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4 September 2026
Felon Sentenced to 37 Months in Federal Prison for Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Cordell Simms, 32, a convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced yesterday to 37 months in prison for carrying a loaded semiautomatic pistol in a backpack while he was serving a period of supervised release and prohibited from possessing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Simms pleaded guilty Oct. 23, 2025, before Judge Emmet G. Sullivan to a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. In addition to the 37-month sentence, Judge Sullivan ordered Simms to serve three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on Sept. 10, 2025, about 4:45 p.m. a Metropolitan Police officer responded to a report of a person with a gun in their waistband near 2nd and Farragut Streets NW. The officer canvassed the neighborhood in his marked cruiser and observed a man with a backpack – later identified as Simms.
Simms spotted the police officer and handed his backpack to a minor child. The child immediately began walking toward the front door of a nearby home. The officer intercepted the child and told her to drop the backpack. Simms began to run and led police on a lengthy foot chase.
Police caught and detained Simms and inspected the backpack. Inside the bag police recovered a Ruger SR40, .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun with an obliterated serial number that was fitted with a laser sight. The Ruger was loaded with one round in the chamber and 11 rounds in the magazine.
Simms did not have a license to carry a firearm in the District. A criminal history check revealed he had been convicted of attempted assault with a dangerous weapon, had been sentenced to 18 months in prison, and was therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm of any sort. At the time of his arrest in this case, Simms also was on supervised release following convictions of simple assault, second degree theft, and two counts of contempt.
This case was investigated by the MPD with valuable assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Washington Field Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney George Eliopoulos of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section.
Simms spotted the police officer and handed his backpack to a minor child. The officer intercepted the child and told her to drop the backpack.
Inside Simms’ bag, police recovered a Ruger SR40, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol that was fitted with a laser sight.
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Federal authorities charge ex USCIS official and associate in sweeping corruption scheme involving unlawful approval and expedited processing of immigration applicationsRead the Press Release
DALLAS — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that Lukman Owolabi Ganiyu, a former Senior Immigration Services Officer with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and Adeniyi Akeem Somoye were arrested on federal charges for their roles in an alleged multi‑year scheme to receive illegal gratuities in exchange for manipulating and expediting immigration applications.
A federal criminal complaint filed Aug. 31, charges the duo with conspiracy to receive illegal gratuities by a public official. Federal agents arrested both on Sept. 2.
“Selling immigration benefits for cash is a blatant abuse of public trust,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “When a federal official puts a price tag on lawful status, we will intervene immediately. Public corruption will never be tolerated in the Northern District of Texas.”
“The alleged manipulation of immigration decisions for personal gain undermines the integrity of a process essential to our national security,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain committed to holding accountable anyone who abuses their position of trust.”
According to the complaint, from December 2019 through March 2026, Ganiyu used his official position to approve immigration applications—including Forms I‑130: Petition for Alien Relative; I‑485: Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status; I‑751: Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence; and N‑400: Application for Naturalization—in exchange for money. Investigators allege that Ganiyu bypassed required interviews, supervisory review, jurisdictional limitations, background checks and standard USCIS processing protocols to unlawfully expedite approvals for applicants, many of whom were not eligible under federal law.
The complaint alleges that Ganiyu and Somoye together collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments from applicants, several of which correspond directly with immigration approvals issued by Ganiyu.
Investigators also identified extensive WhatsApp communications between Ganiyu, Somoye and numerous applicants whose immigration cases they handled, including thousands of messages and hundreds of calls during the charged period.
Their initial court appearances were held on Sept. 2 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. Each defendant faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
USCIS Office of Investigations, DHS Office of Inspector General and the FBI Dallas Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham from the Fraud section is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Federal Jury Convicts Two Defendants of Conspiring to Retaliate Against Individuals Who Cooperated with Law Enforcement in Chicago Gang InvestigationRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal jury has convicted two defendants of conspiring to retaliate against individuals who provided information to law enforcement during an investigation of a violent Chicago street gang.
MARKEEVES BROOKS knowingly conspired to retaliate against an individual and DONNITA BRYANT knowingly conspired to retaliate against two individuals who cooperated with law enforcement in a federal investigation of the Faceworld street gang. Bryant’s son, DIONTAE HARPER, was a member of Faceworld and a subject of the investigation and prosecution. The two cooperating individuals provided information against Harper in a murder case in which he was charged and were providing additional information in a related investigation into the Faceworld gang. From January to September 2025, Brooks and Bryant publicly disseminated a video of a law enforcement interview with one of the cooperators and discussed publicizing a sworn grand jury statement by the other cooperator. Harper had received the video and the grand jury statement during the discovery and sentencing phases of his murder case. The discovery materials were subject to a protective order and were legally prohibited from being shared with others.
After an eight-day trial in U.S. District Court in Chicago, the jury on Wednesday convicted Brooks, 28, of Chicago and Dubuque, Iowa, and Bryant, 47, of Chicago, of conspiracy to commit witness retaliation. Brooks was also convicted of a substantive offense of witness retaliation. The jury acquitted Bryant of the same substantive offense, and also acquitted a third defendant, MICHAELA RICHARD, 26, of Chicago, of the sole conspiracy count against her. U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin has not yet set sentencing dates for Brooks and Bryant.
Harper, 26, of Chicago, pleaded guilty prior to trial to a witness retaliation charge. Harper’s sentencing has not yet been scheduled.
The verdicts were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; and Fred Waller, Interim Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julia K. Schwartz, Sushma Raju, John “L.J.” Pavletic, and Jessica Ecker.
In May 2025, Harper was convicted in the murder case and subsequently sentenced to 34 years in federal prison. The murder occurred in 2020 in Chicago’s Auburn Gresham neighborhood. Harper admitted in a plea agreement that he fatally shot a man so that Harper could maintain and increase his position in Faceworld, whose members engaged in violent crimes and trafficked narcotics.
Federal Fraud Charges Filed Against Former Indianapolis Daycare OperatorRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – Sharon Jackson, 60, of Pendleton, Indiana, has been charged by federal Information with one count of wire fraud and one count of failure to file an individual income tax return. The charges were brought as part of the Trump Administration’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. Jackson has agreed to plead guilty to both charges, though she has not yet formally entered her plea in federal court.
According to court documents, between 2017 and 2024, Jackson operated three childcare facilities in Indianapolis at various times: Precious Hearts of Solid Rock, Greater St. Mark Five Star Ministry, and Little Angels of Precious Hearts. During this period, Jackson allegedly devised and executed a scheme to enrich herself by fraudulently obtaining funds through two government programs: the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
The CCDF program provides vouchers to low‑income families to help cover childcare costs while parents work, attend training, or pursue education. The CACFP program reimburses participating childcare providers for eligible food expenses for enrolled children.
To obtain CCDF funds, Jackson falsely reported that children attended the Little Angels facility on dates and times when she knew they were not present. She recorded fraudulent attendance by using Hoosier Works Child Care cards assigned to parents to swipe children in and out of the building, despite the children not being there. Jackson also submitted false attendance records through a phone system, entering family‑specific information including CCDF voucher numbers, zip codes, and attendance details. CCDF providers are not permitted to possess HWCC cards or any other information that would allow them to record a child’s attendance.
Jackson and several parents allegedly agreed that she would falsely claim their children attended Little Angels. In return, Jackson paid the parents a portion of the CCDF funds as kickbacks, distributing payments through Cash App or by leaving cash in the gutters at the facility for pickup.
As a result of this scheme, Jackson allegedly obtained approximately $359,083.60 in CCDF funds to which she was not entitled.
Jackson also defrauded the CACFP by claiming reimbursement for meals that were never provided. She allegedly created fraudulent invoices from food vendors, claiming she had purchased and served food that was never provided to children at her childcare facilities. Jackson received additional CACFP funds based on these false claims.
Further, Jackson failed to file federal income tax returns for 2018 and for 2020 through 2023. As of the date of this filing, she has not submitted individual income tax returns for 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, or 2023. As a result, Jackson owed approximately $287,381.79 in taxes for those years.
The United States Department of Agriculture—Office of Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services—Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service—Criminal Investigation, and the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration are investigating this case. Jackson is scheduled to make her initial appearance on September 10, 2026.
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Eakman and Meredith Wood, who are prosecuting this case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
An Information contains merely allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Federal Court Sentences Former Substitute Teacher to 40 Years in Prison for the Sexual Exploitation of Minors and Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
DETROIT – Timothy Higle, 34, of Clawson, Michigan and former substitute teacher, was sentenced this week to 40 years in federal prison after having pleaded guilty in April 2026 to charges that he sexually exploited minors and received child pornography, announced Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr., United States Attorney of the Eastern District of Michigan.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Field Division.
According to court records, Higle solicited nude images and sexually explicit videos from over a dozen minors between ages 14 and 17 over Snapchat, targeting victims over the course of 12 years. Higle used money, drugs, alcohol, and extortion to get what he wanted from his victims. In exchange for producing the images and videos, Higle paid the minor victims using Cashapp and Venmo, and in some instances, he provided or offered marijuana and alcohol. As part of his tactics, Higle befriended his victims, knew their ages, and learned intimate details about their lives and family circumstances. For many, he became a trusted adult as he groomed them only to later exploit that knowledge and trust for his sexual gain. Higle inflicted countless mental and emotional harms on his victims without regard to their wellbeing.
Through grooming, Higle sexualized his young victims and commented on his preference for younger bodies over developed women. Higle directed his victims in graphic detail on what types of photos or videos he wanted to see such as specific poses and body parts. Higle also propositioned victims for sex, offering to pay victims as much as $500 to $1,000 for sex acts. When some victims attempted to cut contact or refused to send images, Higle threatened to post their photos online and he continued to harass them across other social media platforms. Law enforcement became aware of Higle’s conduct after one of the victims contacted the Michigan State Police in August 2024.
“This former teacher is a scheming pervert who hurt children for more than a decade. Now he has a 40-year sentence because law enforcement caught him,” said U.S. Attorney Gorgon.
“This sentence makes one thing clear: those who choose to exploit children will face serious consequences,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “This defendant’s actions were a betrayal of public trust, and today’s outcome reflects our commitment to protecting vulnerable victims and holding offenders accountable. I commend the diligent investigative work of our FBI Oakland County Resident Agency, in partnership with the Michigan State Police, for bringing this predator to justice.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Michigan State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean King of the Trafficking and Exploitation of Children Unit.
Fairbanks man sentenced to 30 years for carrying a machinegun during a drug trafficking crimeRead the Press Release
FAIRBANKS, Alaska – A Fairbanks man was sentenced yesterday to 30 years in prison for carrying a machinegun during a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, in early 2025, the Fairbanks Police Department conducted eTraces on firearms recovered at multiple crime scenes. Several firearms were linked to Mason Lanon, 23.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) ran a query in the ATF National Tracing Center (NTC) for Lanon. They determined that between September 2024 and March 2025, Lanon purchased 20 firearms from licensed firearms dealers. Five of the firearms purchased by Lanon were recovered and linked to crimes in the local area.
ATF contacted FFLs in the Fairbanks area for records of Lanon’s firearm purchases. Between the NTC and FFL records, Lanon was associated with over 70 firearms in a one-year period.
As part of the investigation, on May 26, 2025, law enforcement conducted a controlled purchase for one firearm from Lanon. On Aug. 7, 2025, law enforcement conducted another controlled purchase of one firearm with a suspected machinegun conversion device (MCD) installed and over 14 grams of cocaine from Lanon. During this purchase, Lanon was in possession of a second firearm with an MCD installed.
Investigators concluded that Lanon is the leader of a local gang known as the Soul Reaper Gang and built a reputation as the “go to guy” for gangs in Fairbanks to obtain firearms and some drugs.
On Nov. 20, 2025, Lanon was indicted by a federal grand jury with one count of unlicensed dealing in firearms, one count of distribution of a controlled substance and one count of carrying a machinegun during a drug trafficking crime. On June 2, Lanon pleaded guilty to one count of carrying a machine gun in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
“Mr. Lanon’s illegal firearm and drug dealing directly fueled violence and crimes throughout the Fairbanks community, including within his gang affiliations,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “This sentence should serve as a reminder that the act of carrying a machinegun during a drug trafficking crime will result in decades behind bars. I commend our law enforcement partners for uncovering the extent of Mr. Lanon’s trafficking and ceasing his ability to continue his reign of chaos.”
“I cannot overstate the dangerousness of machinegun conversion devices (MCDs), especially in the hands of violent criminals,” said ATF Seattle Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais. “The illegal trafficking of these devices, particularly alongside firearms and narcotics, represents a direct and serious threat to our communities. Offenders like Mr. Lanon should take note: ATF will leverage every investigative tool and partnership available to take these illegal devices off the streets to prevent them from being used to fuel violent crime.”
“Mr. Lanon’s actions put firearms directly into the hands of individuals committing violent crimes in Fairbanks,” said Fairbanks Police Department Chief of Police Ron Dupee. “FPD's firearm tracing and investigative assistance played a key role in stopping that pipeline. We will not tolerate gun traffickers operating in our city threatening our way of life.”
The ATF Anchorage Field Office, Alaska State Troopers and Fairbanks Police Department investigated the case, with assistance from the DEA Anchorage Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Vosacek prosecuted the case.
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Eustis Man Who Shot at Law Enforcement Drone Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Ocala, FL – Justin Tyler Kress (34, Eustis) has been sentenced by United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber to 15 months in federal prison for the attempted destruction of an aircraft (law enforcement drone). The court also ordered Kress to pay $8,200 in restitution. Kress pleaded guilty on May 26, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregroy W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, on March 4, 2025, Kress shot and damaged a drone belonging to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies had been using the drone to conduct physical surveillance of Kress on his rural, multi-acre property as they attempted to arrest him on a warrant for felony criminal mischief. Kress had told his neighbors earlier that he would shoot at law enforcement officers if they tried to arrest him for damaging nearby fences. After taking Kress into custody, deputies obtained a search warrant and located 20-gauge shotgun shells in the area where Kress had been shooting at the drone. Inside the residence, they found three firearms—a 20-gauge shotgun, a rifle, and a pistol.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Belkis H. Callaos.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
Dog Fighting Investigation Results in Largest Single Property Dog Seizure in South Carolina History, 7 Men ChargedRead the Press Release
FLORENCE, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Florence, returned a nine-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging seven individuals from Chesterfield County for conspiracy to violate the Animal Welfare Act, possession of pit bull-type dogs for animal fighting ventures, and unlawful possession of firearms.
The indictment alleges that from September 2019 to July 2026, the defendants maintained properties where they bred, housed, and trained pit bull-type dogs intended for dog fighting. They are also alleged to have used training equipment and paraphernalia in their operations, including treadmills, bite sticks, heavy metal chains, and breeding stands. The defendants also allegedly shared images and videos of dogs fighting and injured dogs.
According to allegations in the indictment, law enforcement seized over 100 dogs and dog fighting paraphernalia from the defendants between April 2026 to July 2026:- On or about April 26, 2026, Lonnie Shane Gaskins, 28,a former Chesterfield County Sheriff’s deputy, possessed seven pit bull-type dogs, as well as dog fighting paraphernalia, including but not limited to a hanging scale, weighted collars and chains, and a carpet containing canine blood.
- On or about April 26, 2026, Terry James Gaskins, 49, possessed approximately 27 pit bull-type dogs, as well as dog fighting paraphernalia, including but not limited to a hanging scale, heavy chains, treadmill, and pedigrees.
- On or about June 9, 2026, Shamar O'Ryan Sutton, 32, possessed approximately eight pit bull-type dogs, as well as dog fighting paraphernalia, including but not limited to a heavy collar and chains, pedigrees, and a treadmill.
- On or about June 9, 2026, Avery Robinson, 36, possessed approximately 77 pit bull-type dogs, as well as dog fighting paraphernalia, including but not limited to a break/bite sticks, slat mill, pedigrees, and heavy chains. This is the largest single property dog seizure in South Carolina history.
- On or about July 22, 2026, Derwayne Terry Miller, Sr., A/K/A “Fuzz,” 46, and Derwayne Terry Miller, Jr., a/k/a “DJ,” 26, possessed approximately eight pit bull-type dogs, as well as dog fighting paraphernalia, including but not limited to a heavy collar and chains, animal medications, and animal wound treatment spray.
- On or about July 22, 2026, Kevin Knotts, 46, possessed seven pit bull-type dogs, as well as dog fighting paraphernalia, including but not limited to a pit, breeding stand, and animal medications.
“Dog fighting turns suffering into entertainment and violence into a business,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “We’ll continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate animal cruelty and speak for these defenseless dogs, who cannot speak for themselves.”
“USDA OIG will not tolerate the violent and inhuman practice of dog fighting,” said Inspector General John Walk. “I commend our law enforcement agents for rescuing more than 100 dogs from this heinous cruelty and bringing the defendants to face justice.”
“This is yet another case that illustrates a criminal enterprise built on malicious cruelty. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you live, or what you do for a living, if you decide to fight dogs in this state, we will find you and you will be held accountable,” said SLED Chief Mark Keel. “SLED is proud to partner with local, state, and federal law enforcement, as well as with animal services organizations, to rid our state of this horrific crime. Together, we are sending a clear message: Dogfighting will not be tolerated in South Carolina.”The defendants face a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment for the animal welfare offenses. Miller Jr. and Terry Gaskins face up to 15 years for the firearm offenses.
The case was investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Marshal Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle E. Klein and Holly Brown are prosecuting the case.
All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.###
District of Arizona Charges 265 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from Aug. 29 through Sep. 4, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 265 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 128 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 124 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 12 cases against 13 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE- Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Recent matters of interest include:
United States v. Andrew Lee Esquivel. On August 29, 2026, Andrew Lee Esquivel was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. On August 28, 2026, a Pinal County deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Chevrolet Trax on I-10. As the deputy approached the Trax, he saw the passenger lying on the floorboard of the car. The car also contained a camouflage backpack, camouflage clothing, and carpet shoes in the back seat. When the deputy returned to his vehicle, the passenger fled on foot and ran across both lanes of traffic. The passenger was located 2 hours later, several miles away from the original stop. Border Patrol agents confirmed the passenger is a citizen of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. [26-MJ-6362]
United States v. Julian Beltran-Montoya. On September 3, 2026, Julian Beltran-Montoya, was charged by criminal complaint with Reentry of a Removed Alien. Beltran-Montoya had been previously removed from the United States in 2020. In 2012, he was convicted of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, in the United States District Court, District of Wyoming. Beltran-Montoya was sentenced to 120 in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release in that case. [26-MJ-3322]
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-152_September 4, 2026 Immigration Enforcement
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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.Dillon man sentenced to 18 months for unlawfully possessing firearmsRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – A Dillon man who unlawfully kept a cache of firearms in his home was sentenced today to 18 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a fine of $10,000, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Cameron Duane Haworth, 50, pleaded guilty in April 2026 to unlawfully possessing a firearm.
U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Haworth was a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms. When law enforcement served a search warrant on Haworth’s home on Aug. 13, 2025, agents found six firearms with ammunition. In an interview following the search, Haworth admitted to law enforcement that he knew the guns were there.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katy Stack prosecuted the case. The ATF conducted the investigation.
Dent County Caregiver Admits Stealing from ClientRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A caregiver from Dent County, Missouri on Friday admitted stealing at least $321,000 from a client.
Loretta Pyeatt, 52, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of fraud in connection with access devices. She admitted that she worked for the victim from roughly July 2023 to September 2025. At the time she started, the victim had at least $232,026 and was receiving Social Security Administration retirement benefits and Veteran’s Affairs benefits monthly. He gave Pyeatt his debit cards so she could buy groceries for him. Pyeatt, however, used the card to make cash withdrawals and additional unauthorized purchases. Before Pyeatt started working for the victim, he had 20 to 30 debit transactions per month. That ballooned to as many as 330 transactions per month. By July 2025, the victim’s account balance had declined to less than $5,600.
Pyeatt is scheduled to be sentenced on December 9. The charge carries a potential penalty of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both prison and a fine.
The Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General and the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jolene Taaffe is prosecuting the case.
Dallas man sentenced to 720 months for sexual exploitation of a minor and offenses committed while a registered sex offenderRead the Press Release
DALLAS — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a Dallas man was sentenced yesterday to 60 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a minor and committing that offense while required to register as a sex offender.
Eduardo Brito Leaton pleaded guilty May 14 to sexual exploitation of a child and to committing that felony offense while required to register as a sex offender.
“Eduardo Leaton’s actions inflicted profound and lasting harm on a vulnerable child, and today’s lengthy sentence underscores this office’s unwavering commitment to protecting the most innocent among us,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “In this district, those who target minors will face the full measure of federal justice. We will use every lawful tool at our disposal to ensure offenders are removed from our communities and held fully accountable.”
“Predators who target children, whether across the street or across international borders, will be held accountable,” said HSI Dallas Deputy Special Agent in Charge Antwoine Jones. “This 60-year sentence reflects the seriousness of Leaton’s crimes and the unwavering commitment of our HSI special agents, and all our law enforcement partners in the fight to protect children and pursue justice for victims.”
According to court documents, on June 15, 2024, Leaton used an internet‑connected cellular telephone to induce a 13‑year‑old minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual media, which were transmitted via the Internet, a means of interstate and foreign commerce. Investigators later traced the communications to Leaton, who was residing at the Dallas Transitional Housing Center. His cellular telephone was seized during a parole‑related contact, and a search warrant revealed digital evidence supporting the offense.
Court documents revealed that Leaton was required to register as a sex offender due to multiple prior convictions, including three Dallas County convictions from 2021 for possession or promotion of child pornography, which require lifetime registration under Texas law, and several convictions from Los Angeles County, California, for sexual offenses involving minors. While under those registration requirements, he committed the June 2024 offense involving the minor victim.
Chief U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor sentenced Leaton to 600 months in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a child and 120 months for committing a felony offense against a minor victim while being required to register as a sex offender. The sentences will run consecutively for a total of 720 months.
Homeland Security Investigations Dallas; Waterloo, Canada Regional Police Department; Texas Department of Public Safety; Dallas Police Department and Dallas County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandie Wade from the Violent Crimes section prosecuted the case.
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D.C. Man Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Strangling His Pregnant Girlfriend in Front of His MotherRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Davon Willis, 28, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced yesterday to two years in prison, in D.C. Superior Court for charges related to strangling his pregnant girlfriend in August 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Willis was found guilty of one count attempted strangulation and one count of simple assault on June 23, 2026. The Honorable Carmen McLean ordered Willis to the prison term to be followed by three years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, on August 4, 2025, Willis and his pregnant girlfriend were having a verbal argument, when the defendant put his hands around his pregnant girlfriend’s neck after pushing her on to the bed. The defendant did this in front of his own mother, who ultimately called the police. Unfortunately, this was not a unique incident – the defendant had strangled the victim just a few months prior, which went unreported until a later date.
Willis was arrested on August 5, 2025, and has been in custody since.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Fultz, who prosecuted the case.
2025 FD3 009005
Co-Defendants Sentenced in Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy That Resulted in the Deaths of Three PeopleRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that two co-defendants, James P. Cullen, V., age 32, and Michelle Lindsay Ferranti, age 33, both of Bartonsville, Pennsylvania, were sentenced on September 3, 2026, by United States District Judge Julia K. Munley, for a drug trafficking conspiracy that resulted in death. The Court imposed a sentence of 25 years in prison, as to Cullen, and 20 years in prison, as to Ferranti. Supervised release will follow the prison sentences of both defendants.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, co-defendants Cullen and Ferranti participated in a conspiracy to traffic in fentanyl wherein the drug distribution resulted in the deaths of three individuals. The co-defendants each previously pled guilty to the charges.
“Cullen and Ferranti used the dark web, cryptocurrency and the U.S. mail to distribute deadly fentanyl into communities across the country, and three people lost their lives as a result,” said HSI Philadelphia acting Special Agent in Charge Nathan Abel. “Today’s sentences reflect the seriousness of their crimes and the strength of HSI Philadelphia’s partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. HSI will continue working with our federal, state and local partners to identify and dismantle drug trafficking networks wherever they operate, online or off, and to seek justice for the victims and families devastated by these crimes.”
“These sentences reflect the seriousness of using the U.S. Mail to distribute deadly narcotics.” Stated Christopher Nielsen, Inspector in Charge of the Philadelphia Division for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “The Postal Inspection Service remains committed to identifying and dismantling criminal networks that misuse the mail and holding those responsible accountable. We thank our partners at Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania for their exceptional work in bringing this case to a successful conclusion.”
This case was the result of a joint investigation between Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) into a darknet vendor who was engaged in the sale of opioids over the internet. The opioids were sold in exchange for cryptocurrency and then distributed via the United States Mail. The various parcels containing drugs were sent from locations in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. Beginning in October of 2022, undercover agents conducted various purchases from the darknet vendor which were seized and later searched and found to contain fentanyl. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement determined that the darknet vendor profile was being run by co-defendants Cullen and Ferranti. In February of 2023, undercover agents executed a search warrant at the Cullen/Ferranti residence and recovered United States Currency, various electronic devices, drug ledgers consistent with narcotics distribution, cryptocurrency cold storage wallets, and controlled substances themselves. Law enforcement identified almost 1,000 entries in the drug ledgers, dating back to the summer of 2021, mailed to 49 states and various countries overseas. Upon seizing Cullen and Ferranti’s drug ledgers, law enforcement was able to further their investigation to connect shipments that were mailed out to three different people in three different states who ultimately died as a result of overdosing on the drugs that Cullen and Ferranti distributed.
The case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). Assistant U.S. Attorney Luisa Honora Berti prosecuted the case.
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Co-Conspirators Sentenced for Directing Fentanyl Distribution While IncarceratedRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Leundro Childs (42, Tampa) and Edilberto Mojica (41, Polk County) have been sentenced by U.S. District Judge John L. Badalamenti for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Childs was sentenced to 19 years and 7 months and Mojica was sentenced to 24 years and 4 months in federal prison. Both previously pleaded guilty. The court also ordered Childs to forfeit a HiPoint rifle, magazines, and assorted ammunition, assets used to facilitate the commission of the offenses. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, Mojica, while serving a sentence in the Florida Department of Corrections, instructed Childs and another co-conspirator to travel to Georgia to purchase large quantities of fentanyl and bring it back for distribution in the Middle District of Florida. Childs, after being arrested on unrelated narcotics possession charges, directed the continued movement and distribution of the fentanyl. Following an undercover purchase from co-conspirators, investigators recovered more than 1,500 grams of fentanyl, two firearms, and materials used to package narcotics for sale.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael A. Peterson and Candace Garcia Rich.
Clewiston Career Offender Sentenced to More Than 19 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing FentanylRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – Johnny Lewis Hunter (53, Clewiston) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kyle Dudek to 19 years and 2 months in federal prison for distributing fentanyl. He pleaded guilty on June 3, 2026. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court records, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) received information that Hunter was distributing fentanyl in Moore Haven and Clewiston. Between January 6 and February 5, 2026, an undercover agent purchased a total of 139 grams of fentanyl from Hunter in Moore Haven. On March 26, 2026, the DEA executed an arrest warrant on Hunter and located an additional 81.4 grams of fentanyl in his possession.
Hunter was sentenced as a career offender due to his two prior federal drug trafficking convictions. At the time of arrest, Hunter was under supervised release for conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime out of the Western District of Virginia (5:14-cr-02) for which he previously served 10 years in federal prison. He also had a prior federal conviction for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base out of the Middle District of Florida (5:00-cr-38) for which he served 13 years in federal prison.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Redavid.
Christian Castro Indicted by Grand Jury for Making False StatementsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen for the District of Minnesota announced that on Sept. 2, a federal grand jury indicted Christian Jeremiah Castro, 52, of Texas, on six counts of making materially false statements to the FBI, during an interview on Jan. 14. DOJ continues to evaluate all facts and evidence in this case and has not ruled out additional charges.
Castro made an initial appearance on these charges before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Southern District of Texas today. If found guilty, Castro faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on each count.
According to the indictment, on Jan. 14, Castro and his partner, while working as Deportation Officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Person 1, a then-26-year-old citizen of Venezuela. Person 1 continued driving, and Castro pursued Person 1 both by vehicle and on foot. Castro attempted to apprehend Person 1 in the front yard of a north Minneapolis duplex. As Person 1 and Castro struggled on the ground, Person 2, a then-24-year-old resident of Venezuela, who also lived in the duplex residence, attempted to assist Person 1. The physical interaction between Castro, Person 1, and Person 2 lasted approximately 11 seconds.
After Person 1 freed himself from Castro’s grasp, both Person 1 and Person 2 ran into the duplex residence through the front door. As Person 1 and Person 2 entered the residence and began to close the front door, Castro stood up, drew his service weapon, and fired a single shot through the front door. Person 2 was struck in the leg, and the fired bullet continued through the entryway, and lodged in the wall of the downstairs apartment of the duplex residence.
When Castro fired the bullet, multiple persons were inside the duplex residence, including minor children.
Later that same night, an FBI Special Agent interviewed Castro as part of an FBI investigation. During the interview, Castro told the FBI Special Agent that as Castro attempted to handcuff Person 1, an unknown man grabbed a red broom from the front porch of the residence and started hitting Castro with the broom. As Castro was scuffling on the ground, Castro said that a third unknown man came out of the house, grabbed a black snow shovel from the front porch, and began hitting Castro with the shovel. Castro stated that Person 1 wiggled out of his sweater, stood up, and started hitting Castro with the broom, while Castro was still on the ground. Castro said that he tried to block strikes from the broom with his hand. Castro said the two men dropped the broom and snow shovel and started running towards the house after Castro reached for his gun. Castro said that he lifted his back off the ground and fired one round from his gun in the general direction of the men at the same time they started running. Castro said he believed he was on the ground fighting with the man he tried to apprehend for approximately three minutes.
Castro was indicted on six counts of knowingly and willfully making materially false statements to the FBI during the interview on or about Jan. 14.
This case was the result of an investigation by the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General, and the FBI with assistance from other law enforcement partners.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Note: View indictment here.
Chattanooga Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Exploitation of A MinorRead the Press Release
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – On September 3, 2026, Michael Ray Buckley, 34, currently of Chattanooga, Tennessee, was sentenced to 300 months by the Honorable Charles E. Atchley, Jr., United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Following his imprisonment, he will be on supervised release for 20 years and he will be required to register with state sex offender registries and comply with special sex offender conditions during his supervised release.
As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Buckley agreed to plead guilty to an indictment charging him with one count of exploitation of a minor in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a) and (e).
According to court filed documents, Buckley admitted that through his Instagram account of “candy_cams,” and other social media accounts using the internet, he solicited and recruited minor females to produce child pornography, paying the minors for produced images and videos through CashApp, and distributing child pornography to buyers online. To facilitate his communications with minor victims, Buckley falsely represented his identity, age (11-13), and gender. By exploiting these false identities, Buckley persuaded and induced the minor victims to create and transmit sexually explicit images of themselves. Buckley’s conduct reflected a deliberate and sustained pattern of predatory behavior directed toward children, intended to manipulate and entice minor victims into engaging in sexually explicit conduct and producing sexually explicit images for his personal financial gain and sexual gratification of his clients.
U. S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III, of the Eastern District of Tennessee, Special Agent in Charge, Terrence G. Riley, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Nashville Field Office, and the Hamilton County District Attorney’s Office made the announcement.
The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This investigation was led by FBI Chattanooga Resident Agency Special Agent Samuel K. Moore.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Charles D. Minor represented the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC 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 PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click the tab "resources.”
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Bozeman men sentenced to prison for trafficking meth from Las VegasRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – Two Bozeman men who brought meth up from Las Vegas into Montana were sentenced to prison this week, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Billy Eugene Dodson, 54, who pleaded guilty in May 2026 to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, was sentenced today to 15 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
Jamie Demetrius Williams, 38, who pleaded guilty in May 2026 to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, was sentenced this week to seven years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Dodson and Williams trafficked methamphetamine from Las Vegas to Montana in the summer of 2025. Williams had come to the attention of law enforcement in early June when he sold meth to an informant. A couple weeks later, investigators learned Williams and Dodson were planning to travel to Las Vegas to purchase meth.
Using a warrant, law enforcement tracked Williams’s vehicle from Las Vegas to Montana, and pulled the pair over in Silver Bow County. Investigators searched the car and found a handgun, a small amount of meth, and drug paraphernalia. Dodson admitted to owning the gun. Williams admitted they had travelled to Las Vegas to buy a pound of meth but “ran out of money.”
Law enforcement pulled over Dodson again on Aug. 10, 2025, as he returned from Las Vegas, finding just under a pound of meth in the glove compartment. Dodson admitted to making several trips to Las Vegas during the previous eight months, picking up pounds of meth each time to sell in Gallatin County.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Missouri River Drug Task Force and the FBI conducted the investigation.
Atlanta Man with Criminal Past Sentenced for Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A metro Atlanta resident with a lengthy criminal past, including aggravated assault and obstructing a police officer, was sentenced to serve more than eight years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm in the Middle District of Georgia.
“Convicted felons with violent histories who are caught illegally possessing firearms will face federal prosecution in the Middle District of Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. "I appreciate the dedicated efforts of our law enforcement partners who work tirelessly to bring repeat offenders to justice and keep our communities safe."
“The Butts County Sheriff's Office is grateful to the United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia, and United States Attorney William Keyes, for their partnership and commitment to prosecuting violent offenders,” said Butts County Sheriff Gary Long. “Through continued collaboration with our federal partners, we remain steadfast in our mission to ensure violent criminals are held accountable.”
La'Qyale Emmanuel Fortson, 35, of Riverdale, Georgia, and of Butts County, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 100 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on Sept. 3, after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on May 19. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents and statements in court, a deputy with the Butts County Sheriff’s Office stopped Fortson’s vehicle for following a tractor-trailer too closely on Interstate 75. The deputy approached the vehicle and detected an odor of marijuana when Fortson rolled down his window. Fortson denied the odor and advised he did not smoke marijuana. The deputy deployed a narcotics detection dog who performed a free air sniff of the vehicle. After the dog showed odor responses in two areas, the deputy advised he would be searching the vehicle. Fortson then admitted that he had marijuana in the center console. The search yielded a small quantity of suspected marijuana in the center console; an open tequila bottle behind the passenger seat; and an unloaded Glock pistol underneath the driver’s seat. The pistol was confirmed as stolen out of East Point, Georgia, and he said he purchased it from one of his “weed buddies.” Fortson admitted that he knew he was prohibited from possessing the pistol because he was a convicted felon. Fortson has a lengthy criminal history, to include prior convictions for aggravated assault, obstructing a peace officer, and battery.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
The Butts County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Criminal Chief Leah McEwen prosecuted the case for the Government.
Armed Waterbury Drug Dealer Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that FELIX NARVAEZ, 55, of Waterbury, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 60 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for a firearm possession offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between September and November 2024, Waterbury Police made multiple controlled purchases of cocaine from Narvaez. Narvaez was arrested on state charges on November 7, 2024. On that date, investigators searched his residence and vehicle and seized a loaded Ruger P90 .45 A.C.P handgun. cocaine that Narvaez intended to distribute, nearly $3,000 in cash, and other items.
Narvaez’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for firearm, assault, and controlled substances offenses.
Narvaez has been detained since his arrest. On April 9, 2026, he pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Waterbury Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha M. Freismuth and Mary G. Vitale.
Armed Robber Pleads Guilty to 2023 and 2024 Crime SpreeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Kwesi Pyne, 20, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today, for a series of robberies committed in October 2023 and February 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Pyne pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to two counts of armed robbery, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and one count each of assault with intent to commit robbery, attempted robbery and unauthorized use of a vehicle. Each armed robbery offense carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison.
Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe scheduled sentencing for December 18, 2026.
According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 9:30 a.m., on October 30, 2023, Pyne approached the victim in the alley behind 940 Randolph Street NW. The victim was on his way to work when the defendant approached him from behind and demanded that he hand over his car keys. When the victim refused, Pyne struck him multiple times, insisting on the keys. A bystander attempted to intervene, until the defendant produced a firearm, pointed it at the victim, and again demanded the car keys from the victim. The victim complied and threw the keys away from himself, Pyne retrieved them and walked towards the victim’s car, and the victim followed. As the victim attempted to gain entry into his own car, on the passenger side, the defendant entered the vehicle and drove away. At the time of this offense, Pyne was 17 years old, and this offense was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office under Title 16 of the D.C. Code.
On February 7, 2024, at approximately 9:00 a.m., Pyne approached another victim, as he was standing in an alleyway in the 3100 Block of Mount Pleasant Street NW, preparing to begin his work as a plumber. The defendant entered the alleyway, looked over the victim’s work tools and then turned to the victim. Pyne produced a firearm and demanded the victim’s wallet, and when the victim refused to hand it over, the defendant struck him in the face with the firearm before asking for it again. The defendant fled the scene without the wallet. The victim sustained a laceration to his face.
On February 12, 2024, at approximately 5:35 p.m., Pyne and other accomplices rode to 915 Spring Road, NW, outside of Raymond Education Campus, on bicycles. The victim had just arrived at that location and parked her car, a black Honda CRV, on the side of the road. She went inside the school, leaving her car running. One member of the group entered the car without permission and drove it away. Later this same day, at approximately 9:30 p.m., three victims were standing nearby a liquor store on Mount Pleasant Street NW, waiting for a family member, when the stolen black Honda CRV arrived and Pyne got out of the driver’s seat. A second accomplice exited the rear passenger seat. Both Pyne and his accomplice were armed, and they approached the three victims. One of the victims began to run, but Pyne pursued him, dragging him to the ground by the backpack the victim was wearing. Pyne then tore the backpack off the victim while pointing the firearm at his head. At the same time, the accomplice, holding the other two victims at gunpoint, went through their pockets and took, among other things, one victim’s cell phone and wallet. Both Pyne and his accomplice then re-entered the stolen CRV, with the victims’ belongings, and Pyne drove away.
Pyne was arrested on February 16, 2024, and has been in custody since.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Geoffrey Comber.
2024 CF3 001561
Alien Charged with Illegally Voting in Federal ElectionRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Union County woman was charged in a criminal complaint with illegally voting in a federal election, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced today.
“The integrity of our elections, which are fundamental to democracy, should be of utmost importance to every American,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “It is a cherished right for eligible American citizens, and only eligible American citizens, to vote for their representatives in government. Election fraud is a serious crime, and it is the duty of the Department of Justice to treat it as such.”
“Government has a responsibility to the people to safeguard elections. Even one illegal vote is one too many. Here in New Jersey, the federal government is taking this responsibility seriously and violations of federal election law will be investigated and prosecuted to preserve the integrity of our democracy and ensure that no citizens’ votes are diluted.”
- U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer
According to the criminal complaint, Mercedes Alexandra Cardoso, 41, of Union County was a non-citizen when she registered online via the New Jersey Division of Elections Online Voter Registration System. On her voter registration form she falsely certified and attested that she was a United States citizen. In order to register to vote and vote in federal elections, a person must be a United States citizen.
According to the criminal complaint, Cardoso cast a ballot in June 2024 primary election. That primary included candidates who were vying for election for the office of President and Vice President of the United States. At the time she cast her ballot, Cardoso, who entered the United States from Ecuador on a B-2 visa, was not a United States citizen and was therefore not authorized to vote in federal elections.
Cardoso was charged with Voting by an Alien in a Federal Election, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 611. She is scheduled to have an initial appearance on September 8, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge José R. Almonte in Newark federal court. If convicted of voting by an illegal alien, Cardoso faces a maximum sentence of 1 year’s imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy; Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy; and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, with the investigation.
The case was brought under the United States Attorney’s Office’s Election Integrity Task Force, a coalition of federal law enforcement partners focused on preserving and protecting the integrity of elections conducted in the District of New Jersey.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. McCarren of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Special Prosecutions Division.
The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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3 September 2026
Wolf Point man sentenced to over 10 years for beating a man to deathRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Wolf Point man who was part of group that beat a man to death was sentenced today to 10 years and 10 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Calvin Florin Lester, 37, pleaded guilty in May 2026 to voluntary manslaughter.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Lester was part of group that beat a man to death in an abandoned house on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.
The victim was found dead on Feb. 26, 2025, on the second floor of a house in Wolf Point, described by area residents as a local “flop house” where people occasionally went to drink and sleep. Investigators found that Lester and others after a night of drinking had gone in the house in the early morning hours of Feb. 26. They found the victim asleep on the second floor. With Lester were Abrianne Lillian Deserly, 26, and Dillon Demery Wetsit, 41.
An argument broke out and Lester, along with Deserly and Wetsit, began to hit the victim, beating him severely. At one point, the victim was placed in a chokehold while other members of the group hit him. A medical examination showed the victim died from “homicidal violence” with neck compression and blunt injuries to the head.
Deserly pleaded guilty in May to voluntary manslaughter; she will be sentenced on Sept. 14. Wetsit pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in June; he will be sentenced on Oct. 15.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Fort Peck Tribes Criminal Investigation and FBI conducted the investigation.
Wilmington Man Arrested on Child Pornography Charges Involving an 11-Year-OldRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – Federal agents arrested a Wilmington man on August 21, 2026, on charges of production of child pornography, attempted receipt of child pornography, and transfer of obscene material to a minor in connection with the FBI’s Summer Heat 2.0 initiative.
According to court documents, Vincent Valdivieso, 22, exchanged text messages with an 11-year-old victim in which he lied about his own age, repeatedly requested sexually explicit photographs, and attempted to arrange an in-person meeting with the victim. Over FaceTime and at Valdivieso’s direction, the victim engaged in sexually explicit conduct while Valdivieso masturbated.
Valdivieso is charged in a criminal complaint with production of child pornography and attempting to produce child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2251(a) and (e); attempted receipt of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2252(a)(2) and (b); and transfer of obscene material to a minor, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1470. If convicted, Valdivieso faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace made the announcement. The FBI’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Street Task Force and Delaware State Police investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Claudia L. Pare is prosecuting the case.
The FBI launched “Summer Heat” for the second year in a row, targeting violent crime on a nationwide scale. It launched this multi-pronged offensive to crush violent crime. By surging resources alongside federal, state, and local partners, executing federal warrants on violent criminals and fugitives, and dismantling violent gangs nationwide, the FBI seeks to aggressively restore safety in communities across the country.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
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 are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 26-mj-442.
The charges contained in the criminal complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Westlake Man Arrested on Federal Indictment Charging Him with Threatening President Trump’s Life and Cyberstalking His LawyerRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A resident of the Westlake neighborhood of Los Angeles and one-time podcaster was arrested today on a three-count federal grand jury indictment charging him with threatening to kill President Donald Trump and cyberstalking and harassing President Trump’s personal lawyer and that lawyer’s family.
Benjamin Azariah Southworth, 40, was arrested this morning and is expected to make his initial appearance and be arraigned this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
Southworth is charged with one count of threats against the President, one count of cyberstalking, and one count of harassing telephone calls in interstate communications.
“As threats against President Trump’s life escalate, the Department of Justice will respond with the full force of the law,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “We will hold perpetrators of violent threats accountable, and anyone who makes these threats online will not be allowed to hide behind their screens.”
“There is zero tolerance for political violence, especially for threats directed at the President,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “Threatening an elected official with violence is a serious offense, and you will be arrested and charged as Mr. Southworth found out this morning.”
“The U.S. Secret Service has zero tolerance for threats against the President of the United States,” said Armando Marquez, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The safety and security of those we protect is our highest priority, and we are committed to ensuring that anyone who threatens that – whether online or otherwise – will face justice. We are grateful for the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California for their partnership and thorough work in this case.”
“Cyberstalking and threats of murder are not considered mere political rhetoric under the law, but are serious criminal offenses that lead to prosecution, as today’s arrest highlights,” said Patrick Grandy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The FBI, working with our partners at the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, will ensure that threats and harassment against the President and others are addressed before threats turn to violence.”
According to the indictment that a federal grand jury returned on Wednesday, from January 2026 to May 2026, Southworth used social media accounts on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok as well as a website to publicly express his hatred toward President Trump and the President’s supporters. Southworth used these online platforms to publicly engage in and encourage the abuse and harassment of the President and to threaten violence against the President.
On April 7, 2026, Southworth posted a video on his Instagram account that contained a series of threats against President Trump, including, “I have been vocal in calling for the execution of Donald Trump” and “This government is illegitimate and out of control. It’s time for course correction. Kill Donald Trump.”
Three months earlier, Southworth published a post on his TikTok account listing the home address of a Victim 1 – an attorney who had been President Trump’s personal lawyer – along with a photograph of Victim 1 and another photograph of Victim 1’s residence. In the same posted, Southworth stated, “No peace for traitors.”
From January 2026 to May 2026, Southworth left a series of abusive messages online and over voicemail to Victim 2, who is Victim 1’s son, and made harassing telephone calls to Victim 3, who is Victim 1’s wife.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted, Southworth would face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for threatening the President, a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for cyberstalking, and a statutory maximum sentence of two years in federal prison for telephonic harassment.
The United States Secret Service and the FBI are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney William Kanellis of the Domestic Security and Immigration Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.
West Virginia Man Who Attempted to Carry Flashbang Grenade onto Plane Pleads Guilty to Possessing Unregistered FirearmRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Morgantown, West Virginia, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of possessing an unregistered firearm, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Zachary Velling, 27, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak on September 2, 2026.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on November 12, 2024, Velling entered security at the Pittsburgh International Airport and placed his carry-on luggage through the x-ray machine. Representatives with the Transportation Security Administration noticed a suspicious object within Velling’s luggage, which officers from the Allegheny County Police Department ultimately determined to be a MK24 MOD 0,6 Bang/Flash diversionary hand grenade. The grenade is a firearm and destructive device under federal law that was not registered to Velling in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
Judge Hornak scheduled Velling’s sentencing for January 7, 2027. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Allegheny County Police Department, and Transportation Security Administration conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Velling.
Webster Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Dealing Firearms and Possessing a MachinegunRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Webster, Mass. man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to illegally dealing firearms, including 3D-printed firearms and components, and possessing a machinegun.
Anthony Pietrowski, a/k/a “AJ,” 24, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful dealing in firearms without a license and one count of unlawful possession of a machinegun. United States District Judge Margaret Guzman scheduled sentencing for Dec. 7, 2026. Pietrowski was arrested and charged in January 2026 and subsequently released on conditions following a detention hearing.
Between August and October 2025, Pietrowski repeatedly sold privately made firearms and firearm components during four transactions in Webster. Among the items Pietrowski sold were a 3D-printed Glock-style pistol, multiple 3D-printed pistol frames and a machinegun conversion device designed for use with a Glock-style pistol. Pietrowski had never applied for or received a federal license to manufacture or deal firearms.
During the first transaction, Pietrowski described the firearm he sold as a custom build with a 3D-printed frame and discussed how he obtained components and assembled privately made firearms. Pietrowski also offered to supply additional frames and discussed future firearm sales. Over the following months, Pietrowski sold additional 3D-printed frames and another privately made pistol. In August 2025, Pietrowski sold a privately made pistol together with a machinegun conversion device, which constitutes a machinegun under federal law. Pietrowski later sold six additional 3D-printed pistol frames in October 2025.
The charge of unlawful dealing in firearms without a license provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of unlawful possession of a machinegun provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by United States Postal Inspection Service; Massachusetts State Police; and the Webster, Worcester and Warwick (RI) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary B. Stendig of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
Washington County Man Sentenced to 15 Years’ Imprisonment for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
ST. GEORGE, Utah – A Southern Utah man was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment after he posed as a ‘savant’ stock trader, obtaining at least $89 million from approximately 200 investors. The majority of the funds were either lost in day trading or misappropriated, resulting in an outstanding victim loss of at least $77 million, which he concealed.
The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Ann Marie McIff Allen, comes after Matthew Shane Perkins, 47, of Washington City, Utah, pleaded guilty on February 2, 2026, to wire fraud. In addition to his term of imprisonment, Perkins was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $77,683,091.96 in restitution to the victims.
According to court documents and statements made at Perkins’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, between August 2023 and November 2025, Perkins, who held himself as a “brilliant trader who consistently beat the market and rarely suffered losing days,” engaged in a scheme to defraud over 200 investors. As a result, investors lost $77,683,091.96. Many victims lost their live savings due to Perkins’s fraud. Perkins operated Forged Oak LLC and established a business arrangement with the principal of RentDue Capital LLC. Rent Due Capital recruited investors to three separate funds through social media, the company’s website, and meetings with investors. When RentDue Capital received investors’ money, the principal sent the funds to Perkins to day trade.
Perkins made repeated false representations regarding the funds’ performance and balance. This included providing records to RentDue Capital that falsified daily trading performance and altering brokerage statements to inflate the funds’ balance. In early November 2025, for example, Perkins provided RentDue Capital with an altered brokerage statement representing that over $133 million were in the funds. At that time, however, the funds had less than $13 million.
Unbeknownst to investors, Perkins lost tens of millions of dollars in day trading. He also misappropriated millions of dollars from investors for personal expenses, for a down payment on a home, and to purchase a cabin, luxury vehicles, an airplane, and a $80,000 hunt in British Columbia, among other things.
“Perkins’s elaborate scheme left a slew of victims in his wake. Many of the over 200 victims were everyday Americans who lost their lifesavings, all to fund Perkins’ extravagant lifestyle including his private plane, cabin, and luxury cars,” said U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak for the District of Utah. “I want to thank our law enforcement partners and the prosecution team for securing a significant sentence—one that we hope will deter others from attempting similar schemes.”
“Perkins financed a lavish lifestyle by stealing from his victims, stripping away not just their savings, but the hard-earned security they spent decades building,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls of the Salt Lake City FBI. “While no sentence can completely heal that financial and emotional damage, it ensures the defendant faces justice. The FBI will not tolerate fraud and will relentlessly pursue anyone who preys on investors for personal gain.”
“The sheer magnitude of this investment fraud and the financial harm it caused to hundreds of innocent victims underscores the seriousness of abuse to our financial systems,” said IRS Criminal Investigation San Francisco Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge David Lowe. “Perkins’ lengthy prison sentence and massive restitution order reflects the gravity of the defendant’s actions and makes clear that when someone lies about performance, conceals losses, and siphons off other people’s money for themselves, IRS CI will uncover the truth.”
The case was investigated jointly by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, St. George Resident Agency and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and the Utah Division of Securities.
Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Burton, Joseph Hood, and Travis K. Elder of The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
Venezuelans convicted of jackpotting a Kansas ATM face deportationRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN – Two Venezuelan nationals face possible deportation after completing prison sentences for stealing thousands of dollars from an automated teller machine (ATM) through jackpotting. Jackpotting involves installing malware into an ATM to force it to dispense money.
According to court documents, Luinder Daniel Cordova-Castellano, 20, and Jheison Alexander Lara-Sira, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of bank larceny.
Each defendant was sentenced to time served, but as part of their plea agreements, they waived their ability to contest should an immigration judge issue a final order of removal in accordance with the Immigration and Nationality Act.
In December 2025, Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call about suspicious activity at a bank in Manhattan. After driving up to an ATM, a witness reported seeing a man run away from the ATM then flee in a dark colored Toyota Prius. Deputies spotted the vehicle and followed it to a business where they approached the occupants, Cordova-Castellano and Lara-Sira.
The smell of marijuana gave deputies probable cause search of the vehicle. Inside of a backpack, law enforcement found approximately $15,000 in cash. Deputies located a laptop, keyboard, cables, tools, and a wireless hotspot in the vehicle.
While executing a search warrant on Cordova-Castellano’s cellphone, law enforcement found chat conversations in Spanish about ATMs and photos of ATMs.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division doesn’t directly take part in deportation hearings. However, when we are prosecuting non-citizens for federal criminal offenses, we are cognizant of when their conduct merits prompt removal from our country, saving the taxpayer the cost of incarceration,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “By offering plea agreements that include restrictions on appealing removal orders, we are helping to expedite the process of extracting convicted felons from within our borders and minimizing the expense of their prison stay.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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United States Attorney Robert Frazer Encourages Schools, Youth Organizations to Partner with DOJ on Online Child Exploitation PreventionRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – United States Attorney Robert Frazer is encouraging New Jersey schools, youth-serving organizations, athletic programs and other community groups to take advantage of free training and prevention resources available through the Department of Justice to help protect children from online sexual exploitation and abuse.
The call comes as the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) launches an expanded effort to engage schools and other organizations in preventing online exploitation of children. In an open letter issued this week, Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva encouraged organizations that work with children to partner with the Department on prevention and education efforts and highlighted resources available to help communities address emerging threats, including online grooming, sextortion, sadistic online exploitation and the misuse of artificial intelligence to create sexually explicit deepfake images of children.
The initiative builds on prevention efforts already underway in New Jersey. Last month, our office obtained an admission of guilt by a defendant who had persuaded and enticed minors to produce and send child pornography. In addition, a defendant was sentenced to 324 months for multiple child exploitation offenses. In June, our office secured a 320 months prison sentence for a defendant who was producing child pornography. We look forward to continuing to work with the community to find and prosecute cases of child exploitation.
“The digital world is evolving faster than ever, and with it come increasingly sophisticated threats to our children. By the time law enforcement becomes involved, it is often too late to prevent the harm that has already been done to a victim. The Department of Justice is providing these resources to help parents, concerned citizens, and communities recognize the warning signs, take action, and, most importantly, prevent grave harm before it occurs.”
- U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer
Training can be arranged virtually or in person, depending on the needs of the organization. The Department of Justice’s CEOS provides free prevention programming to schools and other organizations through in-person presentations and webinars and can help connect organizations with prevention experts. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey can also help connect New Jersey organizations with Assistant U.S. Attorneys and federal agents with experience investigating and prosecuting online child exploitation and related offenses who can provide education and outreach in their areas of expertise.
Organizations interested in arranging prevention programming or learning more about available resources can contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey at [email protected]. CEOS's prevention resources are available through the Department of Justice's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section Prevention webpage.
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United States Attorney Peter McNeilly Encourages Schools, Youth Organizations to Partner with DOJ on Online Child Exploitation PreventionRead the Press Release
DENVER- United States Attorney Peter McNeilly is encouraging Colorado schools, youth-serving organizations, athletic programs, and other community groups to take advantage of free training and prevention resources available through the Department of Justice to help protect children from online sexual exploitation and abuse.
The call comes as the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) launches an expanded effort to engage schools and other organizations in preventing online exploitation of children. In a recent open letter, Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva encouraged organizations that work with children to partner with the Department on prevention and education efforts and highlighted resources available to help communities address emerging threats, including online grooming, sextortion, sadistic online exploitation, and the misuse of artificial intelligence to create sexually explicit deepfake images of children.
“Protecting children in online environments and teaching them to navigate threats on their own are critical parts of fostering healthy development in today’s society,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. “To be effective, adults who teach, coach, mentor, and care for our kids need to understand online exploitation, what warnings signs to look for, and what to do when a child is at risk. We want to be a resource for our communities to help young people remain safe online.”
Training can be arranged virtually or in person, depending on the needs of the organization. The Department of Justice’s CEOS provides free prevention programming to schools and other organizations through in-person presentations and webinars and can help connect organizations with prevention experts. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado can also help connect Colorado organizations with Assistant U.S. Attorneys and federal agents with experience investigating and prosecuting online child exploitation and related offenses who can provide education and outreach in their areas of expertise.
Organizations interested in arranging prevention programming or learning more about available resources can contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado at [email protected]. Prevention resources are also available through the Department of Justice's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section Prevention webpage.
U.S. and UK Launch First-of-Its-Kind Joint Alliance to Dismantle Global Scam CentersRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, together with the Crown Prosecution Service of England & Wales and the National Crime Agency of the United Kingdom announced today the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Scam Center Strike Force and its United Kingdom counterparts. The MOU is the first-of-its kind related to international cooperation on disabling scam centers committing cryptocurrency and cyber-enabled investment fraud (CIF) and other schemes, which are ravaging the American people of approximately $10 billion in losses per year.
"The United Kingdom is one of our oldest allies and partners. We've stood side by side to bring down global threats in multiple wars, and today we commit to stand together in the war on transnational organized crime, " said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. "Together we will disable the Chinese TOC networks that are operating these scam compounds and depriving our citizens of their hard earned funds, all while using human-trafficked labor to increase their profit. Standing together, we are invincible.”
At an event earlier today, hosted at the residence of Sir Christian Turner KCMG, His Majesty’s Ambassador to the United States, U.S. Attorney Pirro was joined by Crown Prosecutor for England and Wales Stephen Parkinson and National Crime Agency Director General Graeme Biggar, who signed the MOU along with Pirro on behalf of their respective agencies. Under the terms of the MOU, each will conduct parallel investigation into common targets, share information targeting of organized crime syndicates, discuss which jurisdictions to bring specific cases of common interest, and generally prioritize cases on this threat to achieve mutual results.
Both the UK and US counterparts had already identified significant cases of overlap, and committed to joining forces for an in-person disruption event with private industry partners, hosted by the National Crime Agency in London in early October. The MOU and joint efforts mark a new phase of international partnerships for the Scam Center Strike Force, which seeks to maximize impact by building a coalition of like-minded prosecution and investigative teams.
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About the Scam Center Strike Force
The Scam Center Strike Force was officially launched by U.S. Attorney Pirro in November 2025 to address the growing threat posed by Chinese organized crime syndicates operating scam centers primarily in Southeast Asia. The Strike Force targets cryptocurrency investment fraud, cyber-enabled fraud, human trafficking, and money laundering operations that have cost American victims billions of dollars.
According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), cyber-enabled fraud schemes were responsible for almost 85% of all losses reported to IC3 in 2025. Within that category, CIF schemes have continued to grow, and the IC3 calculated the reported losses from CIF scams rose, from $4.57 billion in 2023, to $8.65 billion in 2025, an increase of 89%.[1] These figures, largely based on losses reported by victims, likely significantly under-represent the true loss amounts incurred by Americans, since most fraud victims do not report to IC3, if at all.
On March 6, 2026, President Trump signed an Executive Order directing the Administration to prioritize cybercrime, fraud, and predatory schemes draining American families of their life savings. Through the Executive Order, President Trump is unleashing every available tool to stop foreign-backed criminal networks that exploit vulnerable Americans through cyber-enabled fraud. The Scam Center Strike Force is a critical node in executing the mission outlined in the President’s Order.
Founded by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, the Strike Force has been joined it its work by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, Justice Department’s Criminal Division, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations-DC, as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Alaska, Rhode Island, Hawaii, and Western Washington. The Strike Force works in collaboration with other agencies, including the Treasury and State Departments. The Strike Force works in strategic partnership with private industry and calls on all U.S. businesses to take more proactive steps to protect users from scam operations.
The Scam Center Strike Force will use every tool available to help secure Main Street Americans from these scams. With its interagency and public partners, it will educate Americans on how to identify these scams, prevent generational wealth from flowing from America into the pockets of Chinese organized crime, and work with unwavering focus to return stolen funds to victims.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen P. Seifert for the District of Columbia directs the Strike Force.
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas surpasses 100 prosecutors, marking historic staffing milestoneRead the Press Release
DALLAS — The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas today announced that it has surpassed 100 Assistant U.S. Attorneys, the largest onboarding of federal prosecutors in the office’s history. Since taking office in November 2025, U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould has led an unprecedented, district wide hiring initiative—bringing aboard more than 40 AUSAs in just 10 months and assembling what he describes as “a championship caliber team dedicated to protecting the people of North Texas.”
This hiring surge has stretched across the entire district, with prosecutors added in Dallas, Fort Worth, Amarillo, Abilene, Lubbock and Wichita Falls, strengthening federal enforcement capacity in every corner of the Northern District of Texas. The expansion comes at a pivotal moment: the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex is on pace to soon become the third largest metropolitan area in the United States, reflecting rapid population growth, increased economic activity and the corresponding rise in complex criminal threats.
“When I stepped into this role, my immediate priority was to build the strongest, most capable prosecutorial team this office has ever had,” said U.S. Attorney Raybould. “We set out to hire the best of the best—no matter where they were, no matter their background, no matter the competition—and bring them to North Texas to serve the public. Like a general manager building a professional sports franchise, we sought out top talent with proven grit, skill, and integrity. Today, that vision has become reality.”
The surge of new prosecutors reflects a strategic effort to strengthen all aspects of federal enforcement, from violent crime and drug trafficking to financial fraud and corporate misconduct, cyber intrusion, national security threats, civil enforcement, and appellate advocacy.
The office has drawn from a deep talent pool, recruiting experienced state and federal prosecutors, former federal judicial clerks, trial attorneys with complex litigation backgrounds, subject matter experts, and lawyers from the country’s leading private law firms. The new prosecutors are graduates of leading law schools across the country including the University of Texas, Texas Tech, SMU, Pepperdine, Harvard, Yale, UCLA, Baylor, Notre Dame, Mississippi, Tulane, Texas A&M, Case Western Reserve, Loyola Chicago, George Washington University, Georgetown, St. Louis University, and other nationally recognized institutions. Several are veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. Many of these hires relocated to Dallas specifically for the opportunity to serve in the Northern District of Texas.
“North Texas is one of the fastest growing regions in the country, and the challenges we face are evolving just as quickly,” the U.S. Attorney continued. “To meet those challenges, we invested aggressively in people, the most important asset any office has. The attorneys joining our ranks bring exceptional courtroom experience, strategic insight, and a deep commitment to justice. Together, we are elevating the strength and capacity of this office so that we can protect the almost 9 million folks in North Texas.”
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U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois Warns Public About Phone Spoofing ScamRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois is alerting the public to recent reports of fraudulent phone calls in which scammers spoof official office telephone numbers in an attempt to deceive and defraud individuals.
These callers may claim to be employees of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, use the names of real staff members, and pressure individuals with threats or demands for payment. The U.S. Attorney’s Office does not request money, personal financial information, or sensitive identifying details over the phone.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains steadfast in protecting the public and ensuring individuals are not exploited through impersonation schemes. These scams succeed by casting doubt and fear into their victims, pressuring them to reveal information they would otherwise keep secure. We will not allow these tactics to undermine the trust and safety of our communities,” said United States Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore. “My office will never stop working to safeguard the citizens of the Central District of Illinois.”
If you receive a suspicious call:
- Document the name and details the caller provides.
- Hang up immediately and Call the U.S. Attorney’s Office directly using the publicly listed numbers.
- State that you may have been a target of a spoofing scam and ask to speak with the individual by name to verify whether the call was legitimate.
Anyone who believes they have been targeted by this scam is encouraged to report the incident to the FBI at https://www.fbi.gov/tips or 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324)
U.S. Attorney’s Office Participates in its First H.O.P.E. EventRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina took part in its first H.O.P.E. outreach event in support of International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, 2026. U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle took the recommendation of the dedicated victim’s advocates to update the H.E.A.T. program to the Healing Opioid Prevention Education (H.O.P.E.) program. H.O.P.E. focuses on reducing the harm heroin and opiate abuse inflicted on North Carolina families by increasing community awareness of the epidemic.
During the event, staff from the Eastern District actively engaged with the public to explain how heroin and opiate abuse continue to harm North Carolina families and communities. They spoke with attendees about the severity of the epidemic, shared firsthand knowledge from their work across the district, and emphasized the importance of community awareness and prevention. In addition to these conversations, staff members distributed valuable resources, connected individuals with supportive services, and offered guidance to those seeking help for themselves or loved ones. Their efforts ensured that community members left the event better informed, better equipped, and more empowered to confront the challenges posed by opioid abuse.
The United States Attorney’s Office remains committed to supporting families and communities affected by opioids and individuals seeking treatment.
For more information or assistance with the H.O.P.E. Program, please contact our office at [email protected].
U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey Encourages Schools to Partner with the Department of Justice to Address Online Child ExploitationRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey is encouraging schools, youth organizations, athletic programs, and other community groups across the Northern District of West Virginia to take advantage of free training and prevention resources offered by the Department of Justice to help keep children safe online.
This outreach comes as the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) expands its work with schools and youth‑serving organizations to address the growing threats children face online. In a letter released this week, Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva invited organizations that work with children to partner with the Department on prevention and education efforts. The letter highlights a range of resources available to help communities understand and respond to emerging online risks, including grooming, sextortion, harmful online content, and the misuse of artificial intelligence to create dangerous deepfake images involving children.
“The online dangers that our children face are real and frightening, but there are tools available to help prevent victimization,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. “Schools and youth-centered organizations can play a powerful role in protecting children by using the free trainings offered by the Department of Justice.”
Organizations can choose virtual or in‑person training based on their needs. CEOS offers free prevention programming through webinars and presentations and can connect groups with experts who specialize in online safety. The U.S. Attorney’s Office can also help West Virginia organizations connect with Assistant U.S. Attorneys and federal agents who investigate and prosecute online child exploitation cases. These professionals are available to provide education and outreach tailored to the issues communities are facing.
Any organization interested in scheduling training or learning more about available resources can reach out to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia at [email protected] or contact CEOS directly at [email protected]. Additional prevention resources are available on the Department of Justice's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section Prevention webpage.
Two Men Indicted for Robbery of Isle of Capri CasinoRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Two men have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their role in a robbery at a casino in Boonville, Mo. earlier this year.
Benjamin Michael-Dass Charles, of Columbia, Mo., and Hollis Cortez Vanleer of Normal, Ill., were charged with various counts relating to the robbery of the Isle of Capri Casino, including conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and a substantive charge of interfering with commerce by robbery. Additionally, both Charles and Vanleer are charged with brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Vanleer is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on March 25, 2026, Charles and Vanleer are alleged to have driven to, parked, and entered the Isle of Capri Casino dressed in black and wearing hats, glasses, and face coverings. One defendant was carrying an AR style rifle, and the other was carrying a 9mm pistol as they made their way through the casino to the main bank area where money was kept. Both took money out of a cash drawer, placed it into a duffel bag, then jumped back over the front counter, ran through the casino, out the front door, and then jumped in their car and drove away. The total amount taken in the robbery was $1,275,999.
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 Jim Lynn. It was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Boonville, Missouri Police Department, Cooper County Sheriff’s Department, and Howard County Sheriff’s Department.
Texas National Guardsman Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A Texas man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 10 years in prison for possessing prepubescent child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.
According to court documents, Estin Cole West, 25, operated a Google account that had been identified as saving 81 videos and images of suspected child sexual abuse material in November 2023 when he was living in Laredo. An investigation by Homeland Security Investigations revealed the Google account, IP address, and two associated email addresses all belonged to West.
HSI agents also learned that West was employed by the Texas National Guard and had recently been stationed at a military installation in Del Rio. During an interview with West, agents located multiple videos depicting CSAM in a locked folder within West’s phone, as well as a Telegram application that also contained several batches of CSAM. A forensic analysis of West’s phone returned 512 images and 726 videos depicting child pornography, including images of bestiality and prepubescent children.
West was arrested on Dec. 6, 2024. He pleaded guilty on March 24, 2025.
ICE HSI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nallely Duarte prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Tampa Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison and Ordered to Pay over $700,000 to the Internal Revenue ServiceRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – Mahmoud Mehdi has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington to three years and ten months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and making and subscribing a false tax return. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $137,931.33, the proceeds of his criminal conduct, and ordered Mehdi to pay restitution in the amount of $732,521.18. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, beginning in January 2019, and continuing through December 2022, Mehdi conspired with others to commit wire fraud by knowingly causing the electronic submission of fraudulent forms to the IRS. The tax returns contained fabricated figures for gambling winnings and losses, as well as for federal tax withholding amounts (based on the fake gambling winnings). The false tax returns requested substantial refunds from the IRS that the taxpayers were not legally entitled to receive. The total intended tax loss from Mehdi’s conduct was $1,401,587.88. The actual tax loss was $732,521.18, which was paid by the IRS to taxpayers, including Mehdi, either as tax refunds or credits applied to prior debts.
“Tax fraud isn’t just a numbers game—it’s a crime that harms every honest taxpayer,” said Charles Miller, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. “This sentencing reinforces that those who cheat the system will be held accountable.”
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Samantha Newman, Brooke Padgett and Jennifer Peresie. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne C. Nebesky.
Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to Four Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Synthetic Cannabinoids to Jail InmatesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to four years in federal prison for distributing synthetic cannabinoids to prison and jail inmates and others throughout the country.
In 2024 and 2025, DENIS JOINER processed powder synthetic cannabinoids into liquid form, which he then used to soak sheets of paper and books. Joiner disguised the paper and books as inmate reading material or legal documents and mailed them to customers in federal and state correctional institutions in the Chicago area and throughout the United States.
Joiner produced the drug-soaked paper in a residence in Calumet City, Ill. On July 29, 2025, law enforcement agents conducted a court-authorized search of the residence and discovered what appeared to be a makeshift laboratory, with multiple Pyrex trays, bottles, funnels, mixing bowls, and latex gloves, as well as shipping-related items, including mailing labels containing the names of correctional institutions. Agents seized more than 1,500 grams of MDMB 4-en PINACA in powder form.
Synthetic cannabinoids are a class of controlled substance that are chemically similar to marijuana but significantly more potent. Synthetic cannabinoids pose a risk of overdose and could cause seizures, stroke, heart attacks, and death.
Joiner, 33, of Lansing, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal drug charge. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Jeremy C. Daniel sentenced Joiner to four years in federal prison.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; Todd C. Smith, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the DEA; Nicholas Bucciarelli, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Thomas J. Dart, Cook County Sheriff.
“Drug trafficking is a serious offense, and the drugs sold here are dangerous,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan L. Shih argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Even more concerning, defendant distributed cannabinoids into prisons and jails, creating a risk that inmates would be subjected to overdoses and potentially death.”
Sioux Falls Gang Members Indicted for Racketeering Involving Attempted Murder and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a federal grand jury has indicted three Sioux Falls, South Dakota, men for Conspiracy to Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering; Possession, Brandishing, and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence; and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The indictment was filed in August 2026.
Nathan Carlos Hernandez, age 20, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on August 26, 2026, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment. Sebastian Michael Waters, age 19, appeared before Magistrate Judge Duffy on August 20, 2026, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment. Tino Sage Roubideaux, age 29, appeared before Magistrate Judge Duffy on August 10, 2026, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction for Conspiracy to Murder in Aid of Racketeering and for Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and Aiding and Abetting is 10 years’ imprisonment. The maximum penalty upon conviction for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering and Aiding and Abetting is 20 years’ imprisonment. The maximum penalty upon conviction for Discharging a Firearm during and in relation to a Crime of Violence and Aiding and Abetting is a mandatory minimum of 10 years’ up to Life imprisonment, to be served consecutively to the crime of violence of attempted murder or assault with a dangerous weapon. The maximum penalty upon conviction for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person is 15 years imprisonment. The charges also carry a maximum fine of up to $250,000, a term of supervised release of up to five years following a term of imprisonment, a special assessment, forfeiture, and restitution.
According to the charging document, Hernandez, Waters, and Roubideaux were members of the Gangster Disciples (GD), a gang with members and associates located throughout Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and elsewhere. The gang is alleged to have committed, attempted to commit, and conspired to commit acts of violence, including acts involving assault, as well as other crimes, including drug dealing and firearms trafficking. Participation in criminal activity by a GD member (sometimes referred to as “work”), especially violence directed at persons perceived as a threat to the gang, increased the respect accorded to the member and could result in the member’s elevation and increased status within the gang. One of the alleged purposes of the gang was to keep victims, other gang members, rivals, and community members in fear of the gang.
As alleged in the indictment, Hernandez, Waters, and Roubideaux conspired to murder a person, and on January 4, 2026, these defendants located the victim at a business in Sioux Falls and attempted to murder him by shooting him more than one time. Two firearms were used in the attack. As gang members, these defendants sought to maintain or increase their respective position within the Gangster Disciples.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). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri is prosecuting the case.
All defendants were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date of October 26, 2026, has been set.
Significant drug distributor for family-based drug trafficking organization sentenced to nine years in prisonRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 22-year-old Federal Way, Washington, man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to nine years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute massive amounts of fentanyl, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Sir Terrique Milam was a trusted associate of one of the leaders of the family-based drug trafficking organization – Markell Jackson. Milam was heard on phone calls arranging to go to Arizona with Markell Jackson to pick up a 150,000-pill load of fentanyl. At today’s sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead noted the deadly risk of 15 kilos of fentanyl. “You were in on the conspiracy… You knew what you were selling… And you kept going even after contact with law enforcement,” the judge told him.
“Mr. Milam was a trusted member of this drug trafficking organization – trusted to travel to Arizona and meet with the primary supplier of the drugs,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “He is a young man but already has convictions for promoting prostitution and illegal firearms possession. This prison sentence is needed to protect the community and break his cycle of crime.”
“In close partnership with the leader of this organization, Mr. Milam conspired with him and others to distribute huge quantities of deadly drugs,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “He clearly has not learned his lesson from previous convictions and from his attempts to evade law enforcement and so will have to deal with the consequences of his repeated criminal behavior. I commend the work of the investigators and prosecutors on this extensive case, which reached across the United States to hold these drug traffickers responsible.”
Over the course of this investigation, law enforcement seized more than 846,000 fentanyl pills, nearly 7 kilograms of fentanyl powder, 7 kilograms of cocaine and 29 firearms. They also seized more than $116,000 in cash.
Milam was identified in the wire-tap investigation and was stopped in August 2024 returning from eastern Washington. The police stop revealed he was carrying a firearm in the vehicle. But Milam later bragged on a wiretapped phone call, that he was able to get the fentanyl pills out of the car before police could search it. Despite that run-in with law enforcement, Milam continued to be involved with drug trafficking. On October 2, 2024, law enforcement executed search warrants at Milam’s home, seizing 323.8 grams of fentanyl from under Milam’s bed, multiple drug scales and $4,900 in United States Currency that Milam admits were proceeds of drug trafficking.
At takedown in October 2024, law enforcement fanned out across the country and in western Washington arresting 17 people on indictments and criminal complaints for the multi- state drug trafficking conspiracy. The two-year investigation culminated in search and arrest warrants in Georgia, Missouri, Texas, Arizona, and Washington State.
The drug ring was led by Marquis Jackson, 33, his parents, defendants Mandel Jackson, 52, and Matelita (Marty) Jackson, 51, and siblings Markell Jackson, 23, and Miracle Patu-Jackson, 25. Members of the Jackson family are indicted for various conspiracy counts including drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracies. Records filed in the case link some of the Jacksons to a Seattle area street gang.
The Jackson family members, and other members of the conspiracy, are scheduled for trial in July 2027.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
A number of the members of the drug distribution ring have pleaded guilty and already been sentenced:
Michael Young Jr, 45, of Tacoma, was sentenced to seven years in prison.
Treyvon Mitchell, 33, of Kent, WA, was sentenced to six years in prison.
Robert Johnson, 22, of Renton, WA was sentenced to 70 months in prison.
Tyrell Lewis, 34, of Federal Way, WA was sentenced to 37 months in prison.
Phillip Lamont Alexander, 50, of Des Moines, WA has pleaded guilty and is scheduled for sentencing in November 2026.
This case was investigated by the FBI, (Seattle, Phoenix, Atlanta, Kansas City, Dallas, Las Vegas, Montana), DEA (Seattle, Kansas City, Wichita, Montana), the Seattle Police Department, King County Sheriff’s Office, Whatcom Region Drug Task Force, the Lummi Police Department, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and United States Border Patrol Blaine Sector Targeting and Intelligence Division.
This investigation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Seattle comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), The United States Marshals Service (USMS), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the United States Secret Service (USSS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Zach Dillon and Crystal Correa.
Shawnee Man Sentenced to Serve More Than Three Years in Prison after Stealing Firearms from Pawn ShopRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – LARRON DESHAWN THOMAS, JR., 20, of Shawnee, Oklahoma, has been sentenced to serve 37 months in federal prison for possession of stolen firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public records, on March 4, 2025, Thomas stole two firearms from behind the counter of a pawn shop in Shawnee. Thomas was identified through surveillance footage and arrested the following day. Law enforcement subsequently recovered the stolen firearms from Thomas’s residence.
On July 16, 2025, a federal grand jury charged Thomas with possession of stolen firearms. Thomas pleaded guilty to that count on February 25, 2026, and admitted he possessed firearms that he knew were stolen.
At a sentencing hearing on August 31, 2026, U.S. District Judge Patrick R. Wyrick sentenced Thomas to serve 37 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Wyrick noted the need to deter further criminal conduct and to promote respect for the law.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Shawnee Police Department, and the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle M. Connolly prosecuted the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Sex offender sentenced to life in prison for multiple offenses involving the sexual exploitation of childrenRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 46-year-old Houston resident has been sentenced for failure to register as a sex offender, possession of child pornography, sexual exploitation of children, and coercion and enticement.
Dustin Gentry pleaded guilty May 11. U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks has now sentenced him to life in federal prison.
At the hearing Sept. 2, the court heard additional information that Gentry was previously convicted of possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and continued to do so after his first conviction. Gentry targeted victims younger than 12 and told them how to pose and take their clothes off, while he posed as someone younger. Gentry also tried to entice one victim to create sexually explicit images of their even younger siblings. The court also heard that the victims in this case have been harmed forever from this conduct.
In handing down the prison terms, Judge Hanks called Gentry “every parent’s worst nightmare” and a “predator willing to destroy children’s lives,” noting the unbearable and horrific pain and suffering he inflicted.
“You have demonstrated you aren’t going to stop unless physically unable to do it again,” said Hanks. “Every life has value, including yours. But at the same time, you can’t use yours to harm others. You will never be in a position to do what you did again.”
Gentry was further ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution to a victim in the case and will be ordered to re-register as a sex offender.
Following a 2010 conviction for possession of child pornography, Gentry was ordered to register as a sex offender and was required to report any changes to online identifiers. However, the investigation revealed Gentry failed to do so.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Gentry’s residence and discovered over 1,000 images of CSAM on his electronic devices. A further search revealed conversations with multiple minors requesting more CSAM.
The messages revealed he directed victims as young as 12 to send explicit photos and instructed them how to pose in them.
Gentry has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Celia Moyer is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Seven Charged in $57M Tax Refund Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A superseding indictment was unsealed yesterday charging an Idaho man and woman and five non-Idaho residents with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, making false claims and money laundering. The conspirators allegedly prepared and submitted false tax returns and fictitious financial instruments to the IRS.
“As alleged, this group of fraudsters participated in a $57 million tax fraud scheme, filing over 100 fictitious instruments and ultimately receiving more than $8 million in taxpayer dollars from the IRS,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “The Fraud Division will continue working vigorously to investigate and prosecute tax fraud schemes like these across the country. Fraudsters should never be allowed to rip off the United States of America.”
According to the superseding indictment, from 2023 through 2024, Andrea and Kent Shannon of Kuna, Idaho, Monika Skinger of Chicago, Illinois, Sherita Chandler of Port St. Lucie, Florida, Saule Moshkanova of Roseville, California, Tiffany Nichols of Suwanee, Georgia, and Stacey Rice of Manteca, California, along with unindicted conspirators, allegedly conspired to commit wire fraud by assisting one another in fraudulently claiming refunds in amounts totaling more than $57 million by preparing and submitting false individual and trust tax returns and fictitious financial instruments to the IRS. The conspirators allegedly received more than $8 million from the IRS. Moshkanova, Nichols, and Rice were each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Andrea and Kent Shannon, Skinger and Chandler were previously charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Andrea and Kent Shannon were also charged with committing multiple acts of wire fraud, making false claims to the United States and engaging in money laundering by purchasing personal property such as luxury cars with their fraudulently obtained refunds.
If convicted, the conspirators face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the conspiracy charge. Andrea and Kent Shannon face an additional maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each wire fraud charge and a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each false claim charge. Kent Shannon faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the money laundering charge.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney David F. Scollan of the National Fraud Enforcement Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittney Campbell for the District of Idaho are prosecuting the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Roseville Man Charged with Defrauding Employer of over $2.3 MillionRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Christopher William Edward Abplanalp, 38, of Roseville, was charged Wednesday with wire fraud in a scheme to enrich himself with his employer’s money, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between February 2023 and July 2025, working as an Executive Manager at a Placer County business, Abplanalp stole more than $2.3 million, most of which he then spent gambling. In executing the scheme, he diverted money from the business’s account with an online payment processing system to his own personal account, or to various other friends or acquaintances. Abplanalp also repeatedly charged a client’s credit card for items the client never ordered and for invoices that did not exist, then transferred those proceeds to himself. Additionally, he instructed clients to tender payments directly to him and told vendors to issue rebates and refunds to his personal account, rather than the business. To conceal his theft, Abplanalp altered, deleted, or made false entries to the business’s accounting software.
Abplanalp is scheduled for an initial appearance and arraignment on Sept. 8, 2026, at 2 p.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremy D. Peterson.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation with assistance from IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dhruv M. Sharma is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Abplanalp faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Richmond, Vermont Man Sentenced to 120 Months for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
RUTLAND – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on September 2, 2026, Kenneth Beane, 37, of Richmond, Vermont, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier to a term of 120 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 10-year term of supervised release. Judge Lanthier also imposed $5,000 in restitution for the victims of the offense, as well as assessments totaling $15,100. Bean previously pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual abuse materials (“CSAM”) on his personal electronic devices.
According to court records, law enforcement discovered that Beane was making CSAM available to others through a peer-to-peer file sharing application, and thereafter downloaded CSAM images from Beane’s IP address. On September 8, 2025, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant on Beane’s residence in Richmond, Vermont. During the search, law enforcement seized electronic devices with additional CSAM material, including images of prepubescent minors under the age of 12. In total, Beane possessed approximately 3,600 digital files containing CSAM.
Bean has a prior federal conviction for possession of CSAM stemming from a 2015 arrest. This prior conviction also involved Bean sharing CSAM materials via peer-to-peer networks. Bean received a one-year sentence in 2016, which was followed by a 5-year term of supervised release. Bean had multiple violations of his supervision, including using unapproved electronics and unauthorized contact with minors.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations and the Vermont Attorney General’s Office.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Golubock. Kenneth Beane was represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Richmond man sentenced to 10 years in prison for distributing child sexual abuse materialRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, on May 22, 2025, Randon Alexander Sprinkle, 31, used a dating app to contact another user who purportedly was the father of a nine-year-old son, but in actuality was an undercover agent with the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. Sprinkle immediately invited the user to communicate via the Telegram app. After alluding to a sexual interest in minors, Sprinkle sent a video depicting two adults sexually abusing a minor. Sprinkle then expressed his interest in travelling to Washington, D.C., to meet the other user and sexually abuse his purported nine-year-old son.
On Oct. 16, 2025, FBI agents searched Sprinkle’s residence in Richmond and seized two laptop computers and a cellphone. Sprinkle’s cellphone contained 43 CSAM files and one of the laptops contained two additional files. The files included depictions of the abuse of toddler-aged children.
Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ellen Hubbard Theisen and Janet Jin Ah Lee prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:26-cr-2.
Recidivist Child Pornography Offender Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – PAUL FRANCIS HUDSON, 39, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 180 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography and for violating the terms of federal supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public records, in August 2015, Hudson was sentenced to 86 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for receipt of child pornography in the Western District of Oklahoma case number CR-15-36-M. His supervised release was later revoked in March 2023 for, among other things, drug use and associating with felons. At that time, he was sentenced to nine additional months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Public records further reflect that, in February 2026, following his release from prison the second time, U.S. Probation officers discovered that Hudson had purchased an unauthorized phone in violation of the terms of his supervised release. On February 11, 2026, law enforcement seized the phone and discovered hundreds of images of child pornography.
On March 3, 2026, a federal grand jury charged Hudson with possession of child pornography. Hudson pleaded guilty on May 6, 2026, and admitted he knowingly possessed child pornography that he downloaded using a cell phone.
At a sentencing hearing on September 3, 2026, Chief U.S. District Judge Scott L. Palk sentenced Hudson to serve 180 months in federal prison: 120 months for possession of child pornography and 60 months for violating the terms of his supervised release by committing the new child pornography offense, to be served consecutively. Hudson was also ordered to pay $34,000 in restitution, split between 11 child victims who were depicted in images he possessed. In announcing the sentence, Judge Palk noted the grave impact that child pornography crimes have on victims depicted in child pornography.
This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Hale prosecuted this case as well as the 2015 case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.