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1 August 2025
Convicted Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Procurement of Citizenship or NaturalizationRead the Press Release
According to court documents, naturalized U.S. citizen Carlos Fabian Velez, 54, of San Antonio, plead guilty to 1 count of Unlawful Procurement of Citizenship or Naturalization for knowingly making false, sworn statements on his naturalization application, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1425(a). Specifically, in response to the question “Have you ever committed a crime or offense for which you were not arrested” on his Application for Naturalization, Velez answered, “No”, when in fact, as he then knew, he had committed the crime and offenses of possession, receipt and distribution of child pornography in San Antonio, Texas since at least 2014.
The guilty plea comes after VELEZ previously plead guilty to Distribution of Child Pornography and was sentenced to 210 months in prison. By pleading guilty to Unlawful Procurement of Citizenship charge, Velez is now subject to mandatory denaturalization. U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The FBI’s Field Office in San Antonio, ICE-Homeland Security Investigations, US Citizen and Immigration Services-Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate (USCIS-FDNS) and Bexar County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Fidel Esparza III is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Convicted Drug Trafficker Sentenced to Nearly 50 Years ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Savannah resident has been sentenced to 595 months imprisonment following his convictions for drug, firearm, and jury tampering charges.
Malik Javier McKenzie, 27, of Savannah, was convicted after a two-day trial in U.S. District Court on charges of Possession of Controlled Substances With Intent to Distribute, Possession of a Machinegun in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, said Tara M. Lyons, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. During said trial, McKenzie attempted to contact a juror, through a third-party, to offer the juror payment for a not guilty verdict. This attempt was identified, and the juror was never contacted by McKenzie or any other party. Following McKenzie’s conviction at trial, and an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), McKenzie entered a guilty plea to a one-count information charging him with Obstruction of Justice by Endeavoring to Influence a Juror for this conduct.
On July 22, 2025, McKenzie was brought before Chief Judge R. Stan Baker of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia for sentencing on both cases and was sentenced to serve a cumulative 595 months imprisonment followed by 5 years of supervised release. Chief Judge Baker ordered that the sentences in both cases run concurrent to each other, but consecutive to the 71-month sentence McKenzie is currently serving for an earlier drug trafficking conviction, and an 18-month sentence McKenzie received for violating the terms of supervised release following a federal conviction in 2019. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Malik McKenzie is a repeat offender who refuses to learn from his past mistakes,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “This time, he tried to undermine our entire judicial system by attempting to bribe a juror in his trial. We are thankful for our federal and local partners for stopping this attempt and helping put this criminal behind bars for the next 49 plus years.”
“Guns, drugs, and violence are unfortunately all too common tools of the drug traffickers operating in our communities,” said Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “Today’s announcement demonstrates DEA’s emphatic commitment to attacking the drug dealers responsible for the devastation.”
"This case exemplifies the importance of collaboration among law enforcement agencies. By working together, we can effectively combat the threats posed by drug traffickers and keep our neighborhoods safe from violence and illegal firearms," said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, ATF.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
This investigation took place under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer.
The case was being investigated by the ATF, DEA, FBI, and the Hinesville Police Department and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley R. Thompson.
For any questions, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (912) 652-4422.
Coleman man identified by distinctive tattoos sentenced to 720 months in federal prison for producing child sexual abuse materialRead the Press Release
A Coleman, Texas man was sentenced to 720 months in federal prison for producing child sexual abuse material, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson.
According to court documents, in July 2024, a foreign partner referred child sexual abuse material posted on the dark web to the FBI’s Victim Identification Program. In the videos, an unknown male subject with several distinctive tattoos – including the word “DABBY” on his chest,” the number “197x” on his left bicep, the words “CAST NO STONES” on his left forearm, and a Texas flag in the shape of a head on his right forearm – can be seen sexually assaulting a prepubescent male. The FBI discovered a Twitter account of Coleman resident Christopher Lynn Driskill, 49, which contained photographs of Driskill and some of these tattoos.
Additionally, Coleman Police Department officers investigated a complaint that Driskill had molested a child. Their recorded interview of Driskill revealed the same tattoos investigated by the FBI. Driskill was arrested on a federal complaint in November 2024, remanded into federal custody, and indicted shortly thereafter for production of child pornography. In February 2025, Driskill pled guilty to two counts of producing child pornography.
In his plea documents, Driskill admitted that videos found on his phone show him engaging in sexually explicit conduct with minor male victims. Driskill also admitted that he coerced or enticed the victims to engage in the conduct so that Driskill could produce a recording of the acts. On July 29, 2025, United States Circuit Judge Andrew Oldham sentenced Driskill to the statutory maximum sentence of 360 months on each count, to run consecutively to each other, for a total of 720 months in federal prison.
“The FBI’s meticulous work identifying this defendant brought an end to horrifying child abuse,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy Larson. “These types of sickening crimes deserve lengthy sentences for the sake of the victims, the safety of our communities, and to see justice served.”
“The sentence imposed in this case underscores the seriousness of the crime. The defendant created child sexual abuse material and distributed it through the dark web for others to view it. A tip from a foreign partner resulted in law enforcement arresting a dangerous predator and preventing future abuse,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “The FBI does not tolerate the exploitation of children and works with our law enforcement partners to identify and arrest individuals committing these criminal acts. We will continue to prioritize the safety of the most vulnerable in our communities, which are our children, and ask that the public report any crimes against children to law enforcement.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, with the help of the Bureau’s Endangered Child Alert Program (ECAP) and the assistance of the Coleman Police Department, conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Tusing prosecuted the case.
Chicago Man Charged with Receiving and Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A criminal complaint unsealed today in federal court charges a Chicago man with receiving and distributing child pornography.
The complaint alleges that JARON WOODSLEY, 27, shared images of child pornography last fall with another individual on the social media application Telegram. Using Telegram, Woodsley distributed at least thirteen videos and received six videos from the other individual, the complaint states. The other individual was indicted by a federal grand jury in the District of Colorado last year.
Woodsley was arrested this morning. He is scheduled to make an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Chicago today at 2:00 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez.
The complaint was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige A. Nutini.
The charge in the complaint is punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in a federal prison and a maximum of 20 years. The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to www.missingkids.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
woodsley_complaint.pdfCalifornia Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Fentanyl Conspiracy Involving Shipments to AlabamaRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Alabama – Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced today that Shanarion Lee, 32, of La Mesa, California, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Lee pleaded guilty to the charge earlier this year and was sentenced on July 31, 2025. In addition to his prison term, the court ordered Lee to serve five years of supervised release following his release from custody. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records and Lee’s plea agreement, the investigation began in March 2023 when the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) began investigating a suspected drug-trafficking network transporting fentanyl from California to Alabama. Investigators determined that Lee conspired with others, including 32-year-old Hillary Lewis of Lemon Grove, California, and 35-year-old James Walker of Enterprise, Alabama, to ship illegal controlled substances to various addresses within the Middle District of Alabama.
Throughout 2023 and 2024, federal agents intercepted multiple packages containing pills designed to look like legitimate oxycodone tablets. Laboratory analysis later confirmed that the pills were counterfeit and contained fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid. Lee pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl on March 26, 2025.
Earlier this year, both Lewis and Walker entered guilty pleas to federal drug conspiracy charges for their roles in the operation. Their sentencing hearings are scheduled for the coming months.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Enterprise Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Paul Markovits is prosecuting the case.
Caledonia Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting High School GirlsRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey announced that Scott Michael Elam, 43, of Caledonia, was sentenced to 30 years in prison. He had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and admitted to exploiting eleven girls.
“Mr. Elam is a sexual predator who took terrible advantage of numerous girls,” said U.S. Attorney VerHey. “This lengthy sentence sends a message about the seriousness of the conduct and the need to protect society from Elam and those like him. My office will continue to prosecute these offenders with all the resources we have.”
Elam admitted to selling alcohol, marijuana, and vape to numerous minors throughout the Western District of Michigan. He offered discounts to girls who made sexually explicit pictures and videos of themselves and sent them to him, or had sex with him.
“The sentencing of Scott Elam, a convicted predator, delivers the full weight of justice for the horrific crimes he committed against children,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “Mr. Elam's predatory actions are reprehensible and should never be tolerated. The FBI in Michigan will remain relentless in pursuing bad actors who exploit the most vulnerable among us. I want to thank the dedicated men and women of our FBI Grand Rapids Resident Agency, the West Michigan-based Child Exploitation Task Force (WEBCHEX), the Kent County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan, for their outstanding work and successful prosecution. Our community in Michigan, along with the American public should know the FBI will never waver in our mission to protect children and hold predators fully accountable for their actions.”
At sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Jonker ordered Elam to forfeit the Caledonia home where he had sex with one of the minors and that he used to provide contraband to others.
This case was investigated by the Kent County Sheriff’s Office and FBI. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Olivia Ghiselli and Jonathan Roth.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor's offices, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC), federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement are working closely together to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children. The partners in Project Safe Childhood work to educate local communities about the dangers of online child exploitation, and to teach children how to protect themselves. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. Individuals with information or concerns about possible child exploitation should contact local law enforcement officials.
Other DOJ programs and initiatives for guidance https://www.justice.gov/our-work.
Bronx Man Charged with Federal Narcotics Offenses Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Special Agent in Charge of the New York Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Frank A. Tarentino, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging ESTHERLYN FRIAS, a/k/a “Platinum,” a/k/a “Silver,” with conspiring to distribute narcotics resulting in death in connection with the poisoning death—or “overdose”—of a victim in Greenwich, Connecticut (“Victim-1”). The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Kevin P. Castel.
“As alleged, Estherlyn Frias has been pumping deadly drugs into our communities for years, including fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and more,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “The drugs that he sold claimed someone’s life, and it appears they may have claimed others before. Shockingly, Frias appears to have stored his significant drug supply in an apartment where his two young children lived with him, mere feet away from where they slept. Our communities’ suffering from this kind of personal profit ends now. As the charges in this case show, together with our law enforcement partners, we will relentlessly pursue those who distribute illegal drugs.”
“Another senseless death at the hands of an individual pushing illicit narcotics laced with fentanyl,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino. As alleged, Estherlyn Frias repeatedly trafficked and sold fentanyl laced products, going so far as to recklessly stash these deadly drugs in a bedroom where his children slept. While today’s indictment against Mr. Frias will not bring back the person whose life was lost; it undoubtably represents a step towards justice and likely saved countless others. The DEA is committed to saving lives and will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners in targeting those responsible for poisoning our communities and destroying families.”
As alleged in the Indictment, other court filings, and statements made during court proceedings:[1]
From at least in or about January 2023 through at least in or about July 2025, FRIAS and others conspired to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, para-fluorofentanyl, cocaine base, cocaine, heroin, and methadone, including from FRIAS’s apartment in the Bronx, New York. FRIAS used that apartment—where his girlfriend and two young children resided—as a stash house, where he stored significant quantities of a variety of narcotics.
As a consequence of the drug conspiracy engaged in by FRIAS and his co-conspirators, Victim-1 died from acute fentanyl and cocaine intoxication on or about July 1, 2025. Victim-1 met FRIAS outside of FRIAS’s apartment the day before to buy drugs. Within about twelve hours of their meeting, Victim-1 died from consuming fentanyl and cocaine purchased from FRIAS. FRIAS had been selling Victim-1 drugs for weeks in the lead-up to dealing the drugs that killed Victim-1. Below are text messages from Victim-1’s phone in which FRIAS, saved in Victim-1’s phone under his alias “Platinum,” sent Victim-1 a menu of the drugs that he had for sale, among them “soft” (heroin), “hard” (cocaine), “down” (fentanyl), and “everything.”
Law enforcement searched FRIAS’s apartment on the night of Victim-1’s death, pursuant to a judicially authorized search warrant. There, they found, among other things: 1,413 white glassine envelopes containing fentanyl; 603 purple glassine envelopes containing fentanyl; two plastic bags containing fentanyl; a third plastic bag containing fentanyl; 585 pink glassine envelopes containing para-fluorofentanyl; a plastic bag containing heroin; a second plastic bag containing heroin; two plastic bags containing crystal methamphetamine; a third plastic bag containing methamphetamine; 777 colored capsules containing crack cocaine; and 20 plastic bottles containing methadone. Law enforcement also recovered various drug paraphernalia, including bulk packages of empty capsules, a digital scale, and a ledger summarizing FRIAS’s drug deals.
Additional records from FRIAS’s phones include two videos, both of which depict FRIAS walking into his apartment bedroom to retrieve drugs. In both videos, FRIAS walks past a bed in which a young child can be seen asleep. And, in both videos, after passing the bed, FRIAS pans the camera to a dresser—mere feet from where his children slept—covered in drugs, cash, and drug paraphernalia, including, in one video, a digital scale on which a plastic bag containing a white substance is resting (depicted in a screenshot below).
* * *
FRIAS, 34, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with one count of conspiring to distribute narcotics resulting in death, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of possession with intent to distribute narcotics, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; and one count of possession with intent to distribute narcotics resulting in death, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The statutory minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA and the Greenwich Police Department.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebecca R. Delfiner and Benjamin M. Burkett are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
u.s._v._frias_indictment.pdf[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Brevard County Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Fentanyl and MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Christopher Fitzgerald Spivey, Jr. (41, Melbourne) to 20 years in federal prison for distributing controlled substances. The court also ordered Spivey to forfeit $10,500, the proceeds of his drug distribution. Spivey pleaded guilty on March 6, 2025.
According to the court records, on four occasions between November 5 and December 10, 2024, Spivey distributed fentanyl and methamphetamine to a confidential source. Following Spivey’s arrest, a search warrant was executed at his residence where law enforcement recovered additional fentanyl, drug processing materials, and five firearms. In total, Spivey was responsible for distributing or possessing with intent to distribute more than 1.2 kilograms of pure methamphetamine and over 130 grams of fentanyl.
Prior to Spivey’s conduct in this investigation, he was convicted of a aggravated assault upon a law enforcement officer, which subjected him to enhanced penalties.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman.
Billings man sentenced to 20 years in prison for possession of drugsRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Billings man who possessed methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine was sentenced today to 240 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Dustin James Massey, 40, pleaded guilty in April 2025 to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on September 20, 2023, agents with the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation learned from a source that Dustin Massey was selling drugs in Billings and was known to have guns. Agents learned Massey was on federal supervision due to a prior federal conviction for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
On September 21, 2023, United States Probation officers, along with agents from the Montana DCI, attempted to conduct a probation search at Massey’s residence. Law enforcement went to Massey’s residence and knocked on the door, announcing their presence. Massey did not respond, and law enforcement breached the door of the residence. In response, Massey shot at officers forcing them to return fire, eventually shooting Massey. Officers disarmed Massey and noted the firearm he had been using was a Sig Sauer with an extended magazine.
Agents searched the residence pursuant to a search warrant. They seized approximately four pounds of methamphetamine, more than 12,000 fentanyl pills, and 49.4 grams of cocaine. They also seized three firearms: a Sig Sauer, model P320, 9x19 mm pistol, a Taurus, model G3, 9x19mm pistol, and a North American Arms, Model NAA-22LR, .22 caliber revolver.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Patten prosecuted the case. ATF and the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.
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176 Immigration Cases Filed in the Western District of Texas This WeekRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas Justin R. Simmons announced today that federal prosecutors in the district filed 176 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from July 24 through July 31, 2025.
In one such case, Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers requested assistance from El Paso Border Patrol Agents after receiving information from a concerned citizen about an apartment possibly being used to house illegal aliens. After agents arrived at the residence to perform an investigatory inquiry, an individual later identified as Jose Alfredo MACIAS-Mendoza answered the door and the agents encountered a total of 12 individuals in the apartment. All 12 individuals stated they were in the United States illegally. It was determined that MACIAS was being paid by an organization to oversee and harbor the illegal aliens and he was charged with alien smuggling. Records reveal that MACIAS himself had previously been deported from El Paso to Mexico on April 19, 2024.
Jose REYNA-Aguilera was encountered at the El Paso County Detention Facility by a Deportation Officer assigned to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Criminal Apprehension Program. Record checks revealed that REYNA is a citizen and national of Mexico without immigration documents allowing him to remain in the United States. REYNA’s immigration records established that he had been removed from the United States to Mexico on three prior occasions and was previously convicted of illegal reentry in October 2009 and April of 2011.
Deportation Officers encountered Daniel NAVA-Morales at the El Paso County Detention Facility. Immigration records reveal that he was illegally in the country having first been removed from the U.S. to Mexico on August 4, 1998. That removal order has been re-instated 6 times with NAVA last being removed to Mexico on January 18, 2024. His criminal history includes convictions for illegal entry in 1999 and 2021, where he was sentenced to 3 years probation each time, and impersonating a United States Citizen, where he was sentenced to 11 months imprisonment in 2007. He is being charged once again with illegal reentry.
In Del Rio, Texas, Azaraias Prudencio ALVARADO-Almendarez, a Honduran national who had previously been convicted of a sex offense against a child in Florida, was charged with illegal reentry. ALVARADO has a criminal history beginning in 2007 with convictions for burglary and two “hit and runs,” one of which was a felony resulting in injury. ALVARADO has been deported 3 times, the last time being to Honduras on June 21, 2024.
El Salvadoran National Celso RIVAS-Gonzalez was arrested by Border Patrol Agents on July 26, 2025, for illegal reentry. RIVAS has two prior removals from the United States and a criminal history that includes aggravated sexual assault of a child in 2020, harassment in 2021, and felony indecency with a child - sexual contact in 2024. RIVAS has been deported twice, the last time being on February 19, 2025.
Katia Yolanda SOLANO-Alvarenga, a native and citizen of Honduras, was found 3.29 miles west of Paso Del Norte Port of Entry in El Paso, Texas without documents allowing entry or residence in the United States. SOLANO was previously deported on October 7, 2024. Additionally, SOLANO was convicted and confined for 300 days for assault causing bodily injury in Dallas Texas, on March 28, 2003.
Honduran citizen Marcos Josue BANEGAS-Castro was found at the 7300 block of Alameda Avenue in El Paso Texas. It was determined that he was in the United States illegally without immigration documents. It was further determined that BANEGAS had previously been deported to Honduras on March 14, 2025.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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31 July 2025
“Free Money” gang members indicted for committing murder at local shopping centerRead the Press Release
HOUSTON - Two alleged members of a violent Houston-based street gang have been charged for their alleged roles in the murder of one individual and attempted murder of another during a gang-related ambush.
According to court documents, members and associates of the gang known as Free Money engage in robbery, home invasions, drug distribution and murder. Terry Ardoin, 24, and Travonte Ardoin, 27, both of Houston, allegedly committed the murder in connection with an ongoing gang war with a rival group.
On June 24, 2022, in broad daylight, the Ardoins allegedly following a Chevrolet Equinox into a shopping center parking lot in a Black Nissan Altima. As alleged in court documents, the driver of the Equinox entered a nearby store while the passenger remained in the vehicle. When the driver returned, the Ardoins allegedly exited the Altima wearing masks and opened fired on both individuals.
Multiple rounds struck the vehicle’s passenger compartment. Law enforcement responded within minutes and found one victim deceased.
Terry and Travonte Ardoin are charged with murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and causing death through the use of a firearm. If convicted, they face up to life in prison or the possibility of a death sentence.
The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of Houston Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Brown is prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorney Ralph Paradiso of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section.
This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Houston. The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas have partnered, along with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, to confront violent crimes gang members and associates have committed through the enforcement of federal laws and use of federal resources to prosecute violent offenders and prevent further violence.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
“Free Money” Gang Members Indicted for Committing Murder at Local Shopping CenterRead the Press Release
Two alleged members of Free Money, a violent Houston-based street gang, were indicted yesterday in the Southern District of Texas for their alleged roles in the murder of one individual and attempted murder of another during a gang-related ambush.
According to court documents, Free Money members and associates engage in robbery, home invasions, drug distribution, and murder. The defendants, Terry Ardoin, 24, and Travonte Ardoin, 27, both of Houston, allegedly committed the murder in connection with an ongoing gang war with a rival group.
On June 24, 2022, in broad daylight, surveillance footage captured the Ardoins following a Chevrolet Equinox into a shopping center parking lot in a Black Nissan Altima. As alleged in court documents, the driver of the Equinox entered a nearby store while the passenger remained in the vehicle. When the driver returned, the Ardoins allegedly exited the Altima wearing masks and opened fire on both individuals.
Witnesses reported hearing numerous gunshots and described the distinct sound of a fully automatic weapon, believed to have been modified with a machine gun conversion device commonly referred to as a “switch.”
Multiple rounds struck the vehicle’s passenger compartment. Houston Police Department officers responded within minutes and found one victim deceased.
Terry and Travonte Ardoin are charged with murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and causing death through the use of a firearm. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of life in prison or a death sentence. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Houston Police Department.
Trial Attorney Ralph Paradiso of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Brown for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Houston. The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas have partnered, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, to confront violent crimes committed by gang members and associates through the enforcement of federal laws and use of federal resources to prosecute the violent offenders and prevent further violence.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Worcester Psychiatrist Sentenced for Unlawful Distribution of Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Worcester psychiatrist was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for illegally prescribing controlled substances.
Mohamad Och, 69, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to four years of probation and ordered to pay a $30,000 fine. In November 2023, Och was convicted following an 11-day jury trial of three counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
Och was a licensed psychiatrist who owned and operated Island Counseling Center (ICC), in Worcester, Mass., and has practiced psychiatry elsewhere in Massachusetts, including Nantucket. Among other services, Och was authorized to prescribe Schedule II-IV controlled substances to patients.
Och repeatedly prescribed a combination of benzodiazepines and stimulants outside of the usual course of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. Specifically, on multiple occasions between August 2016 and February 2017, Och knowingly issued prescriptions for Adderall (a Schedule II amphetamine) and Xanax (a Schedule IV benzodiazepine) to undercover federal agents. Evidence at trial showed that amphetamines have a high potential for abuse and present serious cardiovascular risks. Evidence also showed the risks presented by mixing Xanax, a depressant, with a stimulant like Adderall.
Och prescribed such highly-addictive medications without doing proper psychiatric examinations, without obtaining prior medical records, and without administering diagnostic tests (including urinalyses or blood tests) – even when faced with facts that the undercover patients may have been participating in drug diversion. Furthermore, the defendant did not discuss or review medication side effects, their conditions’ symptoms, or the risks and benefits of taking drugs like Adderall and Xanax with the undercover agents – despite documenting in medical records that he had done so.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Special Agent in Charge Roberto Coviello of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Mulcahy and Kaitlin R. O’Donnell of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Worcester Man Pleads Guilty to Exploiting MinorsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Worcester man pleaded guilty today to sexually exploiting three minor females.
Antonio Merced, 28, pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of possession of child pornography before U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman, who scheduled sentencing for Nov. 21, 2025. Merced was charged in November 2024. He remains in state custody on related offenses.
In July 2024, Merced exposed two minor victims to pornography and sex toys, and a subsequent investigation resulted in the discovery of multiple videos the defendant produced. Merced admitted to using three minors to create sexually explicit videos on three dates in 2023 and 2024.
Merced was arrested in September 2024 and subsequently charged in Worcester District Court with three counts of dissemination of obscene material to a minor, and one count each of open and gross lewdness and lascivious behavior, dissemination of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), intimidation, enticing a child under 16 and two counts of aggravated rape of a child.
The charge of sexual exploitation of a minor provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Worcester Police Chief Paul B. Saucier made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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.
Watervliet Man Sentenced to 18 Months for Dealing Firearms Without a LicenseRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Sean Patrick, age 46, of Watervliet, New York, was sentenced yesterday to 18 months in prison for dealing firearms without a license.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
As part of his guilty plea, Patrick admitted that between June 2021 and November 2022, he built and sold four non-serialized, semi-automatic pistols without being licensed to do so, filling out any paperwork, or paying any taxes in connection with the sales. On November 10, 2022, federal agents executed a search warrant on Patrick’s residence in Watervliet, and recovered four more privately manufactured, non-serialized, semi-automatic pistols, another semi-automatic pistol with an obliterated serial number, assorted gun kits and fabrication tools, and over a thousand rounds of ammunition of various calibers.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “People need to sell firearms the right way, in accordance with federal law. If you deal firearms without a license, be ready to spend time in federal prison. We will not tolerate the unlicensed sale of firearms in the Northern District of New York.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli stated: “Mr. Patrick’s decision to bypass federal laws and manufacture and sell illegal weapons has landed him in federal prison. The FBI will continue to work with our partners at the United States Attorney’s Office to investigate anyone looking to push illegal firearms into our communities and ensure they are held accountable.”
Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. also imposed a 3-year-term of supervised release, a fine of $7,500, and ordered the forfeiture of multiple firearms and ammunition.
The FBI and its Capital District Safe Streets Gang Task Force — which includes members of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the Colonie and Watervliet Police Departments — investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney A.J. Vickey prosecuted the case.
Walker County Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison on Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A Walker County man has been sentenced for illegally possessing cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Court Judge Anna M. Manasco sentenced Shannon Wayne Herron, 50, of Jasper, Alabama, to 108 months in prison. In February, Herron pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to the plea agreement, on November 1, 2023, detectives with the Jasper Police Department Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant on a residence in Jasper. During the search, officers recovered 366 grams of pure methamphetamine, marijuana, a digital scale, a ledger containing names with dollar amounts next to the names, four cell phones, and approximately $1,800 in cash.
The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case along with the Jasper Police Department Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy Peoples prosecuted the case.
Wainwright man arrested, charged with child exploitation offensesRead the Press Release
A Wainwright man was arrested by the FBI yesterday at his residence on criminal charges related to his alleged attempted enticement of minors in his community to meet for sexual contact. He also allegedly received and possessed child pornography and attempted to entice minors to produce child pornography.
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of AlaskaAccording to court documents, on Oct. 22, 2024, the North Slope Borough Police Department took a complaint from a 15-year-old minor victim about Robert Segevan, 31, allegedly requesting sexually explicit pictures from the minor victim on a digital messaging application. Two other minor victims also allegedly received the same request from Segevan. The 15-year-old victim stated Segevan started messaging them in 2023. Anytime they would attempt to block him, he would allegedly create a new account on the messaging application and continue to ask for sexually explicit pictures.
Court documents explain that on Nov. 7, 2024, the North Slope Borough Police Department received a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) detailing that a user account, later identified as Segevan’s, on the digital messaging platform was flagged for child sexual abuse material. The tip detailed Segevan asking a fourth minor victim to meet for sexual contact.
Court documents further detail that on Nov. 14, 2024, the North Slope Borough received a search warrant return from the digital messaging application for two of Segevan’s usernames. Law enforcement reviewed the return and identified several sexually explicit pictures sent from a fifth minor victim. On Dec. 24, 2024, North Slope Borough Police Department executed a search warrant on Segevan’s home in Wainwright and seized electronic devices. These devices are still being processed.
On June 30, 2025, the FBI received a complaint that Segevan allegedly asked one of the previously identified minor victims for pictures of their body, and that he was allegedly harassing several minors in the Wainright community for pictures of their bodies.
Segevan is charged with one count of receipt of child pornography, one count of attempted enticement of a minor, one count of possession of child pornography and one count of attempted production of child pornography. If convicted, Segevan faces between 15 years to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Anchorage Field Office and North Slope Borough Police Department are investigating the case, with assistance from Anchorage Police Department as part of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. If anyone has information concerning Segevan’s alleged actions or may have encountered someone in person or online using the name or username Robert Segevan, Ethan Allen, “tukak,” “robertsegevan20,” or “robertsegevan24,” please contact the FBI Anchorage Field Office at (907) 276-4441 or anonymously at tips.fbi.gov.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Vosacek is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###Wewahitchka Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Matthew Pellerito, 49, of Wewahitchka, Florida, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon and the carrying of a firearm without written notice. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said, “I applaud the excellent coordination of our state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies in their detection and investigation of these crimes. My office is committed to aggressively investigating and prosecuting those who unlawfully possess weapons or ammunition.”
Court documents reflect that on September 5, 2024, Pellerito prepared to board a commercial flight in Panama City, Florida. Pellerito’s checked luggage was flagged by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Inside of Pellerito’s luggage, TSA found an undeclared firearm and a 50-round box of ammunition. Pellerito stated that he was traveling to Oregon for a camping trip and had forgotten to declare the firearm with the airline. Further investigation confirmed that Pellerito is a convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition by law.
Pellerito is scheduled for sentencing before United States District Judge Mark Walker on September 18, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. in Tallahassee, Florida. Pellerito faces up to fifteen years’ imprisonment on the firearm and ammunition charge, and up to five years’ imprisonment on the carrying of firearm without written notice charge.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Transportation Security Administration, the Panama City Airport Police Department, and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph A. Ravelo is prosecuting 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 available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
U.S. Department of Justice Announces Compensation Process for Victims Trafficked Through Backpage.comRead the Press Release
Today, the Department of Justice announced the launch of the Backpage remission process to compensate victims whose trafficking was facilitated through the Backpage.com website. This marks the largest remission process to date to compensate victims of human trafficking.
“Backpage.com facilitated the exploitation of women and children as one of the largest online advertisers for commercial sex and sex trafficking over its 14-year existence,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Backpage and its executives made millions off the trafficking of victims. Today’s announcement underscores the Department’s unwavering commitment to use forfeiture to take the profit out of crime and to compensate victims.”
“Backpage used its position as the leading commercial sex advertisement website to make millions of dollars through their corrupt and heinous peddling of people,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine for the District of Arizona. “The District of Arizona was proud to hold its executives accountable though criminal convictions and is proud to continue our efforts by forfeiting those ill-gotten gains to compensate real victims.”
“Today’s announcement shows the FBI’s commitment to ensuring that those who profit from human trafficking face the consequences of their actions,” said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “We will continue to work alongside partners to thwart this industry by decimating its capacity for monetary gain while seeking safeguards for its victims.”
“Sex trafficking is one of the most horrific crimes we confront as a society,” said Chief Guy Ficco of IRS Criminal Investigation. “While traffickers try to operate in the shadows, the money always leaves a trail—and that’s where we come in. IRS-CI is committed to following that financial trail to expose criminal networks and help bring justice to survivors. We’re proud to work with our federal partners to dismantle those who profit from exploitation. Victims in this case should file their petitions by Feb. 2, 2026, to access the compensation they rightfully deserve.”
From 2004 to April 2018, criminals used Backpage.com as an online platform to facilitate commercial sex and sex trafficking, including trafficking of minors. In April 2018, the government seized Backpage.com. To date, Backpage.com, its owners, and key executives and businesses related to the platform have been found guilty of criminal offenses, including conspiring to facilitate unlawful commercial sex using a facility in interstate or foreign commerce and money laundering, and have been sentenced to federal terms of imprisonment.
In December 2024, the Department of Justice forfeited over $200 million in assets traceable to Backpage’s profits. These funds are now available to compensate victims for eligible losses. The Department of Justice has retained Epiq Global Inc. (Epiq) to serve as the Remission Administrator for this matter.
Victims whose sex trafficking was facilitated through advertisements posted on Backpage.com between Jan. 1, 2004, and April 6, 2018, and who incurred financial losses related to their trafficking may be eligible for remission. Individuals, their representatives, or estates of deceased victims may file a petition online or may obtain a Petition Form online at https://www.backpageremission.com/. Victims may also call, email, or write to the Remission Administrator to request that a Petition Form be sent to them.
The deadline to file a petition for remission is Feb, 2, 2026. For more information about the remission process – including eligibility requirements, updates, and frequently asked questions – please visit the official website at https://www.backpageremission.com/ or contact Epiq at 1-888-859-9206 toll-free, or 1-971-316-5053 for international calls, charges may apply. The Remission Administrator and the Justice Department will not ask for any payment to participate in this remission process.
The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the FBI, and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) investigated this matter.
Senior Trial Attorney Austin Berry of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Rapp with assistance on forfeiture from Joseph Bozdech of the District of Arizona are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Galatzan, Chief of the Central District of California’s Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section, handled the asset forfeiture aspects of the related civil cases. Special Agent Richard Robinson of IRS-CI, Special Agent Desirae Tolhurst of the FBI, USPIS Inspectors Lyndon Versoza and Quoc Thai, and Analyst Jane Chung with the Joint Regional Intelligence Center, spearheaded the investigation.
The Department of Justice, through the Asset Forfeiture Program, works diligently to compensate victims of crime. Since 2000, the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS), which oversees the Asset Forfeiture Program’s victim compensation program, has successfully used its specialized expertise to return more than $12 billion in forfeited assets to victims of crime. MLARS Senior Attorney Advisor Jane K. Lee and Attorney Advisor Brittany R. Van Camp with the section’s Program Management and Training Unit are leading the remission process.
U.S. Attorney's Office to Participate in Community Events During National Night OutRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Federal prosecutors and personnel with the U.S. Attorney’s Office will join community organizers, local neighborhoods, and law enforcement partners in the Western District for National Night Out on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.
National Night Out (NNO) 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.
During this year’s National Night Out, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will attend community events in Charlotte organized by the West Boulevard Neighborhood Coalition and the Hidden Valley Community Association, to engage with community members, answer questions, and share information about federal public safety initiatives. Representatives from the U.S. Attorney’s Office will also be at Stumpton Park in Matthews and the Kenilworth Forest neighborhood in Asheville.
“Our communities are safer when law enforcement and neighborhoods work together to prevent and address crime,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “That’s the point of National Night Out, and we are proud to join our law enforcement partners and communities across the district on this special night.”
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/
Two Ohio Men Sentenced to Combined 62 Years in Prison for Sexual Crimes Against ChildrenRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND and AKRON, Ohio – The U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) has announced enforcement actions for Title 18 violations involving exploitation and abuse of children and child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). These cases are separate and not related. U.S. District Court Judge Bridget Meehan Brennan imposed the sentences.
Jordan Dodd, 24, of Jefferson, Ohio, was sentenced to 600 months (50 years) in prison and a lifetime of supervised release after imprisonment by U.S. District Judge Bridget Meehan Brennan. In February, Dodd pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography and conspiracy to produce child pornography. Judge Brennan imposed the sentence July 24. Court documents show that in April 2024 while Dodd was incarcerated on an unrelated matter, he began an online relationship with an adult female. He conspired with her to take sexually explicit photographs of an infant she had in her care and send those photographs to him while he was still incarcerated. In a separate investigation which began in September 2023, Dodd was found to have possessed digital devices with images that contained CSAM, with at least one image involving a prepubescent minor under the age of 12.
Michael Monroe James, 28, of Clinton, Ohio, was sentenced to 151 months in prison (more than 12 years) after he pleaded guilty in March to receipt and distribution of visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and possession of child pornography. He was also ordered to serve 15 years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $7,500 in restitution. Judge Brennan imposed the sentence July 21. Court documents show that in June 2024, James was engaging in sexually explicit and violent communications with an undercover agent purporting to be a pregnant 11-year-old girl using the Whisper social media app. During a search of James’ electronic devices, investigators found more than 700 files of CSAM involving infants or of a sadistic nature. The defendant was also found to have created artificial intelligence-generated nude photos of other minors.
The FBI Cleveland Division conducted the investigations for both cases.
Each case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Toni Beth Schnellinger Feisthamel for the Northern District of Ohio.
These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
To report child sexual abuse, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Two Men Unlawfully Residing in the United States Face Federal Charges After Traffic Stop Yields More than 100 Pounds of Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, and CocaineRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.—Two suspected drug traffickers face federal charges after they were caught transporting approximately 120 pounds of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine on Interstate 5 in Linn County, Oregon.
Jesus Campos Roman, 29, a Mexican national unlawfully residing in Washington, and Eduar David Freites-Mosquera, 27, a Bolivian national unlawfully residing in Washington, have been charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine.
According to court documents, on July 30, 2025, an Oregon State Police officer initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Roman and occupied by Freites-Mosquera. After a drug detection dog alerted to the presence of narcotics, investigators searched the vehicle and found numerous packages in the trunk containing more than 110 pounds of methamphetamine, five pounds of cocaine, and four pounds of fentanyl pills.
Roman and Freites-Mosquera made their first appearances in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge and were ordered detained pending further court proceedings.
The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Oregon State Police. It is being prosecuted by Joseph Huynh, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Two Men Charged for Nationwide Fraud Scheme Targeting Hundreds of Elderly VictimsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton; Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Christopher G. Raia; and Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, announced charges against JINGBIN JIANG and SU JIAN LIU, a/k/a “Fatty,” a/k/a “Ah Pang,” for a scheme to defraud elderly victims across the United States, which attempted to steal over $18 million from over 350 victims and resulted in actual losses of over $5 million to over 70 victims. JIANG was arrested in Staten Island this morning and will be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron. LIU is still at large. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil.
“As alleged, Jingbin Jiang and Su Jian Liu worked together with others to steal the hard-earned money of some our most vulnerable New Yorkers and others around the country,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Taking advantage of our elderly after they have worked so hard to save and contributed so much to our city and this country is heartless and despicable. These charges, and the efforts of the FBI and the NYPD, should serve as a warning to fraudsters and cybercriminals: New Yorkers want you held accountable for your crimes, and the women and men of our Office are committed to doing so.”
“Jingbin Jiang and Su Jian Liu allegedly defrauded elderly victims of more than $5 million by utilizing extortionate tactics to coerce withdrawals of significant cash or purchases of gold,” said FBI Assistant Director Christopher G. Raia. “This alleged conspiracy wielded fear of bankruptcy and arrest to ensure victims complied with the unlawful requests for money. The FBI is committed to apprehending any individual who utilizes online platforms to target and exploit vulnerable victims across the country.”
“These defendants allegedly led a nationwide fraud scheme with the goal of targeting innocent, elderly victims and stealing millions of their hard-earned savings,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “Jingbin Jiang and Su Jian Liu allegedly participated in a plot involving elaborate, fictitious narratives to manipulate elderly victims and trick them into participating in their scheme, which involved attempts to steal over $18 million from 350 people. I am grateful to the members of the NYPD, FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for holding these alleged predatory fraudsters accountable.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:[1]
Between at least in or about 2023 and in or about July 2025, JIANG and LIU participated with others in a fraudulent scheme that primarily targeted elderly victims located all across the United States, including in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, California, Connecticut, Arizona, North Carolina, South Carolina, Missouri, Mississippi, Kentucky, Utah, Oregon, Colorado, and Montana.
The scheme proceeded in the following manner: First, victims would typically see a pop-up message on their computers indicating that they needed to call a particular phone number controlled by members of the scheme. The pop-up message would typically claim to come from a technology company, a bank, or the government. Second, when victims called the phone number, they were told a fictitious narrative that would ultimately lead to a suggestion that the victims withdraw money from their bank account. For example, some victims were falsely told that their computers had a virus, or that their computers had been hacked into and used to commit serious crimes, like downloading child sexual abuse material. Others were falsely told that their bank accounts had been compromised and were vulnerable to unauthorized withdrawals. To avoid arrest or protect their bank accounts from being compromised, victims were instructed to withdraw large amounts of cash from their bank accounts or purchase large quantities of gold. Some victims were even told that their money would be safely held in the custody of a consumer protection agency like the Federal Trade Commission, and they were sent notices on fake federal government letterhead purporting to bear the signature of a federal government official:
Third, many victims were told that a courier would be arriving at their home (or other coordinated pick-up location) to retrieve the gold and/or cash. Victims were often provided with the courier’s name (which was fictitious), a description of the courier’s clothing, and sometimes a password, purportedly to ensure the courier was authorized to pick up the gold and/or cash. Other victims were told to purchase and transfer cryptocurrency or gift cards, which did not require a courier. Victims were typically under the impression that this gold and/or cash would then be deposited, on the victims’ behalf, into a new, safe, uncompromised bank account (or with the Federal Trade Commission, as noted above) that they could access without concern in the future. In reality, these funds were stolen and never returned to the victims. Some victims engaged in multiple transactions before realizing the fraudulent nature of the scheme.
JIANG and LIU participated in the scheme by managing and supervising the couriers that traveled to meet the victims to pick up the cash and gold, which was then transported back to New York City. JIANG and LIU received information about potential victims from other members of the scheme on text-messaging platforms, in messages that typically included the zip codes and the amounts of cash or gold to be collected from each victim. JIANG and LIU could then decide whether to accept the pick-up, and if they did, the other members of the scheme would provide more specific details about the victim and when and where to pick up the cash or gold. After arranging for couriers to make the pick-ups, JIANG and LIU would provide updates to other members of the scheme about the couriers’ progress. After the victims provided the criminal proceeds to the couriers, JIANG and LIU arranged for the criminal proceeds to be distributed to other members of the scheme, including by converting cash and gold into cryptocurrency to be easily transmitted to members of the scheme located overseas, including in India and China. In total, members of the conspiracy have attempted to steal at least approximately $18 million from over 350 victims, and they have successfully stolen at least approximately $5 million from over 70 victims.
If you or someone you know has been victimized by this scheme, please file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, which is available at ic3.gov.
* * *
JIANG, 37, of Staten Island, New York, and LIU, 38 of Edmond, Oklahoma, are both charged with one count of wire fraud conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the investigative work of the FBI and NYPD’s Joint Organized Crime Task Force. Mr. Clayton also thanked the New York State Police and the Bedford Police Department for their assistance in the investigation of this case.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent & Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew K. Chan and Angela Zhu are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
u.s._v._jiang_and_liu_indictment.pdf
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation.
Turner Falls Man Sentenced for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Turner Falls man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Springfield, Mass., for possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Edward Dunphy, 79, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to three years in prison and five years of supervised release. In April 2025, Dunphy pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography.
Beginning in October 2022, an investigation began into online peer-to-peer file sharing networks used for the distribution of CSAM and, in February 2023, Dunphy was identified as a user actively uploading and downloading CSAM
During a May 18, 2023 search of Dunphy’s home, a computer with an internal hard drive, eight external hard drives, a cell phone and an SD card among other items were seized. Upon forensic examination of these materials, over 340,000 files containing CSAM were located – including files depicting the sexual abuse or exploitation of an infant or toddler and depicting the forcible rape of minor females.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Randy Maloney, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Montague Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Sullivan of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Tracy Man Pleads Guilty for his Role in Murder-for-Hire PlotRead the Press Release
Shaminderjit Singh Sandhu, 51, of Tracy, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to use interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder for hire, Acting U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Sanchez announced.
According to court documents, Sandhu conspired with Jagninder Singh Boparai, 49, of Manteca, and Ramesh Kumar Birla Jr., 47, of Dublin, to murder Victim 2. In February 2023, Boparai, Sandhu, and Birla repeatedly met with a person they believed to be a hitman at a Starbucks in Manteca. Unbeknownst to Singh and his co-defendants throughout their interactions, the hitman was a confidential informant working for the FBI. On Feb. 17, 2024, Boparai told the supposed hitman that the first job involved the assault of Victim 1, and once he proved his trustworthiness, he would be given another job. The following day, Boparai met the confidential informant again and offered to pay $6,000 for the assault of Victim 1. In March 2023, in the presence of Birla and another individual, Boparai met with the confidential informant, and Boparai gave the confidential informant $1,000 as a down payment for the assault. After more time had passed, the confidential informant showed Boparai a staged photo of Victim l lying on the ground covered in bruises, dirt, and blood to indicate the assault had occurred. Boparai said he liked the photo and told the confidential informant that he had two other “jobs,” one of which involved robbing a business, and the other involved making a person “disappear.”
According to court documents, in March 2023, Boparai met with the confidential informant to pay the confidential informant $10,000 as a down payment for the murder of Victim 2. Sandhu provided Victim 2’s address, and Boparai instructed the confidential informant that Victim 2 must disappear without any evidence remaining. Boparai then made two calls to Birla asking for Victim 2’s Facebook profile. Boparai subsequently received a Facebook profile picture of Victim 2, which he showed to the confidential informant. On March 24, 2023, Sandhu and Birla met with the confidential informant in a parking lot in Manteca. Sandhu and Birla claimed that Boparai was out of town, but Boparai was observed by surveillance remaining in a car in the same parking lot. Sandhu and Birla instructed the confidential informant to kill Victim 2 and take Victim 2’s remains to Mexico in a suitcase.
All three defendants were arrested on March 31, 2023, and are currently in federal custody.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the California Highway Patrol, the Ceres Police Department, the Dublin Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Lathrop Police Department, the Modesto Police Department, the San Joaquin County Probation Office, the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation, the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office, the Stockton Police Department, the Tracy Police Department, the Turlock Police Department, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adrian T. Kinsella and Kevin Khasigian are prosecuting the case.
Sandhu is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 13, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta. Sandhu faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 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.
Boparai pleaded guilty for his role in the offense on Jan. 23, 2025, and is pending sentencing on Aug. 7, 2025. He faces the same penalties as Sandhu.
Birla is scheduled for a further status conference on Oct. 23, 2025. If convicted, he faces the same penalties as Sandhu and Boparai. As to Birla, the charges are only allegations; he is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Tampa Man and Woman Indicted for Forcibly Assaulting and Impeding Federal AgentRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Alfredo Javier Fuentes (22, Tampa) and Luz Mary Vasquez Cruz (45, Tampa) with forcibly assaulting, resisting, or impeding a federal officer or employee. If convicted, Fuentes and Cruz each face a maximum penalty of eight years in federal prison.
According to court records, on July 15, 2025, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents were investigating a Honduran national for immigration-related matters at a residence in Tampa when Vasquez and Cruz placed themselves between agents and the subject of the investigation. Vasquez and Cruz shoved an HSI agent backwards, allowing the subject to flee into the residence.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.
Seven Face Methamphetamine Charges in Southeast MissouriRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – Seven southeast Missouri residents have been arrested on federal indictments accusing them of drug crimes.
All were indicted on July 1, 2025, and were arrested in a coordinated operation in recent weeks involving the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Sikeston Department of Public Safety (DPS), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the United States Marshals Service, the Charleston Police Department, the Mississippi County Sheriff's Office, the Scott County Sheriff's Office and the Missouri Air National Guard.
Walter L. Rainey Jr., 51, of Sikeston, appeared in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau on Tuesday facing two counts of methamphetamine distribution. His detention motion says he sold a total of four ounces of meth during an investigation conducted by the DEA and the Sikeston DPS in 2024.
Sikeston residents Ruben R. Hampton, 28, Rachaun L. Dorsey, 46, and Raheem O. Jones, 27, each face at least one count of methamphetamine distribution. Hampton faces a total of four, as well as two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Dorsey faces three counts of methamphetamine distribution. Motions seeking to have the men held in jail until trial say they sold meth during a Sikeston DPS investigation.
Malcom J. Turner, 34, of Sikeston, Christopher A. Howard, 48, of Sikeston, and William J. Bogan III, 26, of Scott City, in Scott County, Missouri, were each indicted separately with one count of methamphetamine distribution. A detention motion says the men sold meth during a DEA investigation.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
“The indictment of these individuals proves once again that no jurisdiction is immune to the presence of narcotics,” DEA St. Louis Division Special Agent in Charge Michael Davis said. “The DEA, in conjunction with our partners at the Sikeston Department of Public Safety and other law enforcement agencies, are to be applauded for investigating and removing these individuals from the streets of Southeast Missouri.”
“This operation shows the ongoing collaboration between local and federal law enforcement,” said Sikeston Department of Public Safety Chief James B. McMillen. “Continuing to work together and sharing intelligence is the key to success. Our DEA partners are a vital part of our efforts to remove these dangerous people from our community.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Hahn and Julie Hunter are prosecuting the cases.
Serial Armed Robber and Rapist Sentenced for “Nightmarish” CrimesRead the Press Release
DETROIT – Today, Deandre Martece Williams was sentenced to 327 months in prison on charges of felon in possession of a firearm and kidnapping, in connection with a series of armed robberies, non-fatal shootings, and rapes he committed in 2023, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. announced. In sentencing Williams, United States District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith stated that Williams’s “utter disregard for human dignity is breathtaking in the worst sense of the word” and referred to his conduct as “nightmarish.” During a three month stretch in 2023, Williams victimized fifteen people in eight separate incidents, seriously injuring four people, and raping three at gunpoint.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by James Deir, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Detroit Field Division, Chief Todd Bettison, Detroit Police Department (DPD), and Kym Worthy, Wayne County Prosecutor.
During the investigation, DPD collected fired cartridge casings from the scene of multiple shootings. With the help of the ATF and the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), they identified a pattern of targeting sex workers and their customers. The ATF and DPD methodically pieced together other evidence from the crime scenes and identified Williams as a suspect. On October 20, 2023, ATF agents executed a federal search warrant at Williams’s house, arrested him, and found the gun used in the robberies.
Williams frequently found his victims in parked cars along neighborhood streets. Williams commonly approached on foot, placed his handgun through an open window or door, and robbed his victims. After the robberies, Williams shot at several of the victims as they tried to flee. Several of the victims were injured by gunfire. Williams raped two of his victims during the robberies.
Through their investigation of the robberies, the ATF and DPD uncovered evidence linking Williams to a rape and adult kidnapping. Williams and that victim had agreed to meet over a dating app. When Williams arrived at the victim’s hotel room, he pulled out a handgun and held the victim at gunpoint for several hours while repeatedly raping the victim.
Williams’s arrest for the robberies also led to DNA evidence linking him to an unsolved Criminal Sexual Conduct from 2012. Williams pleaded guilty to two counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct in the Third Circuit Court in Detroit for those offenses and was sentenced in March to 10 years 6 months up to 20 years prison in the Wayne County Third Circuit Court.
“We should all hate robbery and cruelty. And this sinister man did plenty of both. For years, he was prowling around our streets. But through ingenuity and hard work, the ATF and DPD made our city safer,” said U.S. Attorney Gorgon.
“Deandre Williams is a ruthless predator who used firearms to dominate, violate, and destroy lives,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge James Deir. “He didn’t just break the law — he shattered families, preyed on the vulnerable, instilled fear, and left a trail of mayhem wherever he went. ATF’s unique firearm expertise will continue to be the bedrock of gun violence reduction efforts in Detroit. This expertise enables ATF and our law enforcement partners to identify AND target the most prolific shooters across the Detroit metropolitan community for federal prosecution. Mr. Williams is a poster child for what this partnership does: removing violent thugs from the community. Williams will now need to pack a suitcase because he will be behind bars. Exactly, where he deserves to be.”
“The investigation of Deandre Williams yielded an unexpected dividend. WCPO was able to successfully prosecute Williams on a 2012 sexual assault case as a direct result of evidence collected in his federal cases. We are pleased that all of his victims will see him receive the justice he deserves,” said Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in conjunction with the Detroit Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Second Defendant Charged in a Superseding Indictment After Allegedly Assaulting Two Motorcyclists in Skull ValleyRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Alex Doran Craig, 32, of Tooele County, Utah, with multiple violent crimes after he and his codefendant, previously charged, allegedly zip-tied, kidnapped, and assaulted two motorcyclists when they unknowingly crossed onto the Skull Valley Indian Reservation.
According to court documents, in April 2025, Craig and Russell Allen, 50, of Tooele County, Utah, allegedly assaulted the victims and told them they were trespassing on Indian land. The victims were allegedly ordered to the ground facedown, zip-tied, kicked and threatened with a knife.
As alleged, the defendants took the victims’ belongings, including their motorcycles, purportedly as an impound for trespassing. The victims were then transported in a truck traveling at an estimated 100 mph to a remote desert area. The victims were then released without any of their property and had to hike over 10 miles, which took about six or seven hours, for help from the Dugway gate guards. Law enforcement later recovered the motorcycles in a maintenance shed on Skull Valley Indian Reservation Road. In June 2025, many of the additional stolen items were recovered by law enforcement, including two cell phones, two wallets containing identification cards for the victims and a GoPro Max camera. During the investigation, video evidence, victim reports, witnesses and jail calls identified both Craig and Allen as participants in the alleged crimes against the victims.
Craig and Allen are charged with kidnapping, assault, and theft while within Indian Country. Their initial appearance on the superseding indictment is scheduled for July 31, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorney Sam Pead of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Schenectady Man Sentenced to 63 Months for Drug ConvictionRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Terrell Bell, age 28, of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced yesterday to 63 months in prison for possessing and intending to distribute fentanyl. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
Bell previously admitted that he was on parole in January 2024 when law enforcement searched his home in Schenectady and discovered nearly 1,800 fentanyl pills in his bedroom and more than $90,000 throughout the home.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated, “Bell didn’t learn his lesson after a prior felony conviction and term of parole, but he should learn it now: Dealing drugs in this District doesn’t pay. My Office will make sure of it.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig A. Tremaroli stated: “This sentence proves any criminal who chooses to profit from poisoning our communities will be held accountable. The FBI remains deeply committed to working with our partners at every level of law enforcement to investigate and bring to justice these individuals trafficking dangerous drugs on our streets.”
Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. also imposed a 4-year term of supervised release. Bell has also consented to forfeiture of the money found in his home.
FBI investigated this case with the assistance of the Schenectady Police Department, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikayla Espinosa prosecuted it.
San Antonio man sentenced to 41 months for transporting illegal aliens in open truck bedRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 37-year-old San Antonio resident has been ordered to federal prison for transporting 10 illegal aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Jonathan Ray Balderas pleaded guilty Feb. 6.
U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo has now ordered Balderas to serve 41 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court considered images showing the substantial risk of death or bodily injury Balderas created by transporting eight of the 10 aliens in the open bed of his truck, covered only by a thin tarp. The court also considered the loaded pistol found on Balderas’s waistband and communications indicating his involvement in other smuggling events.
“Placing human beings in the back of a truck under a tarp while carrying a loaded firearm shows a blatant disregard for life and the law. All it would have taken is a single driver error to cause multiple people to lose their lives,” said Ganjei. “The Southern District of Texas will bring to justice anybody who seeks to make a quick buck through unlawful and dangerous and smuggling operations.”
“Human smuggling is a serious federal crime that endangers lives and threatens the security of our communities,” said Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig S. Larrabee. “HSI in close coordination with our partners at U.S. Border Patrol, is committed to dismantling smuggling networks and holding individuals accountable for their actions. The arrest of Jonathan Balderas and the recovery of 10 smuggled aliens underscores the importance of our continued efforts to combat this dangerous criminal activity and bring offenders to justice.”
On Nov. 18, 2024, law enforcement observed Balderas’s truck attempting to circumvent the U.S. Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint at the 29-mile marker of Interstate Highway 35. Authorities noticed the outline of people inside the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. As they approached, they observed shoes protruding out from under the tarp.
Authorities discovered eight illegal aliens in the truck’s open bed and two more hiding inside. The aliens were citizens of Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala.
Balderas will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
ICE-HSI and BP conducted the investigation with the assistance of Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Game Wardens. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tae W. Chon prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Roanoke Man Sentenced to 150 Months for Role in Robbery Conspiracy Connected to Murder of Drug SupplierRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A Roanoke, Virginia man involved in distributing large quantities of marijuana and helping plan a robbery that ultimately led to the murder of his drug supplier, was sentenced yesterday to 150 months in federal prison.
Garrett Isaac Williams, 22, pled guilty in February 2025 to one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery. In April, Williams’ co-defendant, Joseph Walker, was sentenced to 35 years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of Hobbs Act Robbery and one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, beginning no later than January 2023, Walker and Williams conspired to distribute marijuana and marijuana wax they sourced from E.B., who periodically traveled from Pennsylvania to supply the pair at Mr. Walker’s residence in Roanoke.
Eventually, the men fell into debt to E.B. Then, in an effort to collect money he was owed, E.B. attempted to phone Walker but instead inadvertently called Walker’s mother. This phone call caused Walker and Williams to set in motion a plan to end their relationship with E.B. However, instead of paying down their debt, they conspired to order more marijuana from E.B., rob E.B. of that marijuana upon delivery and, in so doing, scare him from returning to Virginia.
On April 17, 2023, E.B. traveled from Pennsylvania to Walker’s residence, bringing with him approximately 10 pounds of marijuana and two pounds of marijuana wax in a deal facilitated by Williams. During E.B.’s trip, Williams maintained communication with him and provided updates to Walker so that he was prepared for E.B.’s arrival. For his part, Walker concealed a Sig Sauer, .45 caliber pistol on his person, intending to use it as part of the robbery. Upon E.B.’s arrival, Walker confronted E.B. about the phone call E.B. made to his mother, before shooting him twice, killing him. Afterwards, Walker, as planned, took the marijuana that E.B. had brought with him and, to conceal his crime, moved E.B.’s body out of his residence, placed it in the trunk of E.B.’s car and drove to Bedford County, Virginia where he set the car on fire.
While not physically present at the time of the robbery, Williams admitted to planning to rob E.B by force.
C. Todd Gilbert, United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, Stephen Farina, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, and Colonel Matthew D. Hanley, Superintendent of Virginia State Police made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Virginia State Police, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, the Roanoke City Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, the Roanoke City Police Department, the Roanoke County Police Department, the City of Lynchburg Police Department, and the Bedford County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office are investigating the case.
The Star City Drug and Violent Crime Task Force also aided in the investigation and is comprised of officers from the Roanoke City Police Department, Roanoke County Police Department, City of Salem Virginia Police Department, the Vinton Police Department, and Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation's Salem Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys M. Coleman Adams and Kelly McGann are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew O. Inman.
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).
Rapid City Woman Sentenced to Nearly 3 Years in Federal Prison Following Conviction for Conspiracy to Commit Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a woman from Rapid City, South Dakota, who was convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. The sentencing took place on July 25, 2025.
Kiana Pilcher, 29, was sentenced to two years and 11 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Pilcher was indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering by a federal grand jury in April 2024. She pleaded guilty on May 5, 2025.
Pilcher worked with multiple individuals involved in a cocaine conspiracy to help them move money generated by the distribution of cocaine through electronic transactions. Pilcher and others deposited money into her bank account from drug proceeds and the account was then used to send the proceeds to drug sources in Texas. Investigators determined that approximately $90,000 in cash was deposited into Pilcher’s account through ATM deposits. Pilcher was also involved in the distribution of cocaine. While Pilcher was involved in the conspiracy, the group distributed over three kilograms of cocaine in the Rapid City area.
This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Division of Criminal Investigation. UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, the Rapid City Police Department, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Pilcher was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to 17 ½ Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in and Around Rapid CityRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a man from Rapid City, South Dakota, who was convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on July 25, 2025.
Andre Gibson, 46, was sentenced to 17 years and six months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Gibson was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in May 2024. He pleaded guilty on May 9, 2025.
Gibson received multiple packages of methamphetamine through the United States Mail Service from surrounding states and worked with others to sell the methamphetamine within South Dakota. Working with others from outside of South Dakota, Gibson ultimately distributed between 1.5 and 5 kilograms (between 3 and 11 pounds) of methamphetamine in the Rapid City area.
“More and more often, criminals are shipping narcotics through the U.S. mail system,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. “Fortunately, our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners are highly skilled at intercepting these packages and tracking down suspects, thereby allowing the U.S. Attorney’s Office to secure federal convictions and pursue significant prison sentences, just as we did against Andre Gibson.”
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the South Dakota Highway Patrol, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.
Gibson was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced for Possession of Pistol While on Pretrial ReleaseRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Andre Jamar Turman, 34, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 28 months in federal prison for being a previously convicted felon in possession of a loaded Haskell Model JS-45 pistol while he was on probation and on pretrial release for multiple cases, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Turman pleaded guilty on Dec. 17, 2024, to the indictment charging him with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to the 28-month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Jia M. Cobb ordered Turman to serve three years of supervised release.
Joining in the announcement were U.S. Marshal Robert Dixon of D.C. Superior Court, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)
According to court documents, on May 4, 2023, Deputy U.S. Marshals and MPD detectives were searching for Turman due to numerous bench warrants out of D.C. Superior Court as well as an outstanding arrest warrant.
At about 11:30 a.m., officers spotted and arrested Turman on the 2400 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, near Twining Square Park. A Deputy U.S. Marshal patted down the right front pants pocket and recovered a loaded Haskell Model JS-45 pistol. The firearm was not registered in the District of Columbia. In addition, the firearm previously had been reported as stolen.
Turman was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had been previously convicted of carrying a pistol without a license and sentenced to more than a year in prison.
At the time of his arrest, he was on probation and pretrial release for multiple cases—including release in another firearm case in Maryland.
This case was investigated by the MPD and U.S. Marshals. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shezhad Akhtar and Chrisellen Rebecca Kolb.
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Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced for Possession of Pistol While on Pretrial ReleaseRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Andre Jamar Turman, 34, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 28 months in federal prison for being a previously convicted felon in possession of a loaded Haskell Model JS-45 pistol while he was on probation and on pretrial release for multiple cases, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Turman pleaded guilty on Dec. 17, 2024, to the indictment charging him with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to the 28-month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Jia M. Cobb ordered Turman to serve three years of supervised release.
Joining in the announcement were U.S. Marshal Robert Dixon of D.C. Superior Court, Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)
According to court documents, on May 4, 2023, Deputy U.S. Marshals and MPD detectives were searching for Turman due to numerous bench warrants out of D.C. Superior Court as well as an outstanding arrest warrant.
At about 11:30 a.m., officers spotted and arrested Turman on the 2400 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, near Twining Square Park. A Deputy U.S. Marshal patted down the right front pants pocket and recovered a loaded Haskell Model JS-45 pistol. The firearm was not registered in the District of Columbia. In addition, the firearm previously had been reported as stolen.
Turman was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had been previously convicted of carrying a pistol without a license and sentenced to more than a year in prison.
At the time of his arrest, he was on probation and pretrial release for multiple cases—including release in another firearm case in Maryland.
This case was investigated by the ATF, MPD, and U.S. Marshals. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shezhad Akhtar and Chrisellen Rebecca Kolb.
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Postal Employee Pleads Guilty to COVID Relief FraudRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Marina Tusca Brooks Stewart (62, Groveland) has pleaded guilty to wire fraud related to COVID relief. Stewart faces up to 20 years in federal prison. She is also facing a forfeiture order of $10,000, which represents the proceeds she obtained through this offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, during the COVID pandemic, the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) offered Targeted Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Advances that did not need to be repaid. The advances were for small businesses that were in low-income communities and received a reduction in revenue of more than 30% during an eight-week period. Between June 28 and 30, 2020, Brooks devised a scheme to defraud the SBA by electronically applying for an EIDL advance and providing false representations in her application. Based on her false representations, Stewart fraudulently received a $10,000 EIDL advance.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Service - Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by visiting the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice. gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Postal Employee Pleads Guilty to COVID Relief FraudRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Kenneth Tyrone Jackson (59, Ocala) has pleaded guilty to wire fraud related to COVID relief. Jackson faces up to 20 years in federal prison. He is also facing a forfeiture order of $19,333, which represents the proceeds he obtained through this offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, during the COVID pandemic, the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) offered loans to small businesses under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Between March 18 and April 1, 2021, Jackson devised a scheme to defraud the SBA by applying for a PPP loan with false representations. Jackson claimed that he owned a landscaping business that made $99,675 in 2019, which was not true. Jackson also provided the SBA with a fraudulent IRS tax form as proof of this reported income. Based on his false representations, Jackson fraudulently received a $19,333 loan from the SBA.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Service - Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID can report it by visiting the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www. justice. gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Pasco Man Caught with 25 Pounds of Methamphetamine Sentenced to 10 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Yakima, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Stephanie Van Marter announced that Jesus Birrueta-Mendoza, age 27, a citizen of Mexico residing in Pasco, Washington, was sentenced on charges of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. Birrueta-Mendoza pleaded guilty to those charges on February 18, 2025. Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian sentenced Birrueta-Mendoza to 10 years in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, on January 18, 2024, Birrueta-Mendoza was engaged in ongoing negotiations to sell upwards of 50 pounds of methamphetamine. On the day of the intended transaction, Birrueta-Mendoza was arrested by agents of the Department of Homeland Security and found to be in possession of 25 pounds of methamphetamine at a location in Sunnyside, Washington. Birrueta-Mendoza was unlawfully present in the United States when he committed this serious federal offense after being removed by authorities three times in 2018.
“Mr. Birrueta-Mendoza was engaged in drug trafficking after unlawfully returning to the United States. He intended to distribute a large amount of methamphetamine into our community without concern about its impact.” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Van Marter. “This office remains committed to working with our federal, state and tribal partners to remove those offenders who pose such a threat. This sentence reflects the seriousness of his actions and my office’s commitment to hold drug distributors accountable.”
“HSI remains committed to combating transnational criminal organizations that import and distribute narcotics in our communities,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Seattle Acting Special Agent in Charge Colin Jackson. “HSI will continue to ensure that individuals like Mr. Birrueta-Mendoza, who attempt to distribute narcotics in the Pacific Northwest, are held accountable.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael D. Murphy.
1:24-cr-02007-SAB
Ohio Child Predator Sentenced to 15 Years’ Imprisonment for Kidnapping and Sexually Abusing a California TeenRead the Press Release
ST. GEORGE, Utah – Ryan Gary Patch, 28, of Dayton, Ohio, was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment today and a lifetime term of supervised release after he kidnapped and sexually abused a 15-year-old girl that he met on Instagram, before he was captured and arrested in Cedar City, Utah.
The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Ann Marie McIff Allen, comes after Patch pleaded guilty on March 27, 2025, to transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. As part of his sentence, the court ordered Patch to pay $11,093.15 in restitution to the victim.
According to court documents and statements made at Patch’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, on July 24, 2024, the Cedar City Police Department received a call of an abducted minor being transported through Utah. According to the reporting party, the 15-year-old victim was taken from her home in California in the early morning hours of July 24, 2024, and was being transported to Ohio. The victim contacted her family from a newly created Instagram account on a newly gifted iPad and provided them information on her whereabouts. The victim’s phone was previously broken and disposed of by Patch before he took her from California. He also told the victim to factory reset various electronic devices and deleted their respective Snapchat and Instagram accounts. Based on the provided victim’s location, officers in Cedar City responded and found a car matching the description the victim had provided. In the car, officers found a teenage girl in the back seat and an adult male in the front seat, later identified as Patch, who appeared to be sleeping. Patch repeatedly claimed the girl was his sister, but after speaking to her, officers confirmed she was the victim they were looking for. Patch was arrested and officers found child sexual abuse materials depicting the victim on an iPad in the vehicle. Investigators also executed search warrants on Snapchat accounts known to belong to Patch and the victim. Both accounts contained child pornography depicting the victim and Patch’s plans to “come get” the victim. Patch’s account also had messages and explicit photograph exchanges with other accounts that appeared to belong to underage minors.
“It was only due to the victim’s technological savvy and quick thinking that Patch’s terrifying plan was undone. Nonetheless, his abduction of the victim has inflicted trauma no one should have to endure,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti of the District of Utah. Communities are safer with defendants like Patch behind bars, and it is our hope that the victim and her family can continue to heal knowing justice is being served.”
The case was investigated jointly by the Utah Department of Public Safety: Utah Highway Patrol (UHP), State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), and the Cedar City Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Burton and Brady Wilson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Ocala Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Transfer Obscene Material to A MinorRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Nicholas Robert Davis (30, Ocala) has pleaded guilty to attempting to transfer obscene material to a minor. Davis faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is set for August 22, 2025.
According to court documents, during an undercover operation on July 24, 2024, a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agent posed as a 13-year-old girl (UC) and received a message on an online social media platform from Davis. After learning the UC’s age, Davis and an undercover detective from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, also posing as the minor, had a video call. Davis exposed his genitalia during the call and, afterward, engaged in a sexually explicit conversation with the UC. He also sent the UC an explicit video himself.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Nurse indicted for deceptively obtaining Percocet and OxycodoneRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, returned an indictment charging a Missouri woman with illegally obtaining controlled narcotics.
According to court documents, Brooke Haller, 40, of Kansas City, Missouri, is charged with four counts of possession of a controlled substance by deception and subterfuge.
Haller, a nurse, allegedly obtained Percocet and Oxycodone through misrepresentation and fraud.
The defendant made her initial court appearance on July 25, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Angel D. Mitchell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Faiza Alhambra is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###New Haven Man Sentenced to More than 6 Years in Federal Prison for Fentanyl Trafficking OffenseRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JESUS SEGUINOT, also known as “Chuchi,” 35, of New Haven, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 78 months of imprisonment for his role in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 25, 2020, Seguinot was sentenced in New Haven federal court to 30 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for drug distribution and gun possession offenses. He was released from federal prison in May 2021. In October 2021, the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force learned that Luis Salaman, also known as “Bebe,” was distributing large quantities of narcotics throughout New Haven. The investigation revealed that Salaman worked with Seguinot and others to distribute fentanyl. Between November 2021 and March 2022, investigators made multiple controlled purchases of distribution quantities of fentanyl from Salaman, Seguinot, and their associates. Investigators also learned that Seguinot possessed a firearm during that time.
Seguinot was arrested on April 10, 2023.
On December 19, 2024, a jury found Seguinot and Salaman guilty of conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and Salaman guilty of three counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Seguinot’s criminal history also includes state convictions for drug distribution and weapon possession offenses.
Seguinot has been detained since January 2, 2025.
Salaman, who has been detained since his arrest on April 5, 2022, awaits sentencing.
This investigation has been conducted by FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, which includes members from the FBI, the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Correction, and the New Haven, Milford, East Haven, West Haven, and Wallingford Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang.
Nashville Felon Sentenced to More Than 21 Years in Federal Prison for Multiple Carjacking and Weapons Offenses Committed While He Was on Pre-Trial ReleaseRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – Estifanos Kumssa, 26, of Nashville, Tennessee, was sentenced earlier this week to 260 months in federal prison after having previously convicted after a jury trial on two counts of carjacking and two counts of possessing and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, announced Robert E. McGuire, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee.
“This defendant was already released on bond in state court for a violent crime when he committed more violence, so it was critically important for us to step up to protect our community,” said Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire. “This conviction and the serious sentence he received should illustrate our commitment to prosecuting violent offenders to the fullest extent and holding them accountable so they can’t victimize anyone else in our community.”
"The FBI works closely with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to make sure those bringing violence to our streets are held accountable," said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. "We will continue working together to make our communities a safe place to live, work, and raise a family."
“Criminal defendants on pre-trial release who continue to victimize our community must be held accountable,” said Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake. “Our police department and the United States Attorney’s Office are watching closely for those situations, especially violent scenarios, and are working together to take appropriate action whenever possible.”
On May 30, 2019, at approximately 3:25 p.m., an Uber driver (“Victim A”) was parked and smoking a cigarette in a parking lot in Antioch, Tennessee, as he waited for his next call to pick-up a passenger. Shortly after he parked, Kumssa and an accomplice approached Victim A’s car, Kumssa banged on the window with a pink and black handgun and demanded money. When Victim A replied that he did not have any money, Kumssa shoved his gun through the cracked window, took Victim A’s wallet, and demanded that Victim A get out of his car. Kumssa then got into the driver’s seat, unlocked the passenger door so his accomplice could get in, and fled the scene in Victim A’s car. Victim A later positively identified Kumssa as the person who shoved the gun through his window during the carjacking. Surveillance video from businesses in the area of the carjacking also showed Kumssa wearing a distinctive sweatshirt which he was still wearing when he was arrested.
Less than six hours after the first carjacking, 911 operators were alerted to another carjacking at 2510 Murfreesboro Pike. There were two victims of this second carjacking, the owner of the vehicle (“Victim B”), who was cleaning a business at the time of the carjacking, and a second victim (“Victim C”) who sitting in the vehicle waiting for Victim B when Kumssa and his unidentified accomplice approached it. Victim C, who later positively identified the defendant, stated that Kumssa approached him with a pistol drawn, demanded the keys, and ordered Victim C to get out of the vehicle. Kumssa and his accomplice then got in the vehicle and fled the parking lot. A be-on-the-lookout (“BOLO”) alert was issued for the vehicle and an MNPD patrol officer observed the vehicle in a parking lot in the vicinity of Bell Forge Road and Bell Road, just 2.4 miles from the site of carjacking. MNPD officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop of the stolen vehicle, but it fled north along Bell Road where it was stopped by using spike strips. MNPD officers caught Kumssa after a short foot pursuit and recovered a distinctive pink and black firearm in the path of his flight from the vehicle.
Before these carjackings, Kumssa had been convicted of three state felonies: (1) two counts of auto burglary from events that took place in September 2017; and (2) a carjacking that occurred in January 2018. The jury in the federal case convicted Kumssa of two counts of carjacking and two counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, the jury acquitted Kumssa of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
At the time he committed these carjackings, Kumssa was on pre-trial release on an Especially Aggravated Robbery indictment in Davidson County Circuit Court.
Following his term of imprisonment, Kumssa will be on supervised release for three years.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nashville Field Office, and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Petro and Joshua Kurtzman prosecuted the case.
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Morgan County Man Sentenced for Attempted to Coerce a Minor for SexRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Joel Galen Patton, age 40, of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, was sentenced to 150 months in federal prison for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.
Patton was talking to who he believed to be a 14-year-old female online, requesting nude photos of the teen, as well as sending nudes of himself to her. Patton also requested to meet her for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity.
Patton will serve supervised release for life following his prison sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley Crockett prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the West Virginia State Police.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Mobile Felon Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm During a Botched Home InvasionRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Mobile man was sentenced to 60 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon during a deadly botched home invasion.
According to court documents, Okoye Jabrayll Day, 23, was arrested by Mobile Police Department officers who had responded to a call regarding a home invasion in progress at an apartment complex on April 16, 2024. During that 911 call, the victim reported that several individuals were attempting to break into his apartment and said that he had shot at the armed intruders before locking himself in his bathroom. Another resident of the complex called 911 to report hearing several gunshots and said that she had seen Day, who was in a wheelchair, fleeing the scene of the attempted burglary with a gun in his hand.
When police arrived on-scene, they saw one of the suspected burglars lying dead on the ground from a gunshot wound outside the victim’s apartment. The doorjamb of the victim’s apartment had severe damage from the intruders kicking in the door, which was off its hinges. The apartment had several bullet hole defects in its walls and ceiling. After clearing the apartment, officers found Day and arrested him in the next building over. Day had thrown a loaded Glock .45 caliber pistol into nearby bushes. Ring doorbell camera video from the apartment complex showed Day, the deceased suspect, and two other unidentified males beating on the door of the victim’s apartment.
In an interview with police following his arrest, Day admitted that he had a gun “for [his] protection” because he previously had been shot and paralyzed. Day further admitted that he threw the gun into the bushes because he was “on paper” for prior convictions and was still supervised. At the time Day possessed the Glock pistol, he had prior felony convictions for first-degree receiving stolen property and discharging a gun into an occupied building. Those felony convictions made Day’s possession of the Glock pistol illegal under federal law.
In addition to the 60-month prison sentence, United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer ordered Day to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will receive mental health evaluation and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Moorer ordered Day to pay $100 in special assessments and forfeited Day’s pistol and ammunition to the United States.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (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).
Missoula accountant sentenced to 2 years in prison for defrauding clientsRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – A Missoula accountant who defrauded clients by using their cash payments intended for income taxes for his own personal expenses was sentenced today to 24 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Clawson was also ordered pay full restitution of $1,309,591 to the victims as well as a $20,000 criminal fine.
William Arthur Clawson, 54, pleaded guilty in February 2025 to wire fraud and to corruptly endeavoring to obstruct and impede the administration of the internal revenue laws.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.
The government alleged that from about 2016 to 2021, Clawson used his businesses, Quantum Business Solutions and Endeavor Financial Insights, to defraud clients. Clawson offered accounting and tax preparation services to clients in Montana, Washington and Oklahoma, who were engaged in the cash-intensive medical marijuana industry. Clawson promised to assess the taxes owned by his clients and receive cash payments from them that he would use to pay his fees and the taxes they owed. Instead, Clawson paid only a small portion of the taxes his clients owed and used the remainder of the money on his personal expenses and unrelated debts. Through Clawson’s actions, his clients unknowingly fell behind in paying the taxes they owed.
The government further alleged that between 2019 and 2020, one of Clawson’s clients came under IRS scrutiny because of unpaid taxes. An IRS revenue officer contacted the company as part of efforts to collect taxes owed. The company called Clawson, who was serving as its accountant. Clawson instructed the company not to communicate with the IRS officer and said he would take care of the reported issue. Clawson falsely told the IRS officer that the company had cash flow issues that were making it difficult for the company to pay its taxes. Clawson acted corruptly by making other false statements to the IRS officer on the company’s behalf that Clawson knew would impede the government’s tax collection efforts. Clawson did this to conceal his misappropriation of funds the company gave him to pay its taxes.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Hargrove is prosecuting the case. The IRS Criminal Investigation Division conducted the investigation.
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Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Identity Theft and Seven Others Face Immigration Violations Following Federal Search at Kings Mountain BusinessRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Jose De La Cruz-Lopez, 45, an illegal alien from Mexico, pleaded guilty today to misusing a social security number and using false immigration identification documents, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Seven additional defendants also have been charged federally following the execution of a search and seizure warrant at Buckeye Fire Equipment Company in Kings Mountain, N.C. In addition to De La Cruz-Lopez, two others have also entered guilty pleas. Charges against others are expected after additional investigation.
“Identity theft is a pervasive problem that can wreak havoc on a victim’s life,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “We take it very seriously, particularly in cases like this where it undermines our employment laws and the integrity of the hiring process. As this investigation continues, we want to remind employers to exercise vigilance and remain alert for counterfeit documents used to establish a worker’s identity and employment eligibility.”
According to plea documents and other court filings, De La Cruz-Lopez, who is not authorized to work in the United States, admitted to obtaining employment at Buckeye Fire Equipment using the Social Security Number and personally identifiable information of another individual who is eligible to work in the United States and used that information on false identification documents. The falsified documents included a driver’s license bearing De La Cruz-Lopez’s image and the name of the individual eligible to work in the United States and a copy of the individual’s Social Security card. The defendant, who had been employed at the company since 2022, falsely attested on the I-9 employment eligibility verification form that he was the person presented on the ID and that he was a citizen of the United States.
Below are the seven additional defendants charged as a result of the investigation:
Humberto Guzman Lemus, 32, of Mexico, was charged with illegally reentering into the United States. Lemus was previously deported from the United States on December 23, 2019, at or near Hidalgo, Texas, after he was arrested for driving while impaired and failure to stop at a flashing red light. The defendant has pleaded guilty to illegal reentry and is awaiting sentencing.
Angel Antonio Lara Reyes, 52, of Honduras, is charged with illegally reentering into the United States. Reyes was previously deported from the United States on November 21, 2014, at or near Brownsville, Texas. The defendant has pleaded guilty to and is awaiting sentencing.
Arurto Albarras Altunar, 40, of Mexico, is charged with illegal reentry into the United States. Altunar was previously deported from the United States three times in less than 30 days at or near Laredo, Texas on February 14, 2016, and at or near Hidalgo, Texas, on February 20, 2016, and again on March 8, 2016.
Geovany Lopez Lopez, 38, of Guatemala, is charged with illegally reentering the United States. Lopez was previously deported from the United States on May 11, 2011, at or near Columbus, Georgia, after he was arrested for assault on a female, resisting a public officer, and injury to real property.
Luiz Antonio Martinez Lopez, 40, of Mexico, is charged with illegal reentry into the United States. Lopez was previously deported from the United States on August 4, 2011, at or near Laredo, Texas, after he was arrested for a traffic law violation. He was deported again on March 11, 2019, at or near Laredo, Texas, after he was arrested for impaired and reckless driving, wanton disregard, and resisting a public officer.
Alberto Perez Mendoza, 37, of Mexico, is charged with illegal reentry into the United States. Mendoza was previously deported from the United States three times: on July 15, 2006, at or near Brownsville, Texas, on January 21, 2015, at or near Hidalgo, Texas, and again on January 28, 2015, at or near Laredo, Texas.
Enrique Gil Rojano, 52, of Honduras, is charged with illegally reentering the United States. Rojano was previously convicted in California of transporting and/or selling a controlled substance and was sentenced to three years in prison. He was later arrested again and convicted of felony perjury and was subsequently deported from the United States on September 7, 2005.
The charges in the indictments are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The cases announced today are part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Since the implementation of the initiative, 44 individuals have been charged with immigration related offenses in the Western District of North Carolina.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson credited U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, and Emergency Removal Operations for their investigations that led to the charges. U.S. Attorney Ferguson also commended several other law enforcement agencies that assisted in the investigation, to include the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, CBP’s Air and Marine Operations, IRS Criminal Investigation, the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General, the North Carolina National Guard, the DEA, the ATF, King’s Mountain Police, the Gaston County Sheriff’s Department and the Gaston County Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Smith and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Frick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte are prosecuting the cases.
Metairie Man Sentenced to 175 Months Imprisonment for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that KEVIN LILLIS (“LILLIS”), age 51, a resident of Metairie, Louisiana, was sentenced on July 30, 2025 to 175 months in prison by United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo, after previously pleading guilty to distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(2). Judge Milazzo’s sentence also included 15-years of supervised release after LILLIS’s term of imprisonment, a $100 mandatory special assessment fee, and a requirement that LILLIS register as a sex offender. A restitution hearing is set for October 28, 2025
According to the court documents, after receiving a case referral based on evidence gathered in an unrelated investigation, special agents with the FBI executed a search warrant at LILLIS’S residence in March 2024. During the execution of the warrant, agents seized and searched electronic devices belonging to LILLIS that contained files depicting the sexual victimization of children and obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children, including more than 600 images and 6 videos, 1 of which was approximately 12 minutes in length, depicting the sexual victimization of children, and dozens of images and videos depicting such obscene visual representations. Among the files LILLIS searched for, downloaded, stored, and distributed, were images of newborn infants approximately less than one (1) day old at the time the files were created. The newborn infants were depicted engaging in sexually explicit conduct. These files also included images portraying sadistic or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence. LILLIS distributed the files on numerous days between January 2024 and March 11, 2024.
Agents also discovered conversations LILLIS had with other users of end-to-end encrypted messaging applications, including on or about November 19, 2023, December 20, 2023, February 5, 2024, and March 5, 2024, in which LILLIS stated he had engaged in hands-on sexual contact with multiple prepubescent minors as young as between eight and ten years old over the past two decades. During several of these conversations, LILLIS sent sexually suggestive pictures he took of minors with whom he interacted, including a prepubescent female who was approximately eight years old at the time the picture was taken, and whose picture LILLIS distributed on or about March 5, 2024.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg is in charge of the prosecution.
Marshall County Man Convicted of Methamphetamine and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A Moundsville, West Virginia man was convicted today by a federal jury of methamphetamine trafficking and a firearms violation.
Joseph William Alfred, also known as “Chris,” age 50, was found guilty of distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine, attempted possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, unlawful possession of a firearm, and failure to appear.
The evidence at trial established that a package containing more than two pounds of methamphetamine and postmarked for Alfred’s address was intercepted by the United States Postal Service. It had been mailed from an address in California. A subsequent search warrant executed at Alfred’s home resulted in the seizure of more controlled substances, a firearm, ammunition, cash, and drug paraphernalia. Alfred is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior felony drug conviction.
“I commend the law enforcement agencies and the prosecutors for their outstanding efforts in this case. There should be no doubt that, as part of Operation Take Back America, we will continue to aggressively stop the flow of drugs into our communities and our country. We will pursue the most serious charges and penalties for all those who test our resolve,” said Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Bernard.
During the pretrial phase, Alfred was released on home confinement with electronic monitoring. Alfred cut off the monitoring device and failed to appear for his federal court hearing in April 2024.
Alfred faces 5 to 40 years in prison for the distribution charge, 10 years to life for the attempted possession charge, up to 15 years for the firearms charge, and up to 10 years for the failure to appear charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Clayton Reid and Carly Nogay prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. This case was investigated by the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the United States Postal Service; and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.
Operation Take Back America, is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
U.S. District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the trial.