Carmona’s photograph and biographical information, along with a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) number. Agents physically examined the resident card and found it to be fraudulent because of the lack of security measures that these cards are typically equipped with, blurry water marks, low quality background imaging, and improper fonts. A records check revealed that Nunez Carmona had never been issued permanent residency in the United States and the USCIS number did not come back to any individual. Nunez Carmona admitted to agents that the resident card was fraudulent.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The plea and sentencing are the result of an investigation by U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent in Charge Martin B. Coombs.
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Ladson Man Sentenced to 19 Years Federal Prison for Attempted Online Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Joseph Daniel Bair, 40, of Ladson, has been sentenced to 19 years in federal prison for the attempted online enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity.
Evidence obtained in the investigation showed that in early November 2021, members of the South Carolina Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) conducted an undercover investigation targeting online sexual offenders. As part of this investigation, an officer created an undercover online persona of a 13-year-old girl.
Bair responded to the undercover officer’s online persona’s social media ad and engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the undercover officer. In their conversations, Bair discussed his desire to engage in various sex acts with the purported 13-year-old girl. On Dec. 5, 2021, Bair drove from Ladson to a predetermined location in Charleston County to meet the girl, and to engage in illicit sexual conduct with her. When Bair arrived, he encountered law enforcement officers instead and was placed under arrest.
At the time of the offense, Bair was on the South Carolina Sex Offender Registry based on a 2009 state conviction for criminal solicitation of a minor. Law enforcement officers also discovered that Bair was reporting to sex offender registry officials that he lived in Charleston when in fact he lived in Ladson.
United States District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks sentenced Bair to 230 months imprisonment, to be followed by a lifetime term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the South Carolina Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), including the Department of Homeland Security, Mount Pleasant Police Department, and Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dean H. Secor is prosecuting the case.
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Kissimmee Businessman Sentenced to Four Years in Federal Prison for Multi-Million Dollar Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Gregory A. Presnell has sentenced Edwin Rivera to four years in federal prison for theft of government property. The court also ordered Rivera to forfeit $1,987,457 which is traceable to proceeds of the offense. Rivera pleaded guilty on January 16, 2025.
According to court documents, between October 2023 and July 2024, Rivera and his co-conspirators operated a scheme to steal government funds. As part of the scheme, Rivera stole the identity of large corporations and filed fraudulent tax returns with the IRS on behalf of those companies, causing the IRS to generate tax refunds and mail them to Rivera. Rivera then deposited the checks into bank accounts he and his co-conspirators controlled. As part of the scheme, Rivera and his co-conspirators attempted to steal nearly $10 million in government funds, and successfully obtained at least four fraudulent tax refunds for a total of $2,741,581.74.
“The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) aggressively investigates individuals who attempt to exploit U.S Treasury refund checks meant for hard working taxpayers for their own private gain," said TIGTA Special Agent in Charge Joel Weaver. “TIGTA's mission is to protect the integrity of our nation's tax administration system. We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who violate federal laws are prosecuted to the fullest extent possible.”
“If you think committing millions of dollars’ worth of fraud and stealing from the government would go unnoticed, you couldn't be more wrong,” said Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “Our special agents are the world's top financial crimes investigators, and they will find you, just like they found Edwin Rivera.”
This case was investigated by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Noah P. Dorman.
Justice Department Releases Guidance on Implementing President Trump’s Executive Order Designating English as the Official Language of the United StatesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of Justice released Guidance to ensure compliance with President Trump’s Executive Order No. 14224, which establishes English as the official language of the United States of America. Consistent with the Executive Order, the Department of Justice will lead a coordinated effort across federal agencies to minimize non-essential multilingual services, redirect resources toward English-language education and assimilation, and ensure legal compliance with the Executive Order through targeted measures where necessary.
"As President Trump has made clear, English is the official language of the United States," said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. "The Department of Justice will lead the effort to codify the President’s Executive Order and eliminate wasteful virtue-signaling policies across government agencies to promote assimilation over division."
"President Trump’s Executive Order marks a pivotal step toward unifying our nation through a common language and enhancing efficiency in federal operations," said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. "The Department of Justice ensures that while we respect linguistic diversity, our federal resources will prioritize English proficiency to empower new Americans and strengthen civic unity.”
While leaving room for linguistic diversity that exists in private and community spheres, this Guidance will help streamline federal processes, reduce administrative burdens, and increase operational efficiency across agencies by removing extensive translation services and de-prioritizing multilingualism over English proficiency. Implementing the Executive Order will enhance social and economic integration, offer new Americans a vital pathway for civic engagement, and further bind Americans together with a shared language.
President Trump’s Executive Order rescinds Executive Order No. 13,166, signed by President Clinton on August 16, 2000. Executive Order No. 13,166 directed agencies to enhance access to federal programs for persons with limited English proficiency and required tailored guidance for recipients of federal funding—straining federal resources and impeding the assimilation of new Americans.
This is the latest Guidance issued by the Department of Justice to implement and administer President Trump’s agenda.
Read the Guidance HERE.
Independence Attorney Sentenced for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Independence, Mo., attorney has been sentenced to federal prison for evading payment of $794,540 in income taxes, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jeffrey P. Ray today.
John C. Carnes, 70, pleaded guilty to tax evasion on Nov. 25, 2024, and was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs. Carnes was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $794,540.
According to court documents, Carnes admitted that he willfully attempted to evade paying his personal income taxes for tax years 2012 through 2018. Carnes kept his income in his attorney trust accounts, then withdrew cash from his attorney trust accounts to pay for personal and business expenses. An attorney trust account is a bank account in which a lawyer has a fiduciary duty to hold property of clients or third persons, including prospective clients. It is for funds that are in a lawyer’s possession in connection with representation, separate from the lawyer’s own property.
Carnes had two trust fund accounts. He withdrew $444,527 in cash from one account from 2016 through 2019, and he withdrew $144,364 from the second account from 2013 through 2015. Carnes used the cash to gamble and pay personal expenses.
Carnes deposited $232,000 in fees received for services provided in the sale of the former Rockwood Golf Course property in November 2017 and the Missouri City Power Plant project, and other income, into his attorney trust accounts.
The total tax loss to the IRS for tax years 2012 through 2018, because of Carnes’s tax evasion, totaled $618,949. In addition, relevant conduct consists of unpaid federal income tax for the tax years 1990-1993, 1996-2003, and 2005, totaling $175,590. The total relevant conduct is $238,513, resulting in a total tax loss of $794,540.
From 2009 to 2020, the IRS continuously engaged in various forms of investigative and enforcement activity regarding Carnes’s outstanding tax liabilities.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rudolph R. Rhodes IV and Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation.
Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Semaj Markes Leondre Figg, 33, of Huntington, was sentenced today to five years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute quantities of fentanyl and cocaine base, also known as “crack.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 9, 2024, law enforcement officers responded to reports of shots fired at an 11th Avenue residence in Huntington, encountered Figg, and arrested him on an outstanding warrant. Officers executed a search warrant at the residence and seized approximately 30 grams of crack, 54 grams of fentanyl, a Glock 22C pistol and a Ruger-5.7 pistol. Figg admitted that he intended to sell the seized controlled substances.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Huntington Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), an enforcement surge that has sought to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas.
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. 3:24-cr-180.
Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Receiving Gratuities While Salaried Federal EmployeeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Timothy Lane Crowder, 44, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to unlawful receipt of gratuities. Crowder admitted to receiving approximately $24,525.33 from disability benefits awarded to veterans while he was a salaried employee of the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between September 17, 2020, and July 26, 2023, Crowder was a Veterans Service Representative in Huntington when he assisted 13 veterans with preparing their claims for retroactive disability benefits. As part of his guilty plea, Crowder admitted that he received gratuities from the veterans of approximately 10 to 20 percent of their awarded benefits once their claims were approved.
Federal law bars a federal employee from receiving gratuities or shares of any interest in a claim against the United States. As a Veterans Service Representative employed by the VBA, it was illegal for Crowder to receive a gratuity from veterans he assisted with filing claims. Crowder admitted that he both knowingly and willfully assisted the veterans while knowing that the gratuities represented a share of their awarded disability benefits.
Crowder is scheduled to be sentenced on October 27. 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Crowder also owes $24,525.33 in restitution.
“It is never appropriate for a Veterans Service Representative of a federal benefits program to solicit payments from benefit recipients in exchange for assistance with their benefits,” said Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston. “That is a betrayal of the public’s trust and undermines the integrity of these programs. Benefit recipients should always refuse to make any such payment and report any solicitation to the employee’s supervisor.”
Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs-Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG).
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Hanks is prosecuting 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. 3:24-cr-187.
Hudson County Man Indicted for Investment Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme Involving Elderly VictimsRead the Press Release
NEWARK, NJ. – A New Jersey man was arraigned on wire fraud and money laundering charges for a scheme to defraud elderly and other victims by misappropriating funds that the victims were told would be invested on their behalf or otherwise used for their benefit, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.
Antonio Petrosino, a/k/a Anthony Petrosino, 60, of Union City, New Jersey, was arraigned on July 9, 2025, before Senior U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler. Petrosino was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 18, 2025, with five counts of wire fraud (Counts One through Five) and one count of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity (Count Six). Petrosino was previously charged by complaint in January 2025 with one count of wire fraud and one count of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
From in or around January 2016 through in or around November 2024, Petrosino fraudulently induced the victims to transfer investment funds, mortgage payments, and other money to Petrosino. As part of the scheme to defraud, Petrosino held himself out to be a financial services professional to his victims and falsely led them to believe that he would invest the victims’ money in brokerage accounts and other investment products or otherwise use it for their benefit. To perpetuate his fraud, Petrosino provided one elderly victim with falsified investment statements that purported to show that she had hundreds of thousands of dollars deposited in various investment accounts in her name. Petrosino also made various statements to victims assuring them that their money had been invested or used as promised.
In reality, Petrosino failed to invest the victims’ funds or otherwise use victim monies for the victims’ benefit as promised. Instead, Petrosino misappropriated the money to pay for his personal expenses, including gambling, credit card payments, and rent on his luxury apartment unit. When confronted by victims about the status of the money they sent to Petrosino, Petrosino provided the victims and their family members false reassurances about the status of the victims’ funds to cover up his fraud. In total, Petrosino stole more than approximately $1 million from the victims.
The wire fraud charges each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The money laundering charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. All counts carry a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross amount of gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest.
U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark; special agents of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian Tucker; and the Wyckoff Police Department, under the direction of Chief David V. Murphy, with the investigation leading to Petrosino’s indictment.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Kozar of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Defense Counsel: Michael Thomas, Esq.
petrosino.indictment.pdfHonduran National with Active Interpol Red Notice for Murder Is Arrested and Charged with Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the arrest of Pedro Danilo Espinoza-Guiffaro (34, Honduras) on a criminal complaint charging him with being unlawfully present in the United States after being previously removed from the United States. If convicted, Espinoza-Guiffaro faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison.
According to the complaint, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted a targeted enforcement operation to arrest Espinoza-Guiffaro as he had an active Interpol Red Notice for Murder in Honduras. A surveillance team located Espinoza-Guiffaro in Duval County. During immigration processing, HSI agents learned that Espinoza-Guiffaro was previously ordered removed from the United States and actually removed from the United States in 2022 and 2024. There is no record Espinoza-Guiffaro ever applied for or received permission to return to the United States.
A complaint is merely a 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 HSI and FBI. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Lasry.
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).
Honduran National Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison for Illegal Reentry After A Felony ConvictionRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell today sentenced Luis Alonso Contreras-Rivera (32, Honduras) to 30 months in federal prison for illegal reentry after a felony conviction. Contreras-Rivera pleaded guilty on April 9, 2025.
According to court documents, Contreras-Rivera is a citizen and national of Honduras. He was previously removed from the United States on December 3, 2012, January 19, 2015, and November 2, 2018. On January 1, 2024, Contreras-Rivera was found back in the United States when he was arrested in Charlotte County for a state criminal offense. Contreras-Rivera had previously been convicted of illegal reentry into the United States on September 10, 2013, in the Western District of Texas. Contreras-Rivera has never applied for or received permission from the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to reenter the United States.
This case was investigated by United States Border Patrol. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Darcey.
Honduran National Indicted for Re-Entry of Deported AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ActingUnited States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that MARCELO ORDONEZ-RIVAS (“ORDONEZ-RIVAS”), age 46, a native of Honduras, was indicted on July 10, 2025, for re-entry of removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
According to court documents, ORDONEZ-RIVAS, an illegal alien, was found in Jefferson Parish on June 18, 2025. In 2016, he had previously been convicted of violating 8 U.S.C. § 1326, Illegal Re-entry of Removed Alien, and sentenced. ORDONEZ-RIVAS was removed to Honduras on or about June 10, 2016.
If convicted, ORDONEZ-RIVAS faces a maximum penalty of ten years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in investigating this matter. Special Assistant United States Attorney Frederick W. Veters Jr., of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.