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Friday 27 June 2025
South Florida Man Who Visited Colombia as a Child Sex Tourist Sentenced to Life in PrisonRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Miami man was sentenced to life in federal prison after pleading guilty to traveling to Colombia for the purpose of having sex with minors.
According to court documents, law enforcement officers stopped Stefan Andres Correa, 42, on the jet bridge at Miami International Airport as he attempted to board a flight to Bogota, Colombia. During an outbound border search, officers discovered nine cellular phones in Correa’s possession. A search of the cellular phones uncovered over 100 videos of Correa having sex with over 50 minors. The minors were between 11 and 17 years of age. A search of one of the cell phones also revealed a text message exchange with a sex trafficker in Colombia, who Correa agreed to pay $300,000 Colombian pesos (the equivalent of $75 U.S. dollars) to arrange for commercial sex with children that were 10 to 12 years old.
“The United States of America will always seek to protect children near and far,” said U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida. “This prosecution and this sentence should serve as a warning to any predator who is trying to travel through our District to prey on children. We will find you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. A life sentence for this conduct is entirely appropriate. Predators such as Correa are a scourge upon humanity, and must be dealt with accordingly.”
“To the brave survivors, your courage was the driving force in this case, and I hope that the life sentence of this predator brings you some measure of justice and relief,” said Jose R. Figueroa, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Miami. “This investigation underscores the global and horrific nature of child sex trafficking and the importance of international cooperation to end it. I thank our federal and Colombian counterparts for their steadfast dedication and reiterate HSI’s continued commitment to holding those who prey on minors fully accountable.”
HSI Miami investigated the case with assistance from HSI offices in Cleveland, Ohio and Bogota, Colombia, as well as U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of the Judicial Attaché in Bogota, Colombia also provided critical assistance.
Major Crimes Deputy Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Astigarraga prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
To report suspected human trafficking or to obtain resources for victims, please call 1-888-373-7888; text “BeFree” (233733), or live chat at HumanTraffickingHotline.org. The toll-free phone, SMS text lines, and online chat function are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Help is available in English, Spanish, Creole, or in more than 200 additional languages. The National Hotline is not managed by law enforcement, immigration, or an investigative agency. Correspondence with the National Hotline is confidential, and you may request assistance or report a tip anonymously.
To report online child sexual exploitation visit https://report.cybertip.org/ or call 1-800-843-5678. The Cyber Tip Line is operated by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in partnership with HSI and other law enforcement agencies.
To learn more about the National Resource Hotline, visit http://www.humantraffickinghotline.org. To learn more about the U.S. Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking, visit www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-cr-20186.
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Social Security Employee Pleads Guilty to Stealing BenefitsRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Christina Daniels, a former employee of the Social Security Administration, pled guilty yesterday in federal court to theft of government property and aggravated identity theft.
“As an employee of the Social Security Administration, Daniels was entrusted with access to millions of beneficiaries’ personally identifiable information. She abused that trust by accessing sensitive information and using it to steal from the very people she was hired to serve,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Our office is dedicated to rooting out this type of fraud and prosecuting such offenses to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Social Security Administration (SSA) employees are entrusted in serving the people - not abusing their important position by stealing money from the people that they are meant to serve to line their own pockets,” said Michelle L. Anderson, Assistant Inspector General for Audit performing the duties of the Inspector General. “This fraudulent direct deposit diversion is intolerable behavior; we will hold each SSA employee accountable who chooses to violate our nation’s trust for their personal gain.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Between January 2023 to May 2024, Christina Daniels used her position at the Social Security Administration office in Norcross, Georgia, to change the direct deposit information for approximately 28 beneficiaries. As a customer service representative, Daniels was able to make changes to beneficiaries’ direct deposit information. Daniels abused this authority to steal more than $110,000.
She accomplished her theft by first opening Green Dot and Cash App accounts using personally identifiable information belonging to unwitting Social Security beneficiaries. After she created the new accounts, she changed the direct deposit information of the unsuspecting beneficiaries to one of the newly opened Green Dot or Cash App accounts that she controlled.
An internal investigation was launched after several retirement beneficiaries reported that they had not received their monthly benefit payments. Subsequent internal and law enforcement investigations revealed that Daniels had changed the direct deposit information for approximately 28 beneficiaries and that she redirected the benefits to accounts that she opened using the stolen PII of other beneficiaries – some of whom were her family members.
Daniels, 47, of Winder, Georgia, pled guilty to one count of theft of government money, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years of imprisonment. In determining the actual sentence, the court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.
Sentencing is scheduled for a future date before United States District Judge J.P. Boulee.
This case is being investigated by the Social Security Administration - Office of the Inspector General. Special Assistant United States Attorney Diane C. Schulman is prosecuting the case.
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.
Smuggling Leader and Top Coordinator Will Spend Remainder of Their Lives in Prison Following Their Sentencing on Third Anniversary of Deadly Tractor-Trailer Smuggling ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – Two convicted human smugglers were sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio today for their prominent roles in the 2022 mass casualty human smuggling conspiracy that resulted in the deaths of 47 adults and six children.
U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia for the Western District of Texas sentenced Felipe Orduna-Torres to life in prison and a $250,000 fine, and Armando Gonzales-Ortega to 1,050 months in prison and a $250,000 fine. Both defendants were found guilty by a federal jury in March for three counts related to the transportation of aliens within the United States resulting in death, causing serious bodily injury, and placing lives in jeopardy. Following the jury’s verdict at the trial, Judge Garcia set the sentencing date, noting that it would be three years to the day from when the 53 migrants perished as a result of the defendants’ smuggling scheme.
“These criminals will spend the rest of their lives in prison because of their cruel choice to profit off of human suffering,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Today’s sentences are a powerful message to human smugglers everywhere: we will not rest until you are behind bars.”
“Three years to the day after these two smugglers and their co-conspirators left dozens of men, women, and children locked in a sweltering tractor-trailer to die in the Texas summer heat, they learned that they will spend the rest of their lives locked away in a federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “We recognize the justice handed down by Judge Garcia and thank our law enforcement partners for their great work that led to today’s outcome. At the same time, we reinforce the message that these criminal organizations will not place the lives of the desperate and vulnerable above their own financial enrichment. My office remains focused on prosecuting smugglers and their networks, and ultimately eradicating transnational criminal organizations.”
“Today’s sentences are the result of a far-reaching investigation and a tireless commitment by HSI and our law enforcement partners to dismantle the deadliest human smuggling operation in U.S. history,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio. “This case serves as a stark reminder: human smuggling is not a service — it is a deadly criminal enterprise. HSI will pursue smugglers relentlessly, wherever they operate. No one, who participates in the smuggling of human beings, will escape the reach of justice.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Orduna-Torres, also known as Cholo, Chuequito/Chuekito, and Negro, 30, was a leader and organizer, and Gonzales- Ortega, also known as El Don and Don Gon, 55, was a coordinator in the human smuggling organization (HSO) which illegally brought adults and children from Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico into the United States between December 2021 and June 2022.
Court documents and evidence presented at the trial revealed that Orduna-Torres and Gonzales-Ortega worked in concert to transport and facilitate the transportation of the migrants, sharing routes, guides, stash houses, trucks, trailers, and transporters in order to consolidate costs, minimize risks, and maximize profit. The HSO maintained a variety of tractors and trailers for their smuggling operations, some of which were stored at a private parking lot in San Antonio.
In the days leading up to June 27, 2022, Orduna-Torres and others exchanged the names of illegal aliens who would be smuggled in an upcoming tractor-trailer load. Gonzales-Ortega traveled to Laredo to meet the tractor-trailer, where at least 64 undocumented individuals, including eight children and one pregnant woman, were loaded for smuggling.
Some of the defendants, including Orduna-Torres, were aware that the trailer’s reefer unit was malfunctioning and was not blowing any cool air to the migrants inside. When members of the organization met the tractor-trailer at the end of its approximately three-hour journey to San Antonio, they opened the doors to find 48 of the migrants were either already dead or had died on site, including the pregnant woman. Sixteen of the undocumented individuals were transported to hospitals —five of whom died.
In addition to their sentences described above, the court also ordered Orduna-Torres to pay a $96,000 money judgment and ordered the forfeiture of the following assets: one 2008 Volvo semi-tractor; one 1995 Phoenix trailer; one 2015 Cadillac Escalade; one 2017 Ford F-350 Super Duty Truck; and $59,445.50.
Five other defendants in this case have pleaded guilty for their involvement in the smuggling event. Riley Covarrubias-Ponce, also known as Rrili and Rilay, 32, is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 6; Luis Alberto Rivera-Leal, 39, is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 13; Christian Martinez, 31, is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 20; and Homero Zamorano Jr., 48, is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 4. Juan Francisco D’Luna Bilbao, 51, is indicted separately and is also scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 4.
In a related case, Rigoberto Ramon Miranda-Orozco, 48, allegedly worked with the HSO to smuggle aliens into the United States on the same fatal journey orchestrated by Orduna-Torres and his co-conspirators. He made his initial appearance in San Antonio on March 17, seven months after he was arrested in Guatemala, and is currently scheduled for a jury trial Sept. 29.
HSI investigated the case with the assistance of the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and has received tremendous support from Customs and Border Protection; Border Patrol; ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations; the San Antonio Police Department; the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office; the San Antonio Fire Department; the Marshall Police Department; and the Palestine Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric Fuchs, Sarah Spears and Ray Gattinella for the Western District of Texas are prosecuting the case.
These convictions are the result of the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded by the Attorney General with a mandate to target cartels and other transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section; Office of Enforcement Operations; and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 385 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 345 U.S. convictions; more than 300 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.
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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Smuggling Leader and Top Coordinator Will Spend Remainder of Their Lives in Prison Following Their Sentencing on Third Anniversary of Deadly Tractor-Trailer Smuggling ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Two convicted human smugglers were sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio today for their prominent roles in the 2022 mass casualty human smuggling conspiracy that resulted in the deaths of 47 adults and six children.
U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia for the Western District of Texas sentenced Orduna-Torres to life in prison and a $250,000 fine, and Gonzales-Ortega to 83 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Both defendants were found guilty by a federal jury in March for three counts related to the transportation of aliens within the United States resulting in death, causing serious bodily injury, and placing lives in jeopardy. Following the jury’s verdict at the trial, Judge Garcia set the sentencing date, noting that it would be three years to the day from when the 53 migrants perished as a result of the defendants’ smuggling scheme.
“These criminals will spend the rest of their lives in prison because of their cruel choice to profit off of human suffering,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Today’s sentences are a powerful message to human smugglers everywhere: we will not rest until you are behind bars.”
“Three years to the day after these two smugglers and their co-conspirators left dozens of men, women, and children locked in a sweltering tractor-trailer to die in the Texas summer heat, they learned that they will spend the rest of their lives locked away in a federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “We recognize the justice handed down by Judge Garcia and thank our law enforcement partners for their great work that led to today’s outcome. At the same time, we reinforce the message that these criminal organizations will not place the lives of the desperate and vulnerable above their own financial enrichment. My office remains focused on prosecuting smugglers and their networks, and ultimately eradicating transnational criminal organizations.”
“Today’s sentences are the result of a far-reaching investigation and a tireless commitment by HSI and our law enforcement partners to dismantle the deadliest human smuggling operation in U.S. history,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio. “This case serves as a stark reminder: human smuggling is not a service — it is a deadly criminal enterprise. HSI will pursue smugglers relentlessly, wherever they operate. No one, who participates in the smuggling of human beings, will escape the reach of justice.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Felipe Orduna-Torres, also known as Cholo, Chuequito/Chuekito, and Negro, 30, was a leader and organizer, and Armando Gonzales-Ortega, also known as El Don and Don Gon, 55, was a coordinator in the human smuggling organization (HSO) which illegally brought adults and children from Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico into the United States between December 2021 and June 2022.
Court documents and evidence presented at the trial revealed that Orduna-Torres and Gonzales-Ortega worked in concert to transport and facilitate the transportation of the migrants, sharing routes, guides, stash houses, trucks, trailers, and transporters in order to consolidate costs, minimize risks, and maximize profit. The HSO maintained a variety of tractors and trailers for their smuggling operations, some of which were stored at a private parking lot in San Antonio.
In the days leading up to June 27, 2022, Orduna-Torres and others exchanged the names of illegal aliens who would be smuggled in an upcoming tractor-trailer load. Gonzales-Ortega traveled to Laredo to meet the tractor-trailer, where at least 64 undocumented individuals, including eight children and one pregnant woman, were loaded for smuggling.
Some of the defendants, including Orduna-Torres, were aware that the trailer’s reefer unit was malfunctioning and was not blowing any cool air to the migrants inside. When members of the organization met the tractor-trailer at the end of its approximately three-hour journey to San Antonio, they opened the doors to find 48 of the migrants were either already dead or had died on site, including the pregnant woman. Sixteen of the undocumented individuals were transported to hospitals — five of whom died.
In addition to their sentences described above, the court also ordered Orduna-Torres to pay a $96,000 money judgment and ordered the forfeiture of the following assets: one 2008 Volvo semi-tractor; one 1995 Phoenix trailer; one 2015 Cadillac Escalade; one 2017 Ford F-350 Super Duty Truck; and $59,445.50.
Five other defendants in this case have pleaded guilty for their involvement in the smuggling event. Riley Covarrubias-Ponce, also known as Rrili and Rilay, 32, is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 6; Luis Alberto Rivera-Leal, 39, is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 13; Christian Martinez, 31, is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 20; and Homero Zamorano Jr., 48, is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 4. Juan Francisco D’Luna Bilbao, 51, is indicted separately and is also scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 4.
In a related case, Rigoberto Ramon Miranda-Orozco, 48, allegedly worked with the HSO to smuggle aliens into the United States on the same fatal journey orchestrated by Orduna-Torres and his co-conspirators. He made his initial appearance in San Antonio on March 17, seven months after he was arrested in Guatemala, and is currently scheduled for a jury trial Sept. 29.
HSI investigated the case with the assistance of the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and has received tremendous support from Customs and Border Protection; Border Patrol; ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations; the San Antonio Police Department; the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office; the San Antonio Fire Department; the Marshall Police Department; and the Palestine Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric Fuchs, Sarah Spears and Ray Gattinella for the Western District of Texas are prosecuting the case.
These convictions are the result of the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded by the Attorney General with a mandate to target cartels and other transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section; Office of Enforcement Operations; and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 385 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 345 U.S. convictions; more than 300 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.
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 (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
Six Foreign Nationals Sentenced for Unlawfully Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – The U.S. District Judge Eric F. Melgren separately sentenced six foreign nationals for unlawfully reentering the United States after previously being removed.
Raul Luna-Gonzalez, 30, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty in March to Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Luna-Gonzalez was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Court records show that Luna-Gonzalez was arrested for Driving Under the Influence and Transporting an Open Container. While being booked into jail, Luna-Gonzalez’s fingerprint record showed that he was an alien unlawfully residing in the United States and had been previously deported in April 2019. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Harris prosecuted the case.
Yair de Jesus Trejo-Mendoza, 37, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty in March to Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Trejo-Mendoza was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Court records show that Trejo-Mendoza was arrested for his second offense of Driving Under the Influence, Eluding, and Obstruction, among other charges. While being booked into jail, Trejo-Mendoza’s fingerprint record showed that he was an alien unlawfully residing in the United States and had been previously deported in 2008, 2015, and 2023. Court records further show that Trejo-Mendoza has three convictions related to drinking and driving, plus resisting arrest, and assault and battery upon an officer. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Greenough and Michele Hulgaard prosecuted the case.
Benigno Villezcas Alcantar, 42, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty in February to Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Villezcas Alcantar was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release. Court records show that Villezcas Alcantar was arrested for Conjoint Robbery. While being booked into jail, Villezcas Alcantar’s fingerprint record showed that he was an alien unlawfully residing in the United States and had been previously deported in August 2015. Villezcas Alcantar told law enforcement that he reentered the United States in 2023. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris prosecuted the case.
Julio Martinez-Perez, 36, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty in March to Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Martinez-Perez was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Court records show that Martinez-Perez was previously deported in 2016 after receiving a 24-month sentence for Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin. In 2022, he was arrested again in Tulsa County and pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated trafficking of fentanyl and heroin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster prosecuted the case.
Santiago Lopez Gonzalez, 43, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty in March to Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Lopez Gonzalez was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Court records show that Lopez Gonzalez was arrested for an outstanding warrant for various crimes, including possession of a controlled drug. While being booked into jail, Lopez Gonzalez's fingerprint record showed that he was an alien unlawfully residing in the United States and had been deported three times. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy Mackenzie prosecuted the case.
Alexander Enemias Ortiz-Gonzalez, 23, a Guatemalan national, pleaded guilty in March to Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Ortiz-Gonzalez was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release. Court records show that Ortiz-Gonzalez was arrested for driving under the influence. While being booked into jail, Ortiz-Gonzalez's fingerprint record showed that he had an active warrant in Minnesota for fleeing from a police officer and that he had been previously deported in 2023. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster prosecuted the case.
Record checks show that the defendants did not seek permission to re-enter the United States and that they never received consent from the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States. The defendants are expected to face removal proceedings following their sentence.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated the cases.
Serial Fraudster Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Swindling Investors out of $17 Million in Stock Manipulation and Money Laundering SchemesRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Richard Dale Sterritt, Jr., also known as “Richard Richman,” was sentenced to 18 years in prison by United States District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto for conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud, multiple counts of securities fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The charges relate to a scheme to defraud investors in Zona Energy, an oil and gas exploration company in Texas, and a scheme to manipulate stock in OrgHarvest, Inc., a publicly traded company that Sterritt controlled. In total, Sterritt raised approximately $17 million from investors and misappropriated most of the money. As part of the sentence, Sterritt was ordered to forfeit approximately $17 million in fraudulently obtained gains and pay approximately $16.3 million in restitution to his victims. Sterritt pleaded guilty to the charges in November 2023. Sterritt had previously been convicted on federal securities fraud charges and imprisoned for five years for his role in a nearly identical fraud scheme.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the sentence.
“For years, Richard Sterritt preyed on unsuspecting investors and betrayed their trust by spending their money on expensive cars, luxury goods, and high-end travel,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Today’s sentence punishes Sterritt for his crimes and protects the public from this serial fraudster. My Office is committed to protecting the investing public and the integrity of the markets from white-collar criminals like the defendant.”
Mr. Nocella thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for their invaluable assistance in the investigation.
“Despite his prior conviction for a similar conspiracy, Richard Sterritt once again facilitated the theft of more than $17 million from trusted investors and shareholders through misrepresentations while separately attempting to manipulate the stock of another company,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia. “Sterritt's multiple attempts to defraud investors reflects his relentless pursuit to use others' money to fund his personal lifestyle and businesses. May today's sentencing emphasize the FBI's continued commitment to investigate any individual who manipulates our economic market to line their own pockets.”
The Zona Energy Scheme
Between March 2018 and January 2021, Sterritt and his co-defendants James Christopher Pittman, Mark Ross, and Robert Magness defrauded investors in an early-stage oil-and-gas company called Zona Energy. Sterritt used a series of sham entities and nominees to conceal his control of Zona Energy. Sterritt also concealed his criminal history from investors and potential investors by adopting the alias “Richard Richman.” The co-conspirators made a series of misrepresentations about Zona Energy’s business, management, and use of proceeds from the offering, ultimately raising approximately $17 million from investors. Sterritt and his co-conspirators misappropriated more than $10 million of the proceeds to purchase luxury items, pay personal expenses, or funnel funds into other businesses Sterritt controlled, including a cannabis company.
The ORGH Market Manipulation
To cover up the Zona Energy scheme, Sterritt, Ross, and Magness conspired with an undercover FBI agent (the “Undercover Agent”) posing as a corrupt stockbroker to manipulate the price and trading volume of publicly traded shares of stock in OrgHarvest, Inc., which traded under the stock ticker “ORGH.” Sterritt, who secretly controlled the majority of ORGH shares through trusts in the names of his associates, family members, and co-conspirators, agreed with the Undercover Agent to place matched trades at specific prices, volumes, and times to inflate the price of ORGH stock. Between approximately May 19, 2020 and May 28, 2020, the co-conspirators placed test matched trades at the pre-determined prices and volumes agreed to with the Undercover Agent. The ORGH Market Manipulation scheme was halted by regulators on June 1, 2020 before the co-conspirators could trade larger blocks of shares.
In addition, Sterritt and his co-defendants, including Michael Greer and Sterritt’s ex-wife Robyn Straza, laundered the proceeds of the schemes by facilitating financial transactions to conceal and promote the fraudulent schemes, including by transferring investor funds through a series of bank accounts controlled by the defendants. Furthermore, Sterritt obstructed the administration of justice when he directed co-conspirators to create fake and backdated documents and sent them to the SEC in response to subpoena requests.
All six defendants in the case have pleaded guilty. Straza was sentenced to 10 months in prison; Ross was sentenced to three months in prison; Greer, Magness, and James Christopher Pittman are awaiting sentencing.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah M. Evans, Nick M. Axelrod, and Jessica K. Weigel are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
RICHARD DALE STERRITT, JR. (also known as “Richard Richman”)
Age: 67
Residence: Garland, TexasCo-Defendants Who Previously Pleaded Guilty:
MICHAEL GREER
Age: 48
Dallas, TexasROBERT MAGNESS
Age: 54
New York, New YorkJAMES CHRISTOPHER PITTMAN
Age: 52
Dallas, TexasMARK ROSS
Age: 56
Parkland, FloridaROBYN STRAZA
Age: 61
Dallas, TexasE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-193 (KAM)
San Antonio Felon Indicted for Firearm Possession and TraffickingRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A federal grand jury in San Antonio returned an indictment charging a San Antonio man with three counts of firearm-related offenses.
According to court documents, Alex Lee Vega, 27, allegedly conspired with another co-conspirator to transport a machinegun conversion device to another person on or about April 10. Additionally, Vega, who is a convicted felon, allegedly possessed two separate Glock pistols on or about April 11 and April 14.
Vega is charged with one count of aiding and abetting trafficking in firearms and two counts of felon in possession of a firearm. He made his initial court appearance Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth S. Chestney of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. If convicted, Vega faces up to 15 years in prison for each charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sade Bogart is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Rochester woman sentenced for her involvement in a swatting incidentRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Dawnn Marie Walters, 53, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to gain unauthorized access to computers, was sentenced to serve one year probation, to include six months home detention, by U.S. Magistrate Judge Colleen D. Holland.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright, who is handling the case, stated that in August 2023, law enforcement commenced a local swatting call investigation in the Rochester area. Swatting involves and individual making a false report of a serious crime, such as a hostage situation or active shooter, in order to send a SWAT team or law enforcement response to a targeted location. The swatting call in this case involved individuals pretending to be another individual identified as C.F., stating that they had shot someone and provided C.F. parents’ address as the location they had shot someone.
During the investigation, law enforcement discovered several conversations that Walters took part in online, discussing targeting C.F. and her devices. In one of those conversations, Walters agreed to assist a co-conspirator in accessing C.F.’s device. With Walters assistance, the co-conspirator gained access to C.F.’s online accounts, including C.F.’s personal email account. After accessing the email account, an email was sent from C.F.’s personal email account to multiple Monroe County Legislators and New York State Assembly members. The email included C.F.’s name, telephone number, and photographs of deceased children. Other emails sent from C.F.’s email to New York State Assembly members included threats to “shoot up some schools in New York,” which were meant to cause law enforcement to investigate C.F. as the emails were sent from C.F.'s personal email address.
The sentencing is a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Grimm and the Orleans County Sheriff's Office, under the direction of Sheriff Christopher Bourque.
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Rapid City Man Acquitted on Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man was acquitted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person following a federal jury trial in Rapid City, South Dakota, on June 25, 2025.
Randy Tail, a/k/a Randy Tayle, a/k/a Randy Sierra, age 44, was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2025.
The charge relates to Tail being in the passenger seat of a car pulled over for a traffic stop in Rapid City, South Dakota. Law enforcement discovered a firearm inside of Tail’s backpack that was between his feet in the car during the traffic stop. Tail was previously convicted of a crime punishable beyond a year in prison, and as a result, he is prohibited from possessing firearms.
The investigation was conducted by Rapid City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The U.S. Attorney's Office prosecuted the case.
Possession of Machine Gun While on Probation for Two Armed Robberies Nets Felon 57 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Derkwon Johnson, 26, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 57 months in prison in connection with being a felon in possession of a loaded Glock 23 equipped with a machine gun conversion device, while he was on probation for two armed robberies, an assault, and other crimes. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Johnson pleaded guilty on Jan. 29, 2025, to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Loren L. AliKhan ordered Johnson to serve three years of supervised release.
According to court papers, in December 2023, MPD investigators were alerted to Johnson’s posts on Instagram depicting large clear plastic bags of a green leafy substance, a firearm, and ammunition. On Jan. 4, 2024, Officers with the Sixth District Crime Suppression Team executed a residential search warrant on Johnson’s home on the 3600 block of Minnesota Ave. SE.
Officers entered Johnson’s apartment shortly after 6 a.m. to find six occupants – Johnson, Johnson’ half-sister, and her four small children – in a bed in a second bedroom. In the first bedroom, which was not occupied as police entered, officers recovered a .40 caliber Glock 23 pistol from the top of a piece of bedside furniture. The pistol, loaded with 28 rounds of ammunition, was equipped with a machine gun conversion device.
Police also recovered a loaded ammunition magazine, a firearm laser attachment, addition ammunition, a bag containing 335 grams of a green leafy substance, a pill bottle containing 40 white pills stamped RP/10 325 (oxycodone), a scale, and $4,704 in cash.
Investigators searched Johnson’s Instagram account and discovered multiple chats, videos, and messages advertising or arranging for the sale of pills and marijuana between Oct. 4, 2023, and Jan. 4, 2024.
At the time of the January 4 arrest, Johnson was on probation for 2018 convictions in D.C. Superior Court for conspiracy to commit robbery, two counts of armed robbery, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, possession with intent to distribute (PCP), and assault with a dangerous weapon.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department, the FBI Washington Field Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Martin.
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Pipe Bomber Found Guilty of Blowing up ATMRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Abdurrahim Jalal has been convicted of blowing up a bank automated teller machine and possessing illegal explosive devices.
“Criminals who use dangerous explosives to commit crimes will face federal prosecution to the fullest extent of the law,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “We will not tolerate conduct that puts innocent lives at risk or threatens the safety and stability of our communities.”
“Jalal put his own greed ahead of the safety of our community. The FBI will use every resource available to find anyone who would go to the extreme use of a bomb to illegally obtain money,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown.
"The use of explosives in criminal activities poses an immense threat to public safety, and we will continue to work diligently to ensure that those who engage in such acts are brought to justice," said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka.
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Abdurrahim Jalal was convicted of bank theft, use of an explosive to commit a felony, arson, and two counts of possession of an unregistered destructive device following a bench trial on June 23, 2025. The evidence at trial revealed that on March 29, 2023, Jalal used a pipe bomb to blow up an ATM in Decatur, Georgia. Jalal took approximately $88,000 from the vault of the machine after the explosion. Investigators identified Jalal and obtained a warrant to search his home, during which they recovered additional pipe bombs.
Sentencing for Abdurrahim Jalal, 54, of DeKalb County, Georgia, is scheduled for September 22, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Michael L. Brown. Jalal faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to 60 years of imprisonment followed by up to three years of supervised release. In determining Jalal’s actual sentence, the court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, DeKalb County Police Department, and DeKalb County Fire Rescue Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Dash A. Cooper is prosecuting the case.
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.
Pensacola Man Pleads Guilty to Multi-Million Dollar Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering CrimesRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Rayvaughn L. Andrews, 41, of Pensacola, Florida, pled guilty in federal court to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and money laundering offenses. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Those who think they can profit and live lavish lifestyles off drug trafficking in the Northern District of Florida are sorely mistaken, and will soon find themselves in federal prison. Fulfilling the promise of President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America, my office is fully committed to working with our brave federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to identify and aggressively pursue drug traffickers to ensure those who flood our communities with dangerous drugs are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
Court documents reveal that, from 2021 until his arrest in late-2024, Andrews conspired with others to distribute large amounts of cocaine in interstate commerce. The kilogram “brick” quantities of cocaine ended up on the streets of Escambia County, Florida. Using money obtained through his drug trafficking activities, Andrews laundered the illicitly derived cash through various casinos in Mississippi and Nevada. This included approximately $10 million of cocaine sale proceeds.
Andrews faces up to life imprisonment as well as the forfeiture of approximately $40,000 in United States currency and a Chevrolet Corvette seized during his arrest.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Pensacola Police Department, and the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jessica S. Etherton.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 23, 2025, at 9:00 am at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
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.
Owners of Construction Company Charged with Defrauding the City of New York in Connection with over $13.5 Million of Public School RepairsRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, a complaint was filed charging Dalip Singh and Gurnirmal Singh, the owners of TEMCO Construction NY, Inc., with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a scheme to submit falsified payroll records to the New York City Department of Education (DOE) about the wages and benefits paid by TEMCO to employees performing repairs on New York City public schools. Dalip Singh and Gurnirmal Singh were arrested this morning and will make their initial appearance this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Cheryl L. Pollak.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, New York (IRS-CI); Michael Alfonso, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York); and Amy Connelly, Special Agent in Charge, Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, Boston-New York Field Division (SSAOIG), announced the arrests and charges.
“As alleged, the defendants lied to the DOE about using undocumented workers, and deprived those workers—who toiled long days, school holidays, and weekends—of proper compensation they had earned, so that they could line their pockets and bank accounts on New York City’s tab,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “My Office and our law enforcement partners will vigorously pursue employers who try to gain an unfair advantage over honest companies that follow the law and treat their workers fairly.”
Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the DOE and the New York City Office of the Comptroller for their assistance.
“The Singhs allegedly laundered more than thirteen million dollars from the City of New York, underpaying their workers in cash and pocketing the difference. These two men took advantage of both the taxpayers and undocumented workers, then tried to destroy the evidence. It is clear that there was no regard for the rule of law, but after today, they will learn what justice is all about,” stated IRS-CI New York Special Agent in Charge Chavis.
“Today’s charges reflect our relentless pursuit of criminal businesses that undermine the viability of immigration systems, circumvent labor laws, and ultimately gain an unfair financial advantage in the national economy via the employment of illegal aliens,” stated HSI New York Acting Special Agent in Charge Alfonso. “The message is clear: if you exploit the unauthorized workforce for personal gain and undercut American jobs, HSI—along with our law enforcement partners—will hold you accountable.”
“These defendants broke the law by hiring illegal undocumented workers, exploited them by underpaying them and manipulating wage records to falsely inflate their own and their family members’ Social Security earnings,” stated Amy Connelly, Special Agent in Charge, SSA OIG, New York Field Division. “Their scheme defrauded federal programs that rely on accurate wage reporting. We thank our partners at the IRS and HSI New York for their collaboration in uncovering this fraud and holding the owners of TEMCO Construction NY accountable.”
From approximately December 2017 to April 2025, TEMCO maintained an office in Jamaica, New York. In April 2025, TEMCO moved its office to Hicksville, New York. According to the criminal complaint, between 2017 and 2025, Dalip Singh and Gurnirmal Singh, who are not related, hired undocumented aliens without legal authorization to work in the United States to provide masonry, scaffolding, and construction services at New York City public schools and DOE buildings (“DOE Worksites”) at below the prevailing wage required by New York State labor law and contracts with the DOE. Dalip Singh then submitted false certified payrolls to the DOE for work performed by TEMCO employees at DOE Worksites. These payroll certifications falsely listed relatives who did not actually work at the DOE Worksites, falsely omitted some undocumented workers who actually worked at the DOE Worksites, and falsely overstated the wages being paid to TEMCO’s workers.
Specifically, Dalip Singh falsely stated that TEMCO had paid its employees the prevailing wage when in fact, the employees had been paid far less, often in cash, or had their wages on other jobs lowered to offset the prevailing wages on the DOE work. The defendants pocketed the difference that their employees were underpaid.
As further alleged in the complaint, the defendants attempted to conceal their fraud, directing their workers to lie to New York City investigators about the wages they received. When Dalip Singh suspected that law enforcement agents were investigating, he directed his employees to conceal and destroy records.
The charges in the complaint are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of wire fraud, the defendants each face up to 20 years in prison.
This case is part of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York’s Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) Strike Force. Capitalizing on the Office’s preeminence in this area, the Strike Force focuses on investigating, prosecuting and dismantling cartels and TCOs.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section. Assistant United States Attorney John Vagelatos is in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
DALIP SINGH
Age: 67
East Meadow, Long IslandGURNIRMAL SINGH
Age: 64
Westbury, Long IslandE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-MJ-219
dalip_and_gurnirmal_complaint.pdfOrlando Man Indicted for Making Online Threats Against the United States Attorney for the District of New JerseyRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Salvatore Russotto (58, Orlando) with threatening to injure and kill the victim, the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Alina Habba, and with retaliating against a federal law enforcement officer by threat. If convicted on both counts, Russotto faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.
According to the indictment, on May 19, 2025, Russotto made a threat to injure and kill the victim in a series of postings from an online account belonging to him. Specifically, Russotto stated, among other things, “A slow painful death for HABBA,” “Eliminate HABBA. 86 Traitor. Death penalty for all traitors,” “I HOPE YOU DIE A PAINFUL DEATH,” a true threat of violence.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Newark, Jersey and Tampa, Florida Field Offices – and the United States Marshals Service. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kara Wick.
Organizer of Maryland Pawn Shop Burglary that Netted Dozens of Firearms Sentenced to 7 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Vincent Lee Alston, 23, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 84 months in federal prison for his role in the December 2023 burglary of a Maryland pawn shop that netted dozens of firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Alston, aka “Vedo,” pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson on March 6 to conspiracy to commit firearms trafficking. In addition to the prison term, Judge Berman Jackson ordered three years of supervised release.
According to the court documents, on Dec. 13, 2023, Odumn and four co-conspirators drove in two vehicles – one a stolen Hyundai – from the District to the A&D Pawn Shop, a Federal Firearms Licensee, in Glen Burnie, Maryland.
At the pawn shop, co-defendant Niquan Odumn used a portable saw to cut the locks on a pull-down security gate. Another co-conspirator then used a crowbar-type tool to pry open the main door. Once inside, the quintet grabbed an array of rifles, shotguns, and pistols from the shelves and display racks. They fled with at least 34 firearms.
About a half hour after the burglary, the red Hyundai crashed on I-295 southbound at Kenilworth Avenue, NE. After the accident, surveillance footage showed Alston and two of his co-defendants abandoning the vehicle. MPD arrived at the scene and recovered eight firearms from the car.
Investigators also recovered Alston’s damaged iPhone on the Hyundai’s driver’s seat floorboard. On it, an open GPS route displayed on the screen with a visible destination address of Alston’s residence.
Alston was arrested at his apartment complex on Dec. 15, 2023, and was found with a Smith & Wesson, M&P 9 mm stolen during the pawn shop burglary. To date, law enforcement has recovered close to half of the stolen firearms.
Alston is the third defendant to be sentenced in the pawn shop job.
Niquan “Stickz” Odumn, 23, of the District, was sentenced June 23 to 48 months in prison for conspiracy to commit theft from a firearms licensee and to possession of stolen firearms. Juwon Markel Anderson, 22, of the District, was sentenced June 20 to 84 months in prison for his role in the burglary and for his subsequent attempt to sell several of the stolen guns.
Co-defendant Tyjuan McNeal, 27, is scheduled to be sentenced July 1 for conspiracy to commit firearms trafficking. Cy'juan Hemsley pleaded guilty on May 7, 2025, to conspiracy to commit theft from a firearms licensee and to possession of stolen firearms. Hemsley’s sentencing is pending.
This case is being investigated by the ATF Washington Field Division and the Metropolitan Police Department, with assistance from the ATF Baltimore Field Division. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shehzad Akhtar with valuable assistance from former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Lipes.
Alston’s iPhone, recovered by police from a crashed getaway car, included texts planning the pawn shop burglary.
Image of Alston captured by a surveillance camera inside the pawn shop.
Firearms recovered from the stolen Hyundai.
Additional firearms recovered from the abandoned getaway vehicle.
Omaha Man Sentenced to 103 Months for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Brian G. McAtee, 43, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on June 24, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for possession of child pornography. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr., sentenced McAtee to 103 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After McAtee’s release from prison, he will begin a seven-year term of supervised release. McAtee was also ordered to pay restitution of $3,000 to each of nine identified victims totaling $27,000.
On January 5, 2023, Discord, Inc. made two reports to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) indicating a Discord user uploaded images depicting child pornography. The IP address associated with the CyberTip resolved to an Omaha residence where McAtee resided.
On January 31, 2024, Nebraska State Patrol Investigators contacted McAtee at his Omaha residence. McAtee agreed to speak with investigators and acknowledged using Discord. McAtee admitted having child pornography on his cell phone and voluntarily provided the phone to investigators. McAtee provided the phone’s passcode and showed investigators where he had child pornography on the phone. After observing child pornography on McAtee’s phone, investigators seized the cell phone and obtained a search warrant for the phone. Investigators forensically extracted and analyzed McAtee’s cell phone and the phone’s SIM card. McAtee possessed at least 696 child pornography image files and 115 child pornography video files. The files included pornographic images and videos involving prepubescent children, including infants and toddlers, adults having sex with children, and depictions of sadomasochism.
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 Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol.
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Omaha 20-year-old Sentenced for Selling Firearms to a FelonRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Erixon O. Menjivar-Alfaro, 20, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on June 25, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for selling firearms to a felon. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Menjivar-Alfaro to 51 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Menjivar-Alfaro’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.
Between April 11, 2023 and October 3, 2023, Mejivar-Alfaro sold four firearms to a confidential source working for the Omaha Police Department. Menjivar-Alfaro knew the confidential source to be a convicted felon. All firearm sales occurred in Menjivar-Alfaro’s vehicle.
On three occasions, Menjivar-Alfaro met with the confidential source at a Walmart parking lot near 50th and L streets in Omaha. On April 11, 2023, Menjivar-Alfaro sold the confidential source a Mack-11 pistol; on May 17, 2023; Mejivar-Alfaro sold the confidential source a Glock 43 handgun; and on September 7, 2023, Menjivar-Alfaro sold the confidential source a Glock-style Polymer80 9mm handgun with a high-capacity magazine On October 3, 2023, Menjivar-Alfaro sold the confidential source a Mini Draco 7.62x39 caliber AK-47-style pistol with a high-capacity magazine and ammunition outside of a residence near 20th and A streets.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Omaha Police Department.
New York Resident Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. – A resident of Auburn, New York, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal law relating to the sexual exploitation of children, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Kyle Thomas Samsel, 35, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, in October 2020, Samsel traveled across several states for the purpose of engaging in criminal sexual activity with a minor.
Judge Baxter scheduled sentencing for November 13, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania State Police, City of Cleveland (Ohio) Division of Police, and Webster (New York) Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Samsel.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Multi-Kilo Distributor with Ties to Sinaloa Cartel Sentenced to 24 YearsRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – Nigel Gray, 45, of Raleigh, was sentenced to 24 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and five kilograms or more of cocaine. He pled guilty to the charges on June 28, 2024. Gray was also on federal supervised release at the time.
“This case reflects our commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks—particularly those connected to cartels—and holding accountable those who fuel addiction and violence in the Eastern District,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar. “We will continue to work hand in hand with our state and federal partners to stop the flow of deadly narcotics and pursue justice for the people of this district.”
“This sentencing marks significant progress in our relentless efforts to shield our communities from the harmful effects of drug trafficking," stated Cardell T. Morant, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Homeland Security Investigations Charlotte, responsible for North and South Carolina. "Through the dismantling of this criminal network and the confiscation of dangerous substances such as fentanyl and cocaine, as well as firearms, HSI and its partners are enhancing the safety of our neighborhoods and firmly asserting that such illegal activities will not be tolerated.”
Law enforcement received information linking Nigel Gray to the Sinaloa Cartel. On February 23, 2023, Homeland Security Investigations learned that a package containing nearly five kilograms of cocaine was enroute from Corona, California, to an address in Greenville, North Carolina. A controlled delivery was made on February 27, and a child retrieved the package. Surveillance and the investigation revealed Gray arranged for its pickup. On August 23, 2023, agents observed Gray in North Hills in Raleigh, meeting with individuals in a car later stopped in Winterville. Officers recovered 82 grams of fentanyl and 40 grams of cocaine. Further surveillance led to a Dollar General parking lot in Elizabeth City, where agents seized over two and a half kilograms of narcotics, including fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl. On March 13, 2024, Gray was arrested. Prior to his arrest, agents observed him leaving a Raleigh residence that held a kilogram press, drug packaging materials, firearms, and over two kilograms of fentanyl. A search of Gray’s car uncovered evidence of wire transfers to Mexico.
Gray has prior convictions for Accessory after the fact (2005), Possession of a Firearm by a felon (2009), Assault with a Deadly Weapon (2009) and Conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 1 kilogram or more of heroin and 500 grams or more of cocaine (2012).
Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the Raleigh Police Department, Nashville Police Department, Pitt County Sheriff’s Office, and the Greenville Regional Drug Task Force investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Severo and Katherine Englander prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-CR-76-D.
Millington Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Jeffrey Crosslin, 41, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for production of child pornography. Interim U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy, Jr. for the Western District of Tennessee announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on four occasions in June, July, and August of 2024, Jeffrey Crosslin secretly photographed a twelve-year-old child in a store where Crosslin worked a part time job. In many of the photographs, the child was sitting in a position that unintentionally exposed her inner thighs and buttocks and her clothed vaginal area. Crosslin surreptitiously angled his phone to capture the child in this accidentally exposed state, with a focus on her buttocks and vaginal area. Crosslin captured more than 550 images of the child over the course of the summer. Of those, about 30 images were pornographic. On the last occasion, in August 2024, the child noticed Crosslin taking the photos and reported him to her father.
The case was investigated by detectives with the Munford Police Department and agents with the FBI’s Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force, who recovered store surveillance video that showed Crosslin taking the August photographs and whose review of Crosslin’s phone revealed all the photographs he had taken that summer.
A federal grand jury for the Western District of Tennessee returned a two-count indictment on November 5, 2024, charging Crosslin with production of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. §2251(a) and possession of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a). On March 8, 2025, Crosslin pled guilty to production of child pornography. On June 27, 2025, United States Chief District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Crosslin to 15 years' imprisonment and 10 years of supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Safeguarding our children from predators is a top priority of this office.”, said Interim U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy. “Children should be safe in public places from those who would take advantage of their innocent behavior to secretly produce pornographic images. Because this victim had the courage to come forward, Jeffrey Crosslin was brought to justice; and our community and children are now safer. This significant sentence should serve as a warning to those who would harm children in this manner.”
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, which is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children and to identify and rescue child victims of sexual exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Delery and Lynn Crum prosecuted this case on the government’s behalf.
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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Mexican National with Five Prior Deportations Convicted in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A federal jury convicted a Mexican national with five prior removals and three prior convictions of reentry of a removed alien following a one-day trial and 13 minutes of deliberation.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on the morning of February 15, 2024, U.S. Border Patrol agents encountered Emmanuel Barraza-Ramirez, 44, a Mexican national, hiding in the bushes near Mt. Cristo Rey, a quarter mile from the U.S./Mexico border and eight miles from the nearest port of entry in Santa Teresa, New Mexico. Upon questioning, Ramirez admitted to being a Mexican national illegally present in the U.S.
Ramirez was arrested and transported to the Santa Teresa Station for processing. Upon reviewing his record, agents determined that he had previously been removed from the U.S. five times and had three prior convictions for illegal reentry.
Following the verdict, the Court ordered that Ramirez remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. At sentencing, Ramirez faces 20 years in prison.
There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar of the U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector made the announcement today.
The U.S. Border Patrol investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Mark Saltman and Jackson K. Dering V are prosecuting the case.
Mexican National Sentenced to Prison for Passport FraudRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Merryday has sentenced Juan Arturo Martinez (62, Mexico) to four months in federal prison for one count of use of a passport secured by false statement and one count of making a false statement in a passport application. Martinez pled guilty on February 18, 2025.
According to court documents, on March 1, 2002, Martinez—who was born in Mexico and was unlawfully present in the United States—submitted a United States Passport Application Form DS-11 in Sarasota, Florida. In support of that application, Martinez provided a fraudulent Texas birth certificate. On March 22, 2002, based on his fraudulent representation that he was a U.S. citizen, a United States Passport was issued to Martinez.
On February 21, 2012, Martinez mailed in a United States Passport Renewal Application Form DS-82, along with his expired passport issued in 2002. On the application, Martinez falsely stated that his place of birth was “Mission, TX.” On March 12, 2012, a United States Passport was issued to Martinez. On February 7, 2013, Martinez presented this passport as proof of identity to obtain a Florida drivers license. Martinez used the fraudulently issued passport multiple times for travel purposes. Most recently, on September 11, 2021, Martinez used the passport to take a cruise from Port Canaveral, Florida. On April 7, 2022, Martinez submitted a United States Passport Renewal Application Form DS-82 and, again falsely stated that his place of birth was “Mission, TX.”
The evidence presented further established that Martinez impersonated a United States citizen for the purpose of obtaining other benefits and exercising other rights. For example, Martinez illegally registered to vote, and repeatedly voted in U.S. presidential elections, despite being unlawfully present in the United States and having no right to vote.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of State. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Karyna Valdes.
Mexican National Charged with Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Mexican national has been indicted for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.
Jose Mendoza-Zarrate, 41, is charged with one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Mendoza-Zarrate was arrested on May 20, 2025 and will make an initial appearance in federal court in Springfield, Mass. at a later date.
According to the charging documents Mendoza-Zarrate was previously deported on May 16, 2006; July 3, 2006; May 30, 2007; and Aug. 30, 2007.
The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to two years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd E. Newhouse of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Marion County Man Indicted for Possessing A Firearm and Ammunition by A Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return by a grand jury of an indictment charging Juan Mario GonzalezPiloto (40, Anthony) with possession of a firearm and ammunition affecting commerce by a convicted felon. If convicted, GonzalezPiloto faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison.
According to the court records, between 2013 and 2020, GonzalezPiloto was convicted of five state felonies: (1) cannabis trafficking more than 25 pounds but less than 2,000 pounds; (2) possession of a place for drug trafficking; (3) possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; (4) possession of marijuana concentrate -hazardous extract; and (5) resisting an officer with violence.
On November 28, 2024, Marion County Sheriff deputies responded to GonzalezPiloto’s residence in northern Marion County. GonzalezPiloto had been injured while shooting a loaded firearm on his property. In describing how he had been injured, GonzalezPiloto told investigators that the firearm had malfunctioned while he was shooting it. As a convicted felon, GonzalezPiloto is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson.
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.
Marietta Man Arrested for Trafficking Ten Kilograms of Fentanyl from MexicoRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, Ga. - Rodrigo Morales-Figueroa, 29, of Marietta, Ga., appeared in federal court on June 23, 2025, following his arrest on federal charges of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
“Foreign cartels profit from the addiction and deaths of Americans, pushing fentanyl and other dangerous drugs in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Our federal law enforcement partners saved countless lives by working quickly in this investigation, which disrupted a major drug trafficking pipeline from Mexico.”
“This case represents the continued commitment of the DEA to identify and hold accountable those who engage in the distribution of dangerous drugs,” said Jae W. Chung, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “Keeping our communities safe is our highest priority.”
“The dangers of fentanyl cannot be overstated, and this arrest demonstrates our resolve to protect our communities from its devastating impact,” said Steven N. Schrank, the Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “Thanks to the diligent work of HSI and our law enforcement partners, we successfully intercepted ten kilograms of fentanyl, preventing this poison from reaching the streets of Georgia.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In early June 2025, law enforcement seized ten kilograms of fentanyl hidden in car batteries transported by a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization (DTO). On June 17, 2025, federal investigators learned that the DTO planned to send a courier to pick up the fentanyl. On the following day, Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations special agents conducted a controlled delivery of ten kilograms of fake fentanyl to the agreed-upon location for the pick-up in Gainesville, Georgia.
Rodrigo Morales-Figueroa arrived at the pick-up location, allegedly reviewed the packages of fake fentanyl, and loaded the packages into his car. Hall County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office deputies assisting with the operation arrested Morales-Figueroa shortly thereafter.
Members of the public are reminded that the complaint only alleges a charge. Morales-Figueroa has not yet been indicted by a grand jury. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charge, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Hall County Sheriff’s Office.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Keen is prosecuting the case.
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.
Man Sentenced to Nearly Six Years in Prison for Assaulting and Robbing Mail Carrier in Chicago SuburbRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A United States District Court judge sitting in Chicago has sentenced a man to nearly six years in federal prison for assaulting and robbing a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier in a Chicago suburb.
MALIK WASHINGTON robbed the mail carrier on Oct. 23, 2023, in Harvey, Ill. The mail carrier was delivering mail on his route when Washington approached and initially asked for rubber bands. Washington then reached out to grab a box from a bag the mail carrier wore around his shoulder, prompting the mail carrier to pull away. Washington drew a semiautomatic handgun from his sweatshirt and pointed it at the mail carrier’s stomach, telling him to give up his USPS-issued Arrow Key, which is a universal key that opens postal collection boxes. The mail carrier complied with the demand, and Washington fled the area with the key. Law enforcement arrested Washington four days later and recovered the stolen key.
Washington, 26, of Calumet City, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal robbery charge. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly sentenced Washington to five years and ten months in federal prison.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ruth Mendonça, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The Harvey, Ill. Police Department provided valuable assistance. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen Merin.
“The U.S. Postal Service is a critical government function and its employees must be allowed to deliver mail to the American people safely and securely,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “Our office will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to ensure that individuals who use violence against postal carriers to gain access to the public's mail will be held accountable.”
“The recent conviction and sentencing of Malik Washington demonstrate the tenacity and determination of the United States Postal Inspection Service in the agency’s pursuit for justice,” said USPIS Inspector-in-Charge Mendonça. “Safety of Postal Service employees and protection of our nation’s mail system is paramount to the mission of the Inspection Service. U.S. Postal Inspectors will continue to aggressively investigate those individuals who wish to do harm to public servants of the Postal Service. With the help of our local, state, and federal partners, we will safeguard the public’s trust in the U.S. Mail system.”
Mother and Son Pled Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine from Arizona to FloridaRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Kanethia Tremeka Steele, 51, of Tampa, Florida, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Her son and codefendant, Kenneth Steele, 30, of Phoenix, Arizona, pled guilty to the same charge on May 7, 2025. The guilty pleas were announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “The importation and distribution of addictive and deadly narcotics like methamphetamine is a scourge on large and small communities throughout North Florida. My office is committed to fulfill the promise of President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America by identifying and aggressively prosecuting drug traffickers like this mother and son who would profit from poisoning our fellow citizens. The elimination of this drug trafficking enterprise is the result of the incredible work of our law enforcement partners.”
Court documents reflect that over a three-year period Kanethia Steele obtained kilogram quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine from Arizona-based drug suppliers on behalf of drug traffickers operating in the counties of Alachua, Dixie, Gilchrist, and Levy. In addition to her packaging the methamphetamine, Steele enlisted the assistance of her son, Kenneth, to transport multi-kilogram shipments of methamphetamine secreted in luggage on commercial flights from Phoenix, Arizona to Orlando, Florida. At the direction of his mother, Kenneth Steele made three flights, transporting over 40 pounds of methamphetamine that was distributed in North Florida.
Sentencing for Kenneth Steele is scheduled for July 22, at 2:00 p.m. Kanethia Steele will be sentenced on September 30, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. The defendants will be sentenced at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville before Chief United States District Judge Alan C. Winsor.
The convictions were the result of a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Former Assistant United States Attorney Corey Smith and Assistant United States Attorney Jason Coody.
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.
Lab Owner, Marketing Company Owner, and Doctor All Sentenced in Multi-Million Dollar Medicare and Medicaid Kickback ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – Fadel Alshalabi, 57, of Waxhaw, North Carolina, Samuel Harris, 30, of American Fork, Utah, and Benjamin Toh, M.D., 71, of Chicago, Illinois, have each been sentenced after two separate trials for their roles in a multi-million, multi-state Medicare and Medicaid conspiracy to pay and receive illegal kickbacks, announced Robert E. McGuire, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee.
Alshalabi was sentenced to five years in prison for conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute, violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute, and money laundering. He was the owner and Chief Executive Officer of Crestar Labs, LLC (“Crestar Labs”), based in Spring Hill, Tennessee, which operated laboratories in Texas, Maryland, and Tennessee.
Harris was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison for conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute and violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute. He was the owner of Flojo Recruiting d/b/a Secure Health, a Utah-based marketing company that contracted with Crestar Labs.
Toh was sentenced to 13 months in prison for conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute. He was a doctor in Chicago who purported to see patients through “telemedicine” companies and signed orders for laboratory tests that Crestar Labs used to bill Medicare and Medicaid.
“Those involved in health care schemes, motivated by greed and designed entirely to bilk the American taxpayers, should face substantial sentences in prison,” said Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire. “I congratulate the hard-working prosecutors and agents who devoted countless hours to hold these defendants accountable after lengthy trials. We will not be deterred from pursuing individuals like these defendants, who executed a national scheme that exploited the elderly and vulnerable and depleted taxpayer dollars.”
“Paying kickbacks for referrals for medical services involving federal healthcare programs is illegal and can cause the delivery of unnecessary medical services and put patients’ wellbeing and health at risk,” said Kelly Blackmon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “These sentencings demonstrate the commitment of HHS-OIG and our law enforcement partners to hold those who exploit these programs accountable.”
“Health care fraud impacts individuals, businesses, and the overall healthcare system,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “This sentencing demonstrates the tenacity of the FBI and our partners to pursue anyone who conspires to exploit Medicare and Medicaid for financial gain.”
According to the evidence presented at the two trials in this matter, Alshalabi, Harris, and their co-conspirators, including six other individuals who were charged and pled guilty in the same case, entered into sham contracts and paid illegal kickbacks in exchange for laboratory genetic tests. The marketing companies targeted and recruited elderly and low-income patients who were federal health care program beneficiaries at senior health fairs, through door-to-door marketing, and in low-income neighborhoods to obtain their genetic material for conducting genetic tests. The tests were then approved by purported telemedicine doctors, like Dr. Toh, who were paid kickbacks in exchange for signing off on the laboratory orders sent to Crestar Labs. Toh signed orders for hundreds of patients who he did not know and never contacted. He received $20 per order.
Alshalabi, through Crestar Labs and the other laboratories it operated, then billed Medicare and Medicaid for the tests, often claiming reimbursement of more than $10,000 per test. During the conspiracy, Alshalabi and his co-conspirators billed over $129 million for laboratory tests and were paid over $35 million. Of claims submitted to Medicare and Medicaid, over $6 million were based on samples obtained by Harris and over $9 million were based on orders signed by Dr. Toh. Once paid, Alshalabi paid kickbacks to the marketing companies in exchange for the referrals. Alshalabi, through Crestar Labs, paid over $12 million in illegal kickbacks and bribes.
The laboratory tests were run, but as patients testified at trial, many never received the test results at all. Those who did receive the results often did not understand them, and the doctors who ordered the tests, like Dr. Toh, never followed up with them.
In addition to the terms of imprisonment, Alshalabi was sentenced to a term of supervised release of three years, and Harris and Toh each received one year of supervised release. Restitution for Alshalabi and Harris will be determined at a later hearing. Dr. Toh was ordered to pay $495,000 in restitution.
Six co-defendants named in the same indictment charging Alshalabi and Harris previously pled guilty before trial. They were: Edward D. Klapp of Jupiter, Florida, the former Vice President of Sales for Crestar Labs; Melissa L. Chastain of Belton, South Carolina, the owner and Chief Executive Officer of Genetix LLC, a South Carolina marketing company that contracted with Crestar Labs; Roger Allison of Greenville, South Carolina, the President of Genetix; Dakota White of Easley, South Carolina, the former Director of Client Services and Vice President of Operations for Crestar Labs; Robert Alan Richardson of Silver Spring, Maryland, a principal of Maryland based Freedom Medical Labs, LLC, a marketing company that contracted with Crestar Labs; and Edward Burch of Rockville, Maryland, also a principal of Freedom Medical Labs, LLC. Each pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and violate the Anti-Kickback Statute and one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. They all face up to 10 years in federal prison on the conspiracy to commit health care fraud and up to 5 years on the conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute. They will be sentenced at a later date.
Elizabeth H. Turner, of Glenview, Kentucky, the owner of Advanced Tele-Genetic Counseling, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and violate the Anti-Kickback Statute. She will be sentenced at a later date.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nashville Field Office, with the assistance of state partners including the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and the Georgia Attorney General’s Office, Georgia Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
United States v. Alshalabi and Harris is docketed at Case No. 3:21-cr-00171.
United States v. Benjamin Toh is docketed at Case No. 3:22-cr-00392.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah K. Bogni and Robert S. Levine prosecuted the cases.
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Jury Finds Oregon Man Guilty of StalkingRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On June 13, 2025, a federal jury found Brian Thomas Balda, 52, of Oregon, guilty of one count of Cyberstalking and one count of Interstate Stalking. The guilty verdict followed a four-day trial before U.S. District Court Judge Angela M. Martinez. A conviction for Cyberstalking and Interstate Stalking each carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, and not more than three years supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for September 4, 2025.
In 2023 and 2024, Balda engaged in a campaign to intimidate and harass a former United States government official. For approximately ten months, Balda sent abusive and profane text messages and voicemails to the victim. Balda ultimately drove from Oregon to Arizona to confront the victim, and was arrested by law enforcement near the victim’s home. Four knives, binoculars, and a replica handgun were found in Balda’s car at the time of his arrest.
The FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson office investigated this matter, with the assistance of the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the University of Arizona Police Department. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-1182-TUC-AMM-MAA
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-103_Balda# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Judge Gives 20-Year-Old Armed Carjacker 19 Years for Spree of Violent IncidentsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Javon Roach, 20, of the District of Columbia., was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 228 months in federal prison for his role in a series of violent armed carjackings and armed robberies that targeted 17 victims, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
The spree culminated in a high-speed chase, an assault on a police officer, and his arrest in Fairfax County on March 30, 2023. Roach pleaded guilty two years later, on March 6, 2025, to three counts of carjacking and two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Rudolph Contreras ordered Roach to serve five years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Roach admitted to committing six armed carjackings and five armed robberies between March 6 and March 28, 2023. In addition to the 19-year prison sentence, Judge Rudolph Contreras ordered Roach to serve five years of supervised release.
On Feb. 7, 2023, about 9 p.m., Roach carjacked a male victim (V-1), who was putting air in his car tires on the 300 block of G Street SW. Roach hit V-1 seven times in the head, pulled V-1 away from his vehicle, and got into the driver’s side of the vehicle. Roach was joined by two co-conspirators and the three of them fled in the stolen car.
On March 6, 2023, at 9:20 p.m., Roach and co-defendant Andre Rushing carjacked a victim (V-2) who was approaching a pizza restaurant on the 1500 block of Maryland Avenue. Rushing pointed a handgun at V-2 and demanded the victim’s keys and phone. Roach stood to the side pointing a loaded long-style gun at V-2. Roach and Rushing fled in V-2’s vehicle, which was recovered the next week.
On March 11, 2023, at 1:20 a.m., Roach and a co-conspirator approached a male (V-3) who was pumping gas on the 800 block of Bladensburg Road, NE and carjacked V-3’s vehicle. About 30-minutes, Roach carjacked another vehicle on the 800 block of Pennsylvania Avenue SE. He approached a male (V-4), pointed a gun at him, and demanded his keys. When V-4 stated that his keys were in his car, Roach took V-4’s iPhone and wallet, and drove off with V-4’s BMW 535i sedan. Later that morning Roach posted an Instagram Story depicting a BMW key attached to a belt loop, with an overlay of a song entitled “Jacking.” Shortly thereafter, Roach took photos of himself holding apparent firearms and wearing clothing consistent with that captured by surveillance cameras.
On March 16, 2023, at 3:05 p.m., Roach and Rushing robbed a delivery driver (V-5) of food, cash, and a phone on the 3900 block of Benning Road NE.
On March 17, 2023, at 9:34 a.m., Roach and Rushing beat and robbed three men (V-6, V-7, V-8) at gunpoint on the 300 block of Anacostia Road. At 11:35 p.m. the same day, Roach committed another armed carjacking on the 3800 block Minnesota Avenue NE where one victim (V-9) was standing at an ATM and another (V-10) sat in the targeted vehicle. When V-9’s vehicle was recovered on March 24, 2023, a .40 caliber spent shell casing was found near the windshield, which was linked to a March 20, 2023, shooting on the 300 block of 34th Street SE.
On March 25, 2023, at 11:25 a.m., Roach robbed a male (V-11) at a gas station at gunpoint on the 3800 block of Minnesota Ave. NE. Roach and a co-conspirator fled in a silver Hyundai previously stolen on March 21, 2023. Immediately after the armed robbery, at 11:30 a.m., Roach and his co-conspirator carjacked a Toyota Camry on the 3900 block of Benning Road NE, from a male victim (V-12).
The following evening, on March 26, 2023, at 7:48 p.m., Roach and Rushing robbed another male (V-13) and carjacked the victims Chevrolet Impala on the 3800 block of Minnesota Avenue NE.
In the following days, Roach robbed V-14 at a construction site at 49th Street and Central Avenue NE, and then robbed at gunpoint three construction workers (V-15, V-16, V-17) on the 300 block of K Street SW. About 90 minutes later, Roach and a co-defendant went live on Instagram holding significant amounts of cash.
On March 29, 2023, Roach, Rushing and two other coconspirators carjacked an Audi Q5. The next day, at 2:15 p.m., Fairfax County Police located the Audi in a parking garage of Tyson’s Mall and set up surveillance. At 3:15 p.m., Roach and Rushing fled in the carjacked Audi onto Leesburg Pike where it got stuck in traffic. Roach, who was driving, tried to escape by crashing the vehicle into several other cars. Roach then threw the carjacked Audi in reverse and struck a Fairfax County police vehicle before officers surrounded and stopped the Audi. Roach fled on foot. He was caught in a nearby parking lot. During a search, police recovered a loaded handgun equipped with a machine gun conversion device from his pant leg.
For his actions during the arrest, Roach subsequently pleaded guilty in Fairfax County to possession of a machine gun and assault on a police officer.
Rushing, whose sentencing is pending, pleaded guilty in District Court in Washington D.C. on March 17 to carjacking and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. A second co-defendant, Dominic Armstrong, whose sentencing is also pending, pleaded guilty in District Court in Washington D.C. on April 10 to carjacking, Hobbs Act robbery, and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
This case was investigated by the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force, the Fairfax County Police Department, and the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Gaelin Bernstein and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Duvall.
Jamestown man going to prison for narcotics conspiracyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Santos Santiago, 49, of Jamestown, NY, who was convicted of narcotics conspiracy, was sentenced to serve 132 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who handled the case, stated that in November 2023, investigators conducted a controlled purchase of fentanyl from Santiago. On November 8, 2023, a search warrant was executed at the Van Buren Street residence of Santiago and his wife Anabell, during which law enforcement seized cash, a quantity of fentanyl, pills, and drug paraphernalia. As law enforcement was securing the apartment, Santiago attempted to destroy his fentanyl causing a large amount of fentanyl to go airborne. Two officers inhaled the cloud with one experiencing physical effects requiring medical attention.
In March 2024, investigators conducted two more controlled purchases of fentanyl from Santiago. In April 2024, another search warrant was conducted, this time at a residence on Whitley Avenue in Jamestown. During that search, investigators recovered fentanyl, crack cocaine, two loaded 9mm pistols, ammunition, $30,369.00 in cash, drug paraphernalia, a switchblade knife, and oxycodone tablets. One of the pistols was reported stolen in June of 2023.
Charges remain pending against co-defendant Anabell Santiago.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Frank Tarentino, New York Field Division, and the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson.
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Illegal alien sex offender admits to unlawfully reentering the countryRead the Press Release
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 34-year-old man from Puebla, Mexico, has pleaded guilty to illegally reentry into the United States after removal, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
According to court records, Fidel Ramirez-Mancilla has a conviction for the aggravated felony of sex penetration with force. He was previously removed from the United States in December 2011 with no permission to return. However, authorities encountered him again May 19 north of the Rio Grande River.
U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera will impose sentencing Sept. 17. At that time, Ramirez-Mancilla faces up to 20 years in prison and a potential fine of up to $250,000.
He has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.
Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel Castro 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.
Illegal Firearms Possession Lands Lawton Man in Federal Prison for Seven Years Following Domestic Violence ConvictionRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – RAYMOND IVAN MUNOZ, 22, of Lawton, has been sentenced to serve 84 months in federal prison for illegal possession of firearms after conviction of a previous misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On September 4, 2024, a federal Grand Jury returned a two-count Indictment against Munoz, charging him with being a drug user in possession of a firearm and, on a separate occasion, possession of firearms by a person convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. According to public record, on February 14, 2023, officers with the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Police Department encountered Munoz unconscious under the influence of drugs in the front passenger seat of a vehicle with an AK-47 loaded with an extended magazine resting between his legs. Later, on May 10, 2024, Lawton Police Department investigators observed one of Munoz’s social media posts in which he displayed a firearm while driving in a vehicle. Later that evening, officers observed Munoz, whom they knew to have a suspended license and active warrants, driving that vehicle in Lawton. When they attempted a traffic stop, Munoz initiated a pursuit in which his speeds exceeded 100 miles per hour, at times on the wrong side of the road and with his headlights off. He eventually reached his residence where he hid inside for approximately two hours before being arrested. Upon execution of a search warrant at the residence, detectives located two firearms hidden in a bathroom.
Public record further reflects that Munoz was convicted of domestic assault and battery in Comanche County District Court case number CM-2020-810.
On February 7, 2025, Munoz pleaded guilty to Count 2 of the Indictment and admitted that he possessed firearms despite having previously been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
At the sentencing hearing on June 25, 2025, U.S. District Judge David L. Russell sentenced Munoz to serve 84 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, the Court specifically noted the threat that Munoz poses to society and the necessity of a substantial sentence to protect the public.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Police Department, and the Lawton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle M. Connolly prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice program to reduce violent crime. This case is also part of “Operation 922,” the Western District of Oklahoma’s implementation of PSN, which prioritizes prosecution of federal crimes connected to domestic violence. For more information about PSN, please visit https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Possessing a Firearm While Engaged in Domestic ViolenceRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Oscar Cruz-Baldo, 40, of Mexico, pled guilty in federal court to possession of a firearm and ammunition by an alien unlawfully in the United States. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “The aggressive prosecution and removal of violent illegal aliens is central to the promise of President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America. My office is committed to working with our dedicated law enforcement partners to fulfill that promise, and as a result, we are making our communities safer.”
Court documents reflect that Cruz-Baldo, a Mexican national, unlawfully entered the United States without inspection or authorization by an immigration officer. On February 12, 2025, he was involved in a domestic violence incident in Williston, Florida. According to the victim, Cruz-Baldo threatened to shoot her and her dog with a loaded shotgun. Levy County Deputies arrested Cruz-Baldo without further incident and located the loaded shotgun on the property.
Cruz-Baldo faces up to fifteen years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and deportation from the United States.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Levy County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 30, 2025, at 1:00 pm, at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville, Florida before Chief United States District Judge Allen Winsor.
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.
Honduran National Indicted for Possession of Firearm by an Illegal AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ActingUnited States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that MAINOR FUENTES-PINEDA (“FUENTES-PINEDA”), age 22, a native of Honduras, was indicted on June 26, 2025, for possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(5).
According to court documents, FUENTES-PINEDA, was found in Orleans Parish on or about April 29, 2025, in possession of a semi-automatic pistol, a Glock Model 42, 380 caliber semi-automatic pistol.
If convicted, FUENTES-PINEDA faces a maximum penalty of fifteen years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Special Assistant United States Attorney Frederick W. Veters Jr., of the General Crimes Unit, oversees the prosecution.
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Honduran National Charged with Assaulting Federal Security Officer and Attempting to Seize Firearm at 26 Federal PlazaRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and the Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs for the Department of Homeland Security, Tricia McLaughlin, announced today the arrest and filing of a Complaint charging JOEL ANTONIO ALONZO with assaulting a federal protective security officer and attempting to seize the officer’s service firearm. The incident occurred on June 6, 2025, at 26 Federal Plaza in New York, New York, where Immigration Court proceedings are conducted. The defendant was presented this afternoon before Magistrate Judge Barbara Moses.
“The safety of federal facilities and the dedicated personnel who serve there is non-negotiable,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Joel Antonio Alonzo’s alleged attempt to forcibly seize a firearm from a federal security officer in a crowded public area endangered not only law enforcement personnel but also civilians, including children, nearby. We will prosecute to the full extent of the law anyone who threatens the safety of our communities and the federal officers sworn to protect them.”
“Joel Antonio Alonzo, an illegal alien, assaulted one of our DHS law enforcement officers and lunged for his loaded gun” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “This incident underscores a disturbing trend—assaults against ICE personnel have increased. Secretary Noem has been perfectly clear: Anyone who threatens the lives of federal officers will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
According to the allegations contained in the Complaint:[1]
On or about June 6, 2025, ALONZO arrived in the proximity of Immigration Court at 26 Federal Plaza where civilians, including children, were present. ALONZO immediately exhibited disruptive behavior, forcing his way ahead of others and aggressively tossing papers at service window personnel.
While federal protective security officers were attempting to assist ALONZO, ALONZO suddenly lunged at one officer and grabbed his loaded service firearm with significant force, attempting to pull the firearm from its holster, as seen in the photo below.
Due to the quick actions and training of the federal protective security officers, ALONZO was unsuccessful and immediately restrained.
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ALONZO, 19, of Honduras, is charged with one count of assaulting an officer of the U.S. using a deadly or dangerous weapon, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum 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 a judge.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Zabel is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
u.s._v._alonzo_complaint.pdf[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Honduran National Arrested for Unlawful Reentry into the United States After Two Previous DeportationsRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Honduran national was arrested for his unlawful reentry into the United States after previously being deported twice, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.
Ever Calderon Ramirez, 27, a Honduran national unlawfully residing in Manchester, was charged in federal court with one count of unlawful reentry into the United States. He appeared in federal court today.
According to the charging documents, Calderon Ramirez was deported from the United States to Honduras on April 7, 2017, and again on September 28, 2018. On September 22, 2024, law enforcement encountered him in New Hampshire driving a moped with two young children on it without helmets.
The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than two years in prison, up to one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Hunter is prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (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 details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Fort Thompson Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in Central South DakotaRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Fort Thompson, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on June 23, 2025.
Weston Big Eagle, age 47, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, as well as a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Big Eagle was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2024. He pleaded guilty on March 19, 2025.
The conviction stemmed from a drug conspiracy beginning in January 2023 and continuing until December 2023. Big Eagle was involved in a conspiracy with several other individuals to distribute methamphetamine in and around the central South Dakota area, including within the Crow Creek and Lower Brule Sioux Indian Reservations. As part of the conspiracy, Big Eagle was involved in distributing over 500 grams of methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.
Big Eagle was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Former Rapid City Gymnastics Coach Indicted for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Rapid City, South Dakota, man for multiple charges involving Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography.
A federal grand jury indicted Hayden Sengua, 25, on June 26, 2025. He was arraigned before Magistrate Judge Daneta L. Wollmann today and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The penalty upon conviction for each count of receiving child pornography is a mandatory minimum term of five years up to 20 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, a mandatory minimum of five years up to life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each count of conviction. Restitution may also be ordered. Sengua faces up to 20 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine for possessing child pornography.
Between May 2018, and no later than January 2025, Sengua is alleged to have received and possessed more than 14,000 images and videos depicting child sexual abuse in two Google accounts and multiple electronic devices. Sengua’s collection depicted children as young as infants and toddlers being sexually abused, tortured, and engaging in sex acts with animals. Sengua is alleged to have possessed computer-generated child pornography in addition to erotic visual depictions of minors.
Sengua worked at Just Jymnastics in Rapid City until May 2024, when his employment was terminated. He previously worked as a gymnastics coach in Oregon.
Sengua is alleged to have possessed images and videos of children in the Rapid City area whom he may have coached. To date, the investigation indicates these photos do not rise to the level of child pornographic images and are not the subject of criminal charges. If members of the community have any information about Sengua that may be relevant to the criminal investigation, however, they are urged to contact the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation at (605) 394-2298.
The charges are merely accusations and Sengua is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The investigation is being conducted by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation - Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox is prosecuting the case.
Following a detention hearing on June 27, 2025, Sengua was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. A trial date has been scheduled for September 2, 2025.
Foreign National Indicted in Wire Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Ken-ichi Larroza Hatakama (36, Philippines), with wire fraud. If convicted, Hatakama faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Hatakama that the United States intends to forfeit $562,569.37, which are alleged to be the proceeds of the offense.
According to the indictment, Hatakama, a citizen and national of the Philippines, worked remotely assisting Victim Company (“VC”) with their computer coding. While working on VC’s computer coding, Hatakama embedded malicious code into VC’s computer coding, causing payments intended for VC’s partners to be rerouted to dozens of fraudulent PayPal accounts he controlled. Through this scheme, Hatakama stole over $500,000 from VC.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Noah P. Dorman.
Federal grand jury indicts Buffalo man for possession of a machinegunRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Luis Mercado a/k/a Yvng Fabii, 24, of Buffalo, NY, with possession of a machinegun and possession of a firearm with a removed, altered and obliterated serial number. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua A. Violanti, Louis M. Testani, and Jeffrey E. Intravatola, who are handling the case, stated that according to the indictment and a previously filed complaint, on February 9, 2024, Buffalo State University police officers responded to an altercation during a men’s basketball game. While officers were trying to identify the parties involved, Mercado began to run away. When confronted by law enforcement, he stopped running, raised his arms, and stated, “I got the thing on me.” When questioned as to what he had, Mercado stated, “I got the joint on me.” During a pat down on Mercado, officers found a loaded pistol with a suspected machine gun conversion device and extended magazine. Law enforcement later learned that the firearm had a defaced serial number.
The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Grimm, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Florida Man Convicted a Second Time for Failing to Register as a Sexual OffenderRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Octavius Durdley, 46, of Archer, Florida, was found guilty by a federal jury of failing to register as a sexual offender under the Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act. The verdict was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Adherence to sex offender registration requirements is critical to keeping our communities informed and safe. My office will continue to aggressively pursue these types of cases to ensure strict compliance with registration requirements by sexual offenders.”
Trial testimony demonstrated in December 2024, Durdley, who was designated as a sex offender following a 2010 conviction for receipt and possession of child pornography, purposefully did not complete the required registration upon his release from prison. Durdley was previously convicted for failing to register as a sexual offender in 2022.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 30, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. in the United States Courthouse in Gainesville before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor.
Durdley will be required to continue to register as a sex offender following his prison sentence and is subject to a sentence up to ten years’ imprisonment.
This conviction was the result of an investigation by the United States Marshals Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner.
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 for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
El Paso Jury Finds Illegal Alien Guilty of National Defense Area ViolationRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – A federal jury in El Paso convicted a Cuban national today for one count of violating a defense property security regulation.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Narali Arevalo-Casay, 23, illegally entered the United States from Mexico by crossing the Rio Grande River on May 7, less than a mile west of the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry.
Following the jury’s guilty verdict, U.S. Magistrate Judge Miguel Torres sentenced Arevalo-Casay to time-served. The misdemeanor carries a maximum penalty of one year in federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle Myers and Scott Wisniewski 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).
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Eleventh Circuit Affirms Conviction of Repeat Child Pornography OffenderRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – On June 23, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit upheld the child pornography conviction of Andrew John Ewing, 40, of Tallahassee Florida. In January 2024, a jury convicted Ewing of possessing child pornography. This was Ewing’s second child-pornography-related conviction. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Robert L. Hinkle sentenced Ewing to 120 months in prison, and Ewing appealed.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “The Eleventh Circuit’s ruling this week not only affirmed the conviction of a serious child pornography offender, it also upheld the legality of important investigatory tools needed to identify and catch these predators. My office will continue to work with our excellent local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to deploy those investigatory tools and aggressively pursue these sick offenders who prey upon and seek to victimize our children.”
In the fall of 2022, the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force conducted a proactive investigation to identify users, including Ewing, who were sharing child pornography material online through peer-to-peer networks. In January of 2023, a search warrant was obtained and executed for Ewing’s residence and electronic devices. A forensic examination of Ewing’s devices revealed child pornography involving children as young as six years old.
Ewing challenged his 2024 conviction on appeal, arguing that law enforcement violated his Fourth Amendment rights by using special BitTorrent software to download child pornography from his computer in 2022 without a warrant. Ewing also challenged the government’s presentation of the child pornography evidence during trial. The Eleventh Circuit held oral argument on May 7, 2025, and ultimately rejected both arguments in a published opinion. The Court concluded that law enforcement’s warrantless downloads of child pornography files Ewing made publicly available on the BitTorrent network were not a “search” within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment because the downloads violated neither Ewing’s privacy nor property rights. The Court also found no error in the government’s “relatively limited” presentation of the child pornography evidence at trial. As a published opinion, the Court’s ruling is binding on all future cases brought in the Eleventh Circuit, which includes all federal district courts in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama.
The conviction was the result of an investigation conducted by the Tallahassee Police Department, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Jordane New represented the government in briefing and at oral argument before the Eleventh Circuit. Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen prosecuted the case before the district court.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available 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.
Drug Dealer Sentenced to Six Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Heroin, Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Jonathan Ponce was sentenced yesterday to a total of 72 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, international money laundering, and money laundering conspiracy. Senior U.S. District Judge Edward M. Chen handed down the sentence.
Ponce, 34, a U.S. citizen who previously resided in Mexico and in the South Bay, was initially charged by complaint on Aug. 21, 2019, and by indictment on Aug. 29, 2019, on the drug charges. He was separately indicted by a federal grand jury on June 24, 2021, on the money laundering charges.
On Nov. 14, 2024, Ponce pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and methamphetamine, five counts of international money laundering, and one count of money laundering conspiracy. According to court documents and proceedings, Ponce sold or arranged for others to sell on his behalf approximately 14 pounds of methamphetamine and 1.6 pound of heroin over the course of 13 drug deals. He also laundered over $30,000 in funds obtained from illegal activity by sending the proceeds to Mexico via money services businesses using false information.
Ponce has remained in custody since his arrest and was remanded into custody following sentencing. In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge Chen ordered Ponce to serve five years of supervised release to begin after his prison term is completed.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Bob P. Beris made the announcement.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Yeh prosecuted the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the DEA.
District of Arizona Charges 164 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from June 21, 2025, through June 27, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 164 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 84 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 71 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed cases against 9 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Recent matters of interest include:
United States v. Jesus Alfred Salazar-Ruiz: On June 22, 2025, Border Patrol Agents attempted to conduct a stop on Jesus Alfred Salazar-Ruiz while he was driving. Salazar-Ruiz failed to yield and turned on to a dirt road, breaking through a chain gate in barbed wire fencing. Salazar-Ruiz drove at approximately 50 mph on the dirt road for several miles before coming to an abrupt stop. When agents approached the vehicle, it was empty. Agents searched the area and were able to locate Salazar-Ruiz, who still had the vehicle key in his possession. Agents were able to locate and apprehend three passengers from Salazar-Ruiz's vehicle who were determined to be in the United States illegally. Salazar-Ruiz was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien for Profit. [Case Number: 25-MJ-02859]
United States v. Miguel Angel Mezo-Antele: On June 24, 2025, Border Patrol Agents stopped a vehicle on Interstate 40 in Yuma, Arizona. Miguel Angel Mezo-Antele, the driver of the vehicle and a citizen of Mexico, was transporting four passengers who were also citizens of Mexico. Mezo-Antele and the four passengers did not possess any documents allowing them to enter, pass through, or remain in the United States legally. Mezo-Antele was transporting the four passengers from New Mexico, through Arizona, to their ultimate destinations in California and Oregon. Mezo-Antele was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. [Case Number: 25‐MJ‐1696]
United States v. Dalesio Hernandez-Bautista: On June 27, 2025, Dalesio Hernandez-Bautista, was charged by criminal complaint with Re-entry of a Removed Alien. Hernandez-Bautista had been previously removed from the United States in 2018 after being convicted of manslaughter, a felony, in the Superior Court of Arizona, Pinal County. Hernandez-Bautista was sentenced to five years in prison for the manslaughter. [Case Number: 25-MJ-53146]
A criminal complaint is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-105_June 27 Immigration Enforcement
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Court Orders over $1.5 Million in Restitution for Survivors of Convicted Sex TraffickerRead the Press Release
BOSTON – This week, a federal judge in Boston ordered restitution in the amount of $1,510,300 to be paid to the survivors victimized by Jermall Anderson who sex trafficked seven women over the span of four years.
On March 12, 2025, Anderson, 45, of Tewksbury, Mass. was sentenced to 15 years in prison for sex trafficking women throughout New England, New York and New Jersey. In November 2024, Anderson pleaded guilty to seven counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; one count of coercion and enticement; and one count of interstate transportation for the purpose of prostitution. He was indicted in August 2023 along with two co-conspirators.
The Court awarded the following restitution amounts directly payable to each of the seven separate survivors, based upon their testimony and other information regarding Anderson’s sex trafficking operation:
- Survivor 1: $508,000
- Survivor 2: $40,000
- Survivor 3: $91,300
- Survivor 4: $252,000
- Survivor 5: $264,000
- Survivor 6: $10,000
- Survivor 7: $345,000
From 2012 through 2016, Anderson, along with his co-conspirators, used physical violence, threats and the giving and withholding of heroin and cocaine to force seven different women to prostitute on their behalf. Anderson and his co-conspirators targeted vulnerable victims, specifically those struggling from drug addiction, homelessness and lack of economic resources. Anderson recruited women struggling with drug addiction directly from detox and drug rehabilitation facilities and forced and coerced them into providing commercial sex for his financial benefit.
Under federal criminal code, 18 USC § 1593, victims of sex trafficking offenses are entitled to restitution for losses associated with the criminal offense. The United States Attorney’s Office is charged with the enforcement of court-imposed restitution orders or judgments. Collection will continue for 20 years after a defendant has completed any period of incarceration or until restitution is paid in full.
If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please contact [email protected].
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the HSI Office in New Haven, Conn., the Lynn and Tewksbury Police Departments (Mass.) and the Hampden (Conn.) Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen W. Hassink of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
Construction and Engineering Firms Agree to Pay $1.37 Million to Resolve Allegations of Shoddy Runway Construct at Airport Used by Massachusetts Air National GuardRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Eurovia Atlantic Coast, LLC d/b/a Northeast Paving, a Maine-based paving and construction company; the Lane Construction Corporation, a Connecticut construction company; and Stantec Consulting Services, Inc., a New York engineering firm, have agreed to pay $1.37 million collectively to resolve allegations that they submitted, or caused the submission of, false claims for payment concerning the rehabilitation of Runway 2-20 at Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport in Westfield, Mass. As part of the settlement agreement, Northeast Paving, Lane Construction and Stantec each admitted to and accepted responsibility for facts underlying the covered conduct.
The Westfield-Barnes Airport is the operational center of the Massachusetts Air National Guard’s 104th Fighter Wing, which includes the 131st Fighter Squadron – an operational combat wing that provides combat ready fighter pilots to perform alert missions over the northeastern United States.
In 2012, the City of Westfield began the process of rehabilitating Runway 2-20, using a mix of federal, state and local funds, including funds from the Department of Transportation and the Department of Defense. To receive the federal funds, the City had to periodically submit claims to the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Department of Defense, including during and after construction.
In 2013, the City and Stantec entered into an agreement for Stantec to provide certain design services, project management, bidding support and related engineering services for the Project, which included developing specifications and drawings. The City subsequently selected and entered into an agreement with Lane Construction to complete the rehabilitation. After completion of the rehabilitation, Northeast Paving purchased some Lane Construction’s assets.
In 2019, the runway began cracking in the area where the concrete center of the runway and the surrounding asphalt interfaced. The project specifications and plans for the rehabilitation project had provided for a track at the interface between the concrete inlay and surrounding asphalt. Although Lane and Stantec certified that the rehabilitation project met the requirements of the plans and specifications, the track was never constructed. Due to the cracking in the area where the track should have been constructed, the City of Westfield and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation undertook a repair project to address the cracking. During the repair project, 104th Fighter Wing was forced to relocate.
“Federal contractors must fulfill their obligations and perform the work they promise to provide, especially where their work impacts the safety of our military,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “We will continue to hold contractors to their commitments to ensure that federal agencies and taxpayers get what they paid for.”
“The defendants cut corners and misrepresented their work wasting taxpayer dollars," said Brian C. Gallagher, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region. “This settlement reflects our commitment and ongoing collaboration with law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to hold contractors accountable for failing to meet contract performance and quality standards.”
“Ensuring the safety of the warfighter is a critical part of the DCIS mission,” said Christopher M. Silvestro, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Northeast Field Office, the law enforcement arm of the Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General. “This settlement demonstrates our collaboration with the Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners to ensure DoD contractors adhere to the requirements outlined in each contract.”
U.S. Attorney Foley, DOT-OIG SAC Gallagher and DCIS Acting SAC Silvestro made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Morgan of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit handled this matter.
Colorado Springs Funeral Home Operator Sentenced in Gruesome Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Jon M. Hallford, 45, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was sentenced today to 240 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $1,070,413.74 in restitution for a conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Hallford, who owned Return to Nature Funeral Home in Colorado Springs and Penrose with his wife, mishandled at least 190 bodies over four years and defrauded the Small Business Administration (SBA) through fraudulent COVID-19 loan applications.
According to the plea agreement, from as early as September 2019 through October 2023, Hallford failed to cremate or bury at least 190 bodies, despite having collected more than $130,000 from grieving families for funeral services that were never provided.
Instead of ensuring proper disposition of the remains, Hallford allowed bodies to accumulate in various states of decay and decomposition inside the funeral home’s facility. He took steps to hide the nature of his activities by blocking windows and doors, restricting access to the building, and offering false explanations for the foul odor coming from the site.
The plea agreement further states that Hallford routinely filed death certificates with the State of Colorado that falsely listed the method of disposition as cremation or burial. In many cases, Hallford misrepresented the identities of decedents to third-party crematories, resulting in inaccurate cremation records, or the remains were never cremated or buried at all.
In some of the most egregious cases, Hallford provided family members with urns filled with dry concrete mix instead of the cremated remains of their loved ones, and on at least two occasions, arranged for and delivered the wrong body for burial, concealing the error from the next of kin.
The plea agreement further states that from March 2020 to March 2022, Hallford and his wife, Carie Hallford, conspired to defraud the SBA by submitting loan applications containing false information to obtain COVID-19 relief funds. As a result of this fraud, Jon and Carie Hallford received three separate disbursements from the SBA, totaling $882,300. The funds were obtained through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, which was established to provide emergency support to businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Jon Hallford’s criminal fraud was a vehicle to exploit grieving families so he could give himself a lavish life with luxury cars and expensive vacations,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “His actions were not just fraudulent, but deeply inhumane. We offer our condolences to the families who continue to suffer because of Mr. Hallford’s crimes and we hope this case brings them some measure of peace.”
“Families in the depths of grief trusted this defendant with the remains of their loved ones. In return, he had no regard whatsoever for the dignity and respect they deserved,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “He schemed and defrauded them and the government in despicable fashion to further his own desires and ambitions. We cannot undo the vast harm he sowed, but we can bring this measure of justice today.”
“The sheer scale and callousness of the crimes committed by Jon Hallford are truly disturbing," said Colorado Bureau of Investigation Interim Director Rebecca Spiess. "We are proud of our collaboration with our federal and local agencies in uncovering the horrific conditions at the funeral home and bringing justice to the nearly 190 families who were so cruelly deceived. This case serves as a stark reminder of our commitment to protecting Coloradans from such predatory behavior."
“Exploiting SBA programs during a time of crisis is disgraceful, and we are committed to ensuring justice is served,” said SBA Office of Inspector General’s Acting Special Agent in Charge, Jonathan Huang. “Today’s sentencing is a testament to the OIG’s unwavering dedication to protecting our small business support programs. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and our law enforcement partners for their diligence, and I extend my heartfelt sympathies to all those impacted by this reprehensible act.”
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted in March 2020 and was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans dealing with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act created the PPP, a program administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA) that provided loans to small businesses to retain workers, maintain payroll, and certain other expenses consistent with PPP rules. Additionally, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, several federal programs expanded eligibility for unemployment benefits.
United States District Judge Nina Y. Wang sentenced Hallford.
The FBI Denver Field Office and the United States Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Several other state and local law enforcement agencies including the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the Colorado Springs Police Department, the El Paso County Coroner’s Office, the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, and the Fremont County Coroner’s Office have made significant contributions to this case. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Tim Neff and Craig Fansler.
Case Number: 1:24-cr-00113-NYW
Co-Owner of Virtual Currency Companies Sentenced to 97 Months in Prison for Operating Crypto Ponzi SchemesRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Dwayne Golden was sentenced by United States District Judge William F. Kuntz, II to 97 months in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. The charges relate to a conspiracy to offer fraudulent investments in digital assets. Golden and his co-conspirators raised more than $40 million from investors based on false promises of guaranteed returns from trading in digital assets. In fact, the defendants’ businesses operated as Ponzi schemes and used the money to repay existing investors or to benefit themselves. After the schemes collapsed, Golden and co-defendants William White and Gregory Aggesen conspired to obstruct multiple federal investigations. As a part of his sentence, Golden was also ordered to forfeit approximately $2.46 million in ill-gotten gains. Restitution will be determined by the Court at a later date. Golden pleaded guilty in September 2024.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the sentence.
“Dwayne Golden and his co-conspirators took advantage of investor interest in exciting new technologies to perpetrate a fraud scheme that is as old as time, and to make millions of dollars for themselves in the process,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Golden and his co-defendants offered no legitimate services and none of the companies engaged in any actual trading in cryptocurrency as they claimed. My Office is committed to protecting the investing public and the integrity of the digital assets markets from fraudsters like the defendant, and we will be relentless in pursing justice for investors.”
Mr. Nocella thanked the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) for its invaluable assistance in the investigation.
“Alongside his co-conspirators, Dwayne Golden orchestrated an elaborate scheme rooted in deceit and false promises to swindle investors of more than $40 million. Johnson’s lack of candor misled both his clients and federal investigators, demonstrating an utter disregard for integrity to his company or adherence to the law,” stated FBI Assistant Director Raia. “May today’s sentencing reflect the FBI’s steadfast commitment to dismantling any sham company that steals from the pockets of unsuspecting victims.”
Between April 2017 and August 2017, Golden, co-defendants Gregory Aggesen, and Marquis Demacking Egerton, also known as “Mardy Eger,” together with others, operated a series of digital asset companies called EmpowerCoin, ECoinPlus, and Jet-Coin. EmpowerCoin, ECoinPlus, and Jet-Coin promised investors and potential investors guaranteed fixed returns on digital asset investments. They further fraudulently promised investors and potential investors that these returns were made possible through overseas digital asset trading operations. In reality, the assets were used to repay other investors or stolen by Golden, Aggesen, and Egerton, and the companies collapsed shortly after receiving the investors’ assets without the companies having engaged in trading activity. In total, during its period of operation, EmpowerCoin, ECoinPlus, and Jet-Coin received more than $40 million from investors.
From July 2017 to the March 2022, Golden, Aggesen and White conspired to obstruct a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigation and a federal criminal grand jury investigation into the fraudulent schemes. Golden, Aggesen, and White destroyed evidence, and White, on Aggesen’s behalf, provided false and misleading information to the FTC and in response to a federal grand jury subpoena.
If you were an EmpowerCoin.com, ECoinPlus.com and/or Jet-Coin.com investor, you may be entitled to restitution. To submit a claim for restitution, please visit http://fbi.gov/jetcoinscams.
The four defendants in the case have pleaded guilty. White was sentenced to 30 months in prison. Aggesen and Egerton are awaiting sentencing.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Alixandra E. Smith, Catherine M. Mirabile and Nick M. Axelrod are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Assistant United States Attorney Claire Kedeshian of the Office’s Asset Recovery Section, who is handling forfeiture matters.
The Defendants:
DWAYNE GOLDEN
Age: 57
Harrisburg, PennsylvaniaGREGORY AGGESEN
Age: 58
Standfordville, New YorkMARQUIS DEMACKING EGERTON (also known as “Mardy Eger”)
Age: 58
Washington, North CarolinaWILLIAM WHITE
Age: 54
Harrisburg, PennsylvaniaE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-88 (S-1) (WFK)