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5 August 2025
Glendale Woman Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison for $10.6 Million Hospice Fraud Scheme Involving Kickbacks for PatientsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Glendale woman was sentenced today to 108 months in federal prison for participating in a scheme in which hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal kickbacks were paid and received for patient referrals that resulted in the submission of approximately $10.6 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare for purported hospice care.
Nita Almuete Paddit Palma, 75, of Glendale, was sentenced by United States District Judge Dolly M. Gee, who also ordered her to pay $8,270,032 in restitution.
At a separate hearing today, Judge Gee sentenced Percy Dean Abrams, 75, of Lakewood, to three years of probation, which will include two years of home confinement.
At the conclusion of a six-day trial, a federal jury in December 2024 found Palma guilty of 12 counts of health care fraud and 16 counts of paying illegal kickbacks for health care referrals. The jury also found Abrams guilty of six counts of receiving illegal kickbacks for health care referrals.
Palma was excluded from Medicare, a federal health insurance program for people aged 65 and older, because of prior federal convictions for receiving illegal kickbacks. While she was excluded from Medicare, Palma purchased Magnolia Gardens Hospice through her daughter and bought C@A Hospice through her husband in 2015 and concealed her ownership interest in both hospices from Medicare.
Palma then paid “marketers”, including Abrams, hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal kickbacks for patient referrals that Palma could bill to Medicare for purported hospice care.
Hospice is only for those who are terminally ill and have a life expectancy of six months or less. Hospice provides comfort care to a patient instead of trying to cure the patient’s illness, and a patient forfeits certain benefits under Medicare when electing hospice.
Consistent with instructions provided by Palma, Abrams falsely represented to prospective patients that they did not need to be dying to be on hospice. After collecting personal identifying information from prospective patients that were not dying, Abrams sent the information to Nita Palma so she could bill Medicare for purported hospice care.
Through Magnolia Gardens Hospice and C@A Hospice, Palma caused the submission of approximately $10.6 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare beginning in 2015 for purported hospice care for patients that were not dying. Palma received approximately $6,000 each month a patient was billed to Medicare for hospice. In turn, Palma paid Abrams and other marketers up to $1,000 per month in illegal kickbacks for each patient referred to her that was billed to Medicare for hospice. Many of the patients that were billed to Medicare through Magnolia Gardens Hospice did not know they were signed up for hospice, and some patients only found out after they were denied medical coverage for services they needed.
During the health care fraud scheme, Medicare requested additional documentation from Magnolia Gardens Hospice to support the purported hospice claims. In response, Palma and her husband directed employees to create fake patient charts and had those fake patient charts submitted to Medicare. Court documents allege that while awaiting trial in this matter, Palma took control of three other hospices and caused the submission of approximately $4.8 million in claims for purported hospice care.
The United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the FBI investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Roger A. Hsieh of the Major Frauds Section and Matt Coe-Odess of the Domestic Security and Immigration Crimes Section prosecuted this case.
Fredonia man going to prison for more than 10 years for selling drugs that led to overdose deathRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that John Wallace Buchanan, 38, of Fredonia, NY, who was convicted of narcotics conspiracy, was sentenced to serve 135 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. Buchanan was also ordered to pay restitution totaling $8,570 to the family of the victim.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua A. Violanti, Jeffrey E. Intravatola, and Mary Clare Kane, who handled the case, stated that during the conspiracy, Buchanan sold heroin, which he admitted often contained fentanyl, and methamphetamine. He utilized social media to conduct his drug trafficking activities and engage in unlawful firearms activities. Buchanan also utilized his residence to conduct his drug trafficking activities. One of Buchanan’s drug customers was an individual identified as B.G. In the early morning hours of January 10, 2022, the Ellicott Police Department responded to B.G.’s residence in Celoron, NY, for a death investigation. B.G. was found lying on the living room floor, clenching an elastic head band in his hands with a needle in close proximity. Law enforcement seized B.G.’s cell phone and recovered a social media conversation on January 7, 2022, between Buchanan and B.G., during which they discussed controlled substances. Buchanan sold methamphetamine and an opioid to B.G. later that day. The following day, B.G. sent Buchanan a message stating, “That stuff is strong.”
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.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone, and the Ellicott Police Department, under the direction of Chief Dan Ingrao.
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Former West Adams Man Extradited from Guatemala to Face Federal Charges Alleging He Produced Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Guatemalan national and former resident of the West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles was extradited from Guatemala and arraigned today on federal criminal charges alleging that he produced child sexual abuse material of five children.
Miguel Angel Batz Jr., 43, a.k.a. “Mike Batz,” was transported to the United States this morning from Guatemala and arrived at Los Angeles International Airport.
Batz is charged with 12 counts of production of child pornography. At his arraignment this afternoon in United States District Court in Los Angeles, he pleaded not guilty to all counts. A federal magistrate judge ordered him jailed without bond and scheduled a trial to begin October 7.
According to the indictment that a federal grand jury returned in June 2022 and was unsealed today, Batz knowingly enticed and coerced five minor victims – all under the age of 18 years old – to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct.
The depictions were produced and transmitted using means of interstate and foreign commerce, including by computer, cellphone, and the internet.
Batz originally was charged in Los Angeles Superior Court with contacting a minor to commit a lewd act and later fled to Guatemala. He had legal status in the United States at the time of the alleged offenses.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
If convicted, Batz would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for each count.
The FBI is investigating this matter. The U.S. Attorney’s Office thanks the Guatemalan National Civil Police Transnational Anti-Gang Unit and FBI Legal Attaché suboffice in Guatemala City for their assistance in this matter. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs working with Guatemalan law enforcement authorities provided critical assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Batz to the United States.
Assistant United States Attorney Brandon E. Martinez-Jones of the Violent and Organized Crime Section is prosecuting this case.
Former Nonprofit Executive Director Sentenced to Prison for Misuse of Program FundsRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – A former executive director of a nonprofit organization has been sentenced to prison for embezzling funds which she then used to gamble at a local casino.
Sabina Serratos, 55, of Toledo, Ohio, was sentenced to 24 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey J. Helmick after pleading guilty in March to two counts of program fraud. She was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release and pay $534,539.98 in restitution. Judge Helmick imposed the sentence July 28, 2025.
According to court documents, she used her role at a nonprofit agency to use its funds for her personal benefit. Serratos served as the executive director of Adelante, Inc., a local nonprofit agency which provided resources and assistance to the Hispanic community in the Toledo area. As the director, she was provided access to the nonprofit’s bank accounts which were used to receive funding from federal grant awards.
From July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2021, Serratos withdrew nearly $400,000 in cash from the Hollywood Casino in Toledo for her personal benefit.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Toledo Field Office and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gene Crawford for the Northern District of Ohio.
To report fraud, visit justice.gov/action-center/report-crime-or-submit-complaint.
Former Miami Heat Security Employee Charged for Selling Stolen MemorabiliaRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A former employee of the Miami Heat made his initial appearance in federal court today on a one-count information charging him with transporting and transferring stolen goods in interstate commerce.
According to the charging document, Marcos Thomas Perez, 62, of Miami, is accused of stealing millions of dollars’ worth of Miami Heat game-worn jerseys and other valuable memorabilia, which he later sold to online brokers.
Perez, a 25-year retired veteran of the City of Miami Police Department, was employed as a security officer with the Miami Heat from 2016 to 2021 and later worked as an NBA security employee from 2022 to 2025. During his tenure, Perez worked on the game-day security detail at the Kaseya Center, where he was among a limited number of trusted individuals with access to a secured equipment room. This equipment room stored hundreds of game-worn jerseys and other memorabilia that the organization intended to display in a future Miami Heat museum.
During his employment, Perez accessed the equipment room multiple times to steal over 400 game-worn jerseys and other items, which he then sold to various online marketplaces. Over a three-year period, Perez sold over 100 stolen items for approximately $2 million and shipped them across state lines, often for prices well below their market value. As an example, Perez sold a game-worn LeBron James Miami Heat NBA Finals jersey for approximately $100,000. That same jersey later sold at a Sotheby’s auction for $3.7 million.
On April 3, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Perez’s residence and seized nearly 300 additional stolen game-worn jerseys and memorabilia. The Miami Heat confirmed that these items had been stolen from their facility.
United States Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office made the announcement.
FBI Miami is investigating the case. The United States Postal Inspection Service - Miami and Miami Police Department provided invaluable assistance.
Assistant United States Attorney Robert Moore is prosecuting the case.
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.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-20346.
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Five Bay Area Men Charged for Their Roles in Armed Robbery of 200 iPhones and Five Cameras from Oregon BusinessRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – A federal grand jury has indicted Cankun He, Hailong Ma, Robert Maynard, Yuxiang Wei, and Jordan Cantie on charges of conspiring to rob a business located in Portland, Oregon, of Apple iPhones that were being shipped by the company. Ma and Wei were arrested on Aug. 1, 2025, and He was arrested yesterday; all three made their initial appearances in federal district court yesterday. Maynard was already in custody on another matter and made his initial appearance today.
According to the indictment filed July 22, 2025, and unsealed yesterday, He, 31, Ma, 30, Maynard, 41, Wei, 25, and Cantie, 48—all believed to be residing in the Bay Area—conspired to rob a reshipping business in Portland of Apple iPhones that were being shipped by the company. He, Ma, and Wei allegedly participated in planning the robbery, and Maynard and Cantie were recruited to conduct the robbery itself.
The indictment alleges that Ma, Wei, Maynard, and Cantie traveled from the Northern District of California to Portland to conduct the robbery, with Ma providing jackets falsely marked with “FBI,” bulletproof vests, zip ties, and other supplies for the robbery. On April 14, 2025, while Ma and Wei waited nearby, Maynard and Cantie drove into the victim business’s parking lot using blue and red flashing lights similar to police vehicle lights. Cantie allegedly brandished a gun and, along with Maynard, forced employees into the building, zip-tied them, and issued verbal threats. The two men then stole approximately 200 Apple iPhones and five cameras before driving away, the indictment alleges. They later drove back to California and, along the way, met with He and others to deliver the stolen iPhones.
On or about May 19, 2025, Ma, Wei, Maynard, and others again allegedly conspired to rob another reshipping business in Hillsboro, Oregon, and drove to Oregon to do so. Maynard and four unindicted co-conspirators were arrested that day.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement.
He, Ma, Maynard, and Wei have remained in custody since their arrests. Cantie remains at large. Wei is scheduled for a detention hearing on Aug. 18, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim. Ma and He are scheduled to be arraigned before Judge Kim on Aug. 6, 2025. Maynard was remanded into federal custody.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain for the count of conspiracy to engage in robbery affecting interstate commerce in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a). Any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Yeh and Kenneth Chambers are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Claudia Hyslop and Lance Libatique. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.
Cankun He, et al. Indictment
Federal jury convicts Richmond recidivist for illegally possessing a firearmRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Richmond man yesterday for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on Feb. 23, Henrico County Police observed Tajon Rasheed Baskerville, 35, rummaging through a purse, which had been taken from a nearby vehicle earlier. As an officer performed a pat-down of Baskerville, the officer felt a firearm in a holster on Baskerville’s hip. Baskerville pulled away from and struck the officer. The officer fell, at which time Baskerville drew his firearm and, in response, the officer drew his service weapon. Baskerville tossed his firearm and attempted to flee on foot. The officer recovered the firearm and Baskerville was apprehended.
Investigators found items that had been taken from the purse in Baskerville’s pockets. They also found a wallet, which had been in the purse, in Baskerville’s shirt.
At the time of the offense, Baskerville had previously been convicted for possession of a schedule I or II controlled substance (2010 and 2012), felony probation violation (2012, 2014, and twice in 2017), grand larceny (2015 and 2018), and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (2022). As a previously convicted felon, Baskerville cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
Baskerville faces a up to 15 years in prison when sentenced on Dec. 17. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Eric D. English, Chief of Henrico County Police Division, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge David J. Novak accepted the verdict.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick J. McGorman and Stephen E. Anthony are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-79.
Ecuadorian man charged with illegal re-entryRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today Wilson Paul Loja-Angamarca, 28, a citizen of Ecuador, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with re-entry of a removed alien, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Smith and Assistant U.S. Attorney Fauzia K. Mattingly, who are handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, Loja-Angamarca is currently unlawfully present in the United States, having been previously removed in 2019. On July 24, 2025, he was located by Homeland Security agents during a traffic stop in the village of Allegany. Loja-Angamarca did not possess the proper documentation to be in the United States and was taken into custody.
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).
Loja-Angamarca made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. and was detained.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent-in-Charge Juan Ramirez, Jr.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Convicted Felon Sentenced to More than Six Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A convicted felon has been sentenced for illegally possessing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala sentenced John Henry Edmondson, 29, of Shelby, Alabama, to 75 months in prison. In April, Edmondson pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a firearm.
According to the plea agreement, on June 30, 2024, a deputy with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) conducted a welfare check on a minor who was at Edmondson’s residence. Edmondson refused to let the deputy in the house. The next day, SCSO deputies and Edmondson’s parole officer returned to the house with a juvenile pick-up order for the minor. While inside the residence recovering the minor, deputies seized two pistols and drug paraphernalia. A SCSO deputy obtained a state search warrant for the residence. Deputies seized a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun, 12-gauge shotgun shells, camouflage body armor, suspected narcotics, and drug paraphernalia. Edmondson is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior felony convictions in the District Court of Shelby County, Alabama. Specifically, in May 2021, Edmondson pleaded guilty to Domestic Violence by Suffocation or Strangulation and Certain Persons Forbidden to Possess a Pistol. And in August 2022, he pleaded guilty to Unlawful Distribution of a Controlled Substance.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case along with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer prosecuted the case.
Chief Lieutenant of Drug Trafficking Crew in Central Massachusetts Sentenced to 15 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Southbridge man who served as the chief lieutenant of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed cocaine and fentanyl throughout the North Shore and Central Massachusetts areas was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester.
Ismael Maysonet, 44, of Southbridge, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to 15 years in prison and five years of supervised release. In February 2025, Maysonet was convicted following a six-day jury trial of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. In September 2022, Maysonet was charged along with 21 other co-conspirators.
In and around August 2021 through August 2022, Maysonet was identified as the chief lieutenant of a Southbridge-based DTO who distributed cocaine and fentanyl to retail customers and other drug dealers at the request of the leaders of the DTO, Jonathan Pizarro Gonzalez and Isaac Gonzalez. The DTO regularly used the United States mail to conduct drug trafficking activities. Specifically, the DTO obtained large quantities of cocaine through packages mailed from Puerto Rico to addresses used by the DTO and mailed packages containing fentanyl to recipients in Florida and elsewhere.
As chief lieutenant, Maysonet essentially operated as a mid-level manager for the DTO and was involved in every aspect of the organization’s fentanyl and cocaine trafficking operations. Maysonet was responsible for coordinating the receipt of packages of narcotics from Puerto Rico; negotiating with suppliers; transporting fentanyl as well as drug proceeds to and from customers and suppliers; and packaging fentanyl for shipment to Isaac Gonzalez’s residence in Florida for distribution. When a package containing cocaine was seized by law enforcement during the investigation, Maysonet approached mail carriers both on the street and in the post office to inquire about the location of the package.
Furthermore, Maysonet threatened a federal witness in open court during trial in February 2025.
Over the course of the investigation, approximately nine kilograms of cocaine from packages sent through the mail and 800 grams of fentanyl were seized from various DTO members. Maysonet is responsible for distributing over 700 grams of fentanyl and three kilograms of cocaine.
Both Jonathan Pizarro Gonzalez and Isaac Gonzalez pleaded guilty in January 2025. In June 2025, both defendants were sentenced to 10 years in prison and 15 years in prison, respectively.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Marshals Service, Massachusetts State Police, Southbridge Police Department, Lawrence Police Department, Essex County Sherriff’s Department and Worcester County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen W. Hassink and Samuel R. Feldman of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Chelsea Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Robberies of Three Local BanksRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Chelsea man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to the 2024 armed robberies of banks in Weymouth, Jamaica Plain and Hyde Park.
Keywan Kelly, 30, pleaded guilty to three counts of armed bank robbery. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for November 12, 2025. In August 2024, Kelly was arrested and charged by criminal complaint and was subsequently indicted in September 2024.
At approximately 11:52 a.m. on July 1, 2024, a male – later identified as Kelly – entered a Bank of America branch in Weymouth wearing gloves and a medical mask. Kelly approached a teller window and pushed a handwritten note towards the teller demanding $20,000 and threatened that he would “kill you all,” while pointing a firearm at the teller. The teller then handed Kelly $15,000, after which Kelly demanded more. The teller gave Kelly another approximately $4,000 to $5,000 before he left the bank. During the robbery, Kelly made verbal threats such as, “Run that s**t before I blow this place up” and “I’ll kill all of you.”
Similarly, at approximately 1:41 p.m. on July 16, 2024, a male – later identified as Kelly – entered the Rockland Trust Bank in Jamaica Plain wearing a black balaclava style mask, black clothing and white latex gloves. Kelly approached the teller window and handed the teller a note that read, “I need 20K no DyPacks I have 4 bombs I’ll Kill everyone make quick,” while brandishing a firearm. Kelly fled the bank on foot after receiving approximately $2,480 in cash from the teller.
At approximately 10:09 a.m. on July 26, 2024, a male – later identified as Kelly – entered another Rockland Trust Bank branch in Hyde Park, again wearing a black balaclava style mask and gloves. There, Kelly handed the teller a handwritten note that included words to the effect of, “you’re being robbed give me cash,” before pointing a firearm at the teller. Kelly verbally threatened to “shoot” and demanded $20,000. Upon receiving approximately $3,000 in cash, Kelly took back the demand note and fled the bank.
A subsequent investigation identified Kelly on the Weymouth bank’s video surveillance and identified Kelly’s fingerprints on the vehicle used as a getaway car following the Weymouth robbery. The investigation also revealed connections between Kelly and vehicles that were identified as being in the vicinity of the Jamaica Plain and Hyde Park banks at the time of the robberies. Cell phone location data revealed that Kelly’s cell phone was present in the vicinity of each of the banks near the time of the robberies.
The charge of armed bank robbery provides for a sentence of up to 25 years in prison, up to five 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, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Boston and Weymouth Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Maynard of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
Canton Man Pleads Guilty to Multi-Million-Dollar Health Care Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Canton, Mass., man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with a scheme to defraud Medicare of over $4 million by submitting claims for durable medical equipment (DME) that was medically unnecessary, not wanted by the Medicare beneficiaries and tainted by kickbacks.
Krishna Gidwani, 55, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for Nov. 6, 2025. Gidwani was charged in June 2025.
Gidwani worked with Raju Sharma, and other co-conspirators to own and operate a DME company that paid telemarketing companies for DME orders for orthotics such as ankle, wrist, knee and back braces. Often, the Medicare beneficiaries did not need or want the braces the defendants shipped them and, as further alleged in the information, the doctors whose signatures appeared on these DME orders often did not treat these beneficiaries and did not prescribe the DME. In May 2025, Sharma agreed to plead guilty to health care fraud conspiracy for his alleged role in the scheme. His plea hearing is scheduled for Sept. 26, 2025.
This case is part of the Department of Justice’s 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown – a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in criminal charges against 324 defendants for their alleged participation in health care fraud and illegal drug diversion schemes that involved the submission of over $14.6 billion in intended loss and over 15 million pills of illegally diverted controlled substances. The defendants allegedly defrauded programs entrusted for the care of the elderly and disabled to line their own pockets. The United States has seized over $245 million in cash, luxury vehicles and other assets in connection with the takedown.
The charge of conspiracy to commit health care fraud provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, supervised release for up to three years and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. 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; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren A. Graber and Sarah B. Hoefle of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
California Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A California man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for surreptitiously filming an 11-year-old Massachusetts girl as she changed in her bedroom and for transporting child pornography.
Jacob Guerrero, 27, of Woodland, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 16 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In August 2024, Guerrero pleaded guilty to one count of sexually exploiting a child. In May of 2025, Guerrero pleaded guilty to transportation of child pornography. Guerrero was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint on April 14, 2022.“A core tenet of the mission of the Department of Justice is to keep communities safe, especially children and other vulnerable members of society. Mr. Guerrero targeted young children by tracking their moves and then, even worse, violated one young girl’s privacy while she was in the safety of her own home, all for his own sexual gratification,” said Leah B. Foley, United States Attorney. “With our law enforcement partners, we will spare no effort in protecting kids from predators like Mr. Guerrero.”
“Jacob Guerrero is a deeply disturbed and dangerous man who devised a twisted plan to prey upon children, specifically to abuse and exploit them,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “With these hideous crimes, this predator has forfeited his right to walk among us and will be kept behind bars and away from children for quite some time. My sincere thanks to the Wrentham Police Department for their hard work and partnership on this case.”
For two weeks, Guerrero staked out the home of the victim, taking notes of times when she and her siblings showered, changed, and went to bed. On March 17, 2021, Guerrero climbed to the top of a garage attached to the victim’s home and stood outside the 11-year-old victim’s second floor bedroom window. There, Guerrero recorded a video of the victim, unclothed, as she changed for bed.
Guerrero took similar notes of the comings and goings of children residing in several other Massachusetts homes.
Investigators also found evidence that in the Summer of 2019 in New Jersey, the defendant surreptitiously filmed several minors, as young as eight-years-old. The defendant pleaded guilty to those offenses in May 2025.
This case arose following an investigation into allegations that Guerrero, while dressed in a wig and women’s clothing, attempted to surreptitiously record minor females in bathrooms and changing rooms at the Wrentham Outlets using pen cameras affixed to his shoes.Members of the public who have questions, concerns, or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274.
U.S. Attorney Foley, FBI SAC Docks and Wrentham Police Chief William McGrath made the announcement today. Special assistance was provided by the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Grady, Deputy Chief of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
California Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Methamphetamine in OregonRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.—A Lynwood, California man was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison Monday for trafficking 11 pounds of methamphetamine from California to Oregon.
Luis Banuelos, 34, was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release.
According to court documents, on February 28, 2021, as part of a drug trafficking investigation, officers from the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE) team arrested Banuelos after he transported methamphetamine from California to deliver to a customer in Prineville, Oregon. Officers searched Banuelos’s vehicle and seized two boxes containing more than 11 pounds of methamphetamine. When questioned by investigators, Banuelos admitted to transporting drugs from California approximately seven times for distribution in Oregon.
On August 4, 2022, Banuelos was charged by criminal information with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On October 31, 2022, Banuelos pleaded guilty to the charge.
The case was investigated by the CODE team and the Drug Enforcement Agency. It was prosecuted by Adam Delph, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Convicted Felon Sentenced for Possessing a Loaded FirearmRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Julius Maurice Dean, 46, of Pensacola Florida, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release after previously pleading guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the excellent work of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF, this violent felon has been removed from our streets. My office remains fully committed to keeping our community safe by aggressively prosecuting these criminals and ensuring they are held accountable for breaking the law.”
According to court records, Dean provided a false name to law enforcement and fled from an officer on foot. After being apprehended, law enforcement located a loaded, stolen firearm on Dean’s person as well as illegal narcotics. Dean has prior felony convictions for bank robbery, possession of a controlled substance, driving while driver’s license revoked as a habitual traffic offender, and grand theft of a firearm.
The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Etherton.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Business owner pleads guilty to filing false tax returns and intentionally under-reporting incomeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A Friendswood businessman has admitted he only reported a small amount of income in order to keep other federal benefits, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
William Christopher Womack was the sole owner of Intents Services LLC, a company that leased industrial and special event tents, trailers and specialty vehicles to customers in the Houston area.
He concealed income by cashing business receipts at check-cashing businesses and writing fraudulent checks to fictitious employees and vendors. Womack spent the money on personal expenses, including boats, luxury vehicles, RVs and tickets to sporting events.
Womack admitted he reported only a small portion of his income on tax returns. Specifically, in 2019, 2020 and 2021, he reported wages of $12,000 annually while collecting Social Security (SS) benefits ranging from $15,672 to $16,121. This was far less than he actually earned. For example, Womack admitted that his 2020 tax return failed to include $260,895 in income he earned from Intents Services.
As part of his plea, he admitted he kept his reported wages low to avoid earning more than $1,000 per month in order to maintain his SS benefits. He must also pay restitution to the IRS of $219,599 in tax loss resulting from the returns he filed for the 2019 through 2021 tax years.
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown will impose sentence Oct. 14. At that time, Womack faces up to three years in federal prison and a maximum $250,000 possible fine.
He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.
IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Gray is prosecuting the case.
Bullhead Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a man from Bullhead, South Dakota, convicted of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on August 4, 2025.
Travis Anthony Weasel, age 45, was sentenced to 30 years in prison and five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Weasel was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2023. He pleaded guilty on May 19, 2025.
Travis Weasel was convicted of Sexual Abuse of an Incapacitated Person in 2011 for having sexual intercourse with an unconscious woman at a house party in Bullhead, South Dakota, and encouraging an adolescent boy to join him in the “fun.” Following his most recent release from prison for this offense in May 2021, Weasel decided to stop registering as a sex offender. He did not register again until his arrest in February 2024.
On January 26, 2023, Weasel, destitute and homeless, asked a childhood friend if he could sleep for a few nights in a spare bedroom in the friend’s home in McIntosh, South Dakota. McIntosh is a community within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation. Weasel’s friend took pity on him and permitted him to stay. That evening, the friend’s 15-year-old daughter came to visit. Weasel first gave adulterated alcohol to his friend. When the friend passed out, Weasel shooed the other adults out of the home, opining they were too drunk to be around a child. Weasel then pressured and threatened the girl to drink the adulterated alcohol. She eventually relented, losing consciousness soon after she imbibed. When she woke, Weasel was having sexual intercourse with her in the spare bedroom. When the girl screamed to her father for help, Weasel told her he would kill her father and the family dog with her father’s handgun if she persisted. The girl pleaded for Weasel to stop, but he continued to rape her until ejaculation. The minor then ran to the living room to escape, but Weasel caught her by the backpack. The girl slipped the backpack from her shoulders and fled the home into the snow. Her grandmother found her later that night crying in a snowbank.
“Protecting children from sexual abuse is amongst our highest priorities at the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. “When we can prosecute these heinous crimes at the federal level, we are able to seek decades-long sentences without the possibility of parole, thereby achieving the justice these victims deserve and safeguarding our communities from sex offenders for years to come.”
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was also 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services, and the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
Weasel was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Bronx Man Charged with Slashing of U.S. Postal Service Mail CarrierRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Acting Inspector in Charge of the New York Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), Edward Gallashaw, announced today the arrest and filing of a Complaint charging JOHN GARCIA with assaulting a U.S. Postal Service (“USPS”) mail carrier with a deadly and dangerous weapon on July 16, 2025, in the Bronx, New York. The defendant was presented this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger.
“John Garcia allegedly attacked a uniformed USPS carrier who was delivering the mail,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Attacks like this are senseless and threaten the good people and systems we rely on every day. They will not be tolerated.”
“The Postal Inspection Service takes matters involving the safety and well-being of postal service employees as a top priority,” said USPIS Acting Inspector in Charge Edward Gallashaw. “Let it be clear, we will investigate and identify anyone who commits a criminal act against a USPS letter carrier. I’d like to thank our local law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for their constant assistance.”
According to the allegations contained in the Complaint:[1]
On or about July 16, 2025, at approximately 12:50 p.m., in the Bronx, New York, GARCIA attacked a uniformed, on-duty USPS mail carrier (“Victim‑1”) with a sharp object. GARCIA slashed Victim-1’s head and right ear, causing multiple deep lacerations that required Victim-1 to be hospitalized.
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GARCIA, 49, of the Bronx, is charged with one count of assaulting an officer of the U.S. using a deadly or dangerous weapon, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum 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 a judge.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Grossinger is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
u.s._v._garcia_complaint.pdf
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Bloods Gang Member and Brother Plead Guilty to Trafficking Cocaine, Counterfeit PillsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two brothers from Lynn, one of whom is a known member of the Bloods street gang, pleaded guilty today to coordinating the distribution of cocaine, counterfeit pills, and other controlled substances across the North Shore.
Meliek Bennett, 29, and his brother Maurice Bennett, 38, both of Lynn, pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. U.S. District Court Judge Brian E. Murphy scheduled sentencing for both brothers on Nov. 3, 2025. The defendants were arrested and charged in May 2025.
Maurice Bennett was identified as a member of the Bloods street gang in Lynn with prior convictions for carrying firearms and violent crimes. During the investigation, numerous text messages between Maurice and his brother Meliek were intercepted, wherein they coordinated the distribution of drugs including cocaine, prescription medication, counterfeit pills and marijuana. The brothers discussed sharing drug customers, sharing drug supplies, paying Meliek’s drug debts and making a trip to New Hampshire to sell controlled substances together.
In September 2024, a recorded conversation was obtained where Meliek described intending to use a silenced pistol to shoot up the residence of a drug supplier and potentially murder the drug supplier to whom he owed a drug debt – after the supplier had beaten up Meliek. Shortly thereafter, a search warrant was executed at Meliek Bennett’s residence in Lynn, where fentanyl tablets, oxycodone, gabapentin and marijuana, as well as a .22 caliber pistol with a threaded barrel and ammunition were discovered.
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 $1,000,000. 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 Lynn Police and Massachusetts Department of Corrections. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip A. Mallard and David Cutshall of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.
Birmingham Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison on Gun and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Birmingham man has been sentenced on gun and drug charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Court Judge Anna Manasco sentenced Isaiah De’Monte De’Mario Henley, 31, to 240 months in prison. In March 2025, Henley pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl, possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession of a machine gun, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, in July and August of 2024, Henley sold methamphetamine and fentanyl to a confidential informant (CI) on three occasions. On August 8, 2024, law enforcement attempted to arrest Henley after he sold methamphetamine and fentanyl to the CI in West Birmingham. Henley ran from the police into a residence, dropped a bag, ran out the back door, and threw a Glock 9mm pistol equipped with a machine gun-conversion device (commonly referred to as a “Glock switch”) into tall grass before being apprehended. Law enforcement officers recovered the machine gun, a fully loaded extended magazine, 465 grams of methamphetamine, and over 7 grams of fentanyl.
The FBI investigated the case along with the Vestavia Hills Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany T. Byrd prosecuted the case.
Beverly Hills Man Charged with over $3 Million in Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A federal indictment was unsealed today charging Jabari Kadar Long with defrauding the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) by submitting fraudulent loan applications to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) during the coronavirus pandemic, announced Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations-Detroit and Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations Detroit Field Office.
Long, 45, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of wire fraud affecting a financial institution, and one count of money laundering arising out of his participation in the scheme. The indictment alleges that, during the coronavirus pandemic, Long worked with co-conspirators to illegally obtain money through PPP and EIDL applications for businesses that were ineligible for such loans. Specifically, the indictment alleges that Long himself applied for and received $2,187,000 for a business called “Priceless Preservations Construction.” In his PPP loan application, Long claimed that Priceless Preservations had 50 employees and an average monthly payroll of $875,000. The indictment alleges that in truth, Priceless Preservations Construction had few, if any, employees and little to no payroll expenses. In total, Long fraudulently received over $3 million from these programs.
An indictment is merely a formal charge and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. It is the burden of the government to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sara D. Woodward. The matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Internal Revenue Service.Berkeley County Man Admits to Role in Fentanyl Trafficking OperationRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Matthew James Elsea, 43, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, has admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization distributing large quantities of fentanyl.
Elsea pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. According to court documents, Elsea was working with others to sell fentanyl in Berkeley County.
Elsea faces at least 10 years and up to life in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the matter.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Attorney General Appoints R. Matthew Price United States AttorneyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – On August 1st, Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced the appointment of R. Matthew Price as United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri.
Price served as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Jefferson County Missouri and later as an Assistant Circuit Attorney in the St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office. In 2008, Price joined the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Tennessee as a Criminal AUSA. After several years with DOJ, Price left to become a Senior Attorney for a Fortune 100 Company, later serving as the Lead Counsel for Compliance, Investigations & Government Litigation, overseeing internal investigations and managing global compliance projects.
In 2014, Price joined the City of Germantown, Tennessee as the Chief Prosecuting Attorney. Later, he worked at another Fortune 100 Company as a Senior Counsel, later promoted to Managing Counsel, where he directed complex investigations and led workstreams related to government inquiries. Most recently, Price has served as the Chief Legal Officer for a large Missouri corporation.
Armed robber sentenced for targeting Vape City storesRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 23-year-old Corpus Christi resident has been ordered to federal prison for armed robbery followed by a high-speed chase, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Jose Rodriguez pleaded guilty April 22.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now imposed a 12-month term of imprisonment for aggravated robbery. He also received an additional 84 months for brandishing a firearm which must be served consecutively. The total 96-month sentence will be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court considered the dangerousness of Rodriguez’s conduct, noting that he not only robbed store employees at gunpoint but also led officers on a reckless high-speed chase through residential neighborhoods.
On July 9, 2024, Rodriguez and Alex Espinosa entered a Vape City store on Ayers Street in Corpus Christi and demanded money from the registers. Rodriguez also pointed a firearm at employees while demanding cash and their cell phones before departing.
Later that night, both men then visited a second Vape City location in Calallen. They entered the store in the same manner and robbed the employees.
Law enforcement identified Rodriguez’s vehicle leaving the scene of the second robbery and attempted to stop him, but he quickly fled. He continued driving recklessly through the city at speeds over 100 mph, even turning off his headlights to avoid detection. The pursuit lasted approximately 25 minutes and covered 20 miles. Rodriguez eventually drove to his residence, where both Rodriguez and Espinosa exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot, but authorities soon took them into custody.
Espinosa, 25, Corpus Christi, pleaded guilty to his role in the robberies and was previously sentenced to 36 months to be followed by two years of supervised release.
Rodriguez has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with assistance from the Corpus Christi Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Martin prosecuted the case.
Armed Felon Sentenced to 10 Years for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Daniel Mac Wentz, 46, of Blacksburg, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on April 19, 2024, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Wentz. In the car, Wentz had 88 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded 9mm pistol. The investigation revealed that Wentz was connected to a large drug trafficking ring in the Upstate.
Wentz had prior drug distribution charges, in addition to convictions for indecent exposure, assault and battery of an aggravated nature, assault with intent to kill, and multiple firearms charges.
United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins sentenced Daniel Wentz to 120 months imprisonment to be followed by a five-year term of court ordered supervision.
“This career criminal was part of a larger drug trafficking ring responsible for bringing substantial quantities of illegal drugs into the Upstate,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “Getting these drugs off of our streets and holding offenders like this accountable makes our communities safer.”
“This sentencing demonstrates the unwavering commitment of Homeland Security Investigations and our law enforcement partners to protect our communities from the dangers of drug trafficking and armed criminals,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Charlotte Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant who also oversees North and South Carolina. “Daniel Wentz’s extensive criminal history and his role in methamphetamine distribution posed a significant threat to public safety. HSI will continue to work tirelessly with our federal, state, and local partners to dismantle criminal networks and hold offenders accountable.”
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, Greenville Police Department, Greenville County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit, South Carolina Department of Corrections Office of Inspector General, and Anderson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Schoen is prosecuting the case.
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Arizona Resident and a Mexican Citizen Sentenced to Imprisonment for Trafficking 40,000 Fentanyl Pills to UtahRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Dominic Jared Arias Aceves, 23, of Arizona, and Cristo Alexander Urias Salazar, 32, of Mexico, were sentenced by a U.S. District Court Judge after they trafficked about 40,000 fentanyl pills from Arizona to Utah for further distribution.
Aceves was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release. Salazar was sentenced to 48 months’ imprisonment. Upon his release, Salazar will be remanded to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation proceedings. The two defendants pleaded guilty on May 12, 2025 to possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute.
According to court documents and statements made at Aceves and Salazar’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, on October 21, 2024, in the District of Utah, they possessed approximately 3,952 grams of field-tested positive fentanyl (about 40,000 pills) with the intent to distribute. See prior press release: Two Accused Drug Dealers Indicted After Allegedly Possessing 40,000 Fentanyl Pills in Salt Lake City
Acting U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the FBI Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force (WMDTF).
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
Arizona Man Sentenced to Twelve Months in Federal Prison for Violating the Lacey ActRead the Press Release
DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Timothy Rawlings, 56, of Laveen, Arizona, was sentenced to twelve months in federal prison for a conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act, three years’ supervised release and $45,800.00 in restitution. His codefendant, Howard Wayne Rodarmel, 71, of Baca County, Colorado, was previously sentenced to three years’ probation, $9,164.00 in restitution, and a $2,000.00 fine. Enacted 125 years ago, the Lacey Act protects the nation’s wildlife resources by prohibiting wildlife violations that cross state or international borders.
According to the plea agreement, Rawlings—who owned and operated Old West Guides and Outfitters in Laveen, Arizona—provided outfitting, hunting, and guiding services to paying clients for various big game animals, to include deer, elk, mountain lions, and bears. Rawlings’ company was not licensed to provide these services in the state of Colorado.
Rawlings’ paid his codefendant, Howard Wayne Rodarmel, to provide unlicensed outfitting and guiding services to clients in Baca County, Colorado. Rawlings knowingly violated several hunting regulations, to include shooting from vehicles; chasing animals with vehicles; and hunting in unlicensed and/or unpermitted lands. He also failed to register taken animals, to include mountain lions, as required by Colorado regulations. During the investigation, Rawlings also unwittingly guided undercover agents on an illegal hunt and violated such regulations in their presence, according to the plea agreement.
Rawlings did all of this knowing that his clients resided almost exclusively outside of the state of Colorado, and that the animals taken would likely travel in interstate commerce. The Lacey Act prohibits, among other things, transporting wildlife that had been illegally taken under federal, state, tribal, or foreign law.
“Operating without proper licensing undermines wildlife conservation efforts and the integrity of our state’s hunting regulations,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “We will continue to hold accountable those who seek to profit by skirting the laws that protect Colorado’s natural resources and ensure fair access for all.”
“This was not a momentary lapse in judgment or isolated violation,” said Assistant Director Douglas Ault of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement. “For several years, Rawlings and his associates systematically violated Colorado’s hunting and guiding regulations, orchestrating illegal hunts, and facilitating the unlawful take, transport, and sale of big game across state lines for monetary financial gain. Their actions stripped wildlife from our landscapes and betrayed the foundational principles of ethical hunting. Violations like these erode public trust in licensed guides, undermine decades of conservation progress, and tarnish the legacy of fair-chase hunting that ethical sportsmen and women work hard to preserve. The Service is committed to working with our partners in Colorado to ensure that those who break the law are held accountable and that we protect the integrity of our natural resources.”
The defendants were sentenced by United States District Judge S. Kato Crews. The investigation was conducted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Kurt Bohn.
Case Number: 24-cr-00117-SKC
4 August 2025
Ypsilanti Man Charged with Interfering with Border Patrol Agents Engaged in Official DutiesRead the Press Release
DETROIT – An Ypsilanti, Michigan man was charged in a criminal complaint for impeding, intimidating, or interfering with Border Patrol agents who were engaged in their official duties, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division and Chief Patrol Agent John R. Morris, U.S. Border Patrol.
Charged was Jacob Nathaniel Len, 30.
According to the affidavit, on July 7, 2025, four uniformed U.S. Border Patrol agents, in two marked Border Patrol service vehicles were transporting fifteen illegal aliens detained on immigration violations to a correctional facility in Michigan. While the agents were traveling on Interstate 96, Len drove his BMW sedan toward one of the marked Border Patrol vehicles and flipped off the agents with his middle finger. Immediately after clearing the front bumper of the lead Border Patrol transport van, Len abruptly cut in front of the transport van, without signaling, and rapidly slowed down, forcing the driver of the transport van to quickly break to avoid a collision. The driver of the trailing Border Patrol vehicle was forced to quickly brake to avoid smashing into the transport van. Len repeated his sudden braking maneuver twice before exiting the freeway.
United States Attorney Gorgon stated: “The alleged actions of this man are shameful. While zipping around in his BMW, this defendant cavalierly endangered the hardworking agents who put their lives on the line every day protecting our country, the illegal aliens they were tasked with safely transporting, and other drivers going about their lives.”
"Interfering with a federal agent performing their official duties is a serious criminal offense and will not be tolerated,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. "The alleged actions by Jacob Len were not only reckless, but endangered lives and compromised public safety. I would like to thank the dedicated members of our FBI Ann Arbor Resident Agency for their thorough work with this investigation.”
“The actions described in this case not only jeopardized the safety of our agents and the aliens in their custody but also posed a serious risk to other motorists,” said Chief Patrol Agent John R. Morris, U.S. Border Patrol, Detroit Sector. “Our agents are committed to carrying out their duties with professionalism and dedication, and we will not tolerate behavior that endangers their lives or the lives of others. We appreciate the partnership of the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in holding individuals accountable for such reckless and dangerous actions.”
Len appeared in federal court in Detroit this afternoon and was released on bond. His next court appearance will be August 25 for a preliminary examination.
The public is reminded that a Federal Criminal Complaint contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty by a court of law. The U.S. government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is being investigated by special agents from the FBI.
Wisconsin Man Sentenced for Possessing Chemical Weapon PrecursorsRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on August 1, 2025, United States District Judge Brett Ludwig sentenced James Morgan (formerly known as Karactus Blome) to 29 months in prison. Morgan had pled guilty to one count of possession of chemical weapon precursors—chemicals that combine to create chlorine and chlorine gas—not intended for peaceful purposes, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 229(a).
According to court documents, on December 21, 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) executed a search warrant at Morgan’s storage unit and found the precursor chemicals. Morgan had studied chemistry at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater and had described himself as a weapon designer who did not need a conventional weapon. In a video, Morgan displayed the chemicals and said they were for making a lot of chlorine very quickly. In messages in 2022, he said that what he had was “scary,” and that the chemicals react to produce a lot of chlorine gas, which can be “effective if your enemy is not ready for it.” He sent links for purchasing the chemicals and discussed the amounts needed to make a lot of chlorine gas quickly. In messages in 2023, Morgan discussed a plan to defeat the government, if it came for his guns, by producing a large amount of chlorine that he claimed could be used against approximately twenty government agents. The FBI Laboratory determined that the chemicals Morgan possessed could produce a large amount of chlorine that could result in rapid, serious health effects, including death.
In announcing the sentence, Judge Ludwig focused on the incredibly dangerous nature of chlorine gas and the defendant’s possession of the chemicals knowing that he could combine them to harm law enforcement. Judge Ludwig also discussed the need to provide deterrence to others who might try to do the same.
“The defendant’s conduct posed a serious risk to others and the community as a whole,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Frohling. “This individual spent substantial time discussing and constructing weapons and expressing opposition to law enforcement and individuals whose race, ethnic origin, or backgrounds differed from his. I commend the hard work and collaboration of everyone involved in seeking to hold him accountable for his criminal activity.”
“Mr. Morgan obtained commercially available chemicals with an intent to manufacture chemical weapons which could have had a devastating impact to citizens and law enforcement officers in Wisconsin,” said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Michael Hensle. “Morgan is already serving a two-year sentence for possessing destructive devices. The Milwaukee Field Office of the FBI will continue to work aggressively with our partners to prevent the acquisition and use of weapons of mass destruction."
The FBI investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney John Scully prosecuted, with assistance from Trial Attorney Justin Sher of the National Security Division, Counterterrorism Section.
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For further information contact:
Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
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Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Angela Michelle Tanner, 55, of Tavares, Florida, was sentenced to 76 months’ imprisonment in federal court for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl, 50 grams or more of Methamphetamine, and 500 grams or more of a Mixture Containing Methamphetamine, and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “The promise by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America from the drug traffickers who are flooding our streets with deadly, addictive drugs is being fulfilled thanks to the excellent collaborative efforts of our local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, like we saw in this case. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute drug traffickers to keep our communities safe and healthy.”
Court documents reflect that Tanner orchestrated the shipment of fentanyl and multiple pounds of methamphetamine from Arizona to individuals in Florida to whom she was introduced via an inmate in the Florida Department of Corrections. Tanner used money exchange applications to receive and promote drug trafficking. In 2023, Tanner was arrested on outstanding warrants from Citrus County, Florida.
In dismantling this conspiracy, Chason Johnson, 32, of Tallahassee, Florida, was separately charged and sentenced to 156 months in federal prison for receiving packages of methamphetamine from Tanner and possession of a firearm following his release from the Florida Department of Corrections.
“This case is a great example of law enforcement working together—seven agencies in total—to bring a transnational drug trafficker to justice,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “Methamphetamine can tear apart families and communities, and we won’t stop until these criminals are brought to justice.”
“The successful outcome of this investigation is a reflection of the hard work and dedicated service demonstrated by the entire law enforcement community,” said Bladismir Rojo, Acting Inspector In Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Miami Division. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will continue to make every effort to remove illicit drugs and dangerous contraband from our communities.”
The case involved an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Tallahassee Police Department, the Florida Department of Corrections, the United States Marshal Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Mesa Police Department in Mesa, Arizona. Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
United States Attorney’s Office to Participate in Community Events During National Night OutRead the Press Release
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina will join their law enforcement partners, neighbors, and communities in National Night Out events in select cities and towns across the district.
“The Middle District of North Carolina has a long and proud history of working with local people -- law enforcement and members of the public alike – to improve neighborhood safety and the quality of life in our communities,” said Clifton T. “Cliff” Barrett, United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina. “National Night Out is a touchstone of those efforts, building mutual understanding and respect by bringing law enforcement and residents together on equal terms.”
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes partnerships and camaraderie between law enforcement and the communities they serve to make our neighborhoods safer places to live. Millions take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities throughout the country on the first Tuesday of August in most areas of the country.
National Night Out was established in 1984 with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice. The program is administered by the National Association of Town Watch, a nationwide non-profit organization.
Coordinated by local law enforcement and trained volunteers, National Night Out provides an opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Neighborhoods host block parties, cookouts, festivals, parades, safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel and more. National Night Out sends a message that neighbors are united and working together to keep their communities and each other safe.
For more information, visit https://natw.org/.
National Night Out events are scheduled throughout the district. Check local law enforcement and event websites for details of events near you. Scheduled events to be attended by representatives of the United States Attorney’s Office include the following:
Winston-Salem Police Department NNO Event
Tuesday, August 5th, 6 pm – 8 pm
Calvary Baptist Church, 134 S. Peace Haven Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27104
Greensboro Police Department NNO Event
Tuesday, August 5th, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
100 Police Plaza, Greensboro, NC 27401
High Point Police Department NNO Event
Tuesday, August 5th, 6 pm – 8 pm
Oakview Citizens Council, 503 James Road (Oakview Rec Center), High Point, NC 27265
Alamance County Sheriff’s Office NNO Event
Tuesday, August 5th, 6 pm – 8 pm
Village of Alamance, Lamb’s Chapel Airport Campus, 3539 Alamance Road, Burlington, NC 27215
Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office / Reidsville Police Department NNO Event
Tuesday, August 5th, 6 pm – 8 pm
Woodland Park, 2212 Woodland Drive, Reidsville, NC 27320
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United States Attorney's Office to Participate in Community Events During National Night OutRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee will join their law enforcement partners, neighbors, and communities in National Night Out events Nashville on August 5, 2025.
“Our office is proud to stand with both our neighbors and law enforcement as we all work together for a safer community,” said Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire. “I look forward to seeing both our law enforcement partners and the citizens we serve tomorrow night.”
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes partnerships and camaraderie between law enforcement and the communities they serve to make our neighborhoods safer places to live. Millions take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities throughout the country on the first Tuesday of August in most areas of the country.
National Night Out was established in 1984 with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice. The program is administered by the National Association of Town Watch, a nationwide non-profit organization.
Coordinated by local law enforcement and trained volunteers, National Night Out provides an opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Neighborhoods host block parties, cookouts, festivals, parades, safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel and more. National Night Out sends a message that neighbors are united and working together to keep their communities and each other safe.
For more information, visit https://natw.org/.
Scheduled Events Include:
The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department will be hosting events at the following locations: https://x.com/MNPDNashville/status/1952478011292635176
- Red Caboose Park, 684 Colice Jeanne Road, hosted by the West Precinct from 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
- East Park, 600 Woodland Street, hosted by the East Precinct from 4 p.m.-7 p.m.
- Bridgestone Arena Plaza, hosted by the Central Precinct, from 5 p.m.-8 p.m.
- Madison Park, 550 N Dupont Avenue, hosted by the Madison Precinct, from 4 p.m.-7 p.m.
- Old Hickory Ball Fields, 1700 Golf Club Drive, Old Hickory, hosted by the Hermitage Precinct, from 4 p.m.-7 p.m.
- Church of the Messiah, 88 Lafayette St, hosted by the Hermitage Precinct, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The Murfreesboro Police Department, in partnership with the City of Murfreesboro Parks & Recreation Department and JackFM Radio, invites the community to enjoy an evening of food, fellowship, fun, and music at Oaklands Park, 427 Roberts Street, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. National Night Out will feature a Touch-A-Truck event, games, and other activities designed to strengthen the bond between police officers and the community. https://www.murfreesborotn.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=5190
The Smyrna Police Department is inviting the community to its annual National Night Out event on Tuesday, August 5 at 400 Enon Springs Road East, Smyrna, TN. From 6 to 8 p.m., families can enjoy a fun and interactive evening at the police department, complete with guided tours, officer meet-and-greets, giveaways, and more. https://rutherfordsource.com/smyrna-police-to-host-national-night-out/
The Spring Hill Police Department invites the community to attend the 2025 National Night Out Against Crime on Tuesday, August 5. The free event will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Fischer Park, located at 4285 Port Royal Road. https://williamsonsource.com/spring-hill-police-to-host-national-night-out-at-fischer-park/
The Gallatin Police Department is excited to invite the community to join them for National Night Out on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at 668 Nashville Pike. https://sumnercountysource.com/gallatin-police-to-host-national-night-out/
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United States Attorney's Office to Participate in Community Events During National Night OutRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania will join their law enforcement partners, neighbors, and communities in the Middle District of Pennsylvania for National Night Out (NNO) events on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes partnerships and camaraderie between law enforcement and the communities they serve to make our neighborhoods safer places to live. Millions take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities throughout the country on the first Tuesday of August in most areas of the country.
Assistant United States Attorneys and staff will participate in events in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Dauphin and Lebanon Counties, to engage with members of the community and provide information on the department’s initiatives.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is proud to join our law enforcement partners and communities across the district for National Night Out,” said Acting United States Attorney John Gurganus. “It’s a great opportunity to come together and continue to strengthen relationships and meet the citizens we serve.”
National Night Out was established in 1984 with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice. The program is administered by the National Association of Town Watch, a nationwide non-profit organization.
Coordinated by local law enforcement and trained volunteers, National Night Out provides an opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Neighborhoods host block parties, cookouts, festivals, parades, safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel and more. National Night Out sends a message that neighbors are united and working together to keep their communities and each other safe.
For more information, visit https://natw.org/.
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United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Indiana to Participate in Community Events During National Night OutRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana will join law enforcement partners, neighbors, and communities in National Night Out events in the Greater Indianapolis area and Evansville.
“National Night Out is a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when communities and law enforcement come together,” said Tom Wheeler, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “This marks our third year participating in events across Indianapolis, and we’re proud to expand that presence to Evansville for the first time. These events reflect our deep commitment to building trust, strengthening partnerships, and supporting the people we serve across the Southern District of Indiana.”
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes partnerships and camaraderie between law enforcement and the communities they serve to make our neighborhoods safer places to live. Millions take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities throughout the country on the first Tuesday of August in most areas of the country.
National Night Out was established in 1984 with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice. The program is administered by the National Association of Town Watch, a nationwide non-profit organization.
Coordinated by local law enforcement and trained volunteers, National Night Out provides an opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Neighborhoods host block parties, cookouts, festivals, parades, safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel and more. National Night Out sends a message that neighbors are united and working together to keep their communities and each other safe.
For more information, visit https://natw.org/.
Scheduled Events:
- Indianapolis Kickoff Ceremony and Crime Fighters of the Year Awards
- National Night Out Community Celebrations
WHEN: Tuesday, August 5th, 5-9pm
WHERE: Greater Indianapolis Area
- National Night Out Community Celebration
WHEN: Tuesday, August 5th, 6-8:30pm CT
WHERE: CK Newsome
Two Foreign Nationals with Prior Felony Convictions Charged for Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – Mexican and Honduran nationals unlawfully residing in Las Vegas made their initial court appearances Monday to face charges of illegally reentering the United States after previously being removed from the country.
Jose Luis Ruiz-Gutierrez, 39, and Samir Adrian Hernandez-Padilla, 39, are both charged with one-count of deported alien found in the United States. Preliminary hearings for both defendants are scheduled for August 18, 2025, before United States Magistrate Judge Brenda N. Weksler.
According to allegations contained in the criminal complaints and statements made during court proceedings, Ruiz-Gutierrez, a citizen and national of Mexico, and Hernandez-Padilla, a citizen and national of Honduras, were both previously deported and removed from the United States and reentered the United States illegally.
On July 23, 2025, Ruiz-Gutierrez was remanded to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), from the Clark County Detention Center, based on an ICE detainer after he had been arrested by officers from the North Las Vegas Police Department for four counts Sex Assault Against Child Less Than 16 and Lewdness by Person Over 18 with Child Less Than 14. Ruiz-Gutierrez had previously been deported three times on or about February 15, 2011, May 3, 2011, and December 24, 2013. Ruiz-Gutierrez has prior felony convictions for drug trafficking and deported alien found in the United States, the same offense he is currently charged with.
On July 18, 2025, Hernandez-Padilla was remanded to the custody of ICE, from the Nevada Department of Corrections, based on an ICE detainer. On August 21, 2020, ICE learned that Hernandez-Padilla was arrested by the Nevada Department of Wildlife and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for Watercraft Driving Under the Influence Resulting in Death. Hernandez-Padilla had previously been deported to Honduras on or about December 12, 2013.
If convicted, Ruiz-Gutierrez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison, a three-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.
If convicted, Hernandez-Padilla faces a maximum statutory penalty of two years in prison, one-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.
Acting United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Salt Lake City Field Office Director Jason Knight made the announcement.
The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated the case; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada is prosecuting the case.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
A complaint is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Three Sentenced to Prison in Commercial Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Edward Joseph Chmiel, 50, Henry Lozano, 43, and Sabino Loera, 51, were each sentenced this week for their roles in a conspiracy to commit money laundering that arose out of a scheme to submit fraudulent invoices to a contractor providing services for a Colorado electrical utility.
Edward Chmiel was sentenced to imprisonment for 30 months. Sabino Loera was sentenced to imprisonment for 25 months. Henry Lozano was sentenced to imprisonment for 23 months. Forfeiture money judgments in the amount of $1,495,781.51 were imposed on each of the defendants, who were also ordered to pay that same amount in restitution.
According to their plea agreements and other court documents, Chmiel and Loera worked for a company providing electrical contracting services to a utility company in Colorado. Lozano owned a company providing trucking and hauling services. In August 2018 the three agreed that Lozano’s company would provide those services in exchange for kickback payments to Chmiel and Loera. To generate the money that would pay the kickbacks, the three schemed to submit false invoices from Lozano’s company to Chmiel and Loera’s. Once Lozano was paid for those invoices, Loera would direct Lozano to issue checks to a network of 15 other people. Those people cashed the checks and then gave the cash to Chmiel and Loera. Between August 2018 and June 2020, the false invoices generated approximately $1,495,781.51 in kickback proceeds.
“We are proud to pursue people who enrich themselves by stealing money which was supposed to provide important services for Coloradans,” said U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly. “Our office appreciates the hard work of our investigative colleagues at the IRS and FBI which held these three accountable for their corrupt scheme.”
“Corruption such as this always has costs beyond any one company’s bottom line. This sentence should serve as a reminder that commercial bribery and corruption will not be tolerated,” said Amanda Prestegard, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-CI Denver Field Office. “Our special agents will continue to work with our federal partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to investigate and prosecute those who perpetrate these kickback schemes.”
“Fraud and kickback schemes erode public trust and undermine the systems our communities rely on. This outcome proves that when agencies work together, we can root out corruption and hold offenders accountable,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “The FBI remains committed to protecting the integrity of our institutions and ensuring that no one is above the law.”
The investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sonia Dave and Bryan Fields.
CASE NUMBER: 25-cr-00024-RMR
Three More Plead Guilty in Feeding Our Future Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Mahad Ibrahim, Hamdi Hussein Omar, and Hibo Salah Daar each pleaded guilty to their respective roles in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thomspon. Prosecutors have now obtained over 50 convictions scheme-wide.
“This milestone marks an extraordinary achievement by our team and our law enforcement partners,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “For years, these elite federal agents and forensic accountants have tracked stolen money, cut through layers of deceit, and exposed a sprawling network of shell companies and fake meal claims. Their pursuit of justice has been relentless. Because of their work, we’ve uncovered not just one scheme, but a far-reaching fraud crisis that’s swamping Minnesota. This is public service at its finest. And this team is nowhere near finished.”
“The Federal Bureau of Investigation takes immense pride in its pivotal role in securing 50 convictions to date, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to holding accountable those who illicitly appropriate funds meant for the nourishment of underprivileged children,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “Taxpayers are entitled to assurance that their contributions will be utilized in a responsible and lawful manner. These three guilty pleas underscore the gravity with which the FBI addresses fraud perpetrated against the government.”
Mahad Ibrahim, 46, pleaded guilty to defrauding the federal child nutrition program through a nonprofit called ThinkTechAct Foundation, a/k/a Mind Foundry Learning Foundation, which Ibrahim founded and operated as its President. Ibrahim partnered with conspirators, including Abdiaziz Farah, who was convicted last year after a jury trial, in connection with program activities under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future and Partners in Nutrition. Ibrahim admittedly took deliberate steps to avoid learning the full scale of his conspirators’ activities, which spanned dozens of program sites across the state. Even so, Ibrahim allowed ThinkTechAct to be used to further the fraud scheme, and he received substantial pay-outs from his conspirators in exchange. He also used another entity he controlled, MIB Holdings LLC, to launder some of his fraud proceeds, including to buy real estate in Ohio. Ibrahim’s participation in the scheme contributed to the loss of millions of taxpayer dollars. Ibrahim pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering.
Hamdi Hussein Omar, 29, participated in the scheme to defraud the federal child nutrition program with several conspirators, including Salim Said, who was charged in the same indictment and was convicted after trial earlier this year. Omar’s conspirators created a fake food distribution site in Waite Park, Minnesota, at a small market in a strip mall. Omar knew and allowed her conspirators to use her name as the supposed operator of that site. Those conspirators then began claiming, falsely, to serve about 2,000 meals to children from that site every day of the week. In all, over a matter of months, they claimed to serve half a million meals from that small, Waite Park market. To further the scheme, Omar created a company called Feeding Our Youth, which she falsely held out as the food vendor for the Waite Park site. She and her conspirators also supported their program reimbursement claims with phony attendance rosters purporting to document the children they fed. Those rosters listed made-up children with fake ages. In all, Omar and her conspirators caused a taxpayer loss of $1.4 million. Omar pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.
Hibo Salah Daar, 51, participated in the Feeding Our Future scheme through an entity she controlled called Northside Wellness Center Corporation. In November 2020, Daar enrolled Northside Wellness in the federal child nutrition program as a food-distribution site under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. Daar and her conspirators then used Northside Wellness to defraud the program and steal taxpayer dollars. Northside Wellness claimed to serve 52,000 meals to children in the month of January 2021 and then, just two months later, claimed to be serving 40,000 meals to children every week. Those claims were false. Daar and her conspirators supported those meal counts with phony invoices. And Daar authorized payment of $72,000 in bribes to a Feeding Our Future employee to keep the scheme running. In all, the Northside Wellness claims caused $2.4 million in taxpayer losses. Daar pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.
These cases result from an investigation conducted by the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Mahad pled guilty on July 24, 2025, and Omar and Daar pled guilty on August 1, 2025, all in U.S. District Court before Judge Nancy E. Brasel. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled at a later date.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew S. Ebert, Harry M. Jacobs, and Daniel W. Bobier are prosecuting these cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Baune is handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets.
Thoreau Woman Sentenced to 24 Months for Fatal DUIRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Thoreau woman has been sentenced to 24 months in prison after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter for driving while intoxicated and fatally striking John Doe with her vehicle following an altercation.
According to court records, on the morning of May 28, 2023, Nora Abeita, 50, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, and several others, including John Doe, consumed alcohol together. After an altercation with John Doe, Abeita attempted to leave the residence with a friend. While driving away, Abeita struck John Doe with her vehicle and did not immediately realize she had run over him until alerted by others. John Doe died from his injuries.
Abeita’s blood alcohol concentration was measured at .19 approximately five hours after the incident, more than double the legal limit in both New Mexico and the Navajo Nation.
Upon her release, Abeita will be subject to up to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.
Texas resident pleads guilty in crypto-Ponzi schemeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 45-year-old Houston man has admitted to running a fraudulent investment scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
From July through November 2017, Samuel Ayala-Ibarra operated JASTBITME, a Houston-based company that falsely promised high returns through cryptocurrency investments. Ayala-Ibarra told clients their money would be invested in cryptocurrency, but he instead used the funds for personal gain and to repay earlier investors. He also paid others to recruit new clients.
Once clients invested, JASTBITME created fake documents to show fabricated growth and returns. Ayala-Ibarra used these false reports to persuade clients to reinvest.
The scheme resulted in numerous victims who never received their original investments or promised returns.
Senior U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt will impose sentencing Nov. 3. At that time, Ayala-Ibarra faces up to 20 years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine for each of three counts of wire fraud.
He has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.
The Secret Service conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Rodolfo Ramirez is prosecuting the case. AUSA Kristine Rollinson is handling seizure and forfeiture matters.
Ten Defendants from Pennsylvania, California, and Michigan Charged with Trafficking Methamphetamine, Heroin, Fentanyl, Para-fluorofentanyl and Other NarcoticsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Six Pennsylvania residents, two California residents, and two Michigan residents have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on narcotics charges, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The four-count Indictment named the following 10 individuals as defendants:
Name
Age
City, State
Christopher Love
28
Homestead, Pa.
Terrence Spivey
29
Detroit, Mich.
Jonathan Toledo
25
Turtle Creek, Pa.
Darren Cooper
38
Los Angeles, Calif.
Raymone Grier Jr.
24
Detroit, Mich.
Patti Miller
59
Altoona, Pa.
Calil Francois-Moon
20
Homestead, Pa.
Dolly Mullens
54
Curwensville, Pa.
Paityn Phears
24
Los Angeles, Calif.
Joanne Shaw
37
Warriors Mark, Pa.
According to the Indictment, the defendants allegedly conspired to possess with intent to distribute and distributed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, 100 grams or more of para-fluorofentanyl, 100 grams or more of heroin, 10 grams or more of carfentanil, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and a quantity of cocaine from November 2023 to March 2025. The Indictment also alleges individual drug trafficking offenses against Toledo and Mullens.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $20 million, or both for all of the defendants except Mullens, who faces a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, 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 the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan D. Lusty is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The multi-agency investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and included the United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Internal Revenue Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Pennsylvania State Police, Clearfield Regional Police Department, Altoona Police Department, and Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Twenty-Two Illegal Aliens Convicted in the Month of July for Illegally Reentering the Country After Prior RemovalsRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE & PENSACOLA – United States Attorney John P. Heekin announced today that 22 previously deported aliens were recently convicted for illegal reentry into the United States.
According to court records, the defendants had each been previously removed due to being unlawfully present in the country, and illegally reentered without seeking the necessary permission or approval from the United States.
- Oscar Alva-Cabrera, a Mexican national, was previously removed in May 2024. He was encountered in Santa Rosa County on May 20, 2025.
- Fredy Bravo Galvez, a Mexican national, was previously removed in March 2013 and March 2020. He was encountered in Tallahassee on June 14, 2025.
- Ofelia Caal-Chub, a Guatemalan national, was previously removed in December 2021. She was encountered in Madison County on June 2, 2025.
- Jose Choc, a Guatemalan national, was previously removed in January 2018. He was encountered in Leon County on May 17, 2025.
- Luis Funez-Gomez, a citizen of Honduras, was previously removed in September 2008. He was encountered in Tallahassee on May 29, 2025.
- Juan Gomez Perez, a Mexican national, was previously removed in September 2022. He was encountered in Tallahassee on May 29, 2025.
- Roberto Gonzales-Coto, a citizen of Honduras, was previously removed in June 2004. He was encountered in Pensacola on May 20, 2025.
- Olegario Guzman-Mayo, a Mexican national, was previously removed in June 2019, August 2019, May 2022, and October 2022. He was encountered in Escambia County on May 2, 2025.
- Juan Carlos Hernandez Vallejos, a citizen of Nicaragua, was previously removed in 2006, twice in 2014, and again in 2015. He was encountered in Tallahassee on May 29, 2025.
- Jose Larios-Cortez, a citizen of Honduras, was previously removed in November 2014. He was encountered in Santa Rosa County on April 27, 2025.
- Juan Rodolfo Martinez-Hernandez, a Mexican national, was previously removed in 2017 and in 2022. He was encountered in Pace on April 11, 2025.
- Elin Martinez-Lemus, a citizen of Honduras, was previously removed in June 2013 and December 2017. He was encountered in Pensacola on February 22, 2025.
- Baltazar R. Mixteco-Temaxtle, a Mexican national, was previously removed in December 2011 and August 2012. He was encountered in Pensacola on March 15, 2025.
- Jose Alfredo Morales-Huerta, a Mexican national, was previously removed in March 2019. He was encountered in Escambia County on June 10, 2025.
- Jose Luis Morales-Huerta, a Mexican national, was previously removed in November 2018. He was encountered in Santa Rosa County on May 26, 2025.
- Cevero Enrique Ordonez, a Guatemalan national, was previously removed in February 2014. He was encountered in Pensacola on May 20, 2025.
- Wilmer Pelico Elias, a Guatemalan national, was previously removed in October 2018 and August 2023. He was encountered in Pensacola on May 14, 2025.
- Herixson Rodriguez-Perez, a citizen of Honduras, was previously removed in June 2014 and July 2019. He was encountered in Pensacola on May 11, 2025.
- Cecilio Sic-Garcia, a Guatemalan national, was previously removed in October 2019 and February 2020. He was encountered in Panama City Beach on May 6, 2025.
- Jose Villanueva, a citizen of Honduras, was previously removed in January 2013 and December 2020. He was encountered in Santa Rosa County on April 28, 2025.
- Juan Hurtado-Solano, a Mexican national, was previously removed in August 2012 and September 2012. He was encountered in Tallahassee on May 29, 2025.
- Candido Hurtado-Solano, a Mexican national, was previously removed in August 2012 and September 2012. He was encountered in Tallahassee on May 29, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “You will see a pattern in many of these cases: aliens who continue to return this country believing they will not face criminal consequences for violating our immigration laws. President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi have promised to Take Back America by making the enforcement of our nation’s immigration laws a top priority, and my office will aggressively pursue these cases to ensure that those who continue to illegally enter our country are prosecuted and swiftly removed.”
The cases were investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, with assistance from several state and local partners. Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer H. Callahan, Brooke DiSalvo, Jessica Etherton, Alicia Forbes, Justin M. Keen, James McCain, Eric Mountin, Walter Narramore, Jeffrey Tharp, and Eric Welch prosecuted the cases.
The cases are 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.
Suburban Atlanta Man Faces Federal Charges After Posting Social Media Threats to Kill Jews and BlacksRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Christopher Robertson, 42, of Fairburn, Georgia, made his initial court appearance today before United States Magistrate Judge Catherine M. Salinas on federal charges of communicating interstate threats. Robertson was charged after he posted to Facebook multiple videos of himself making racial threats to kill Jews and Blacks. Robertson, who also calls himself James Lomak, was arrested on Friday, August 1, 2025, after a lengthy stand-off with the FBI. Magistrate Judge Salinas ordered Robertson held in custody until his next hearing at 9:30 a.m. on August 7, 2025.
“The allegations against Robertson, which include menacing visits to Jewish facilities and vile online threats against Jews and Blacks, are of great concern,” said United States Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Protecting the community from hate-fueled violence is a foundational part of the Department of Justice’s mission, and we will aggressively prosecute criminals who abuse the internet to terrorize and intimidate others.”
“Mr. Robertson’s alleged actions serve as a disturbing reminder of the terrifying hatred our Jewish communities encounter simply because of their beliefs,” said Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta Paul Brown. “The FBI will continue to work diligently with our law enforcement and community partners to investigate any individual who threatens the safety of our residents.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: During the afternoon of July 30, 2025, staff members at the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta (JFGA), located in Midtown Atlanta notified the Secure Community Network (SCN) staff in their building that they observed a man, later identified as Robertson, wandering around the parking lot inside the secure area of the facility. SCN staff engaged Robertson in the parking lot and determined he drove inside the gated area of the JFGA without permission.
Robertson told the security staff that he was “the official spokesperson for the white race” and said that he wanted to speak with a high-ranking Jewish official. After being asked to leave the JFGA, Robertson drove to The Temple, a Jewish synagogue, also located in Midtown Atlanta. At The Temple, Robertson encountered two staff members and asked to speak to a rabbi. Robertson made derogatory remarks about Jewish people and ranted about the decline of the white race. An Atlanta Police Department officer was present inside The Temple, and Robertson left.
Following these incidents, SCN and the FBI discovered several social media accounts used by Robertson that featured recent antisemitic and threatening video posts. A YouTube post showed Robertson singing, “F*** the Jews, f*** you if you Jewish, one shot, two shot, leave you in the sewage.” A Facebook post from July 28, 2025, showed Robertson holding a black pistol loaded with a magazine while speaking about the “cultural genocide” of the white race. A caption on the video read, “I will not tolerate cultural genocide get that understood -- I will fight for it, I will die for it, I will kill for it.”
During the investigation, additional law enforcement patrols were added for approximately 80 Jewish facilities in and around Atlanta. But on July 31, 2025, just after Robertson posted to Facebook that he wanted to “chop it up with a rabbi,” Robertson entered a Jewish Chabad building in Peachtree City, Georgia. The Chabad rabbi called 911 while members of the staff barricaded themselves in an office. Robertson recorded the encounter and posted it on Facebook. In the post, Robertson identified himself as the “official delegate of the white race” and told the rabbi that Jewish people were on the “verge of extermination.” After police arrived at the Chabad, Robertson left.
On August 1, 2025, Robertson posted yet another video to Facebook. In the video, he threatened to murder Black people who “lash out openly at the white man,” stating, “We will kill the s*** out of you guys. . . . We will f***ing murder you.”
Later that evening, a federal court issued a warrant to arrest Robertson for communicating interstate threats. When the FBI tried to arrest him at home, Robertson barricaded himself inside for hours. Eventually, Robertson surrendered, and agents recovered a firearm from the scene.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorneys Brent Alan Gray and Bret R. Hobson are prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga
Stockton Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison and Lodi Man Pleads Guilty for their Roles in Large-Scale Methamphetamine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Jose Manuel Ontiveros Verdugo, 40, of Stockton, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to 16 years in prison for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and Jorge Omar Arredondo-Garcia, 47, of Lodi, pleaded guilty today to the same offense, Acting U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Sanchez announced.
According to court documents, between July 2019 and December 2019, Verdugo and Arredondo-Garcia conspired with their co-defendants and others to distribute methamphetamine both in Stockton and throughout the country. During the investigation, an undercover source bought a total of 11 pounds of methamphetamine and a half pound of heroin from this drug trafficking organization. Law enforcement interdicted the group’s shipments of 50 pounds of methamphetamine destined for Nebraska, as well as a 21‑pound shipment destined for Pennsylvania.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, San Joaquin County Probation, the Stockton Police Department, and the Tracy Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella is prosecuting the case.
Charges are pending against co-defendants Gregorio Ontiveros Verdugo, 42, of Morada; Alberto Navarro Zapata, 39, of Stockton; and Wilfredo Reyes, 50, of Manteca. The charges against them are only allegations; they are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Arredondo-Garcia is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on Nov. 24, 2025. Arredondo Garcia faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
Second defendant sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for supplying methamphetamine to TDCJ prison in Potter CountyRead the Press Release
A co-conspirator of a former Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) corrections officer was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for her role in supplying methamphetamine to inmates in the Clements Unit of the TDCJ prison located in Potter County, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson.
Veronica Wertz, 49, was indicted in November 2024 and pled guilty in March 2025 to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine for several months in 2023. Court documents reflect that Wertz was romantically involved with an inmate located in the William Clements Unit of the TDCJ prison in Potter County who was working with former prison guard Ricky Eugene Hall to bring drugs into the prison.
Wertz admitted that she received packages of drugs through the mail in Amarillo to be taken into the prison for distribution to the inmate. Law enforcement agents found text messages of Wertz and Hall on both of their cell phones showing their mutual involvement in the narcotics distribution.Court records reveal that Hall admitted, when interviewed by FBI agents, that he would communicate with inmates via prepaid burner phones to coordinate “drops” or “plays.” Inmates would arrange for an outside narcotics supplier to meet with Hall at various locations in Amarillo, where Hall would receive pre-packaged contraband. Hall would then conceal the contraband in his correctional uniform vest and leave the package at a predetermined location in the facility, such as the laundry, kitchen, or with cleaning staff. Hall also admitted that he maintained a storage unit to store contraband. When law enforcement agents searched the storage unit, they uncovered more than 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, cell phones, and other items intended for distribution inside the Clements unit prison.
Hall pled guilty to methamphetamine distribution in January 2025 and was sentenced on June 9, 2025, to 97 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk. On July 9, 2025, Judge Kacsmaryk sentenced Veronica Wertz to 57 months in federal prison.
“This case highlights the stellar work of numerous law enforcement agencies working together to halt a stealthy contraband smuggling conspiracy shamefully led by a corrections officer occupying a position of trust,” said Acting United States Attorney Nancy Larson. “We are proud of the investigative work in this case and that we brought those involved to justice.”
“The defendant took part in a conspiracy to smuggle drugs and other contraband into a state prison. This resulted in the distribution of prohibited items to inmates,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “We would like to thank our law enforcement partners for assisting us with this investigation. This collaborative effort resulted in successfully ending the illegal activity and holding the offenders accountable.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Texas Department of Public Safety, TDCJ – Office of Inspector General, Amarillo Police Department, and United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anna Marie Bell and Joshua Frausto prosecuted the case.
Seattle man who carjacked a luxury sedan in Pioneer Square sentenced to six years in prisonRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 32-year-old Seattle man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to six years in prison for carjacking and using a firearm during a crime of violence, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Louis Montel De’Andre Dowers was arrested June 9, 2024, hours after he carjacked a BMW outside the Seattle Team Shop on Occidental Avenue South in the Pioneer Square neighborhood. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge John H. Chun called the carjacking “terrifying crimes.”
“Using a ‘ghost gun’ to threaten the driver and almost running down a second victim, is why carjacking has received substantial federal attention,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Miller. “In 2024, the Department of Justice created eleven Carjacking Task Forces in districts around the United States, including here in the Western District of Washington. This increased focus on federal prosecutions of armed carjacking offenses has coincided with a substantial reduction in these types of crimes.”
According to the plea agreement, a man was waiting for his wife, sitting in the driver’s seat of his car outside a business on Occidental Avenue South. Dowers approached the car from behind, pulled out a distinctive firearm, pointed it at the victim, and ordered him out of the car saying “It’s mine now. Get out.” The victim was able to get his dog out of the car before Dowers drove off. The victim’s wife came out of the store and was nearly hit by the car as it raced away.
Police were able to track the car to Auburn, Washington – near a middle school. Working with a description of the alleged carjacker, a King County Sheriff’s deputy located Dowers walking nearby. When searched, Dowers possessed a semi-automatic firearm that had been privately manufactured – a so-called ‘ghost gun.’ The firearm was fully loaded with a round in the chamber.
Dowers pleaded guilty in April 2025. Judge Chun scheduled a hearing for October 27,2025 to set the amount of restitution Dowers owes to the victims.
In their victim statements the couple said they “still live” with this “moment of terror . . . every single day.” The couple said they continue to experience trauma because of Dowers’ crime, which “robbed [them] of peace.”
The case was investigated by the federal carjacking task force made up of the Seattle Police Department, the Kent Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) and the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg who leads the Western District of Washington Carjacking Task Force.
Santa Fe Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A previously convicted felon was sentenced to 120 months in prison for possessing and distributing heroin and methamphetamine while illegally possessing firearms.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, the early morning hours of July 8, 2020, officers from the Española Police Department responded to a 911 call reporting a suspicious vehicle parked outside a residence. Officers found Antonio Quintana-Pena, 40, unconscious behind the wheel of a gray Nissan. In his lap was a silver and black box containing a baseball-sized bundle of heroin. Officers also recovered a loaded, stolen pistol from beneath the driver's seat, along with methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and more than $2,000 in cash.
Later that year, on November 19, 2020, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Quintana-Pena’s residence in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Inside his bedroom, agents found over 190 grams of methamphetamine and nearly 100 grams of heroin stored in safes, along with multiple loaded firearms. Ammunition, cash, and additional narcotics were also recovered from the room.
Quintana-Pena, a previously convicted felon, admitted to knowingly possessing the drugs with intent to distribute and to carrying the firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities. He also acknowledged knowing he was prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions. Upon his release from prison, Quintana-Pena will be subject to five years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Española Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David B. Hirsch prosecuted the case.
Romanian National Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud Involving over $500,000 in EBT Funds, Illegal Reentry, and Asylum FraudRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – Marius Marian pleaded guilty in federal court today to fraudulently obtaining over $500,000 in Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) funds, illegally reentering the United States following an aggravated felony conviction, and making false statements on his asylum application.
Marian, 39, a citizen of Romania, was charged by information on July 23, 2025, with one count of bank fraud, one count of illegal re-entry into the United States following an aggravated felony conviction, and one count of asylum fraud. He pleaded guilty to all three counts today.
In pleading guilty, Marian admitted that from March 2, 2024, through June 3, 2025, he fraudulently obtained EBT funds by using over 601 unique victim EBT account identifiers. As described in court documents, EBT benefits are federal funds distributed through the California Department of Social Services to individuals in need in California. Marian obtained EBT cards numbers by using skimmer devices on ATM and point of sale machines that captured the victim’s EBT account information when the victim uses the card. After encoding the victim’s EBT account information on counterfeit bank cards, Marian used the counterfeit bank cards to fraudulently withdraw EBT funds from ATMs in Northern California.
As a result of his scheme, Marian withdrew $507,916 in cash and intended to withdraw $611,845 in EBT funds. Marian further admitted that his conduct involved sophisticated means and caused substantial financial hardship to at least 25 victims.
Additionally, Marian admitted that on or around April 27, 2023, he knowingly submitted false statements on an application for asylum to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Specifically, Marian knowingly failed to disclose in his asylum application that he had been previously deported from the United States and that he had previously been convicted in 2019 of bank fraud.
Finally, Marian acknowledged that he had been previously deported after his 2019 conviction for bank fraud and that he thereafter illegally reentered and was found in the United States.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani, U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), San Francisco Field Office, Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Diamond, Special Agent-in-Charge Shawn Dionida, U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General (USDA OIG), and ICE Field Office Director Sergio Albarran made the announcement.
Marian is currently in federal custody. Marian’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 20, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine for the count of bank fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344; 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the count of illegal re-entry following an aggravated felony conviction in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1326(a) and (b)(2); and 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the count of asylum fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1546(a). Any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily R. Dahlke is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Alycee Lane and Amala James. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, DSS, USDA OIG, and ICE.
Romanian Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Skimming Tens of Thousands of Welfare Cards at ATMsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – An illegal alien from Romania was sentenced today to 120 months in federal prison for skimming tens of thousands of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards in California and New York.
Catalin-Marius Graur, 43, whose last known residence was in Hollywood, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mark Scarsi, who also ordered him to pay $165,697 in restitution.
Graur pleaded guilty in October 2024 to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Graur is a Romanian citizen who entered the U.S. on a tourist visa in 2020 but overstayed his visa. Graur travelled across Los Angeles and the Inland Empire installing sophisticated skimming devices in ATMs and point-of-sale terminals to record the account information of individuals who used those devices.
Graur was arrested in New York City in an Airbnb rental apartment in June 2024. In his possession, Graur had more than $37,000 in cash, and 1,488 stolen access device numbers.
Graur worked with multiple members of a transnational criminal organization from Romania to carry out this scheme. A search warrant for the residence of one of Graur’s accomplices revealed that Graur had sent him more than 36,000 stolen EBT card numbers over three years.
EBT card recipients, whom Graur specifically targeted, receive benefits designed specifically to help low-income households pay for housing, food, and other necessities.
The FBI, the United States Secret Service, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, the California Department of Social Services, and the Romanian National Police investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Brown of the Major Frauds Section prosecuted this case.
Postal Employee Sentenced for Destruction of U.S. MailRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced today that JORRY HARRISON (“HARRISON”), age 38, of Houma, Louisiana, was sentenced on July 31, 2025 to one year of probation. HARRISON previously pleaded guilty to destruction of mail, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1703(a).
According to court documents, on or about October 25, 2023, HARRISON, while employed as a Postal Service employee, unlawfully opened packages, intended to be conveyed by mail, that had come into his possession while he worked on a Small Parcel and Bundle Sorter.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorneys Christine Calogero and Duane A. Evans of the General Crimes Unit are in charge of the prosecution.
Pike Road Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a MachinegunRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Alabama – Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced today that Treneal De’Ron Beasley, 25, of Pike Road, Alabama, was sentenced on July 31, 2025, to 72 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a machinegun. In addition to his prison term, Beasley was ordered to serve three years of supervised release following his release from custody. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, on August 17, 2024, officers with the Montgomery Police Department responded to a domestic disturbance call. The caller reported that her child’s father was attempting to force his way into her home. Upon arrival, officers heard an argument inside the residence and, upon entering the home, observed Beasley holding a handgun. He was immediately taken into custody and the firearm was seized.
Further examination revealed that the handgun was equipped with a machinegun conversion device, commonly known as a “switch.” This device converts a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic weapon, capable of firing up to 20 rounds per second with a single pull of the trigger. On March 26, 2025, Beasley pleaded guilty to possession of a machinegun.
The Montgomery Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case, which Assistant United States Attorney J. Patrick Lamb prosecuted.