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12 August 2025
New Orleans Man Sentenced for Federal Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson, announced that FLOYD JONES (“JONES”), age 38, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on August 5, 2025, by United States District Judge Greg Gerard Guidry, after previously pleading guilty to Counts Three, Four, and Five of an eight-count superseding indictment pending against him. Counts Three and Four charge JONES with distribution of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B). Count Five charges JONES with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).
JONES was sentenced to eighty (80) months imprisonment as to Counts 3, 4, and 5, to be served concurrently. Judge Guidry also ordered that JONES be placed on supervised release for four (4) years and pay a $300 mandatory special assessment fee.
According to court documents, on October 3, 2024, JONES was arrested for suspected narcotics and firearm trafficking. On July 15 and August 22, 2024, JONES distributed over 50 grams or more of methamphetamine to undisclosed persons. Additionally, JONES sold a Ruger Model Security-9, nine-millimeter caliber pistol, loaded with 8 rounds of ammunition. JONES knew he was a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing the firearm and ammunition.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Acting United States Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Troy Bell of the Violent Crime Unit.
New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to Failing to Stop for Inspection at Calais International Port of EntryRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A New Jersey man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to failing to report his arrival and present himself for inspection at the international port of entry in Calais.
According to court records, on July 1, 2025, Jason Brenner, 52, drove a vehicle traveling outbound from the United States and entered Canada. After a brief encounter with Canadian immigration officials, Brenner turned his vehicle around and sped back towards the U.S. Instead of stopping his vehicle and presenting himself for inspection at the Calais port of entry, Brenner entered the U.S. by traveling in the outbound lane in the wrong direction, bypassing the incoming traffic inspection lanes. Following a pursuit where Brenner reached speeds of over 100 mph, he crashed the vehicle and was found in the woods with a loaded firearm, two loaded magazines, and wearing body armor. Another loaded firearm was found inside the vehicle.
Brenner faces up to one year in prison, a fine of up to $100,000, and up to one year of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal magistrate judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigated the case with assistance from U.S. Border Patrol and the Baileyville and Indian Township police departments.
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Natick Roofer Sentenced for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The owner of a commercial and residential roofing business was sentenced today for concealing $1.6 million in income from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Jake Miller, 42, of Natick, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Brian E. Murphy to one year and one day in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release. The defendant was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $449,329. In February 2025, Miller pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion.
Miller owned and operated Kostas Roofing, a business that he conducted under the alias “Paul Kostas” rather than under his own name. Between 2013 and 2021, Miller cashed the checks that he received from roofing customers and deposited the proceeds into his personal bank accounts. Despite receiving at least $1.6 million from the roofing business during this period, Miller filed no income tax return for any of these years. As a result, Miller evaded income taxes of approximately $450,000.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Tom Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Holcomb of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Missouri Man Who Stole the Identities of 13 People Sentenced to 4 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Tuesday sentenced a man who stole the identities of 13 people to apply for loans and obtain other things of value to four years in prison and ordered him to repay $26,812.
Deleon Ford, 32, of Ferguson, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in March to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. He admitted using the identities of multiple people to open financial accounts, obtain unsecured loans, rent a U-Haul truck and open a cell phone account. Ford submitted online credit applications to various lenders, transmitted or hand-delivered identification documents bearing his picture and the stolen identifiers of others and created fake pay stubs, utility bills and bank statements to further his scheme.
Ford also helped an Illinois jail inmate to obtain loans in the name of others.
In all, Ford admitted stealing the identity of 13 people in an attempt to obtain more than $40,000, including loans, cellphone service and the rental truck.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Ellisville (Missouri) Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry prosecuted the case.
Michigan resident sentenced for cross-country narcotics dealRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 61-year-old man has been ordered to federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute 14 kilograms of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Walter Lee Houze pleaded guilty March 31.
U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton has now ordered Houze to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the seriousness of Houze possessing a firearm in connection with a narcotics offense.
On May 9, 2023, Houze drove his Volkswagen Tiguan to the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint in Sarita. Jose Taurus Burks was in the passenger seat. Authorities referred them to secondary inspection where a K-9 alerted to the rear cargo area of the vehicle. There, law enforcement discovered 14.26 kilograms of cocaine concealed in a black suitcase intermingled with clothing and laundry detergent beads belonging to Houze.
Burks admitted he was to be paid for traveling from Michigan to assist Houze in the purchase and transportation of cocaine from Hidalgo County.
Previously released on bond, Houze was taken into custody following the sentencing where he will remain pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Burks, 52, Harrison Township, Michigan, pleaded guilty March 31. He also remains in custody pending his sentencing Sept. 9.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of BP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexa D. Parcell prosecuted the case.
Mexican citizen sentenced to 10 years following discovery of child-sized dolls and sexual abuse materialRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 36-year-old Mexican man who resided in McAllen has been sent to prison for receipt of child pornography involving infants and toddlers, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Jose Julian Garcia Garza pleaded guilty April 2.
U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton has now ordered Garza to serve a 120-month prison term. At the hearing, the court heard additional information detailing Garza’s use of a virtual private network to hide his illegal activity and the likelihood that he used child sex dolls to recreate videos he was downloading. Garza was further ordered to pay a total of $104,500 in restitution to 14 victims and will be on supervised release for 10 years following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. Not a U.S. citizen, Garza is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.
In July 2024, law enforcement discovered Garza was using a peer-to-peer file sharing program to download and upload files of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The files included videos of infants and toddlers engaged in sexual conduct.
Authorities conducted a search of Garza’s bedroom and discovered the bottom portion of an infant-sized doll as well as two child-sized, lifelike sex dolls and various sex toys. A forensic examination of his custom hard drive revealed a total of 997 images and videos of CSAM.
“The facts underlying this investigation are as telling as they are disturbing,” said Ganjei. “By all accounts, Garza appears to be the kind of person who would not be satisfied by only passively viewing CSAM. Fortunately, law enforcement was able to locate and arrest Garza before he could start physically preying on children.”
Garza 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 M. Alexis Garcia prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) 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.
Mexican National Sentenced to Imprisonment for Fentanyl Trafficking in UtahRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Sabino Osvaldo Gomez-Perez, 36, of Mexico, was sentenced today to 57 months’ imprisonment by a U.S. District Court Judge after he admitted to trafficking fentanyl, specifically 58,000 fentanyl pills seized by the FBI Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force.
In addition to Gomez-Perez’s sentence of imprisonment, upon his release, he will be remanded to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation proceedings. Gomez-Perez pleaded guilty on May 29, 2025 to possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute.
According to court documents and statements made at Gomez-Perez’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, on October 9, 2024, he knowingly possessed 5,857 grams of fentanyl (approximately 58,000 fentanyl pills) and had distributed narcotics in Arizona and Utah prior to his arrest in Utah.
Acting U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the FBI Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force (WMDTF).
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
Mexican National Charged with Assault on a Federal Officer and Destruction of Government PropertyRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Rolando Nava PACHECO, a Mexican National, was charged in federal court today for assaulting a federal officer and damaging government property.
According to a complaint, on August 11, 2025, agents assigned to the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) conducted a joint operation to arrest an individual, suspected of immigration violations. During their operation, federal agents conducted a traffic stop on a white truck. Agents wearing visible law enforcement identifiers verbally announced themselves as federal agents and requested identification from vehicle’s driver. The driver of the white truck attempted to flee by accelerating the truck and striking a federal agent and federal government vehicle. As the white truck recklessly tried to flee the area, a federal agent driving a government vehicle attempted to block the path of the white truck. The driver of the white truck proceeded to strike the federal agent’s vehicle head on. Shortly after, the driver of the vehicle was arrested and identified as Rolando Nava Pacheco.
“Our office is committed to protecting our federal law enforcement partners,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon, “Put plainly, those who attempt to injure or evade law enforcement will face federal charges.”
“This operation demonstrates the commitment of ERO officers to enforcing federal immigration laws and protecting public safety,” said ERO San Diego Field Office Director Patrick Divver. “Despite the challenges encountered, our officers remain dedicated to carrying out their duties with professionalism.”
DEFENDANTS Case Number 25cr-MJ-04358
Rolando NAVA PACHECO Age: 19 Mexico
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Assault on a Federal Officer – Title 18, U.S. C., Section 111 (a)(1)
Maximum penalty: 8 years in prison; a maximum $250,000 fine
Assault on a Federal Officer resulting in bodily injury – Title 18, U.S. C., Section 111 (b)
Maximum penalty: 20 years in prison; a maximum $250,000 fine
Destruction of Government Property – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1361 (Felony)
Maximum penalty: 10 years in prison; a maximum $250,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Metro Nashville Public Schools Agrees to Settle Allegations It Violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by Discriminating Against Students with Type 1 Diabetes and to Modify Policies for Students with Type 1 DiabetesRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – The United States has reached an agreement with Metro Nashville Public Schools (“MNPS” or the “District”) and Ross Early Learning Center (“Ross ELC”) to resolve allegations that they violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), announced Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire for the Middle District of Tennessee. MNPS and Ross ELC are alleged to have refused to allow certain communications related to continuous glucose monitoring on behalf of a three-year-old student with Type 1 Diabetes (“T1D”).
“Enforcing federal law on behalf of vulnerable children makes our community stronger,” said Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire. “This agreement is a win for MNPS students and parents.”
According to the complaint allegations, the complainant parents’ child, who attended Ross ELC at the time of the complaint for much of the 2023-2024 school year and remained an MNPS student through the 2024-25 school year, has T1D and was prescribed a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) by their treating physician to monitor the child’s blood glucose levels. CGMs are approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration to be used without follow-up “finger stick” blood testing. When the child’s blood glucose level is too high or too low, the monitor transmits an alarm from the device to a wireless receiver, such as a smartphone or tablet.
The complainants alleged that they requested the school and school nurse to monitor the CGM while their child is in school or at school-sponsored activities, but Ross ELC refused the request in part, thereby requiring the parents and/or child to be responsible for monitoring the child’s CGM in the afternoons after the school nurse had left the school. Ross ELC also initially told the student’s mother that the parents could provide a device for the school to monitor the child’s CGM, which the parents provided. But Ross ELC later told her that they could no longer use the device provided by the parents and could not communicate with a child’s parents during school about the CGM other than by phone calls or password-protected emails. Following this development, the parents removed the child from Ross ELC for approximately one month due to the school and MNPS communication policy. Afterwards, the parents allowed their child to return to Ross ELC, but only for a half-day in the morning – rather than the full school day – due to Ross ELC’s nurse departing the school after lunch. At different times, the child had experienced dangerously low or high blood glucose levels, resulting in adverse physical effects and requiring the parents’ prompt response by either visiting or calling the school to ensure their child received the requisite care.
As part of the settlement, Ross ELC and MNPS have agreed, consistent with the requirements of the ADA, to ensure that no qualified individual with a disability will, on the basis of disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of the District or be subjected to discrimination by the District. Specifically, Ross ELC and MNPS have agreed to modify the District’s policies, practices and/or procedures to permit the use of CGMs by children diagnosed with T1D who are prescribed such devices by a physician (or an advanced practice provider), to purchase or use existing equipment owned by the District to monitor blood glucose alerts transmitted from CGMs of children with T1D, to provide appropriately trained staff in the MNPS school attended by the complainants’ child with a cellphone or other appropriate device, so that the complainant family may more efficiently communicate with MNPS during school about the child’s CGM, and to modify the District’s policies, practices and/or procedures to ensure that school nurses and other appropriate trained staff members monitor blood glucose alerts transmitted by the CGM of a child with T1D to a dedicated receiver, tablet/smartphone application, or other appropriate technology during the school day and during school-sponsored activities. MNPS also agreed to make all policies and procedures about CGMs available on its website under the “Policies and Procedures” section of its webpage.
MNPS also will pay the complainants $1,000 as part of the resolution.
Assistant United States Attorney Ellen Bowden McIntyre in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee investigated the complaint and negotiated the resolution. MNPS worked collaboratively with the United States Attorney’s Office to resolve this complaint.
The civil claims settled by this resolution are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
The ADA was passed on July 26, 1990. The Act reaffirmed our nation’s commitment to ensuring that people with disabilities have the right to live, work, and full participate in the community alongside their fellow citizens.
More information about the ADA is available at the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA Information line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TTY) and via the ADA website at http://www.ada.gov or through contacting the U.S. Attorney’s civil rights hotline at 313-226-9151. ADA complaints may be filed by email to [email protected].
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Media Advisory - U.S. Attorney to Announce Office PrioritiesRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – United States Attorney W. Ellis Boyle, will hold a press conference tomorrow to announce the offices priorities for the coming year.
WHERE: U.S. Attorney’s Office 150 Fayetteville St., Suite 2100, Raleigh, NC 27601
WHEN: Tomorrow at 3:30PM
Media, please arrive at our office by 3:00PM for set up.
For logistical information in advance of the media availability, please contact Katie Holcomb Vollmer at [email protected].
Milton Felon Charged with Possession of a Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Willie Curtis Slack, Jr., 49, of Milton, Florida has been indicted in federal court for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges.
Slack is scheduled to appear before United States Magistrate Judge Hope T. Cannon on August 13, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. for his arraignment at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida.
If convicted, he faces a minimum mandatory term of 15 years’ imprisonment under the Armed Career Criminal Act.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alicia H. Forbes.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Kanawha County Woman Sentenced for COVID-19 Relief Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Krista Marie Menchaca, 32, of Cross Lanes, was sentenced today to three years of federal probation and ordered to pay $21,963.96 in restitution for receipt of stolen money. Menchaca received $19,395 in proceeds from a criminally derived Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loan, guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 12, 2021, an individual submitted a PPP loan application on Menchaca’s behalf to a program lender in Arizona. As part of her guilty plea, Menchaca admitted that the application and an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 1040, Schedule C Profit or Loss from Business, filed with it falsely represented that Menchaca was a self-employed health practitioner who received $93,100 in gross income during 2000. Menchaca further admitted that the IRS Form 1040 was fake and created solely to obtain a fraudulent PPP loan.
The lender approved the fraudulent loan application and $19,395 was deposited in Menchaca’s personal bank account on or about July 2, 2021. While in West Virginia, Menchaca spent more than $5,000 of the PPP loan proceeds on her personal expenses.
The CARES Act made forgivable PPP loans available to qualifying sole proprietors, independent contractors and self-employed individuals adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, to replace their normal income and for certain other expenses. Applicants were required to certify that they were in operation on February 15, 2020, and provide documentation showing their prior gross income from either 2019 or 2020.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Police – Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI).
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage prosecuted the case.
Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-68.
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Justice Department Settles Lawsuits Challenging Race-Based Admissions at West Point and Air Force AcademyRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced the settlement of litigation challenging former race-based admissions practices at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the U.S. Air Force Academy. The settlement results in dismissal of two lawsuits brought by plaintiff Students for Fair Admissions Inc. The lawsuits challenged race-based admissions at the two military academies as unconstitutional under the Fifth Amendment.
“This Department is committed to eliminating DEI practices throughout the federal government,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We are proud to partner with the Department of Defense to permanently end race-based admissions at West Point and the Air Force Academy — admission to these prestigious military institutions should be based exclusively on merit.”
“America is the land of equal opportunity, in spirit and in law,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York. “Today’s agreement ensures that our future military leaders will carry on the greatness that is born of opportunity, effort, and a level playing field.”
The Department’s agreement with Students for Fair Admissions avoids the need for continued litigation in these two cases. It includes agreed-upon terms that help ensure that admission to these prestigious institutions is based exclusively on merit, not race or ethnicity. Earlier this year, the Department resolved similar litigation in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit regarding the U.S. Naval Academy’s former race-based admissions practices.
Combatting unlawful discrimination is a top priority of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. Additional information about the Civil Division is available at www.justice.gov/civil.
Justice Department Finds Suffolk County Police Department in Substantial Compliance with 2014 AgreementRead the Press Release
CENTRAL ISLIP, NY – The Justice Department announced today the successful completion of an agreement between Suffolk County, New York, Police Department (SCPD) and the Department of Justice. Entered into in 2014, the agreement called for SCPD to improve bias-free policing, increase community engagement, and develop additional policies and training, among other things. With support from the Justice Department, as set forth in a report issued today, SCPD has now achieved sustained substantial compliance with all of the agreement’s terms.
“The Suffolk County Police Department is to be commended for taking the steps necessary to achieve the objectives of the 2014 agreement with the Department of Justice and our Office,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York. “Policing in Suffolk County has been enhanced and become more responsive to community needs. The partnership between our Office and the SCPD has strengthened the safety of all residents of the County.”
“Suffolk County Police Department’s commitment to protecting the public in a constitutionally compliant way is commendable,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This Department of Justice is committed to collaborating with law enforcement to make American communities safer.”
SCPD implemented language assistance policies and deployed resources to ensure that people with Limited English Proficiency have meaningful access to police services. It improved reporting and supervision throughout the department. It also improved policies, training, and tracking to better handle hate crimes and misconduct complaints.
Please click here to read the Cover Letter and Final Suffolk Report.
Justice Department Finds Suffolk County Police Department in Substantial Compliance with 2014 AgreementRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today the successful completion of an agreement between Suffolk County, New York, Police Department (SCPD) and the Department of Justice. Entered into in 2014, the agreement called for SCPD to improve bias-free policing, increase community engagement, and develop additional policies and training, among other things. With support from the Justice Department, as set forth in a report issued today, SCPD has now achieved sustained substantial compliance with all of the agreement’s terms.
“Suffolk County Police Department’s commitment to protecting the public in a constitutionally compliant way is commendable,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This Department of Justice is committed to collaborating with law enforcement to make American communities safer.”
“The Suffolk County Police Department is to be commended for taking the steps necessary to achieve the objectives of the 2014 agreement with the Department of Justice and our Office,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York. “Policing in Suffolk County has been enhanced and become more responsive to community needs. The partnership between our Office and the SCPD has strengthened the safety of all residents of the County.”
SCPD implemented language assistance policies and deployed resources to ensure that people with Limited English Proficiency have meaningful access to police services. It improved reporting and supervision throughout the department. It also improved policies, training, and tracking to better handle hate crimes and misconduct complaints.
Please click here to read the Cover Letter and Final Suffolk Report
Justice Department Finds George Washington University Deliberately Indifferent to Antisemitic DiscriminationRead the Press Release
Today, the Department of Justice finds George Washington University (GWU) in violation of federal civil rights law by acting deliberately indifferent to the hostile educational environment for Jewish, American-Israeli, and Israeli students and faculty.
The Civil Rights Division’s investigation was conducted pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination, harassment, and abuse based on race or national origin, by recipients of federal financial assistance. The Division finds that GWU took no meaningful action and was instead deliberately indifferent to the complaints it received, the misconduct that occurred, and the harms that were suffered by its Jewish and Israeli students and faculty. The Justice Department will seek immediate remediation with GWU for its civil rights violations.
“Every student has the right to equal educational opportunities without fear of harassment or abuse,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “No one is above the law, and universities that promulgate antisemitic discrimination will face legal consequences.”
You may view the Notice of Findings here.
Jessamine County Man Sentenced for Armed Methamphetamine Trafficking and Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Nicholasville, Ky., man, Jacob Clem, 37, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove to 228 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to his plea agreement, on September 11, 2024, law enforcement observed a vehicle with expired registration tags, driven by Clem, and conducted a traffic stop. Clem was placed under arrest due to an active arrest warrant. He admitted to having a firearm holster and knives on his person. Law enforcement found a fully loaded magazine and two small fentanyl pills on his person. A search of the vehicle located an additional loaded magazine and a pistol. Additionally, a backpack in the car contained two grocery bags of 953 grams of methamphetamine and two digital scales. Clem admitted to possessing the drugs and that he knowingly possessed the firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime.
Under federal law, Clem must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Col. Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; and Sheriff Kevin Grimes, Jessamine County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA, KSP, and Jessamine County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Melton is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Human smuggler in custody after flight from police and crashRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 34-year-old man has been taken into federal custody following a crash into a law enforcement vehicle during an alleged smuggling attempt through the Rio Grande Valley, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Previously in custody on related charges, Cesar Rafael Leon, Pharr, is expected to make his initial appearance in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott Hacker at 9:45.
According to the charges, Leon picked up five illegal aliens who had just crossed the Rio Grande River by raft in Mercedes. He allegedly failed to yield to law enforcement when they attempted to stop his vehicle, prompting them to successfully deploy a vehicle immobilization device. However, he continued to flee and eventually struck a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) unit and drove the wrong way down the highway, according to the complaint.
The complaint further alleges the pursuit lasted approximately 15 minutes and ended in a shopping plaza in Weslaco. Law enforcement allegedly apprehended Leon after a short foot pursuit and also took the five illegal aliens into custody, according to the charges.
“As this office has stated on numerous prior occasions, human smugglers do not care about the lives or safety of those they transport. The people being smuggled are nothing more than cargo to these predators,” said Ganjei. “The Southern District of Texas urges all those who would consider placing themselves or their loved ones into the hands of these criminals to think twice. Stay home, stay safe.”
The smuggling charges include an enhancement for placing the lives of the aliens in jeopardy. If convicted, Leon faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Border Patrol conducted the investigation with the assistance of Texas DPS, Hidalgo County Constables Office and Hidalgo County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Devin V. Walker is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Honduran National Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the CountryRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Honduran national was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for reentry after removal.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Maynor David Casalegno Escobar, 29, to time served (124 days). He pleaded guilty on May 30, 2025.
According to court records, on April 10, 2025, U.S. Border Patrol Agents encountered Casalegno Escobar in Portland during a traffic stop. Post-arrest, Casalegno Escobar acknowledged that he was born in Honduras, was not a U.S. citizen, and that he did not have any authorization to be in the country. Casalegno Escobar also admitted that he had been previously deported from the U.S., which was confirmed through records checks.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Hidalgo man receives 9 years for distributing child sexual abuse material to a minorRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 29-year-old Rio Grande Valley resident has been sentenced for distributing videos of sexual activity to a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Rogelio Pruneda III pleaded guilty June 2.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Pruneda to serve 108 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court heard testimony from the victim’s parent asking for Pruneda to be held accountable and receive the appropriate treatment. The court also heard about Pruneda engaging in similar conduct with a minor relative and that he used that relationship to locate and recruit the victim into exchanging goods for sex. In handing down the prison term, the court found Pruneda attempted to obstruct justice by attempting to contact witnesses in the investigation. The court noted the age gap between Pruneda and the victim.
Pruneda was further ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to the victim and will serve five years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Pruneda will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
The investigation revealed Pruneda used a minor relative to find the female victim. The family member told the victim he would treat her like a “sugar daddy.”
From approximately July through October 2022, Pruneda utilized Facebook Messenger to contact the minor female victim. He offered her money and THC vape cartridges in exchange for sexual acts which he subsequently recorded. Pruneda later sent two of the videos to her.
The victim’s parent discovered the relationship and reported it to authorities.
The minor female confirmed the videos depicted sex acts between herself and Pruneda in his vehicle.
“Here, Pruneda sought out a victim online and plied her with offers of money and other goods. This methodical plan demonstrates just how dangerous and calculating he is,” said Ganjei. “The Southern District of Texas will do whatever it takes to protect the innocence of the children of our community and punish—to the maximum extent the law allows—those who take that innocence away.”
Pruneda 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 with the assistance of Hidalgo Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexa D. Parcell is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) 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.
Harrison County Man Admits to Fentanyl ChargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – William Joseph Russell, 51, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, has admitted to the distribution of fentanyl and p-Fluorofentanyl.
According to court documents, Russell was selling fentanyl and p-Fluorofentanyl in Harrison County.
Russell faces at least one year and up to 40 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William Rhee is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Greater Harrison Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Haitian Gang Leader ‘Barbecue’ Indicted for Conspiracy to Violate U.S. SanctionsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — An indictment was unsealed today in U.S. District Court in Washington D.C. charging Jimmy Cherizier, 48, of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and Bazile Richardson, 48, a naturalized U.S. citizen, with leading a conspiracy to transfer funds from the United States to Cherizier, aka “Barbecue,” to fund his gang activities in Haiti in violation of the U.S sanctions imposed on Cherizier, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Cherizier is a fugitive believed to be in Haiti.
Richardson, aka “Fredo,” “Fred Lion,” “Leo Danger,” and “Lepe Blode,” was arrested on July 23 in Pasadena, Texas, and is expected to make his initial court appearance today in the District of Columbia.
Concurrent with the indictment, the U.S. Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Cherizier. Anyone possessing such information should contact Rewards for Justice here.
“There’s a good reason that there’s a $5 million reward for information leading to Cherizier’s arrest. He’s a gang leader responsible for heinous human rights abuses, including violence against American citizens in Haiti,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “The U.S. government sanctioned Cherizier in 2020 because he was responsible for an ongoing campaign of violence, including the 2018 La Saline massacre, in which 71 people were killed, more than 400 houses were destroyed, and at least seven women raped by armed gangs. The U.S. Attorney’s office is committed to apprehending Cherizier and bringing him to justice, along with individuals like defendant Richardson, who has sent money and other support to Cherizier from the United States in violation of U.S. sanctions. Our office is committed to keeping Americans safe anywhere in the world, and the gang violence that has ravaged Haiti must end.”
“Cherizier and a U.S. associate sought to raise funds in the United States to bankroll Cherizier’s violent criminal enterprise, which is driving a security crisis in Haiti,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The National Security Division does not tolerate criminal gang fundraising in the United States, and will continue to pursue those who enable Haiti’s violence and instability.”
"The FBI is committed to confronting foreign terrorist organizations wherever they operate, and Jimmy ‘Barbecue’ Cherizier’s gang is no exception," said FBI Criminal Investigative Division Acting Assistant Director Darren Cox. "Through intelligence, partnerships and the full weight of federal law, we are dismantling FTO’s and rooting out those who threaten the safety of our communities.”
“The unsealing of this indictment marks the results of a lengthy investigation into Jimmy Cherizier’s criminal activities,” said acting ICE Director Todd M. Lyons. “His actions to fund the oppression and slaughter of Haitians, including firearm procurement and trafficking networks, fundraising activities, movement and usage of U.S. dollars, and violations of sanctions, are unconscionable — but today marks a step towards accountability.”
“The FBI is dedicated to disrupting and dismantling transnational gangs, such as Viv Ansanm, who spread violence and engage in illicit finance activities – whether here or overseas,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of FBI Miami. “I commend the dedication and collaboration of our partners in this investigation to include HSI Washington Field Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration. We especially thank the U.S. Embassy Port au Prince for their close cooperation and the Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program for their robust $5 million reward for Cherizier.”
According to court documents, Cherizier is a former officer in the Haitian National Police and the leader of a gang known as the Revolutionary Forces of the G9 Family and Allies who helped to forge a gang alliance called Viv Ansanm that united Haiti’s many criminal gangs to oppose the legitimate government of Haiti. On Dec. 10, 2020, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Cherizier and designated him as a Specially Designated National (SDN) for his role in serious human rights abuses in Haiti. As a result of the SDN designation, U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with or for the benefit of Cherizier absent approval from OFAC in the form of a license.
As alleged in the indictment, since Cherizier’s SDN designation in December 2020, Cherizier and Richardson together have led a wide-ranging conspiracy with individuals in the United States, Haiti, and elsewhere to raise funds for Cherizier’s gang activities in violation of the sanctions imposed on Cherizier.
In particular, Cherizier and Richardson directly solicited money transfers from members of the Haitian diaspora located in the United States. After sending funds to intermediaries in Haiti for Cherizier’s benefit, the U.S. and Haitian co-conspirators would send Cherizier images of receipts from the money transfers. Cherizier used these funds principally to pay salaries to the members of his gang and to acquire firearms from illicit firearms dealers in Haiti.
The FBI Miami Field Office and HSI Washington Field Office are investigating the case, with substantial assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Providing valuable support are the FBI Houston, Boston, and Charlotte Field Offices and the HSI Miami Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas N. Saunders for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Beau Barnes of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from former Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Paschall, Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Seifert, and former Trial Attorney Benjamin Koenigsfeld. Significant support was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina, and the Department of State and U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince.
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Haitian Gang Leader ‘Barbecue’ Indicted for Conspiracy to Violate U.S. SanctionsRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed today in U.S. District Court charging Jimmy Cherizier, also known as Barbecue, 48, of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and Bazile Richardson, also known as Fredo, Fred Lion, Leo Danger, and Lepe Blode, 48, a naturalized U.S. citizen, with leading a conspiracy to transfer funds from the United States to Cherizier to fund his gang activities in Haiti in violation of the U.S sanctions imposed on Cherizier. Cherizier is a fugitive believed to be Haiti. Richardson was arrested on July 23 in Pasadena, Texas, and is expected to make his initial court appearance today in the District of Columbia.
Concurrent with the indictment, the U.S. Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Cherizier. If you have information, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at www.tips.fbi.gov. Information may also be provided to HSI at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or online at www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form.
“Cherizier and a U.S. associate sought to raise funds in the United States to bankroll Cherizier’s violent criminal enterprise, which is driving a security crisis in Haiti,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The National Security Division does not tolerate criminal gang fundraising in the United States, and will continue to pursue those who enable Haiti’s violence and instability.”
“There’s a good reason that there’s a $5 million reward for information leading to Cherizier’s arrest. He’s a gang leader responsible for heinous human rights abuses, including violence against American citizens in Haiti,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia. “The U.S. government sanctioned Cherizier in 2020 because he was responsible for an ongoing campaign of violence, including the 2018 La Saline massacre, in which 71 people were killed, more than 400 houses were destroyed, and at least seven women raped by armed gangs. The U.S. Attorney’s office is committed to apprehending Cherizier and bringing him to justice, along with individuals like defendant Richardson, who has sent money and other support to Cherizier from the United States in violation of U.S. sanctions. Our office is committed to keeping Americans safe anywhere in the world, and the gang violence that has ravaged Haiti must end.”
“The FBI is committed to confronting foreign terrorist organizations wherever they operate, and Jimmy ‘Barbecue’ Cherizier’s gang is no exception,” said Acting Assistant Director Darren Cox of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “Through intelligence, partnerships, and the full weight of federal law, we are dismantling FTOs and rooting out those who threaten the safety of our communities.”
“The unsealing of this indictment marks the results of a lengthy investigation into Jimmy Cherizier’s criminal activities,” said Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd M. Lyons. “His actions to fund the oppression and slaughter of Haitians, including firearm procurement and trafficking networks, fundraising activities, movement and usage of U.S. dollars, and violations of sanctions, are unconscionable — but today marks a step towards accountability.”
“The Department of State is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Jimmy Cherizier, the leader of Foreign Terrorist Organization Viv Ansanm,” said Senior Bureau Official Chris Landberg of the Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. “The State Department will continue to apply its tools, including rewards programs, to combat the scourge of transnational organized crime and its violence — especially to stop the worst of the worst criminal ringleaders threatening the people of our hemisphere.”
According to court documents, Cherizier is a former officer in the Haitian National Police and the leader of a gang known as the Revolutionary Forces of the G9 Family and Allies who helped to forge a gang alliance called Viv Ansanm that united Haiti’s many criminal gangs to oppose the legitimate government of Haiti. On Dec. 10, 2020, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Cherizier and designated him as a Specially Designated National (SDN) for his role in serious human rights abuses in Haiti. As a result of the SDN designation, U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with or for the benefit of Cherizier absent approval from OFAC in the form of a license.
As alleged in the indictment, since Cherizier’s SDN designation in December 2020, Cherizier and Richardson have together led a wide-ranging conspiracy with individuals in the United States, Haiti, and elsewhere to raise funds for Cherizier’s gang activities in violation of the sanctions imposed on Cherizier.
In particular, Cherizier and Richardson directly solicited money transfers from members of the Haitian diaspora located in the United States. After sending funds to intermediaries in Haiti for Cherizier’s benefit, the U.S. and Haitian co-conspirators would send Cherizier images of receipts from the money transfers. Cherizier used these funds principally to pay salaries to the members of his gang and to acquire firearms from illicit firearms dealers in Haiti.
The FBI Miami Field Office and HSI Washington Field Office are investigating the case, with substantial assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Providing valuable support are the FBI Houston, Boston, and Charlotte Field Offices and the HSI Miami Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas N. Saunders for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Beau Barnes of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from former Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Paschall, Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Seifert, and former Trial Attorney Benjamin Koenigsfeld. Significant support was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina, and the Department of State and U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Guhaad Hashi Said Pleads Guilty to His Involvement in Feeding Our Future Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Guhaad Hashi Said, age 49, pled guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering for his role in the massive fraud scheme that exploited a federally funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.
“The conviction of the 52nd defendant in the Feeding our Future case is yet another reminder of the vast reach of this fraud and the scale of the crisis we face in Minnesota,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “These crimes are not isolated events. They are part of a web of schemes targeting programs that are intended to lift up Minnesotans and bleeding them dry. From where I sit, the scale of the fraud in Minnesota is staggering, and every rock we turn over reveals more. We must be honest and clear-eyed about the scope of this problem, because ending it will take an unyielding, all-hands-on-deck effort from all of us.”
According to court documents, from December 2020 through January 2022, Said conspired with others to participate in a fraudulent scheme to obtain and misappropriate millions of dollars in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds that were intended as reimbursements for the cost of serving meals to underprivileged children.
Said purported to operate a Federal Child Nutrition Program site under the name Advance Youth Athletic Development. Said incorporated Advance Youth Athletic Development on February 26, 2021 and listed its registered office at a residential apartment unit in the Central Avenue Lofts, an apartment building in Northeast Minneapolis. Said purported to run a federal child nutrition program site from this apartment building.
Beginning in March 2021, Said and the Advance Youth Athletic Development site submitted meal count sheets claiming to have served 5,000 meals a day to children, seven days a week. Between approximately March and December 2021, Said and the Advance Youth Athletic Development submitted claims for serving more than 1 million meals. In reality, Advance Youth Athletic Development and Said’s claims were grossly inflated and Said only served a fraction of those meals for which he claimed and received reimbursements. In support of their false claims, Said prepared and submitted fraudulent meal counts, attendance rosters, and invoices.
From August 2020 through 2022, Said also participated in a money laundering conspiracy. The purpose of the conspiracy was to conceal, hide, and launder the proceeds of the fraudulent scheme to obtain Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. Said and his conspirators created non-profits and limited liability companies for use in hiding the source and ownership of proceeds of the fraudulent scheme to obtain Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. After laundering the proceeds of their scheme, Said and his co-conspirators used their shell companies to purchase real estate, cars, and other personal items. For example, Said registered Advance Youth Athletic Development as a non-profit on or about February 26, 2021. On or about April 1, 2021, he opened a bank account for Advance Youth Athletic Development. Between August 2021 and December 2021, Said transferred more than $2.1 million from Advance Youth Athletic Development bank accounts to S & S Catering. These payments were purportedly for providing meals and food for Advance Youth Athletic Development to serve to children.
In total, Said and his co-conspirators received approximately $2,906,740 in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds based on their fraudulent scheme.
Said will be sentenced at a later date and faces up to 25 years in prison.
“Yesterday, Guhaad Said pleaded guilty to charges related to his role in a sprawling fraud scheme designed to financially enrich the defendants at the expense of hungry children,” said FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston, Sr. “Said stole money, falsified paperwork submitted to the government, and was reimbursed millions of dollars to which he was not entitled. The FBI, together with our law enforcement partners, will ensure this fraud stops, and we will ensure that every defendant in this investigation is held fully accountable for their conduct.”
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew S. Ebert, Harry M. Jacobs, and Daniel W. Bobier are prosecuting these cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Baune is handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets
Guatemalan man arrested, charged with illegal re-entryRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Edin Julian Hernandez Mejia, 22, a citizen and national of Guatemala, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with re-entry of a removed alien, which carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Smith, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint on August 5, 2025, Hernandez Mejia was a passenger in a vehicle pulled over by law enforcement. When questioned regarding citizenship and legal status in the United States, Hernandez Mejia confirmed that he is a citizen and national of Guatemala, and not a national of the United States. He was physically removed from the United States on two prior occasions, in February and March of 2024.
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.
Hernandez Mejia made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. and was detained.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent-in-Charge David Banks.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Guatemalan National Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the CountryRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Guatemalan man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for reentry after removal.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Geremias Josue Sanchez-Velasquez, 31, to time served (110 days). He pleaded guilty on June 11, 2025.
According to court records, on April 23, 2025, a U.S. Border Patrol Agent encountered Sanchez-Velasquez in Palmyra, Maine. Sachez-Velasquez acknowledged that he was not a U.S. citizen and that he did not have any authorization to be in the country. Records checks revealed that Sanchez-Velasquez has a previous conviction for illegal entry and had been removed from the United States in 2019.
Sanchez-Velasquez was turned over to immigration authorities at the conclusion of the proceedings.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Guatemalan National Sentenced for Illegal Reentry into the United StatesRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Guatemalan national was sentenced on August 6, 2025, to seven months in federal prison for unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed from the country.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Felino Fernando Perez-Jimenez, 25, was found by law enforcement officials to be unlawfully present in the country on or about January 11, 2025, when he was arrested by the Carthage Police Department for simple assault, resisting arrest, public drunk, and failure to comply with an officer. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) encountered Perez-Jimenez at the Leake County Jail in Carthage, Mississippi, on January 12, 2025. A records check identified the defendant to be a citizen of Guatemala by virtue of birth, and not in possession of valid immigration documents allowing him to be or remain in the United States legally. Perez-Jimenez had been previously removed from the United States in 2023.
Perez-Jimenez was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 4, 2025, and pleaded guilty on May 2, 2025.
Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, Patrick A. Lemon; Eric P. DeLaune, Special Agent-in-Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans, Louisiana; and Brian Acuna, Acting Field Office Director of ICE/ERO in New Orleans, made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Wade Allen and Kimberly T. Purdie prosecuted the case.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security investigations as part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Grand Jury Returns IndictmentsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments on August 6, 2025. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation, and a person named as defendant in an indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Wausau Investment Advisor Charged With Wire Fraud and Money Laundering
Stanley Pophal, 63, Wausau, Wisconsin, is charged with seven counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering. The indictment alleges that between May 2019 and June 2025, Pophal accepted money from investors and promised to invest their funds in one of his various business ventures, including using the money to purchase commercial properties and office buildings and convert them into residential apartments. However, the indictment alleges that Pophal failed to invest the money as promised. Instead, he allegedly used most of the money for his own purposes, including the purchase of hundreds of snowmobiles.
If convicted, Pophal faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud. He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison for each money laundering count.
The charges against him are the result of an investigation conducted by IRS Criminal Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Aaron Wegner is handling the case.
Chippewa Falls Man Charged With Illegally Possessing Firearms, Ammunition, and Unregistered Silencers
Michael A. Raskie Jr., 42, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon and possessing silencers not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. The indictment alleges that Raskie possessed these items on January 14, 2025.
If convicted, Raskie faces a maximum penalty of 15 years on the felon in possession charge and 10 years on the unregistered silencers charge.
The charges against Raskie are the result of an investigation conducted by the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, Lake Hallie Police Department, and the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force is comprised of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lennon is handling the case.
Milwaukee Felon Charged With Illegally Possessing Machinegun and Ammunition
Jevon Smith, 31, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon and possessing a machinegun. The indictment alleges that on June 15, 2025, Smith possessed a loaded Glock 29 10mm handgun, 10mm ammunition, and a machinegun conversion device.
A machinegun conversion device is an illegal after-market device that converts a semi-automatic handgun into a fully functioning machinegun. A handgun with a machinegun conversion device is extremely dangerous, even for experienced firearms users, because it is difficult to control and is capable of firing 50 rounds in four seconds with a single pull of the trigger.
If convicted, Smith faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison on the felon in possession charge, and 10 years in prison on the machinegun charge.
The charges against him are the result of an investigation conducted by the Fitchburg Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan is handling the case.
Fitchburg Man Charged With Illegally Possessing Firearm and Ammunition
Kavant D. Smith, 24, Fitchburg, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon. The indictment alleges that Smith possessed the firearm and ammunition on January 27, 2025.
If convicted, Smith faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by the Fitchburg Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan is handling the case.
Chippewa County Felon Charged With Methamphetamine Trafficking and Illegally Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Patrick J. Buswell, 50, Holcombe, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing methamphetamine intended for distribution, possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon, and possessing the same firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking activity. The indictment alleges that Buswell possessed the methamphetamine and firearm on June 15, 2025.
If convicted of the methamphetamine charge, Buswell faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. If convicted of the felon in possession charge, he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. If convicted of the charge involving possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking activity, Buswell faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years in prison.
The charges against him are the result of an investigation conducted by the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force and the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lennon is handling the case.
The gun and drug cases in the press release are part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Georgia Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jeremiah Clinton Gray, 43, of Blue Ridge, Georgia, was sentenced today to one year and four months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 22, 2024, law enforcement responded to reports of a man inside a Jackson County, Ohio, business with a firearm, body armor and a badge. The individual, later identified as Gray, left the business in a vehicle without a license plate and fled from an attempted traffic stop by law enforcement. The resulting pursuit led law enforcement into West Virginia, where the vehicle was stopped in Charleston with the assistance of spike strips. Gray was arrested and officers found a loaded Taurus model 1911 Officer 9mm pistol on his person and a loaded Mossberg model 590 Shockwave .410-gauge shotgun in the vehicle.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Gray knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute in excess of 500 grams of cocaine in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee on October 20, 2023.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the West Virginia State Police and the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-35.
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Fugitive Extradited from Mexico to Face Drug Trafficking Charges After Almost Seven Years on the RunRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Rosa De Arcos, an alleged drug trafficker who fled to Mexico in 2018, was extradited from Mexico Friday and arraigned in federal court on a four-count indictment charging her with importation of, and conspiracy to distribute, methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine.
According to public records, De Arcos was arrested in May 2017 for concealing more than 34 pounds of fentanyl in her 2008 Jeep Wrangler. De Arcos was released on bond over the United States’ objection. Unbeknownst to De Arcos, law enforcement had previously obtained and received wiretap communications of De Arcos, and her co-defendant Maria Elena Urena Cervantes and others, discussing their drug trafficking exploits. This included the importation of methamphetamine and cocaine by Urena, aided by De Arcos, months earlier in January 2017, which was later seized by law enforcement.
Urena was arrested months later in December 2017 and was also released on bond. Both defendants made court appearances in 2017 and 2018. The case was scheduled for a jury trial on December 11, 2018, with a status hearing set for November 19, 2018. However, neither of the defendants appeared at the status hearing. Instead, both fled to Mexico. A judge issued no bail arrest warrants. The United States moved to forfeit the bonds.
On December 4, 2018, the grand jury returned the indictment against the women which included bail jumping charges. The United States sought extradition of both defendants. Following Urena’s arrest in Mexico in September 2023, she was extradited to the United States in December 2023 and pleaded guilty in July 2024, admitting to drug trafficking offenses with De Arcos. She is scheduled to be sentenced on December 15, 2025.
For two more years, law enforcement continued to search for De Arcos until April 2025 when she was arrested in Mexico. On August 8, 2025, De Arcos was extradited to the United States.
De Arcos is scheduled for a status hearing on August 25, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. before the Honorable Thomas J. Whelan.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Orabona and Shauna Prewitt. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s arrest and extradition from Mexico.
DEFENDANT Case Number 17CR1409-W
Rosa De Arcos Age: 45 Jalisco, Mexico
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a) and 846
Maximum penalty: Life in prison, mandatory minimum of ten years in prison, $10 million fine
Importation of Methamphetamine, and Cocaine – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 952 and 960
Maximum penalty: Life in prison, mandatory minimum of ten years in prison, $10 million fine
Importation of Fentanyl – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 952 and 960
Maximum penalty: Life in prison, mandatory minimum of ten years in prison; $10 million fine
Bail Jumping – Title 18, U.S.C., Sec. 3146
Maximum Penalty: Ten years in prison and $250,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations
Drug Enforcement Administration
Customs and Border Protection
United States Marshal Service
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
San Bernardino Police Department
U.S. Department of Justice’s, Office of International Affairs
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Four St. Louis Area Residents Sentenced for Fraud Committed with Checks Stolen from the MailRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Four people, including a former U.S. Postal Service employee, have been sentenced for their role in a conspiracy that stole checks from the mail to commit bank fraud, U.S. Attorney Thomas C. Albus announced Tuesday.
The four defendants received sentences of between 12 and 80 months in prison. All have been ordered to pay restitution of $44,135.
U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp sentenced former U.S. Postal Service mail carrier Wynter Hinton to 12 months in prison on August 5. On July 17, Ryan McKinney received a 28-month sentence. Jayden Burklow was sentenced in June to 57 months. Johnathan Barnett was sentenced in April to 80 months.
During a conspiracy that lasted from January of 2022 to September of 2023, Barnett bought a key to U.S. Postal Service collection boxes from Hinton. Barnett and others, including McKinney and Burklow, used that key to steal mail from collections boxes in St. Louis County. Hinton also stole checks from the mail while on her postal route.
Barnett, Burklow and McKinney then altered the stolen checks and recruited others to allow their bank accounts to be used to deposit the fraudulent checks. They withdrew the money before the banks realized the checks were fraudulent. Barnett, Burklow and McKinney tried to commit at least $800,000 worth of fraud this way.
Barnett, who was already a convicted felon, was caught with an AR-15-style rifle with a high-capacity drum magazine, four other firearms and check-making equipment on Sept. 15, 2023, when investigators were conducting a court-approved search of his home.
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is charged with defending the nation’s mail system from illegal use. With the collaborative efforts of our federal law enforcement partners, Postal Inspectors investigate fraudsters who utilize the U.S. Mail to perpetuate financial schemes to defraud others to enrich themselves. Postal Inspectors seek justice for victims including those most vulnerable,” said Inspector in Charge, Ruth Mendonça, who leads the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which includes the St. Louis Field Office.
“This sentencing represents the hard work and dedication by USPS OIG Special Agents working with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring charges on this significant mail theft investigation,” said Special Agent in Charge Dennus Bishop, U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Central Area Field Office. The OIG, along with our law enforcement partners, remains committed to safeguarding the U.S. Mail and ensuring the accountability and integrity of U.S. Postal Service employees.”Barnett, 30, of University City, pleaded guilty in December to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of possession of stolen mail and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Hinton, 29, of St. Ann, pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a mail key. McKinney, 25, of St. Louis, and Burklow, 21, of O’Fallon, Illinois, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of possession of stolen mail.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Creve Coeur Police Department and the University City Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwen Carroll is prosecuting the case.
Former children’s hospital doctor charged with federal child pornography crimesRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A former children’s hospital doctor is charged federally with transporting and possessing child pornography.
Howard M. Saal, 73, of Cincinnati, appeared in federal court in Cincinnati this afternoon. Saal was previously employed as a geneticist and dysmorphologist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
According to charging documents, a Hamilton County Sherriff’s Office detective working on the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force investigated a cyber tip regarding image searches for child pornography that originated from Saal’s IP address. The cyber tip image depicted two naked females, approximately 10 years old, engaged in sexual conduct.
To date, as part of an ongoing review of Saal’s electronic devices, the FBI has thus far identified more than 153,000 images and 470 videos of child sexual abuse material. Some of the child pornography involves child victims as young as a newborn.
At this time, investigators have not located any evidence of child pornography involving patients or children associated with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
“I am incredibly proud of the work of our Regional Electronics and Computer Investigations unit and their diligence in investigating this individual,” said Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey. “We encourage anyone who thinks they may be a victim of Dr. Saal to contact our detectives. We will continue to seek out dangerous individuals and bring justice to victims’ families.”
“The FBI and our partners will continue to fiercely investigate those who attempt to sexually exploit children,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola. “I want to thank the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office for their work on this investigation and for their strong partnership. Law enforcement is always more effective when we work together to address crime issues impacting our community.”
Transporting child pornography is a federal crime punishable by at least five and up to 20 years in prison. Possessing child pornography carries a potential maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola. Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey and other members of the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force and Ohio ICAC announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Danielle E. Margeaux is representing the United States in this case.
A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Former children’s hospital doctor charged with federal child pornography crimesRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A former children’s hospital doctor is charged federally with transporting and possessing child pornography.
Howard M. Saal, 73, of Cincinnati, appeared in federal court in Cincinnati this afternoon. Saal was previously employed as a geneticist and dysmorphologist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
According to charging documents, a Hamilton County Sherriff’s Office detective working on the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force investigated a cyber tip regarding image searches for child pornography that originated from Saal’s IP address. The cyber tip image depicted two naked females, approximately 10 years old, engaged in sexual conduct.
To date, as part of an ongoing review of Saal’s electronic devices, the FBI has thus far identified more than 153,000 images and 470 videos of child sexual abuse material. Some of the child pornography involves child victims as young as a newborn.
At this time, investigators have not located any evidence of child pornography involving patients or children associated with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
“I am incredibly proud of the work of our Regional Electronics and Computer Investigations unit and their diligence in investigating this individual,” said Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey. “We encourage anyone who thinks they may be a victim of Dr. Saal to contact our detectives. We will continue to seek out dangerous individuals and bring justice to victims’ families.”
“The FBI and our partners will continue to fiercely investigate those who attempt to sexually exploit children,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola. “I want to thank the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office for their work on this investigation and for their strong partnership. Law enforcement is always more effective when we work together to address crime issues impacting our community.”
Transporting child pornography is a federal crime punishable by at least five and up to 20 years in prison. Possessing child pornography carries a potential maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola. Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey and other members of the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force and Ohio ICAC announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Danielle E. Margeaux is representing the United States in this case.
A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Former Rochester bus driver going to prison for 10 years on child pornography chargeRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Tomas Rosario, 76, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of attempting to receive child pornography, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison and seven years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who handled the case, stated that Rosario was a school bus driver in Monroe County. On March 11, 2022, without any other adults or children present, Rosario transported a 13-year-old (victim) to school. During the ride, Rosario allowed the victim to sit in the front seat and proceeded to engage her in personal and sexually explicit conversation, including asking the victim if she had ever engaged in sexual conduct with her boyfriend. At the end of the day, Rosario picked the victim up from school and again allowed her to sit in the front seat. Rosario continued to engage in sexually explicit conversation with the victim and ultimately subjected her to instances of sexual contact. In addition, Rosario gave the victim his phone number, showed the victim his home, and encouraged the victim to call and visit if she ever wanted to skip school. Rosario’s actions were recorded on the bus surveillance system. In one instance, Rosario instructed the victim to take sexually explicit photos of herself and send them to him. On the following day, Rosario encountered the victim in a convenience store and warned her not to tell anyone what he had done the day before. That encounter was captured by the store’s security cameras.
The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation by the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Police Chief David Smith, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Acting Agent-in-Charge Mark Grimm.
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Former Massachusetts State Trooper Sentenced to Prison for Conspiracy to Falsify CDL Test ScoresRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former Massachusetts State Police (MSP) trooper was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in a conspiracy to falsify records by giving passing scores to certain Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) applicants even if they failed the CDL test or took less than the full test required by federal law.
Calvin Butner, 64, of Halifax, Mass., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to three months in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release with the first three months in home confinement. The government recommended a sentence of 15 months in prison.
In April 2025, Butner pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to falsify records, three counts of falsifying records and aiding and abetting and five counts of making false statements. In January 2024, Butner was charged in a 74-count indictment along with five others in the conspiracy and related schemes.
Members of MSP’s CDL Unit were responsible for administering CDL skills tests. Test requirements for CDLs are established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The CDL skills test is a demanding, in-person test which includes: Vehicle Inspection, in which an applicant is tested on their knowledge of the vehicle; Basic Control Skills, in which an applicant is tested on their ability to perform certain maneuvers; and the Road Test, in which an applicant is tested on their ability to drive a commercial vehicle on an open roadway. Only drivers who pass the test and thereby prove they are qualified to drive a commercial vehicle may be issued a CDL, with the primary goal of public safety.
Between in on or about May 2019 and January 2023, Butner and three other members of the CDL Unit conspired to give preferential treatment to at least 17 CDL applicants by agreeing to give passing scores on their CDL tests regardless of whether or not they actually passed. Butner and the co-defendants used the code word “golden” to identify these applicants. Butner gave passing scores to applicants and texted the following comments to a co-conspirator:
• “This guys a mess. . . . Lol. He owes u a prime rib 6inch.”
• “Golden mess. ??????”
• “He’s a mess Class A truck 2psi loss with truck running truck cut our again while timing ????”
• “Total mess this guy[.] i think some time[s] we should just do what we can but not golden. I’ll tell you about it later.”In addition, Butner gave passing scores to three applicants who failed the CDL test, and to five applicants who did not take the test at all.
All CDL recipients identified as not qualified during the course of this investigation have been reported to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Christopher A. Scharf, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine J. Wichers and Adam W. Deitch of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit are prosecuting the case.
Former Maritime Training School Owner Pleads Guilty to Defrauding the Coast GuardRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A St. Clair County man pleaded guilty today to a felony charge related to falsifying records connected to a course he administered to students seeking to become credentialed merchant mariners, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Captain Richard Armstrong, Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Detroit, and Special Agent in Charge Josh Packer, Coast Guard Investigative Service, Central Field Office, Detroit.
Mel Stackpoole, 62, entered his guilty plea this afternoon, before United States District Judge Terrence G. Berg, to one count of knowingly altering and falsifying records and documents with the intent to impede the proper administration of a matter within the jurisdiction of the United States Coast Guard.
According to court records, Stackpoole was the owner and lead instructor of Great Lakes Charter Training, a marine training school that offered Coast Guard approved training courses for the issuance of merchant mariner credentials (MMC). In August of 2020, Stackpoole provided the students enrolled his Master 100 Ton Captain’s Course with less than 50 hours of classroom instruction, rather than the required 80 hours. He also instructed the students to provide false information regarding their prior sea service, medical history, and recreational drug use on their MMC applications to the Coast Guard. Further, Stackpoole improperly provided the students with the answers to certain examination questions; changed students’ incorrect test answers into correct answers; and inflated the students’ test scores in order to reflect passing, rather than failing, grades. Stackpoole ultimately issued course completion certificates to the students, falsely signifying their successful completion of the course to the Coast Guard.
“Mel Stackpoole has endangered the safety of everyone who uses the waterways of our Great Lakes by deliberately circumnavigating the Coast Guard’s training and certification protocols and facilitating the issuance of credentials to unskilled and unqualified mariners.” U.S. Attorney Gorgon said.
“Integrity is the cornerstone of our maritime profession. When that trust is broken, it jeopardizes individual careers and the safety and security of our waterways. The U.S. Coast Guard stands firm in ensuring that those who choose to deceive or falsify their merchant mariner credential, or those who subvert the credentialing process, will be held accountable” said Captain Richard Armstrong, Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Detroit.
“As the leading maritime investigative agency, CGIS plays a vital role in investigating complex fraudulent schemes perpetrated against the U.S. Coast Guard and the public. This plea represents our investigative commitment to the maritime community in ensuring CGIS pursues those that would seek to take advantage of programs designed to enhance maritime safety,” said Special Agent in Charge Packer.
The sentencing hearing is set for December 18, 2025, at 2pm, at which Stackpoole faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Investigative Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy J. Wyse and Special Assistant United States Attorney Corinne M. Lambert
Former First Community Bank Vice President Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Embezzlement SchemeRead the Press Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A Cullman woman has been sentenced for her involvement in an embezzlement scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Court Judge Liles C. Burke sentenced Kellie L. Johnson, 54, of Cullman, Alabama, to 60 months in prison followed by 60 months supervised release. In May, Johnson pleaded guilty to bank embezzlement.
According to the plea agreement, Johnson was employed with First Community Bank for approximately 25 years. Between July 2013 and June 2023, Johnson embezzled money from First Community Bank’s Federal Reserve account to pay personal expenses, primarily credit card bills. To conceal her scheme, Johnson falsified transactions to reconcile the balance of the Federal Reserve account in the bank’s general ledger and deleted her ACH transactions. Johnson also altered account statements sent by the Federal Reserve that she was required to provide to the bank president, auditors, and others. The scheme ended when the bank president received a call from the Federal Reserve notifying him that the bank’s ACH account was overdrawn. When the bank president asked Johnson to provide the latest account statement, she provided a fraudulent statement showing a positive balance in the account. Over the decade that she stole money from the bank, Johnson conducted approximately 273 fraudulent ACH transactions totaling over $2.3 million. Additionally, Johnson deprived the bank of $138,185.40 in interest income to the Federal Reserve account.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura D. Hodge prosecuted the case.
Former Federal Employee and Two Other Women Plead Guilty in Pandemic Fraud CasesRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Rena Barrett, a former Small Business Administration (“SBA”) loan officer, pled guilty on August 11, 2025 to making false statements to the SBA in connection with applications for more than $550,000 in fraudulent COVID-19 pandemic loans.
“The Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provided critical relief to small businesses and supported our economy during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said United States Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “It is intolerable that Barrett—who was entrusted to process loans for desperate small businesses—placed her personal greed ahead of doing her job honestly. With the help of our law enforcement partners, we are committed to rooting out and punishing government employees who betray the public’s trust.”
“Abusing authority to fraudulently obtain Economic Injury Disaster Loan funds betrays the trust of small businesses relying on critical relief,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite of SBA Office of the Inspector General’s Eastern Region. “OIG is committed to protecting taxpayer dollars and ensuring accountability for those who exploit vital programs for personal gain.”
“Government employees who exploit their positions for personal gain betray the public trust and undermine critical programs designed to help those in need,” said Steven N. Schrank, the Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI remains steadfast in its commitment to working with our partners to hold accountable those who abuse their authority and harm the integrity of pandemic relief efforts.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Rena Barrett, 45, of Covington, Ga., became an SBA employee in October 2020. In May 2021, she submitted a fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) application for $170,000. SBA initially declined to approve this loan, but in July 2021, Barrett approved the loan herself. SBA shortly thereafter discovered that Barrett had abused her position by approving that loan and other loans she or her relatives submitted. Barrett received nearly half of the approximately $550,000 she sought to obtain and resigned from the SBA after her wrongdoing was discovered.
In a related case, on April 15, 2025, Sheena Thompson, 49, of Conyers, Ga., pled guilty to a criminal information charging her with making false statements to the SBA. Thompson admitted to trying to obtain more than $150,000 in fraudulent EIDL loans. Barrett is scheduled to be sentenced on November 12, 2025, and Thompson is scheduled to be sentenced on August 28, 2025.
Separately, on August 12, 2025, Detra Lewis, 40, of Atlanta, Ga., pled guilty to making false statements to the SBA. Lewis obtained more than $1.25 million after submitting a false Paycheck Protection Program loan application on behalf of God’s Anointed Youth Ministry. Lewis is scheduled to be sentenced on November 14, 2025.
The case against Barrett and Thompson is being investigated by the United States Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, and Homeland Security Investigations. The case against Lewis is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Alex R. Sistla is prosecuting each case.
On May 17, 2021, the Department of Justice established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the Department’s resources in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Former Chief Deputy for Stone County Sheriff's Office Sentenced to Federal Prison for Selling a Stolen Firearm and Extortion Under Color of Official RightRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Zachary Hunter Alexander, former Chief Deputy for the Stone County Sheriff’s Office, will spend the next 33 months in federal prison for selling a stolen firearm and extortion under color of official right. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down today by United States District Judge Lee P. Rudofsky.
On May 3, 2022, a federal grand jury indicted Alexander, 40, of Lakeview, in an 11-count indictment. Count 1 and counts 8 through 11 of the indictment charged Alexander with bank fraud, count 2 charged Alexander with selling a stolen firearm, and counts 3 through 7 charged Alexander with extortion under color of official right. On August 14, 2023, Alexander plead guilty to selling a stolen firearm and extortion under color of official right.
An investigation revealed that on May 31, 2019, Alexander purchased two Remington 700, 6.5 Creedmore sniper rifles. On June 3, 2019, Alexander received a cashier’s check from the Stone County Sheriff’s Foundation for $1,465.90 for the purchase of two Remington 700, 6.5 Creedmore sniper rifles for the Stone County Sheriff’s Office. In December 2019, Alexander sold one of the sniper rifles that belonged to the Stone County Sheriff’s Office for his personal benefit.
On approximately February 19, 2020, Alexander misused his authority as the Chief Deputy for the Sheriff’s Office to obtain $3,809.10 from the Stone County Treasurer. Alexander stated it was to reimburse a pawn shop for rifles, ammunition, and equipment purchased for the Sheriff’s Office. However, Alexander took the check to the owner of pawn shop, who accompanied Alexander to the bank, then endorsed the check and let Alexander keep the cash. As in other similar instances alleged in the indictment, no items were actually purchased from the pawn shop.
In addition to the 33-month sentence, Judge Rudofsky also sentenced Alexander to two years’ supervised release. Judge Rudofsky also ordered Alexander to pay restitution in the amount of $153,786.84, which primarily reflects pawn shop checks improperly cashed and dispensed to Alexander, fraudulent credit card purchases for personal items by Alexander on a Sheriff’s Office credit card, and Alexander’s fraudulent check kiting at various banks. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Arkansas State Police, with assistance from the Stone County Sheriff’s Office, Stone County Sheriff’s Foundation, Stone County Treasurer’s Office, 16th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
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Additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
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@USAO_EDAR
Florida Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Marcas Cory Anglin, 30, of Tampa, Florida, was sentenced today to three years and four months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 2, 2020, Anglin was driving a vehicle on U.S. Route 19 in Fayette County, West Virginia, when law enforcement officers attempted a traffic stop in response to reports of a vehicle driving erratically. Anglin fled from officers in his vehicle, leading them on a chase through Fayette County and into Nicholas County where he wrecked the vehicle. Anglin then fled on foot and was apprehended in a barn in the Pool area. Officers seized a loaded Glock model 27 .40-caliber pistol, which they determined was reported stolen, when they arrested Anglin.
Anglin fled from officers while being transported for processing following his arrest but was recaptured. Officers found Anglin was wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant issued in Florida.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Anglin knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for armed burglary of a dwelling in Hillsborough County, Florida, Circuit Court on June 19, 2014.
Anglin has a criminal history that also includes prior convictions for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, battery, burglary, grand theft of a motor vehicle, and grand theft of a firearm.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the West Virginia State Police.
Senior United States District Judge David A Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-153.
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Five-Time Felon and Domestic Abuser Convicted for Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
A Cedar Rapids man who possessed a firearm after five felony convictions and a conviction for a misdemeanor domestic abuse offense was convicted by a jury today after a two-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Kirby Joe Truesdell, age 48, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was convicted of possession of a firearm by prohibited person based on his prior felony convictions and domestic abuse offense. The verdict was returned this morning following just over an hour of jury deliberations.
The evidence at trial showed that Truesdell was observed in a residence that was not occupied at the time. When Cedar Rapids police officers arrived on scene to investigate, they located Truesdell coming out of the garage. Truesdell was not cooperative with officers and was taken into custody. Officers located a loaded revolver inside a backpack in Truesdell’s possession. Truesdell was previously convicted of the following felony offenses: OWI 3rd Offense (on two occasions), burglary, theft, and forgery. He was also previously convicted of assault causing bodily injury - domestic abuse-penalty enhanced.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Truesdell remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Truesdell faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily Nydle and Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael Hudson and was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, and the Linn County Sheriff’s Department with assistance from the US Marshal Service and the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-cr-00006.
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Federal Operation Targets Nebraska Human Trafficking Ring at Area HotelsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that five people were charged by complaint for a range of federal violations that center around their alleged conspiracy to engage in labor trafficking, sex trafficking, and harboring of aliens at several hotel locations across the Omaha metro area and into central Nebraska. The defendants own, operate and manage several hotels in the Omaha metro area located at the following locations where federal search warrants were executed in the early morning hours of August 12, 2025:
- The AmericInn, 2920 S 13 Ct., Omaha;
- The Inn (formerly Super 8), 9305 S 145th St., Omaha;
- The New Victorian, 10728 L St., Omaha; and
- Roadway Inn, 1110 Fort Crook Rd S, Bellevue, NE.
The five charged and arrested on August 12, 2025, are:
- Kentakumar Chaudhari, a/k/a Ken Chaudhari, age 36, of Elkhorn, NE;
- Rashmi Ajit Samani, a/k/a Falguni Samani, age 42, of Elkhorn, NE;
- Amit Prahladbhai Chaudhari, a/k/a Amit, age 32, of Omaha;
- Amit Babubhai Chaudhari, a/k/a Matt, age 33, of Omaha; and
- Maheshkumar Chaudhari, a/k/a Mahesh, age 38, of Norfolk, NE.
The redacted complaint affidavit contains a more complete summary of the allegations. Criminal Complaints are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Federal, state, and local law enforcement partners worked together today to safely execute search warrants at 14 business premises and two residential locations associated with the defendants. Four of those premises were either hotels or motels, and the remaining businesses were “Brow and Lash” salons located in the Westroads Mall and at other Omaha metro area locations.
During the operation, law enforcement officers rescued 10 minors from an alleged labor trafficking conspiracy that involved putting children under the age of twelve years old to work at the hotels for long hours with little to no pay. Seventeen adult victims were also rescued from the same conspiracy. The complaint affidavit details the allegedly exploitative conditions these victims were subjected to while being required to pay the defendants for their lodging at the hotels. The lodging accommodations were unclean, unsafe, and unhealthy. Online reviews for the hotel locations detail the firsthand accounts of travelers who occupied the same locations briefly. On one occasion, a source working with the federal government entered a hotel room where immigrant victims were sleeping on the floor of the room with cockroaches crawling on the victims as they slept.
Separately, the United States Attorney’s Office has alleged that one or more of the defendants were engaged in a sex trafficking conspiracy that allegedly victimized both minors and adults. Sex trafficking was not only allowed at the hotels according to complaint affidavit allegations but also encouraged, protected from law enforcement detection, and sex trafficking victims at the hotels were subjected not only to the traditional perpetrators of a sex trafficking scheme but also to hotel management and employees victimizing them as well.
Beyond these allegations, multiple defendants are alleged to have maintained these hotels as premises to conduct drug trafficking freely. Drug traffickers allegedly received protection from law enforcement in the same manner in which human traffickers were also shielded by the hotel owners and managers. Overdoses were a common problem, and at least one hotel had to keep Narcan at the front desk as a result. One source cited described a stairwell of one of the hotels as being littered with drug needles. Drug use was open and notorious in the parking lots according to eyewitnesses and to some online guest reviews.
At least one of the defendants is charged with a conspiracy to defraud the United States government by instigating a criminal scheme designed to obtain U visas under fraudulent circumstances. The U nonimmigrant status (U visa) is set aside for victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and are helpful to law enforcement or government officials in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity. Allegations in the complaint affidavits reveal that one hotel owner hired a worker at a hotel to stage a fictitious robbery of one of the Brow and Lash salons in 2022. The goal was to secure a U visa for one of the other defendants by making her a “victim” of the robbery.
The complaint further alleges one of the defendants engaged in conversations involving questions about what it would cost to bring someone from India to America and negotiating various prices. A number of hotel employees crossed the Arizona border several years ago and reported to Customs and Border Patrol they would be residing at one or more of the defendant’s hotels, thereby indicating those arrangements were made prior to entering the country illegally. Furthermore, the complaint alleges that aliens were being transported by co-conspirators between the State of Nebraska and the State of Washington for the purpose of fraudulently obtaining Washington state driver’s licenses for around $1,000 per identification document.
The various alleged conspiracies generated significant illegal proceeds, and as part of today’s operation, significant cash assets were seized to include more than $565,000 in U.S. currency that are alleged to be involved in money laundering. The United States filed a notice of pending lawsuit on the hotel properties to prevent their sale or transfer while this investigation is ongoing. The United States Marshals Service is actively recovering assets in this investigation alleged to have been illegally acquired and hoarded by the defendants. Also, seized during this operation was an undetermined amount illicit drugs that will be quantified as this investigation progresses.
Several vigilant citizens made complaints to Human Trafficking Hotlines about child workers and sex trafficking issues at one or more of these hotels, and we commend the members of our community who help shine a light on these unspeakable crimes and give a voice to the voiceless.
Due to the number of victims already identified in this ongoing federal investigation and the breadth and combination of the alleged charges, the FBI has requested that anyone having additional information on the crimes occurring at these locations or other business locations in Nebraska where similar crimes occurred, please contact the Omaha FBI field office to report that information.
United States Attorney Lesley Woods said, “There is no evil greater than the evil that seeks to trap, oppress, and exploit human beings for profit or pleasure. Where that evil exists, Nebraska law enforcement working together at the federal, state, and local levels, as occurred in this case, will seek it, find it, root it out, and ensure every rescued victim has an opportunity to obtain justice and freedom from their captors.”
U.S. Attorney Woods commends the unparalleled investigative coordination and accomplishment of this case achieved by the combined efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office, the Omaha Police Department, the Nebraska State Patrol, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Branch, the United States Marshals Service, and the Nebraska State Attorney General’s Office. U.S. Attorney Woods added, “When so many law enforcement agencies come together as one team, united in their relentless pursuit of justice, there is no organized crime network operating within Nebraska’s borders that can escape identification and accountability.”
Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel, leader of the Omaha FBI Field Office, stated, “Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery. This investigation revealed victims right here in the heart of the heartland forced into sexual activity, living and working in dangerous and filthy conditions, and extorted to work in grueling jobs with little to no pay. We will always stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners to aggressively identify and apprehend perpetrators of human trafficking, hold them accountable, and obtain justice for victims. Our approach to these horrific cases is always centered on the victims. We encourage anyone who may be a victim or have information about human trafficking to call us. We will continue to surge resources to arrest violent offenders in our community as part of the FBI’s Summer Heat Initiative.”
“There is nothing more reprehensible than exploiting human beings, particularly children, for sex, abusive labor conditions or deliberately violating U.S. immigration laws to profit from their suffering,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Zito of ICE HSI Kansas City, which covers Nebraska. “These criminals hide in the shadows, prey on the vulnerable and show no regard for the laws or values of our nation. Their crimes are calculated to be difficult to uncover but HSI and our federal partners have no intention of stopping until these predators are brought to justice and every victim is freed from their grip. ”
Do Kwon Pleads Guilty to FraudRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today that DO HYEONG KWON, the co-founder and former chief executive officer of Terraform Labs PTE, Ltd. (“Terraform”), pled guilty to one count of conspiring to commit commodities fraud, securities fraud, and wire fraud; and one count of committing wire fraud in connection with fraudulent schemes at Terraform. KWON touted Terraform as a self-contained and decentralized financial world that leveraged proprietary blockchain technology to offer its own cryptocurrencies, payment system, stock market, and savings bank. In reality and unbeknownst to Terraform investors and users, the core suite of Terraform products did not work as advertised and had been manipulated to create the illusion of a functioning and decentralized financial system. KWON pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer.
“Do Kwon used the technological promise and investment euphoria around cryptocurrency to commit one of the largest frauds in history,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Kwon attracted tens of billions in funds to Terraform’s ecosystem by promising a self-stabilizing stablecoin. By the time the markets discovered the ecosystem was unstable, it was too late: the system collapsed, and investors around the world suffered billions in losses. Kwon’s plea represents an important milestone in this Office’s continuing efforts to bring integrity and accountability to the digital asset markets. It would not have been possible without the dedicated work of our law enforcement partners at the FBI and the assistance of our allies abroad.”
According to the allegations contained in the Superseding Indictment and statements made in public filings and in public court proceedings:
Terraform was a blockchain and cryptocurrency company co-founded by KWON in 2018. Terraform distinguished the Terra blockchain from other competing blockchains by issuing so-called algorithmic stablecoins pursuant to what it called the “Terra Protocol.” According to KWON and others, Terraform stablecoins maintained a steady value even under changing market conditions. In or around September 2020, Terraform publicly announced the launch of Terraform’s stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar, TerraUSD (“UST”). Terraform promotional materials claimed that, under the Terra Protocol, one UST could always be exchanged for $1 worth of LUNA, the Terra blockchain’s native token. Conversely, $1 worth of LUNA could always be exchanged for one UST.
Over time, Terraform and its affiliated entities developed and launched various purportedly decentralized finance applications and entities designed to increase the number of users and transactions on the Terra blockchain, including:
- Chai, a Korean payment platform that purportedly began using the Terra blockchain to process financial transactions in or around June 2019;
- Mirror Protocol, a platform launched around December 2020 that allowed for the creation, buying, and selling of synthetic versions of financial assets, such as stocks listed on United States securities exchanges, using the Terra blockchain;
- Anchor Protocol, a platform launched in or around March 2021 that allowed for borrowing and lending UST, and that offered an approximately 20% annual return for UST deposited in Anchor;
- And the Luna Foundation Guard Ltd. (“LFG”), an entity incorporated publicly and launched in or around January 2022 that eventually maintained billions of dollars’ worth of financial reserves in the form of other cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin (the “LFG Reserve”) to purportedly support UST’s peg to the dollar.
KWON solicited and obtained investments from several investment firms in the United States and other locations, with the investments primarily consisting of agreements for the purchase or loan of Terraform’s cryptocurrencies built on the Terra blockchain. Through his work at Terraform, KWON became one of the most prominent business leaders in the cryptocurrency industry. In truth, KWON’s constructed financial world was built on lies and manipulative and deceptive techniques used to mislead investors, users, business partners, and government regulators regarding Terraform’s business:
- The Stablecoin Misrepresentations: KWON made misrepresentations about the effectiveness of the Terra Protocol, which purportedly used a computer algorithm to maintain the value of one UST at $1. But as KWON knew, after the Terra Protocol failed to cause the restoration of UST’s $1 peg in May 2021, KWON reached an agreement with executives at a high-frequency trading firm (the Trading Firm) so that the Trading Firm would purchase large amounts of UST in order to artificially support UST’s $1 peg.
- The LFG Misrepresentations: KWON claimed LFG was managed by an independent governing body and was tasked with deploying billions of dollars’ worth of financial reserves to defend UST’s peg. But as KWON knew, he controlled both the LFG and Terraform. In addition, KWON misappropriated hundreds of millions of dollars in assets from the LFG.
- The Mirror Misrepresentations: KWON claimed that Mirror operated in a decentralized manner and that he and Terraform played no role in Mirror’s governance. But as KWON knew, he and Terraform secretly maintained control over Mirror, and used automated trading bots to manipulate the prices of synthetic assets that Mirror issued. KWON also caused Terraform to inflate key user metrics to deceive investors.
- The Chai Misrepresentations: KWON falsely claimed that the Terra blockchain was being used to process billions of dollars in financial transactions for Chai. In doing so, KWON claimed that the Terra blockchain had “real world” applications or uses, as distinct from competing cryptocurrency platforms. But as KWON knew, Chai processed transactions through traditional financial processing networks, not the Terra blockchain.
- The Genesis Coin Misrepresentations: KWON made misrepresentations about the use of a supply of one billion stablecoins programmed into the Terra blockchain at its creation (the Genesis Stablecoins), which were purportedly held in reserve for Terraform for certain specified uses. But KWON used at least $145 million worth of Genesis Stablecoins, among other things, to fund fake Chai blockchain transactions and trading bots to manipulate the prices of synthetic assets that Mirror issued.
At its peak in the spring of 2022, the total apparent market value of all UST and LUNA exceeded $50 billion. Much of this growth followed KWON’s misrepresentations about Terraform and its technology, including efforts in May 2021 by KWON and his associates to secretly manipulate the market for UST. By May 2022, the UST market was approximately nine times larger in terms of market capitalization and more than eight times larger in terms of daily trading volume relative to May 2021. In May 2022, UST’s peg began to break down as it had a year prior. While KWON was able to cover up the weaknesses of the Terra Protocol in May 2021, he was not able to do so in May 2022. As a result, the value of UST and LUNA crashed, and investors suffered over $40 billion in losses. After the crash of UST and LUNA in May 2022, KWON caused the distribution of a misleading “third party audit” report to cover up his crimes.
On or about March 23, 2023, KWON was arrested in Europe while traveling on a false passport. U.S. authorities submitted a formal request for the arrest and extradition of KWON on March 25, 2023. On December 31, 2024, KWON was extradited from Montenegro to the United States.
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KWON, 33, of the Republic of Korea, pled guilty to one count of conspiring to commit commodities fraud, securities fraud, and wire fraud; and one count of committing wire fraud, which combined carry a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. As part of his plea, KWON has agreed to forfeit over $19 million in proceeds from his illegal schemes, including his interest in Terraform and its cryptocurrencies. KWON is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Engelmayer on December 11, 2025.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), FBI’s Virtual Assets Unit, FBI’s Economic Crimes Unit, FBI’s International Operations Division and Legal Attaché office covering Montenegro, the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Montenegro, the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Montenegro, the Montenegro Supreme State Prosecutor's Office, and the Montenegro Special State Prosecutor's Office. Mr. Clayton also gave special thanks to the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs for securing the extradition.
The case is being overseen by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marguerite B. Colson, Sarah Mortazavi, Kimberly Ravener, and Andrew Thomas are in charge of the prosecution.
Deming, Washington man sentenced to more than 13 years in prison for receipt and possession of images of child sexual abuseRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 47-year-old resident of Deming, Whatcom County, Washington was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 160 months in prison for two federal felonies related to his receipt and possession of child sexual abuse material, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Robert J. Howell Jr. came to the attention of law enforcement in late 2019 when a foreign country police organization alerted Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) that an IP address associated with Howell Jr’s residence had accessed a website devoted to child sexual abuse material. Following a two-day jury trial in April 2025, jurors deliberated about an hour before finding Howell Jr. guilty. U.S District Judge John C. Coughenour ordered Howell Jr. to pay $141,000 in restitution to the 47 child victims exploited in the sexual abuse imagery.
Judge Coughenour imposed the sentence of more than 13 years in prison saying it was driven by the quantity and violent nature of the child sexual abuse material. Judge Coughenour noted Howell Jr. “poses a danger to the community and has a complete lack of contrition.” Howell Jr. will be on twenty years of supervised release following his prison term.
According to records filed in the case and testimony at trial, after getting the tip from a foreign law enforcement organization, HSI agents sought information on the account associated with the IP address. The IP address was linked to Howell’s home in Deming. On September 15, 2020, federal agents executed a search warrant and seized several dozen electronic devices. A forensic review determined there were more than 90,000 files depicting child sexual abuse on some 21 electronic devices. Many of the images were of the sexual abuse of very young children and included depictions involving extreme violence.
At trial, prosecutors proved that between 2016 and 2019, Howell Jr. received five specific files of child sexual abuse material and knowingly possessed many more.
In all, more than 75 electronic assets including computers, phones, tablets, hard drives, storage devices, gaming devices, and CDs were seized by law enforcement and have been forfeited to the government.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Hampton and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica M. Ly.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
D.C. Child Psychotherapist Charged with Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Victor Renato Blythe, 60, of the District of Columbia, has been charged by federal complaint with allegedly distributing and possessing child pornography to another individual, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Blythe is employed as a psychotherapist and specializes in working with children and adolescents. Blythe previously was employed in the Psychiatry Department at Children’s National Medical Center.
According to the complaint, Blythe is alleged to have communicated with another individual regarding his interest in the sexual abuse of children. During the course of those communications, Blythe is alleged to have distributed child pornography to that other individual. Blythe is also alleged to have possessed additional videos depicting child pornography on his electronic devices.
The case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department with the assistance of the Fairfax County Police Department. It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI at [email protected].
This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Chinese national sent to federal prison after bringing child sexual abuse material into the U.S.Read the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 19-year-old woman from China caught illegally entering the United States has been sentenced for possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Jinyi Zheng pleaded guilty June 2.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Zheng to serve 24 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, she is expected to face removal proceedings following her prison term. If not immediately removed from the United States after her imprisonment, she must also serve an additional 24 months on home confinement. Zheng will also be on supervised release for five years following the completion of her imprisonment, during which time she will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict her access to children and the internet. Zheng will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
On Feb. 12, authorities encountered Zheng near Hidalgo after she illegally enter the United States from Mexico. At that time, they located an Apple iPhone 14 belonging to her. A forensic examination of the phone revealed six videos of prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
“This case shows why border security is so imperative,” said Ganjei. “Zheng is not the kind of person who we want walking around free in American communities, with the ability to prey on children. Fortunately, swift action by our law enforcement partners prevented this would-be predator from ever gaining access to our nation’s interior.”
Zheng has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexa D. Parcell is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) 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.
Child Predator Convicted of Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Following a trial before District Judge Susan Richard Nelson, a federal jury convicted Randy Joe Fuller, 54, of failure to register as a sex offender, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.
“Sex offender registration laws exist for one reason—to protect our communities and our children from known threats,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “When offenders ignore these requirements, they undermine a system designed to keep our families safe. Our duty is to protect children from those who prey on them, and we will use every power under federal law to do exactly that.”
Randy Joe Fuller is a convicted sex offender subject to predatory offender status. According to the public record, in 1990, Fuller was convicted in Fillmore County, Minnesota of first-degree criminal sexual conduct for sexually assaulting a child. Fuller received a sentence of 54 months in prison.
In 2006, as a part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, a comprehensive national sex offender registration system was established called the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). SORNA aims to close gaps and loopholes that existed under prior laws, and to strengthen the nationwide network of sex offender registrations to protect the public from known sexual predators. SORNA requires that qualifying sex offenders provide important information about their locations and employment to local and federal authorities.
Following his release from prison, Fuller had a duty under SORNA to register as a sex offender and to keep his registration current until 2039.
Fuller did not keep his registration current. In fact, Fuller has three prior Minnesota state convictions—2000, 2010, and 2013—for failing to keep his registration current.
In December 2024, Fuller moved from Iowa to Houston, Minnesota. However, he chose not notify state and federal authorities that he moved back to Minnesota, as required to do under SORNA. In January 2025, officers from the Houston, Minnesota Police Department were called to Fuller’s home because of a verbal altercation; they learned that Fuller was living in Minnesota and contacted federal authorities.
After being arrested and charged for failure to register, Fuller was housed at the Sherburne County jail. On June 30, 2025, while in custody and on a recorded jail call, Fuller discussed the federal charges pending against him. At one point in the conversation, Fuller acknowledged, “I am guilty of failure to register.”
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Marshals Service (USMS), with assistance from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), the Houston, Minnesota Police Department, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI).
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Evan B. Gilead and Matthew D. Evans prosecuted the case.
Charlotte Man Sentenced for Stealing Firearms from A Licensed DealerRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Reginald Maraeus Moses, 21, of Charlotte, was sentenced today for stealing multiple firearms from a licensed firearms dealer in Charlotte, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Moses was ordered to serve 27 months in the Federal Bureau of Prisons followed by two years under court supervision.
Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.
According to court records, on February 20, 2024, Moses crashed a stolen a vehicle into Carolina Sporting Arms Company, Inc., located at 8055 South Boulevard, in Charlotte, with the intent to steal firearms. After breaking into the store, Moses and an accomplice stole 20 firearms, including 18 handguns and two long guns.
Moses pleaded guilty to theft of a firearm from a licensed dealer and aiding and abetting the same.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the ATF and CMPD for their investigation of the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Cedar Rapids Felon Who Tosses Gun During High-Speed Chase Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A felon who discarded a loaded firearm while fleeing from the police was sentenced today to more than five years in federal prison. Lawrence Curtis Glover, age 42, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 10, 2025 guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
Information at sentencing showed that on January 6, 2024, law enforcement stopped a car that Glover was driving in Cedar Rapids. After Glover realized that officers were going to search his car, he fled and led officers on a high-speed pursuit. He reached speeds of at least 80 miles per hour in a 35-mile-per-hour zone. During the chase, he tossed a loaded firearm out the window of his car. Glover then pulled over. Officers later searched his car and found psilocybin chocolates and marijuana. Glover has a 2011 federal conviction for distribution and aiding and abetting the distribution of 5 grams or more of cocaine base.
Glover was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Glover was sentenced to 66 months’ imprisonment and must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Glover is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force. The task force is composed of representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, and the Marion Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-3.
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Career Offender Sentenced to Eight Years in Federal Prison for Threatening a Federal Judge and a Federal ProsecutorRead the Press Release
COEUR D’ALENE – Nathanael Michael West, 28, was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release on July 31, 2025, for, with the intent to retaliate, threatening to murder, assault, or kidnap a federal judge and a federal prosecutor, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon. The court ordered the sentence to be served consecutively to two prior sentences in 2020 and 2022 for similar convictions in the District of Idaho.
According to court records, in October 2022, West was sentenced to federal prison for mailing threatening communications to three state prosecutors. In February 2023, while serving a state sentence for burglary at an Idaho state prison, West sent a threatening letter to Assistant United States Attorney David Robins, who prosecuted the two cases that led to West’s incarceration. The letter contained graphic descriptions of West’s threat to assault, kidnap, torture, mutilate, and murder the prosecutor. Less than two weeks later, in March 2023, West sent another threatening letter to Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye, who sentenced West in October 2022. That letter vividly described West’s threat to assault and murder the judge.
On August 14, 2024, a federal grand jury in Idaho returned a four-count indictment, charging West with mailing threatening communications, threatening to assault, kidnap, or murder a federal law enforcement officer with intent to retaliate, and threatening to assault or murder a United States Judge with intent to retaliate. On July 31, 2025, West pleaded guilty to all four counts of the indictment.
“The 96-month sentence in this case is appropriate and justified, reflecting the seriousness, brazen, and violent nature of the defendant’s persistent threats,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “The defendant’s deliberate actions were not only incredibly personal to the victims in this case, but they were also an assault on the integrity of the criminal justice system.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho was recused from this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas H. Edmonds from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon was appointed as Special Attorney to the United States Attorney General to prosecute the case. He reports to and acts under the direction of the Deputy Attorney General, or his delegee, or U.S. Attorney Bradford in the case.
U.S. Attorney Bradford commended the work of the FBI, which conducted the investigation.
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