Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
6 August 2025
Pittsburgh Man Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Prison for Armed Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 63 months of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of federal supervised release, on his convictions of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Senior United States District Judge David S. Cercone imposed the sentence on Marques Coffey, 21, on August 5, 2025.
According to information presented to the Court, on or about March 4, 2023, Coffey knowingly possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance. He also knowingly possessed a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking offense, in this instance, a Glock with a switch or automatic conversion kit. Both the fentanyl and the firearm were recovered by law enforcement in a satchel that Coffey was wearing.
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole A. Stockey prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Bellevue Borough Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Coffey.
Philadelphia Man Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Armed Robbery of a City StoreRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Khyrie Brown, 25, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by United States District Judge Gerald J. Pappert to 36 months’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and full restitution, for his role in the armed robbery of a North Philadelphia dollar store.
Brown was charged by indictment in July 2024 with robbery which interferes with interstate commerce (Hobbs Act robbery) and pleaded guilty in March of this year.
As detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, on November 6, 2023, at approximately 6:30 p.m., he and three other males entered a dollar store on the 2800 block of Ridge Avenue. One of the males approached the counter and pretended to purchase multiple items.
At that same time, one of the other males pulled out what appeared to be a black handgun, pointed it at the store clerk and told the clerk to open the safe. Two of the robbers jumped the counter, while the other two circled around the counter, where Brown then removed a cash drawer from the safe and carried it out of the store. All four males entered a waiting getaway vehicle and fled the scene with approximately $3,000 in coins and U.S. currency.
Responding Philadelphia police officers tracked the group to the area of 30th and Gordon streets, where a police K9 located Brown hiding in an abandoned property on the 2300 block of North 30th Street.
This case was investigated by the Philadelphia Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas M. Zaleski.
Omaha Man Sentenced to 72 Months in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – An Omaha man was sentenced on August 6, 2025, to 72 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Rafael Rashad Adams, 41, in September of 2024, was found by Council Bluffs’ police officers passed out in the driver’s seat of a vehicle with front-end damage near South Expressway and 30th Avenue in Council Bluffs. A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of approximately 31.5 grams of marijuana, scales, drug packaging material, and a stolen, loaded nine-millimeter pistol and a loaded 15-round magazine. Adams’ criminal history includes convictions for drug possession and distribution, unlawful possession of a firearm, and driving under the influence.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Adams will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Council Bluffs Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Okemah Resident Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Eric Jason Franklin, age 53, of Okemah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Okfuskee County Sheriff’s Office.
On April 17, 2025, Franklin pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on July 15, 2024, law enforcement discovered Franklin in possession of a pump action shotgun and 15 rounds of ammunition after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Franklin will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Ohio Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Firearms ViolationsRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio - An Ohio man has been sentenced to prison after he pleaded guilty to using a popular social media platform to trade firearms, which he was prohibited to possess, for other items of value.
Dannie Wireman, 44, of Edon, in Williams County, Ohio, was sentenced to 77 months in prison (more than six years) by U.S. District Judge James R. Knepp after he pleaded guilty in March to being a felon in possession of a firearm and receipt or possession of an unregistered firearm. He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment. Judge Knepp imposed the sentence July 30, 2025.
According to court documents, Wireman was previously convicted in Indiana on burglary charges in 2009. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from buying or possessing firearms. During the investigation, agents learned that Wireman was active on the Facebook social media platform and was conducting transactions involving firearms. His activity included communicating with other platform users willing to trade items. In one instance, he asked users in a Facebook group if anyone had a beagle hunting dog they would part with in exchange for a shotgun. In others instances, he bartered for a snowmobile and a racecar. To showcase his extensive inventory and spark interest from others looking to acquire firearms, Wireman would post several photographs of the items lined up across a bed. On March 6, 2024, a search warrant was executed at Wireman’s residence where federal agents seized 22 long guns, including a sawed-off shotgun, and assorted ammunition.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Toledo Field Office, the Williams County Sheriff’s Office, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dexter L. Phillips for the Northern District of Ohio.
Nathan Hunter Whitaker Sentenced to over 24 Years for Fentanyl Distribution Related to an Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
GREENEVILLE, TENN. – Today, Nathan Hunter Whitaker, 27, of Bristol, Tennessee, was sentenced to 292 months by the Honorable Clifton L. Corker in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville. Following his incarceration, he will be on supervised release for a term of three years.
As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Nathan Hunter Whitaker agreed to plead guilty to an information charging him with one count of distributing a quantity of N-phenyl-N-[1-(2- phenylethy1)-4-piperidinyl] propanamide (Fentanyl), which resulted in the death of another person in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C).
According to the filed plea agreement, in July of 2020, local, state, and federal law enforcement began an investigation into the distribution of cocaine, crack cocaine, and methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Tennessee. During the investigation, law enforcement learned of an overdose death that occurred in early February of 2023, in Sullivan County, Tennessee, which was attributed to fentanyl toxicity. Days after the victim’s death, Whitaker made several, controlled sales of fentanyl-laced, counterfeit Roxicodone 30mg pills to a confidential informant.
On April 1, 2024, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the 2nd Judicial District Drug Task Force (2nd DTF), as well as deputies of the Carter County Sheriff’s Office located Whitaker, along with others, at a residence in Johnson City, TN. When law enforcement attempted a traffic stop to serve an arrest warrant on Whitaker, he fled in a vehicle but eventually returned to the residence. After he returned, law enforcement made entry into the residence, where they located Whitaker in possession of a significant quantity of fentanyl-laced, counterfeit Roxicodone 30mg pills and $13,754 in cash, as well as more than 130 firearms, some of which were stolen, including two silencers and a short-barreled rifle. One of the stolen firearms was from the Tennessee Valley Authority Police. During an interview, Whitaker admitted that he provided fentanyl-laced, counterfeit Roxicodone 30mg pills to the victim that caused their death.
“Fentanyl-related deaths across the district, state, and our nation are far too common,” said United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton, III. “The United States Attorney’s Office, along with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, will use all available resources to investigate and prosecute those who traffic in fentanyl and bring them to justice.”
“The Drug Enforcement Administration is committed to working alongside our local, state, and federal partners to bring to justice criminals who willfully distribute dangerous drugs within eastern Tennessee and throughout the country. Today’s sentence highlights the serious risks fentanyl poses to our communities, and we are proud of the results achieved because of this collaboration,” stated DEA Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott.
“Arresting and prosecuting criminals like Nathan Whitaker, who prey upon and poison their communities for profit and fund cartels and international criminal organizations, is a top priority for our agency.” said Homeland Security Investigations Nashville Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud. “This sentence sends a clear message that HSI and our law enforcement partners in Tennessee are dedicated to preventing the illicit importation, sale and distribution of fentanyl while bringing those that perpetrate this deadly crime to justice.”
The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by the DEA, HSI, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the 2nd DTF, and Johnson City Police Department (JCPD).
This investigation was led by DEA Special Agent Cullen Conerly, HSI Special Agent John Bulla, and TBI Special Agent Thomas Garrison, who is also an FBI Task Force Officer.
Assistant United States Attorney B. Todd Martin represented the United States.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
###
Muskogee Resident Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing A Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Justin Janae Stancle, age 34, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to fifteen years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on February 21, 2025, Stancle knowingly possessed an automatic pistol and fourteen rounds of ammunition after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Stancle will remain out on bond pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Monroe County Man Sentenced to 180 Months for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Pernell Riddick, age 36, a resident of Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Julia K. Munley, for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
According to the Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, on or about September 2, 2022, Riddick, possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, and cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. In furtherance of his drug trafficking endeavor, Riddick possessed a 9-millimeter Smith & Wesson handgun and a 9-millimeter Taurus G2C handgun.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tatum R. Wilson.
# # #
Mississippi Man Sentenced for Possession of Firearm as a Previously Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Greenville, MS – A Mound Bayou man was sentenced today to over six years in prison for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
According to court documents, Dennis Coleman, 44, previously pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. He was sentenced today by Chief Judge Debra M. Brown of the U.S. District Court to 74 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Coleman was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal upon the conclusion of sentencing.
“Keeping firearms out of criminals’ hands is always going to be a focus of this office,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “Thanks to the Cleveland Police Department, the Bolivar County S.O. and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, this community is now safer for citizens and families due to the concerted efforts of our law enforcement partners.”
“This sentencing sends a clear message that those who repeatedly break the law and endanger others will be held accountable. Keeping firearms out of the hands of convicted felons is critical to protecting our communities,” said Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell. “I commend the collaborative efforts of all agencies involved for their work in bringing this case to justice.”
This case was investigated by the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the Bolivar County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cleveland Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Mims prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Mexican national, illegally living in Pollock, indicted on immigration violationRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Mexican national, illegally living in Pollock, has been charged with an immigration violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Jose de Jesus Pineda-Torres, 43, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury this week in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien.
The indictment alleges that on July 11, 2025, Pineda-Torres was found in the Eastern District of Texas after having been previously deported three times.
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).
If convicted, Pineda-Torres faces up to 10 years in federal prison and deportation.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Jackson.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Mexican national, illegally living in Beaumont, indicted on immigration violationRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Mexican national, illegally living in Beaumont, has been charged with an immigration violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Enrique Guevara-Camargo, 51, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury this week in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien.
The indictment alleges that on July 2, 2025, Guevara-Camargo was found in the Eastern District of Texas after having been previously deported.
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).
If convicted, Guevara-Camargo faces up to 2 years in federal prison and deportation.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration & Customs Enforcement. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Jackson.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Mexican man pleads guilty to illegal reentryRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – A man from Mexico accused of being in the United States illegally admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
The defendant, Eduardo Heriberto Mendoza-Almanza, 40, pleaded guilty to illegal reentry of a removed alien. Mendoza-Almanza faces 10 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen DeSoto presided. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is set for December 10, 2025. Mendoza-Almanza was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that Mendoza-Almanza was arrested on April 6, 2025, in Belgrade, Montana, after an officer stopped him for driving with no license plate light after dark. He was identified with his Mexico driver’s license. His driving privileges were suspended in Montana and revoked in New Mexico. He also had numerous active warrants. He was arrested for driving without a license.
Mendoza-Almanza has been removed from the U.S. on eight prior occasions:
- March 6, 2006
- February 2, 2007
- February 22, 2007
- February 25, 2007
- May 11, 2007
- January 11, 2008
- June 18, 2011
- September 5, 2023
He was convicted of felony illegal reentry in Montana Federal Court, District of Montana, Missoula Division, on March 15, 2023. He was sentenced to time served and removed. There is no record he applied for or was granted permission by the Attorney General or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to return to the United States.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted the investigation.
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).
XXX
Mexican National Sentenced to 54 Months for Illegal Reentry After Ten Prior Removals and Three Illegal Reentry Felony ConvictionsRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – Acting United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Navor Salas Cruz, 52, of Mexico, was sentenced yesterday in federal court by U.S. District Judge Derrick K. Watson to 54 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release for illegally reentering and remaining in the United States. Salas Cruz pled guilty to the charge on April 4, 2025.
According to court documents, Salas Cruz came to the attention of law enforcement after a 2024 Kauai arrest for operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant. Between 1997 and 2020, Salas Cruz was removed from the United States to Mexico ten times. Salas Cruz has three prior driving while under the influence arrests and fourteen contempt of court arrests. In addition to his three prior federal convictions for illegally reentering the United States, Salas Cruz also has convictions for abuse of a household member, assault, violation of a protective order, and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
At sentencing, Judge Watson indicated he did not believe Salas Cruz’s claim that he understood the importance of following laws, stating that it was “clear you do not respect our laws” given Salas Cruz’s “extensive criminal history.” Judge Watson noted that Salas Cruz has “learned precious little over the last 25 years” and his prior crimes have put the public at risk.
“This prosecution and lengthy sentence deliver the clear message that when you come to Hawaii as an illegal alien and repeatedly violate our nation’s laws, you will be federally prosecuted and sentenced to a long period of imprisonment,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “We will not tolerate those who exploit our borders and endanger our citizens.” This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Darren W.K. Ching 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 Neighborhoods (PSN).
Mexican National Sentenced to 130 Months in Prison after Alien Smuggling Leads to DeathRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Jorge Adan Fontes-Garcia, 26, an illegal alien from Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced on August 5, by United States District Judge James A Teilborg to 130 months in prison, followed by 60 months of supervised release. On May 20, Fontes-Garcia pleaded guilty to Bringing an Illegal Alien to the United States Unlawfully Resulting in Death. The sentence also addressed Fontes-Garcia’s violation of federal supervision, which the Court imposed after his prior conviction for Reentry of an Illegal Alien.
On August 23, 2023, Fontes-Garcia acted as the foot guide, leading a group of eight aliens across the Mexico-United States border into southern Arizona. United States Border Patrol apprehended all but one of the illegal aliens in the open desert approximately 19 miles south of Tacna, Arizona. The remaining alien was found by Border Patrol agents shortly thereafter, already deceased due to excessive heat exposure.
“This case demonstrates that human smugglers often have little regard for those entrusted to their care,” said United States Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “My message to those trying to cross the border illegally is that their actions are not just a violation of the law, they can also lead to tragic consequences.”
“Human smuggling results in numerous deaths every year as smugglers are more concerned with profit than the lives of the people they are smuggling,” said Chief Patrol Agent Justin De La Torre, Yuma Sector Border Patrol. “This sentence sends a clear message to anyone considering smuggling foreign nationals into the country – ‘if you do, we will arrest you, and you will be held accountable.’”
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).
Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBERS: CR-23-01322-PHX-JAT, CR-22-00992-PHX-JAT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-130_Fontes-Garcia# # #
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.Mescalero Man Pleads Guilty to AssaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Mescalero man pleaded guilty to federal charges for assaulting a woman and causing severe injuries.
According to court records, on June 27, 2024, Myron Edward Blake, Jr., 40, an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, assaulted Jane Doe with a cinder block and a 2x6 board, causing substantial bodily injury.
Blake pleaded guilty to one count of assault resulting in substantial bodily injury. At sentencing, Blake faces up to 5 years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Blake will be subject to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case. The United States Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.
Merrillville Man Sentenced to 70 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Yesterday, Frank Washington III, 37 years old, of Merrillville, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Senior Judge Moody after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Washington was sentenced to 70 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.According to documents in the case, Washington, who has multiple prior robbery convictions, was arrested in possession of a stolen firearm loaded with ammunition in Gary in February 2025. On multiple occasions in February 2025, Washington drove around with the firearm in a holster on his waist.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force with assistance from the Gary Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dean R. Lanter.
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.
Lynn Man Arrested for Drug Conspiracy and Armed RobberyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lynn man was arrested today in connection with an alleged years-long drug conspiracy and a January 2023 armed robbery of a drug distributor, during which the defendant and another individual allegedly stole approximately $24,000 in drug trafficking proceeds intended for the purchase of a kilogram of cocaine.
Harvey Rodriguez, a/k/a “Big Opp”, 29, of Lynn, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of conspiracy interfere with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act Robbery). Rodriguez was arrested this afternoon and was ordered detained following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston.
According to the charging documents, Rodriguez was a participant in a multi-year drug conspiracy taking place in the Lynn area and on the North Shore of Massachusetts. As described in the court papers, Rodriguez is alleged to have conspired with numerous other distributors including those he supplied, and others who have been previously charged with federal drug offenses, including Vincent Caruso, a/k/a “Fatz”, Lawrence Michael Nagle, Jr., and Schuyler Oppenheimer, a/k/a “SK”. This years-long drug conspiracy is alleged to have involved the manufacture of counterfeit prescription pills, and the sale of entire kilograms of cocaine and fentanyl through Lynn and Massachusetts. Over the course of the federal investigation, Rodriguez is alleged to have distributed cocaine and methamphetamine to a cooperating witness and confidential informant on four occasions.
Rodriguez is also charged with participating in an armed robbery of a drug customer. According to the charging documents, on Jan. 30, 2023, a drug transaction was scheduled to take place at an apartment in Woburn, during which an associate of Rodriguez was to deliver a kilogram of cocaine in exchange for approximately $24,000. It is alleged that, during the transaction, Rodriguez and Claudio Melo entered the apartment and pointed semiautomatic pistols at the drug customer before taking the $24,000 in cash. According to the charging documents, the $24,000 cash was proceeds of drug trafficking activities the drug customer was engaged in, which had been paced in an unmarked soft black lunch box on a table. Rodriguez and Melo then allegedly forced the drug customer to open a safe in his bedroom, which was empty. Shortly thereafter, both robbers allegedly departed with the $24,000 cash.
The charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery provides for a maximum penalty of up to 20 years, up to three years 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.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Boston made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Massachusetts State Police; and the Lynn Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.Long-Time Fugitive Admits to Orchestrating Mail Fraud Scheme Defrauding Elderly and Vulnerable Victims of over $10 MillionRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A German man admitted today to orchestrating a massive mail fraud scheme targeting elderly and otherwise vulnerable victims with false and fraudulent psychic solicitations, Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced today.
Georg Ingenbleek, 58, a citizen of Germany, was indicted in 2020 and has been a fugitive. He was apprehended in Bolzano, Italy in 2024 and extradited in May 2025 to face an indictment charging him with two counts of mail fraud. Ingenbleek pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi to two counts of mail fraud.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From at least 2011 through 2016, Ingenbleek created numerous direct mail solicitations supposedly from world-renowned psychics, falsely and fraudulently claiming to offer recipients individual psychic services and objects that would result in great fortune. Many of the letters falsely promised that the psychic services being offered were free of charge. Ingenbleek directed co-conspirators to send fraudulent billing notices to the same victims that stated that the victims owed money for psychic services, which in many cases had been offered free of charge. The fraudulent billing notices falsely represented that the victims owed fees and threatened to take legal action if the victim did not send a check, usually for $20 to $50. Through his fraudulent psychic mailing campaign, Ingenbleek obtained more than $10 million dollars from victims.
The mail fraud charges each carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. Sentencing is scheduled for December 17, 2025 at 10:30 A.M.
Acting U.S. Attorney Habba credited postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Philadelphia Division, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen; special agents of IRS - Criminal Investigation Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer Piovesan; and special agents of HSI New York, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel, with the investigation leading to the charges, and HSI Rome and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs for providing significant assistance in securing the defendant’s extradition from Italy.
The government is represented by Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan Fayer and Olta Bejleri of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.
###
Defense counsel: Daniel Rashbaum, Esq., Miami, Florida.
ingenbleek.indictment.pdfLiberian National and Convicted Sex Offender Arrested for Naturalization FraudRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment in June charging Cyril Domaquik Clemens, 71, a U.S. citizen born in Liberia, with naturalization fraud. The indictment alleges that Clemens lied about his criminal conduct on his application to obtain U.S. citizenship. Clemens had his initial appearance before a federal judge last week.
According to the indictment and previously issued court documents, Clemens is alleged to have knowingly and materially made false statements under penalty of perjury on his naturalization application and during a naturalization interview with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). In response to the questions “Were you EVER involved in any way with any of the following:…[f]orcing or trying to force, someone to have any kind of sexual contact or relations?” and “Have you EVER committed, assisted in committing, or attempted to commit, a crime or offense for which you were NOT arrested?” he answered “No.” Clemens took the oath of citizenship and naturalized on February 19, 2021.
On April 3, 2023, in the Superior Court of North Carolina in Durham County, Clemens pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent liberties with a child. He was sentenced to a term of imprisonment between 16 and 29 months and ordered to register as a sex offender. Clemens confessed to having sexually molested the child for more than a decade, from November 1, 2011, through March 7, 2022. The victim was four years old when the abuse began. Clemens was not arrested until after he had naturalized, so immigration officials were unaware of his crimes when they granted him citizenship.
Clemens is charged in a three-count indictment with naturalization fraud. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison as well as the automatic revocation of his U.S. citizenship.
Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement. ICE ERO officers and HSI agents assigned to the Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force are investigating the case as part of Operation False Haven, an ongoing initiative designed to aggressively target child molesters and other egregious felons who fraudulently obtain U.S. citizenship. USCIS’s Fraud Detection and National Security Division is assisting the initiative. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Warlick is prosecuting 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. 5:25-CR-151-FL-RN.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Leader of $68M Adult Day Care Fraud Scheme Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
A New York woman pleaded guilty today to conspiring to defraud Medicaid and pay health care kickbacks at her two Brooklyn social adult day cares.
“The defendant orchestrated a massive scheme to defraud Medicaid, bribing patients to bill a federal health care program for over $68 million,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Americans will not stand for these schemes that target government programs intended to help society’s most vulnerable members and steal from the public fisc. As demonstrated by today’s announcement, we will continue to aggressively prosecute those who take part in these crimes.”
“With today’s guilty plea, Khan stands convicted of acting as the ringleader of a scheme responsible for stealing millions of dollars dedicated to the government’s health care safety net,” stated U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York. “Our office and the Justice Department take seriously our responsibility to protect government funds from the clutches of fraudsters and will vigorously prosecute corrupt health care operators like the defendant.”
“Social adult day care and home health services are intended to support seniors, not serve as vehicles for fraud,” stated Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “The defendant’s actions are an affront to hardworking taxpayers and undermine the integrity of our nation’s health care system. HHS-OIG will continue to relentlessly pursue anyone who illicitly exploits Medicaid enrollees and the program itself to ensure they are held fully accountable.”
“Zakia Khan has admitted her involvement in a sweeping scheme that defrauded the U.S. government of $68 million in welfare funds meant for one of our country’s most vulnerable populations,” stated Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York. “Today’s guilty plea underscores not only the lengths criminal opportunists often take, but also the state-of-the-art skills and procedures utilized by HSI New York to stop them in their tracks.”
“Zakia Khan stole $68 million from the Medicaid program through bribes and kickbacks—money meant to support the most vulnerable,” stated NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “This fraudulent cash grab exploited a federal health care system that people depend on, and the NYPD will keep holding accountable anyone who tries to take advantage of it. Today’s guilty plea is another step towards justice, and I am thankful to the NYPD investigators, all our law enforcement partners, and the prosecutors for their meticulous work on this case.”
According to court documents, Zakia Khan, 54, of Brooklyn, owned two social adult day cares: Happy Family Social Adult Day Care Center Inc. and Family Social Adult Day Care Center Inc., Responsible Care Staffing Inc., a home health care fiscal intermediary, and Tanwee Services Inc., an entity used to receive and disguise fraud proceeds. Beginning in approximately October 2017 and continuing through approximately July 2024, in exchange for kickbacks and bribes, Khan and marketers whom she employed referred Medicaid recipients to the social adult day cares that she owned, and Khan and the marketers in turn paid kickbacks and bribes to Medicaid recipients for social adult day care services that the day cares billed to Medicaid, but were not provided or that were induced by kickbacks and bribes. Khan and her co-defendants used multiple business entities to launder the fradulent proceeds and generate the cash used to pay kickbacks and bribes. In connection with her plea, Khan agreed to forfeit $5 million, including two properties, cash, and gold jewelry seized during a search of her home.
Khan pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive health care kickbacks. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 28, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
HHS-OIG, HSI, and the NYPD are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Patrick J. Campbell and Leonid Sandlar of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Castiglione for the Eastern District of New York, who assisted with forfeiture matters.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of 9 strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Lancaster County Man Sentenced to 11 Years for Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Christopher William Stevens, 35, of Lancaster, has been sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a quantity of fentanyl.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations were investigating Stevens and others as part of a drug conspiracy distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl in the area. On at least four occasions in 2021 and twice in 2022, law enforcement conducted traffic stops on cars in which Stevens was the driver or the passenger and located various controlled substances, including suboxone, gabapentin, marijuana, heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. The police also located digital scales, glass pipes, and firearms during these traffic stops. As part of the investigation, on at least two occasions in 2021, law enforcement made controlled purchases of fentanyl directly from Stevens.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Stevens to 135 months in prison, to be followed by a four-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case.
###
Lafayette Man Sentenced to 70 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Yesterday, Christopher Burdine-Davies, 24 years old, of Lafayette, Indiana was sentenced by United States District Court Senior Judge James T. Moody after pleading guilty to distributing fentanyl, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Burdine-Davies was sentenced to 70 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, between September 26, 2022, and October 20, 2022, Defendant, a convicted felon, sold fentanyl on six separate occasions. He also sold three privately made firearms to law enforcement. His criminal history showed previous felony convictions for possessing a controlled substance, criminal recklessness, and intimidation, which were felonies that disqualified him from possessing any firearm or ammunition.
“Illicit fentanyl is a deadly poison,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Proctor. “Christopher Burdine-Davies chose to sell it anyway. Thanks to the efforts of the many partner agencies participating in the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force, Mr. Burdine-Davies can no longer ply his trade in this District. I applaud their efforts, and the just outcome to which they led.”
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Merrillville District Office, Tippecanoe Drug Task Force, and the Lafayette Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Nozick.
Lafayette Man Sentenced to 70 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Yesterday, Christopher Burdine-Davies, 24 years old, of Lafayette, Indiana was sentenced by United States District Court Senior Judge James T. Moody after pleading guilty to distributing fentanyl, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Burdine-Davies was sentenced to 70 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, between September 26, 2022, and October 20, 2022, Defendant, a convicted felon, sold fentanyl on six separate occasions. He also sold three privately made firearms to law enforcement. His criminal history showed previous felony convictions for possessing a controlled substance, criminal recklessness, and intimidation, which were felonies that disqualified him from possessing any firearm or ammunition.
“Illicit fentanyl is a deadly poison,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Proctor. “Christopher Burdine-Davies chose to sell it anyway. Thanks to the efforts of the many partner agencies participating in the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force, Mr. Burdine-Davies can no longer ply his trade in this District. I applaud their efforts, and the just outcome to which they led.”
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force, Tippecanoe Drug Task Force, and the Lafayette Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Nozick.
Kansas man indicted for bank robberyRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas man with robbing a bank.
According to court documents, Darrel D. Gray, 65, of Benton was indicted on one count of bank robbery.
Gray is accused of using force, violence, and intimidation in July 2025, to take money from Community National Bank & Trust in El Dorado, Kansas.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Daquinton Baker, 23, of Wichita was indicted on one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katie Andrusak and Matt Treaster are prosecuting the case.
Javier Estrada, 26, of Wichita was indicted on one count of escape from custody. The U.S. Marshal Service (USMS) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster is prosecuting the case.
Martin Alberto Guerra, 31, of Kansas City, Kansas, was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
Ruben Franco Peralta, 28, a Mexican national residing illegally in Kismet, was indicted on one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler 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.
###Kalispell woman sentenced to prison for fraudRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – A Kalispell woman who embezzled almost $500,000 from a local company was sentenced today to 14 months in federal prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Rita Ann Pierce, 59, pleaded guilty in March 2025 to wire fraud.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Pierce Manufacturing is a family-owned business that began in 1974. The company began as a welding shop but morphed into a manufacturing shop. This case arose because Pierce Manufacturing was unable to figure out why it was not making any money. The company ordered an audit, which uncovered that Rita Pierce was embezzling money.
When stealing the money, Pierce was the bookkeeper. She covered the fraud by entering fraudulent names in the ledger and making the transactions appear legitimate despite the money flowing into her private bank account. The investigation determined Pierce embezzled approximately $496,881.03 during a four-year span, which was between 2016 and 2020.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Weldon prosecuted the case. The FBI conducted the investigation.
XXX
Justice Department Files Two Civil Forfeiture Actions to Recover Nearly $11 Million in Health Care Fraud ProceedsRead the Press Release
MIAMI – The United States has filed civil forfeiture complaints in the Southern District of Florida against two purported durable medical equipment (DME) companies accused of fraudulently billing Medicare more than $33 million combined.
According to allegations in the complaints, Vida Med Center LLC and Med-Union Medical Center, Inc., both enrolled Medicare providers, submitted false and fraudulent claims for DME that were medically unnecessary and not provided as represented.
Vida Med submitted $14,110,820.00 in claims to Medicare and received $8,759,036.68 in reimbursements. Med-Union submitted $19,044,516.07 in Medicare claims and received $14,167,792.92 in payments. Notably, all of Med-Union’s paid Medicare claims were based on prescriptions issued by a single provider. The civil forfeiture actions seek to recover $967,760.37 and $10,014,325.40, respectively, in proceeds from the fraudulently obtained taxpayer dollars.
U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida; Acting Special Agent in Charge Jesus Barranco of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, (HHS-OIG), Miami Regional Office; and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office made the announcement.
FBI Miami and HHS-OIG are investigating the cases.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marx P. Calderón and Joshua Paster for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting these civil actions.
A civil forfeiture complaint is merely an allegation that money or property was involved in or represents the proceeds of a crime. These allegations are not proven until a court awards a judgment in favor of the United States.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.
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 numbers 25-cv-23345 and 25-cv-23340.
###
Jersey City Man Charged with Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Jersey City, New Jersey man was charged today with possession of child pornography, Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.
Matthew Ozol, 39, of Jersey City, New Jersey is charged with one count of possession of child pornography. Ozol made his initial before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark, III in Newark federal court and was detained.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Law enforcement reviewed messages sent via a messaging application from an account associated with an IP address registered in Ozol’s name at Ozol’s residence. The account participated in a chat group named “Baby Rapist,” and sent multiple communications referencing, among other things, a desire to rape babies and exchange child pornography, and distributed a video containing child pornography.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Ozol’s residence, and recovered at least 26 images and/or videos of child pornography depicting infants or toddlers.
The charge of possession of child pornography carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Acting U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy, with the investigation leading to the charge.
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 Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Specht of the Special Prosecutions Division.
###
Defense Counsel:
Robert Ebberup, Esq., Toms River, New Jersey
ozol.complaint.pdfJefferson City Federal Grand Jury Returns Indictments Against Three IndividualsRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A federal grand jury sitting in Jefferson City returned indictments against three individuals charging a range of federal offenses.
Arizona Woman Charged with Two Counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin and Cocaine
Joanna Fabian Rivera, 33, Arizona, was charged with possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine. The indictment alleges that during a traffic stop on May 3, 2025, packages of cocaine and heroin were found within Rivera’s vehicle.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Lynn. It was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Iowa Man Charged with Child Exploitation Offenses
Alex Mills Zoll, 42, Cedar Rapids, Ia., was charged with three counts related to child exploitation offenses. The indictment alleges that between May 11, 2025 and June 1, 2025, Zoll enticed a minor to engage in sexual activity, attempted to produce child pornography, and transferred obscene material in interstate commerce.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Turner. It was investigated by Boone County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office, Callaway County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Columbia Man Indicted for Illegally Possessing Firearms
Aaron James Kipper, 34, Columbia, Mo. was charged with unlawfully possessing two firearms. The indictment alleges that on June 27, 2025, Kipper, knowing he had previously been sentenced for a term exceeding one year on a felony, possessed a Taurus .357 revolver and a Jennings .22 caliber semi-automatic firearm. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who is convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cecily L. Hicks. It was investigated by Boone County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
The charges contained in these indictments are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
Operation Take Back America
The Fabian Rivera and Kipper 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).
Project Safe Childhood
The Zoll case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Jasper County man indicted on federal drug trafficking violationsRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Jasper man has been charged with federal drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Steven Wade Earle, 30, was named in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury this week in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The indictment alleges that on January 2, 2025, Earle was found in possession of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Then again on February 25, 2025, Earle was found in possession of at least another 50 grams of methamphetamine.
If convicted, Earle faces up to life in federal prison.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Jasper County Sheriff’s Office; Texas Department of Public Safety-Criminal Investigations Division; Texas DPS-Highway Patrol; and U.S. Marshals Service. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan C. Lee.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Irish citizen indicted for sadistic exploitation of a childRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 36-year-old Irish national has been charged with four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and four counts of coercion and enticement of a child, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
The charges allege in September 2022, Matthew Liam Johnstone coerced a minor into filming and photographing herself engaging in sexually explicit conduct including acts of sadism.
If convicted, Johnstone faces up to life in prison. All charges also carry a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
The FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit - Criminal Investigative Division conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Overman and Trial Attorney Adam Braskich of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's CEOS leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Interim United States Attorney Thomas C. Albus Sworn InRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Interim United States Attorney Thomas C. Albus was sworn in Friday, becoming the new head prosecutor for the Eastern District of Missouri.
U.S. District Judge John A. Ross performed the ceremony at about 11:30 a.m. Mr. Albus was appointed by Attorney General Pamela Bondi. He replaces former Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Drake, who will now resume his previous post as First Assistant U.S. Attorney.
Mr. Albus is a veteran prosecutor. From 2002-2019, he prosecuted white collar, tax, public corruption and other cases at the U.S. Attorney's Office. In 2019, he joined the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, becoming First Assistant to then-Attorney General Eric Schmitt. In 2020, Mr. Albus was sworn in as a St. Louis County Circuit Judge, having been appointed by Missouri Gov. Michael Parson.
Mr. Albus is a native of St. Louis County, Missouri. He graduated from Georgetown University in 1994 and the University of Missouri School of Law in 1997. He then clerked for the late Lawrence G. Crahan on the Missouri Court of Appeals and for Judge John C. Holstein on the Missouri Supreme Court. Following that, he worked in the litigation department of what is now Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner in St. Louis.
The Eastern District of Missouri includes 49 counties and is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes in the district, including crimes related to terrorism, public corruption, child exploitation, firearms and narcotics. The office also defends the United States in civil cases and collects debts owed to the United States.
The Eastern District of Missouri leads the nation in prosecuting gun crimes, including cases involving carjackings, armed robberies and murders, and is third in the nation in prosecuting crimes against children.
In Landmark Sentence, Feeding Our Future Scheme Leader Sentenced to 28 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Today, United States District Judge Nancy E. Brasel sentenced Abdiaziz Shafii Farah, age 36, to 28 years in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release for his role in a $300 million fraud scheme that exploited a federally funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. Farah was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $47,920,514.
Farah played a leading and role in the Feeding Our Future case, the largest Covid-19 fraud scheme in the United States. According to public documents, Farah and his co-defendants stole more than $47 million in program funds by claiming to serve 18 million meals to kids at more than 30 food distribution sites. In June 2024, after a seven-week trial before Judge Brasel, a federal jury convicted Farah of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, false statements in a passport application, conspiracy to commit money laundering, two counts of federal programs bribery, six counts of wire fraud, and 11 counts of money laundering.
Farah was the co-owner of Empire Cuisine & Market, an entity that he enrolled in the Federal Child Nutrition Program in April 2020, during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. Farah was among the very first defendants to see an opportunity for fraud and exploit it. Farah immediately opened a number of fraudulent program sites and began falsely claiming to serve meals to thousands of children per day. Many of the purported “sites” served no meals at all and were nothing more than parking lots or vacant commercial spaces.
Farah and his co-defendants “papered-up” the fraudulent scheme, including by creating and submitting fraudulent meal counts and invoices. Farah was likewise involved in the scheme’s use of phony rosters with fake children’s names. Few of the names on the rosters matched the names of real students attending the local school districts, and many of the names used by Farah were absurd and obviously fake, names like “Serious Problem” and “Britishy Melony.” In addition, Farah routinely directed the flow of fraudulent funds so that his co-conspirators got their “cuts” of the stolen taxpayer money. To keep the fraud going, Farah engaged in a corrupt “pay-to-play” system, where he paid thousands of dollars in bribes and kickbacks to personnel at Feeding Our Future and Partners in Nutrition.
Farah profited handsomely from his role in the scheme—he personally pocketed more than $8 million during his 18 months of involvement in the fraud. As presented at trial, Farah sent text messages to his co-defendants about their ill-gotten gains, stating “in 7 months if things stay the same you are a multi millionaire with 0 debt” and “Bro the next multi legit millionaires will be me and you.”
Using the taxpayer money meant for needy kids, Farah purchased five luxury vehicles for himself in about six months, including over $300,000 for a Porsche, a GMC truck, and a Tesla. Farah used approximately $4.2 million in fraudulently-obtained taxpayer funds to purchase real estate throughout the Twin Cities and in Kentucky, which included buying two lakefront lots with the aim of building himself a multi-million-dollar home. Farah further sent the taxpayer money he stole overseas, purchasing real estate in Kenya and a high-rise apartment building in Nairobi. Farah laundered the fraud proceeds through China. This overseas money is beyond the reach of American law enforcement—neither these funds nor Farah’s international real estate holdings have been, or can be, seized or forfeited.
In January 2022, when the Feeding Our Future search warrants were executed, federal agents seized Farah’s U.S. passport from his home. In the wake of those searches, Farah retained an attorney and was told he was a target of the federal investigation. Two months later, on March 22, 2022, Farah went to the Minneapolis Passport Agency in downtown Minneapolis to apply for a new U.S. passport. Farah lied on his passport application, falsely claiming his passport was lost, rather than seized by federal agents. Farah obtained a new U.S. passport that day. Less than two weeks later, Farah attempted to leave the country, purchasing a one-way ticket to Kenya, where he owned property paid for by the taxpayer money he stole. Law enforcement acted quickly to charge Farah with passport fraud and take him into custody.
In June 2024, at the conclusion of his 7-week trial, Farah and others attempted to bribe a juror with $120,000 in cash in exchange for a not guilty verdict. Farah and four others were indicted in a separate federal case for the juror bribery scheme. Farah has pled guilty in the juror bribery case and is pending sentencing in that case before Judge David S. Doty. Today’s sentence does not reflect Farah’s attempt to bribe a juror; he will face an additional sentence in that case at a later date.
In imposing the 28-year sentence, Judge Brasel explained the defendant “came to this country as a refugee” and that “many of the opportunities” in Farah’s life came through public agencies and non-profit organizations, noting that Farah received housing, school, a full-tuition college grant, and worked in the public sector. “Given that background, it is ironic at best that, as the government aimed no child went hungry during the pandemic, you saw the opportunity to fraudulently make money.” Judge Brasel continued, “You achieved successes here in the United States and yet you’ve shown utter and flagrant disregard for the laws of the United States.”
Judge Brasel found that Farah’s crime was “breathtakingly elaborate” and that he acted out of “pure unmitigated greed.” She told the defendant, “The repercussions of your crime will be felt in Minnesota and in your community—the refugee community—for a long time.”
In arguing for a long sentence, Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson said, “This country gave Farah everything. A home. Citizenship. A free college education. After that he went on to public employment with the state of Minnesota. And how did he repay this country and this state? By robbing us blind. He has gotten every opportunity, and this is how he used it. Farah didn’t want the American dream. He wanted to be rich. He wanted to be wealthy. He thought he was entitled to it. He won the lottery of life, he was given everything by this country, and he repaid us with a life of crime. He has done untold damage to this state.”
“Abdiaziz Shafii Farah’s conviction serves as a stark reminder of the moral decay that can arise when individuals exploit systems designed to protect the most vulnerable among us,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston, Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “The egregious actions of Farah, who misappropriated over $28 million meant to nourish underserved children during a critical time, exemplify a betrayal of societal trust. Today’s sentence not only underscores the legal repercussions of such greed, but also sends a resounding message: Justice will not only be swift, but also unyielding. The FBI, in concert with our law enforcement partners and the Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to holding accountable those who prey on the most defenseless in our communities.”
The case is the result of an investigation by the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Jacobs, Matthew S. Ebert, and Daniel W. Bobier prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Baune is handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets.
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Entice or Persuade a Minor to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Mauricio Morales-Gonzalez, 24, of Mexico, pleaded guilty in federal court to attempting to entice or persuade a minor to engage in sexual activity. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the relentless efforts of our incredible law enforcement partners, another child predator is behind bars and the community is safer. It is one of our most important duties to protect the most vulnerable members of our community from the predations of these sick individuals, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute those who seek to sexually exploit our children.”
Court documents reflect that between April 10, 2025, and April 12, 2025, detectives of the Tallahassee Police Department and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, along with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, participated in a joint undercover operation in Leon County focused on identifying individuals using the Internet to exploit children in a sexual manner. During the operation, investigators identified Morales-Gonzalez, an adult male who was soliciting minors for sex through an online website. Morales-Gonzalez believed he was going to be engaging in sexual activity with a minor when he drove to a meeting location where he was met by law enforcement and immediately arrested.
Morales-Gonzalez faces a minimum mandatory of 10 years’ imprisonment up to life imprisonment, followed by five years to life of supervision upon release.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Tallahassee Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 27, 2025, at 10:00 am at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida, before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor.
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.
This case is also 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 Sentenced for Unlawful Reentry by a Removed AlienRead the Press Release
JACKSON, MS – A Honduran national was sentenced on August 6, 2025 to 5 months and 23 days of incarceration for unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed from the country. The defendant will be transferred to ICE custody following his release.
According to court documents, Johny Antonio Nunez-Meza, 45, was found by law enforcement officials to be unlawfully present in the country on or about February 2, 2025 in Hinds County after being arrested for burglary. Nunez-Meza had previously been removed from the United States on multiple occasions and was convicted of illegal entry into the United States on August 21, 2012.
Nunez-Meza was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 20, 2025 and pleaded guilty on May 2, 2025.
Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, Patrick A. Lemon and Eric P. DeLaune, Special Agent-in-Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans, Louisiana; and Brian Acuna, Acting Field Office Director of ICE/ERO in New Orleans, made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Brett Grantham prosecuted the case.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security investigations as part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Honduran National Sentenced for Dealing FentanylRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Honduran national, who is an associate of the transnational criminal organization 18th Street Gang, was sentenced yesterday on drug charges in federal court in Boston.
Elvin Martinez-Flores, 23, unlawfully residing in Everett, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani to 14 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Martinez-Flores is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In May 2025, Martinez pleaded guilty to distributing and possessing with intent to distribute 40 grams and more of fentanyl.
During an investigation into the 18th Street Gang targeting the communities of Everett, Chelsea, Revere, East Boston, and Lynn, Martinez was identified as a gang associate and a sophisticated wholesaler fentanyl dealer. On Sept. 20, 2024, Martinez sold approximately 400 pressed fentanyl pills to a cooperating witness. Later, on Oct. 28, 2024, Martinez sold another 500 pressed fentanyl pills to the cooperating witness.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Bryan DiGirolamo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations; Suffolk County and Middlesex County District Attorney’s Offices; and the Boston, Chelsea, Everett, Falmouth, Lynn, Medford, Nantucket and Revere Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy E. Moran and Fred Wyshak of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Hardin County felon charged with carjacking, firearms violationsRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Silsbee convicted felon has been charged with carjacking and firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Justin Keith Colley, 37, was named in a three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury this week in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with carjacking, brandishing a firearm during a violent crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The indictment alleges that on June 20, 2025, Colley used a firearm to forcefully commit carjacking. Further investigation revealed Colley had been previously convicted of a felony and prohibited from owning or possessing firearms.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
If convicted, Colley faces up to life in federal prison.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Silsbee Police Department, and the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Reynaldo P. Morin.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Guatemalan National Sentenced for Unlawful Reentry by a Removed AlienRead the Press Release
JACKSON, MS – A Guatemalan national was sentenced on August 1, 2025 to 4 months in prison for unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed from the country.
According to court documents, Mario Armando Crisostomo-Crisostomo, 27, was found by law enforcement officials to be unlawfully present in the country on or about April 28, 2025 in Leake County during a traffic stop where he was driving without a license or insurance. Crisostomo-Crisostomo had previously been removed from the United States in 2018 following a conviction in the Southern District of Texas for illegal entry into the United States.
Crisostomo-Crisostomo was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 6, 2025.
Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, Patrick A. Lemon and Eric P. DeLaune, Special Agent-in-Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans, Louisiana; and Brian Acuna, Acting Field Office Director of ICE/ERO in New Orleans, made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Brett Grantham prosecuted the case.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security investigations as part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline). Operation Take Back America is 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).
Guatemalan Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States After Being Deported Three TimesRead the Press Release
A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported was sentenced today to more than three months in federal prison.
Fidel Ramos-Ramos, age 38, a citizen of Guatemala illegally present in the United States and residing in Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a June 13, 2025, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States after having been deported.
At the guilty plea, Ramos-Ramos admitted he had previously been deported from the United States and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Ramos-Ramos was previously deported in 2012, 2014, and 2017. In January 2024, Ramos-Ramos reentered the United States in Texas illegally. On April 18, 2025, immigration officials learned Ramos-Ramos had illegally returned to the United States and found him at the Black Hawk County Jail following his arrest on a state arrest warrant. Ramos-Ramos was previously convicted in the District of Arizona of illegally entering the United States, served 30 days in prison and was deported.
Ramos-Ramos was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. He was sentenced to 98 days’ imprisonment. He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
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 case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-cr-2023.
Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA
Grand Jury Charges Irishman for Sadistic Exploitation of a ChildRead the Press Release
A grand jury in the Southern District of Texas returned an indictment today charging Matthew Liam Johnstone, 36, of Ireland, with numerous offenses stemming from his sadistic online exploitation of a child.
According to court documents, in September 2022, Johnstone sexually exploited a minor in the Southern District of Texas by coercing her into filming and photographing herself engaging in sexually explicit conduct, including acts of sadism. Johnstone is charged with four counts of sexual exploitation of a child and four counts of coercion and enticement of a minor. If convicted, Johnstone faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. All charges also carry a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei for the Southern District of Texas, and Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of FBI Criminal Investigative Division made the announcement.
The FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit, Criminal Investigative Division, is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Adam Braskich of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Overman for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Goose Creek Man Pleads Guilty in Public Corruption SchemeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. —Hason Tatorian “Tory” Fields, 51, of Goose Creek, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery with respect to programs receiving federal funds and honest services wire fraud, bribery with respect to programs receiving federal funds, and honest services wire fraud.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Fields conspired with others to pay bribes to Sandino Moses. At the time, Moses was serving as a member of the City of North Charleston’s City Council representing District 7. Fields paid Moses two bribes as part of an effort to secure his support for the rezoning of the Baker Hospital site. The application for rezoning was pending before City Council when Fields first approached Moses.
Fields faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Fields after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Limehouse and Whit Sowards are prosecuting the case.
###
Georgia Man Charged with Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A Georgia man has been indicted on child sexual exploitation charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
A three-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Adree Villanueva, 25, of Kennesaw, Georgia, with one count of coercion and enticement, one count of travelling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual activity, and one count of transportation of a minor. These incidents occurred between April 2025 and July 2025 in Madison County.
The FBI investigated the case along with the Huntsville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney John M. Hundscheid is prosecuting the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. 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 and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Four Indicted in Asheville with Federal Charges Under Operation Take Back AmericaRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson announced today that a number of individuals are facing federal firearms and immigration charges under Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative to protect our communities from perpetrators of violent crime, repel the invasion of illegal immigration and achieve total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs).
Criminal indictments returned by the grand jury in Asheville charged the following defendants, among others:
Justin Allen Owenby, 27, of Asheville, was indicted for the unlawful possession of a firearm. Owenby is alleged to have unlawfully possessed a Glock 48, 9mm pistol, knowing he had prior felony convictions.
Gregory Lee Pettit, 51, of Candler, N.C., is charged with possession of a grenade, which was not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Pettit is also charged with possession of a firearm by an unlawful user that is addicted to a controlled substance.
William Stanley Ellwood, 38, of Cherokee, N.C., is charged with possession of a firearm silencer, which was not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. He is also charged with one count of receiving and possessing a silencer not identified by a serial number.
Rafael Martinez-Reano, 35, of Rutherfordton, N.C., is charged with illegal reentry into the United States. Martinez-Reano was previously deported from the United States two times: on December 31, 2018, and on April 13, 2018, at or near Hildago, Texas.
The charges in the indictments are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, and Emergency Removal Operations, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the North Carolian Department of Public Safety Alcohol Law Enforcement, the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cherokee Indian Police Department for their respective investigations that led to the charges.
The cases are being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville.
The indictments 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 (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
# # #
Four Arizona Residents Plead Guilty to Kingpin Statute or Drug Trafficking Violations in Connection with Transnational Criminal OperationRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Four individuals from Arizona have pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal narcotics and money laundering laws in relation to an international drug trafficking organization (DTO), Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The defendants were among 35 individuals charged through a Second Superseding Indictment unsealed in January 2024 for their participation in a domestic and international narcotics and money laundering conspiracy involving substantial quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine (read the Second Superseding Indictment news release here).
Pleading guilty before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan were:
Plea Date
Defendant
Age
Residence
August 4
Marcos Monarrez Jr.
26
Phoenix, Ariz.
July 31
Erivan Guerrero
25
Phoenix, Ariz.
Donald Garwood
43
Glendale, Ariz.
July 30
Jesus Aaron Garcia
25
Phoenix, Ariz.
In connection with the guilty pleas, the Court was advised that, at various times from September 2022 to November 2022, Monarrez Jr.—a co-leader, along with his father Marcos Monarrez-Mendoza, of the Phoenix-based Monarrez Drug Trafficking Organization—was intercepted over a federal wiretap obtaining hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine, millions of fentanyl pills, and kilograms of cocaine from a Mexican national drug supplier. Monarrez Jr. provided the drugs to a network of subordinate drug distributors who redistributed them throughout the country, including into western Pennsylvania. Additionally, Monarrez Jr. provided over $10,000 in proceeds from the drug sales to couriers, who smuggled the money into Mexico to promote the drug trafficking operation.
Further, in the Western District of Pennsylvania and elsewhere, the defendants conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. The defendants were intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining quantities of the drugs that they distributed to others. Additionally, from in and around May 2022 to in and around March 2023, Guerrero conspired to commit money laundering by using bulk amounts of currency obtained from drug trafficking to conduct financial transactions to disguise the nature of the money and promote the drug trafficking conspiracy. Similarly, Guerrero provided money to his suppliers knowing it would be transported to Mexico to further promote the drug trafficking conspiracy.
Monarrez Jr. also pleaded guilty at the same proceeding to a charge from the Eastern District of Michigan of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl from in and around February 2019 to on or about December 14, 2021.
Judge Ranjan scheduled sentencings for Garcia, Guerrero, and Garwood for November 6, 2025, and for Monarrez Jr. for December 5, 2025. The law provides for a sentence of mandatory life imprisonment for Monarrez Jr. The other defendants face a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense(s) and the prior criminal history, if any, of each defendant.
The guilty pleas follow those of 22 additional co-defendants, with nine of those co-defendants having been sentenced thus far.
Assistant United States Attorneys Arnold P. Bernard Jr. and Tonya S. Goodman are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of the defendants. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, and other local law enforcement agencies.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, combat illegal immigration, 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).
Founders of Samourai Wallet Cryptocurrency Mixing Service Plead GuiltyRead the Press Release
Attorney for the United States, Acting Under Authority Conferred by 28 U.S.C. § 515, Nicolas Roos; Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), Harry T. Chavis, Jr.; and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Christopher G. Raia, announced today the guilty pleas of KEONNE RODRIGUEZ and WILLIAM LONERGAN HILL, the co-founders of Samourai Wallet (“Samourai”), a cryptocurrency mixer that facilitated more than $200 million in illegal transactions. RODRIGUEZ, the Chief Executive Officer of Samourai, and HILL, the Chief Technology Officer, pled guilty to participating in a conspiracy to operate a money transmitting business that transmitted crime proceeds from, among other things, illegal dark web markets, cyber intrusions, a spear phishing scheme, and schemes to defraud multiple decentralized finance protocols. RODRIGUEZ and HILL pled guilty on July 30, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote.
“The defendants created and operated a cryptocurrency mixing service that they knew enabled criminals to wash millions in dirty money, including proceeds from cryptocurrency thefts, drug trafficking operations, and fraud schemes,” said Attorney for the United States Nicolas Roos. “When criminals exploit cryptocurrency technology for illicit purposes, it undermines the public trust and unfairly burdens legitimate cryptocurrency companies that are committed to operating lawfully. This Office and our partner agencies are committed to holding accountable those who exploit emerging technologies to launder crime proceeds.”
“Rodriguez and Hill admitted to operating a money transmitting business that transmitted crime proceeds, essentially ‘washing’ more than $200 million in ‘dirty’ money for criminals,” said Special Agent in Charge of IRS-CI, Harry T. Chavis, Jr. “They did not just facilitate this illicit movement of money, but also encouraged it. Special Agents with IRS-CI New York and IRS-CI LA’s Cyber units worked with our federal and international law enforcement partners in this investigation that detailed the company’s clear disregard for the rule of law. Even with all the ‘washing’ in this scheme, no one was clean in these transactions.”
“Keonne Rodriguez and William Hill's guilty pleas prove their cryptocurrency mixing service–Samourai Wallet–was designed to conceal criminal financial transactions and launder millions of dollars of dirty money,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia. “The FBI is committed to bringing to justice anyone who uses technological innovation to facilitate illicit activity.”
According to court documents and admissions:
Beginning around 2015, RODRIGUEZ and HILL began developing Samourai, a mobile application that was designed and operated as a service for transmitting criminal proceeds. The defendants engineered Samourai around two services specifically intended to conceal the nature of illicit transactions. The first, a Bitcoin mixing service known as “Whirlpool,” coordinated batches of Bitcoin exchanges between groups of Samourai users. Through this process, the original source of particular Bitcoin holdings became obscured within the blockchain’s transactional record, effectively preventing law enforcement agencies and cryptocurrency exchanges from tracing funds back to their origins. The second service, called “Ricochet,” enabled users to introduce additional and unnecessary intermediate transactions—known as “hops”—between sending and receiving addresses. This feature served a similar obfuscation purpose, making it substantially more difficult for monitoring entities to establish connections between cryptocurrency transfers and potential illicit activities. The scale of these operations proved considerable: from Ricochet’s launch in 2017 and Whirlpool’s inception in 2019, more than 80,000 Bitcoin—valued at over $2 billion when calculated using contemporaneous exchange rates—passed through these services. Samourai collected a fee for both services, estimated to be over $6 million in revenue based on Bitcoin’s value at the time each fee was earned.
RODRIGUEZ and HILL actively promoted Samourai’s utility for concealing criminal proceeds. Their communications reveal a clear understanding of Samourai’s illegal applications. In a WhatsApp exchange, when asked to explain the concept of “mixing,” RODRIGUEZ described the process as “money laundering for bitcoin.” HILL similarly marketed Samourai as a transmittal service for criminal proceeds on Dread, a darknet forum dedicated to discussing illegal marketplace activities. In one exchange on that platform, a user asked about the most “secure methods to clean dirty BTC” to make it “untraceable, clean” and ensure the user would “never get caught.” HILL responded by writing that “Samourai Whirlpool is a much better option” than a competitor service to “clean dirty BTC.” The defendant’s own marketing materials acknowledged that customers would include “Dark/Grey Market participants” moving proceeds from “illicit activity.”
The defendants’ conduct extended beyond passive facilitation to active encouragement of criminal activity. In June and July 2020, RODRIGUEZ and HILL tracked in real time the flow of crime proceeds from a widely publicized hack of a prominent social media platform. Rather than reporting the criminal activity or attempting to stop it, both defendants publicly and privately expressed their intent and desire that the hackers use Samourai’s Whirlpool service to move the crime proceeds of the hack. That encouragement included a July 16, 2020 Twitter exchange: after a third party encouraged the “lovely hackers” of the social media platform to “use @SamouraiWallet whirlpool to mix out once you are done collecting or decide to take profits” in order to “protect you from being found,” RODRIGUEZ responded by personally encouraging the hackers to “feed” and “send” the crime proceeds into Samourai’s Whirlpool. When the hackers used a different cryptocurrency mixing service to launder the proceeds of the hack, RODRIGUEZ and HILL expressed their disappointment on social media.
* * *
RODRIGUEZ, 36, of Harmony, Pennsylvania, and HILL, 67, a U.S. national who was arrested in Portugal, each pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to operate a money transmitting business knowing the business transmitted crime proceeds, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. As part of their plea agreements with the Government, RODRIGUEZ and HILL agreed to forfeit $237,832,360.55.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Roos praised the investigative work of IRS-CI and the FBI. He also acknowledged the assistance of the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, Europol, the Portuguese Judicial Police, the Procuradoria-Geral da República, the Icelandic Police, and the FBI Field Office in Pittsburgh for their assistance in the investigation of this case.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance to secure the July 2024 extradition from Portugal of HILL.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit and Illicit Finance and Money Laundering Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew K. Chan, David R. Felton, and Cecilia Vogel are in charge of the prosecution.
Founder of Tornado Cash Crypto Mixing Service Convicted of Knowingly Transmitting Criminal ProceedsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today the conviction of ROMAN STORM, a co-founder of Tornado Cash, a cryptocurrency mixer that facilitated more than $1 billion in illegal transactions, for willfully conspiring to operate a money transmitting business that moved more than $1 billion in dirty money. The defendant was found guilty following a four-week jury trial before U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla.
“Roman Storm and Tornado Cash provided a service for North Korean hackers and other criminals to move and hide more than $1 billion of dirty money,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “The speed, efficiency, and functionality of stablecoins and other digital assets offer great promise, but that promise cannot be an excuse for criminality. Criminals who use new technology to commit age old crimes, including hiding dirty money, undermine the public trust, and unfairly cast a shadow on the many innovators who operate lawfully. This Office and our partner agencies are committed to holding accountable those who exploit emerging technologies to commit crime.”
As reflected in the Indictment, public filings, and the evidence presented at trial:
STORM was one of the three founders of Tornado Cash, a cryptocurrency mixer that allowed its customers to engage in untraceable transfers of cryptocurrency. The defendant and his co-conspirators created the core features of Tornado Cash, paid for critical infrastructure to operate Tornado Cash, promoted Tornado Cash, and made millions of dollars in profits from operating Tornado Cash. Tornado Cash advertised to customers that it provided untraceable and anonymous financial transactions, and STORM continued to provide this service with knowledge that Tornado Cash was transmitting large volumes of criminal proceeds. As proven at trial, STORM was personally aware of numerous instances in which criminals transmitted proceeds of criminal exploits using Tornado Cash, totaling more than $1 billion in criminal proceeds. The transmission of such large sums of criminal proceeds benefitted the operations of Tornado Cash and STORM’s profits from running it. Ultimately, STORM and his co-founders were able to cash out more than $12 million in profits from the illicit money transmitting business.
STORM designed Tornado Cash to generate profits for himself and his co-founders and continued to operate the business with knowledge that he was transmitting criminal proceeds. This included his knowing transmission of hundreds of millions of dollars in criminal proceeds from the Ronin hack, which the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) publicly attributed to the sanctioned North Korean cybercriminal organization, the Lazarus Group. STORM continued to transmit these hacked funds even after the public attribution of the hack to the Lazarus Group.
* * *
STORM, 36, of Auburn, Washington, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the investigative work of the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Illicit Finance and Money Laundering Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thane Rehn, Benjamin A. Gianforti, and Ben Arad, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mosley, are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Olivia Sebade and Dean Iannuzzelli.
Fort Bliss Soldier Arrested, Charged with Espionage and Export ViolationsRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – An active-duty soldier stationed at Fort Bliss was arrested today in El Paso on criminal charges of attempted transmission of national defense information to a foreign adversary and attempted export of controlled technical data without a license.
According to court documents, Taylor Adam Lee, 22, holds a Top Secret (TS) / Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) security clearance. From approximately May 2025 through the present, Lee sought to establish his U.S. Army credentials and send U.S. defense information to Russia’s Ministry of Defense. In June 2025, Lee allegedly transmitted export-controlled technical information on the M1A2 Abrams Tank online and offered assistance to the Russian Federation, stating, “the USA is not happy with me for trying to expose their weaknesses,” and added, “At this point I’d even volunteer to assist the Russian federation when I’m there in any way.”
In July, at an in-person meeting between Lee and who he believed to be a representative of the Russian government, Lee allegedly passed an SD card to the individual. Lee proceeded to provide a detailed overview of the documents and information contained on the SD card, including documents and information on the M1A2 Abrams, another armored fighting vehicle used by the U.S. military, and combat operations. Several of these documents contained controlled technical data that Lee did not have the authorization to provide. Other documents on the SD card were marked as Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and featured banner warnings and dissemination controls. Throughout the meeting, Lee stated that the information on the SD card was sensitive and likely classified.
During and after the July meeting, Lee discussed obtaining and providing to the Russian government a specific piece of hardware inside the M1A2 Abrams tank. On July 31, 2025, Lee delivered what appeared to be the hardware to a storage unit in El Paso. After doing so, Lee sent a message to the individual he believed to be a representative of the Russian government stating, “Mission accomplished.”
Lee was arrested Wednesday morning and made his initial appearance in federal court the same day.
“National security has long been one of the highest priorities of the Justice Department, and here in the Western District of Texas, we remain alert for those who wish to help our adversaries and harm the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “Our enemies, both foreign and domestic, should be aware that we diligently investigate and aggressively prosecute these cases. I appreciate the investigative work by our partners in the FBI and the Army Counterintelligence Command, and I look forward to continuing our work with them as we proceed with the prosecution of this important case.”
“Lee allegedly violated his duty to protect the United States in favor of providing national defense information to the Russian government,” said Steven J. Jensen, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office. “The FBI is steadfast in our commitment to protect U.S. national security and bring to justice those who seek to undermine it.”
“The men and women of the United States military work hard to defend American citizens at home and abroad,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Britton Boyd for the FBI El Paso Field Office. “Today the men and women of the FBI were able to help protect our brave soldiers from future threats with the arrest of Taylor Adam Lee. I would like to thank our partners from the Department of Defense and FBI Washington Field Office.”
“This arrest is an alarming reminder of the serious threat facing our U.S. Army,” said Brigadier General Sean F. Stinchon, the commanding general of Army Counterintelligence Command. “Thanks to the hard work of Army Counterintelligence Command Special Agents and our FBI partners, Soldiers who violate their oath and become insider threats will absolutely be caught and brought to justice, and we will continue to protect Army personnel and safeguard equipment. If anyone on our Army Team sees suspicious activity, you must report it as soon as possible.”
The FBI Washington Field Office is investigating the case, with valuable assistance from the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command and the FBI El Paso Field Office.
Trial Attorney Menno Goedman of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan Brown and Mallory Rasmussen for the Western District of Texas are prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Former U.S. Embassy Employee Extradited to Face Charges for Cocaine Importation ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Special Agent in Charge of the Newark Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Michael McCarthy, announced today that JAIRO ELIEZER ARIAS CACERES, a former employee of the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, was extradited from the Dominican Republic in connection with the unsealing of an Indictment charging ARIAS CACERES with conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States. ARIAS CACERES will make his initial appearance later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Gregory H. Woods.
“Jairo Eliezer Arias Caceres allegedly orchestrated a cocaine smuggling scheme while employed as a security officer at our U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic and as a former security officer at the airport in Santo Domingo,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “While Arias Caceres was supposed to be protecting our diplomats and embassy staff from danger, he was allegedly busy endangering New Yorkers by pumping illegal drugs into our community. Abuse of a position of national trust to traffic in deadly narcotics shocks the sensibilities of New Yorkers and the women and men of our office are committed to bringing those who abuse that trust to justice.”
“The charges against Jairo Arias Caceres are the result of an extensive investigation into a significant narcotics importation conspiracy, led by our Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST),” said HSI Newark Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy. “In coordination with HSI Santo Domingo and multiple federal partners, this investigation successfully dismantled a sophisticated trafficking network responsible for moving dangerous narcotics from the Dominican Republic into the United States. HSI remains committed to protecting the American public by targeting and disrupting the transnational criminal organizations that seek to bring illicit drugs into our communities.”
As alleged in the Indictment and other court filings:[1]
Since at least in or about April 2023 through at least in or about December 2023, ARIAS CACERES—while employed as a security officer by the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic—operated a transnational conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States. ARIAS CACERES devised a scheme through which couriers smuggled cocaine into various airports in the New York area by disguising the cocaine in the packaging of items purchased from the Santo Domingo Airport Duty Free store. Photographs of some of the several cocaine seizures linked to ARIAS CACERES are below:
Before working for the U.S. Embassy, where he was employed from 2018 through 2025, ARIAS CACERES also worked for at least seven years as security officer at the Santo Domingo Airport. ARIAS CACERES exploited his former positions of authority at the Embassy and the Airport in order to operate this narcotics importation scheme.
The defendant was in charge of several aspects of the scheme. He helped to recruit couriers, paid for and arranged their travel to and from the Dominican Republic, and organized the logistics of the couriers’ receipt of cocaine from other airport employees. For each of the couriers, the defendant was their main point of contact before, during, and after their smuggling trips to and from the Dominican Republic.
* * *
ARIAS CACERES, 35, of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, is charged with one count of conspiracy to import narcotics into the U.S., which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI New York; the New York Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration; HSI Santo Domingo; the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) Strategic Partnership for Enforcement and Analytical Response Port of New York/New Jersey; CBP’s Air & Marine Operations; and the U.S. Marshals Service Office of International Operations, Dominican Republic Foreign Field Office.
The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in securing the arrest and extradition to the United States of CACERES.
This prosecution is part of an OCDETF operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles criminal organizations using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jackie Delligatti and Katherine Cheng are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
u.s._v._caceres_indictment.pdf
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Former Correctional Officer Sentenced to Five Years for Plan to Smuggle Drugs and Contraband into North Carolina PrisonRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Kenansville man was sentenced Tuesday to five years in prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. On May 7, 2025, Dawan Dontra McKinzie pleaded guilty to the charges.
“This case is a reminder that when those entrusted with public safety break the law, the damage runs deep – inside our prisons and throughout our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar. “We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable anyone who undermines that trust, especially when it involves trafficking dangerous drugs into a correctional facility.”
“Illicit drugs and contraband endanger the health, safety and security of our employees, those in our custody and the public at large,” said Leslie Dismukes, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction. “We will not hesitate to investigate and take action against anyone — including a compromised staff member — that brings illicit drugs or contraband into our facilities. I am grateful to our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina for working with us to bring Dawan McKinzie to justice.”
According to court documents and other information presented in court, McKinzie, 31, was a Correctional Officer at Neuse Correctional Institution in Goldsboro when he began working with inmates to smuggle contraband into the prison. On November 14, 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration received information that McKinzie was bringing contraband into Neuse Correctional. After receiving this information, law enforcement agents went to McKinzie’s house to confront him. McKinzie told law enforcement that he received a recent package from an inmate’s wife, then showed agents where he was storing the drugs and contraband. Agents located 53 grams of methamphetamine, 30 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, two grams of cocaine, seven pounds of tobacco, suboxone, a cellphone, and nude photographs that McKinzie planned to smuggle inside the prison.
The investigation further revealed that McKinzie began smuggling contraband into Neuse Correctional sometime between July and October of 2023. McKinzie would place the contraband on his person and smuggle it inside Neuse Correctional. Agents located multiple messages on McKinzie’s cellphone that provided further details of the conspiracy.
Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the NC Department of Adult Correction Internal Investigations and Apprehension Division, and the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Lester and Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Peaden 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. 7:25-CR-5-M-BM
Former Amarillo Employee Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for Embezzling HUD Program FundsRead the Press Release
A former Amarillo city employee was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for embezzling more than $121,000 from a federal program that provided housing for homeless individuals, announced Acting United States Attorney Nancy E. Larson.
Vanessa Robinson, 35, was a Grant Manager for the City of Amarillo from 2013 to January 2024 in Amarillo’s Community Development Department. In this role, she was responsible for distributing funds supplied by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help homeless or near-homeless citizens in Amarillo, Texas with housing costs. This program paid market-rate rents to landlords willing to house those who needed assistance. Robinson communicated with Amarillo property owners who were willing to lease their properties through the program, assisted in completing lease agreements, coordinated physical inspections of their properties, and assembled payment voucher packages.
Court documents reflect that for approximately five years, from July 2019 to September 2024, Robinson embezzled from the program by various means. She posed as a program recipient and took steps to live rent-free for more than two years, including enlisting a co-conspirator—another former employee who participated in a similar scheme—to act as Robinson’s case worker and communicate with Robinson’s landlord. The twenty-five months of Robinson’s rent-free living cost the program $34,673. Robinson admitted that she also created fraudulent lease agreements and a fictitious landlord, using her husband’s identity, to receive funds from HUD’s Emergency Services Grant. Additionally, she filled out fraudulent applications in family members’ names to enable them to receive housing assistance. In total, Robinson caused the program to spend $121,325 on Robinson’s fraudulent applications, leases, and vouchers.
In March 2025, Robinson pled guilty to an information charging her with conspiracy to embezzle from a federally-funded program. On July 22, 2025, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk sentenced Robinson to 18 months in federal prison and ordered her to pay restitution of $121,325.21 to the City of Amarillo.
Separately, former City of Amarillo employee Amy Dixon pled guilty to a similar conspiracy charge in June 2024 for embezzling more than $465,000 from the same HUD-funded program. Dixon was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in October 2024 and ordered to pay restitution of $465,511.65 to the City of Amarillo.
“These defendants abused trusted positions within the City of Amarillo to steal from federal funding intended for residents experiencing significant financial hardship and homelessness,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy Larson. “This breach of the public trust will not be tolerated, and we are proud of our law enforcement partners’ work in seeing justice done in this case.”
“The defendants in this case embezzled funds from a program meant to help disadvantaged residents in their area. They abused their positions as city employees for personal gain at the expense of their community,” said FBI Dallas Specia Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “The FBI would like to thank HUD-OIG for partnering with us to hold these individuals accountable for defrauding a federal program funded by taxpayer dollars.”
“This sentencing demonstrates our continued commitment to protecting taxpayer dollars and holding individuals accountable for the misuse of federal funds,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Lawler with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG). “HUD OIG will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to pursue those who exploit public trust for personal gain.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office – Amarillo Resident Agency and the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development – Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Frausto prosecuted the case.
Federal Prisoner Sentenced to Additional Prison Term for Possession of ContrabandRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – Darell Reed, 35, who is currently incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution in Pekin, Illinois (FCI-Pekin), was sentenced on August 5, 2025, to 15 months’ imprisonment and a special assessment of $100 for possession of a prohibited object in prison. This sentence will be served consecutive to the federal sentence Reed is already serving for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Jonathan E. Hawley, the government presented information that, on March 10, 2024, Reed, an inmate at FCI-Pekin, was visited at the prison, and that an object was transferred between the visitor and Reed. Reed was then monitored and personnel ultimately recovered two small orange balloons that contained 30 orange pieces of film, wrapped in cellophane. The strips were identified as containing Suboxone, and buprenorphine, Schedule III controlled substances, which are prohibited in the prison.
The statutory penalties for possession of contraband by an inmate are not more than five years imprisonment, to be served consecutive to the existing term of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, a mandatory special assessment of $100, and not more than three years supervised release.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Services investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz represented the government in the prosecution.