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28 July 2025
Former Wilmington Tax Preparer Sentenced to 80 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Wilmington, Del. – A Wilmington man was sentenced today to 80 months in federal prison for leading a fraud scheme that resulted in more than $9.1 million in disaster-relief loans being issued to more than 60 businesses across the country. None of the loans were ever repaid.
According to court documents, Jady Solano, 43, was a tax preparer in Wilmington. Solano used his tax expertise to prepare fraudulent applications for loans available under the Paycheck Protection Program—a COVID-19 relief program designed to safeguard workers’ jobs during the pandemic. Solano prepared the applications on behalf of shell companies that, in fact, had no operations or employees. Solano falsely claimed, however, that the companies had substantial payrolls, sometimes north of $1 million annually. Solano also created false documents, including false tax forms and bank statements, to support the applications.
In total, Solano prepared 62 fraudulent applications, resulting in more than $9.1 million in wrongful loan disbursements. Solano personally received nearly $1.4 million through the scheme, all of which he must repay to the federal government pursuant to a restitution order to be entered by the U.S. District Court.
Across two charging instruments, seven other members of Solano’s scheme have been charged. Those members are:
DefendantCase NumberStage of CaseShatoya Moss24-cr-91-2 (JLH)Guilty plea entered; sentenced to 18 months in prison and restitution of $578,133.09Carl Lawrence24-cr-109-1 (JLH)Acceptance of guilty plea recommended by U.S. Magistrate Judge; recommendation now under review by U.S. District JudgeBrigitte Miller-Levy24-cr-109-2 (JLH)Indicted[1]Amber Baldwin24-cr-109-3 (JLH)IndictedMarvin Edwards24-cr-109-4 (JLH)IndictedAnthony McKinzy24-cr-109-5 (JLH)IndictedDevlon Porter24-cr-109-6 (JLH)IndictedJulianne Murray, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, stated, “The American taxpayers work hard for their money. And we will work hard to ensure that, when taxpayer money is misused—through waste, fraud, or abuse—the wrongdoers are brought to justice. Jady Solano led a nationwide scheme to steal more than $9 million from the federal government. And the funds he stole were meant for an especially important purpose: helping American workers keep their jobs during a deadly pandemic. Solano’s egregious misconduct warranted the substantial prison sentence the Court handed down today. We hope that sentence sends a message to other potential white-collar criminals: in this District, financial crimes simply will not pay. We thank our law enforcement partners at IRS-CI and the FBI for their tireless and terrific work on this important case.”
“Today's sentencing of Jady Solano again emphasizes that the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation will continue their aggressive pursuit of those who use fraudulent methods in an attempt to corrupt our nation's tax system,” stated Yury Kruty, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Philadelphia Field Office.
“62 times – over and over and over again – Solano fabricated, embellished and lied to steal millions from the government and ultimately, every taxpaying citizen. Now he will pay for each of those lies with this lengthy sentence,” said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno. “The FBI will continue to partner with our fellow agencies to identify and unravel these fraud schemes and bring criminals to justice.”
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace prosecuted the case. Agents of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation and the FBI Baltimore Field Office’s Wilmington Resident Agency investigated the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 24-cr-91 and 24-cr-109.
[1] For all defendants who have been indicted and not adjudicated guilty, their involvement in the fraud scheme described above is merely an allegation, and they are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Florida Woman Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring with Family Members to Hide more than $90M from the IRSRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Florida woman, and dual U.S. and Colombian citizen, was sentenced on Friday to 30 months in prison for conspiring to defraud the United States by, among other things, concealing tens of millions of dollars in undeclared foreign financial accounts, filing false tax returns, and evading taxes.
The following is according to court documents: between 2010 and 2022, Gilda Rosenberg, 60, of Golden Beach, conspired with two family members to conceal from the IRS more than $90 million in assets and income held in undeclared bank accounts in Andorra, Israel, Panama, and Switzerland.
Rosenberg’s family had maintained offshore accounts since the 1970s. By the late 1990s, Rosenberg — who was identified as an owner and an authorized signer on some of the accounts — knew that she and her family members had not disclosed their ownership of these foreign financial accounts to the U.S. government and that they had not paid any taxes on the income earned from the assets in those accounts as was required by law.
Starting in the early 2000s, the family consolidated their assets at accounts with Credit Suisse in Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Family members told Credit Suisse employees that they were U.S. persons and seeking to hide their assets from U.S. authorities. The assets remained at Credit Suisse until 2013, when Credit Suisse closed the accounts because the family members were U.S. persons.
When Credit Suisse closed their accounts, the family moved their assets, which were typically titled in the names of nominee entities, to new accounts located at Bank Leumi in Israel, Union Bancaire Privée (UBP) and PKB Privat Bank SA in Switzerland, and an Andorran bank. Rosenberg was documented as the beneficial owner of accounts at UBP and the Andorran bank. She also signed false account opening documents that claimed she was a Colombian citizen and not a U.S. citizen.
Rosenberg, as well as her relatives, did not file Reports of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBARS) disclosing their foreign financial accounts, as they were required to do. In addition, Rosenberg and her relatives continued to file false tax returns that omitted income generated by their offshore assets.
In or about 2017, as part of a scheme to continue to evade their U.S. tax and reporting obligations, Rosenberg and the family members divided the family’s assets and signed documents to make it appear that Rosenberg and a relative gifted the offshore assets to another relative after he had renounced his U.S. citizenship. Rosenberg and her relatives then tried to covertly transfer assets to Rosenberg in the United States and to conceal their ongoing and historical tax evasion. To do so, Rosenberg and her relatives, among other things, created fake loan and investment documents to make it appear that transfers to and from Rosenberg were loans and business investments.
From 2010 through 2017, Rosenberg filed false tax returns that did not report income she earned from assets in the account she concealed at UBP. For the 2009 through 2017 tax years, unreported income belonging to Rosenberg and two of her co-conspirators totaled more than $5.5 million, causing a tax loss of $1,927,342. Prior to her sentencing, Rosenberg had agreed to pay $1,927,342 in restitution to the IRS. She had also agreed to pay interest on the restitution. Separately, Rosenberg’s plea agreement required her to agree to pay a penalty of $5,857,045.50 to the IRS to resolve her civil liability for failing to file an FBAR.
Rosenberg previously pleaded guilty in the Eastern District of Texas to an information charging her with conspiracy to commit wire fraud related to a scheme to defraud the Army and Air Force Exchange Service by making and presenting false reports in order to avoid fully paying contractually required commissions. See United States v. Rosenberg, 4:24-cr-00062-ALM-AGD (E.D. Tex.).
U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation’s International Tax & Financial Crimes Unit investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided critical assistance in obtaining important evidence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ana Maria Martinez for the Southern District of Florida and Senior Litigation Counsel Mark Daly, as well as Trial Attorney Marissa Brodney of the Tax Division, prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-20005.
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Florida Woman Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring with Family Members to Hide more than $90M from the IRSRead the Press Release
A Florida woman, and dual U.S. and Colombian citizen, was sentenced on Friday to 30 months in prison for conspiring to defraud the United States by, among other things, concealing tens of millions of dollars in undeclared foreign financial accounts, filing false tax returns, and evading taxes.
The following is according to court documents: between 2010 and 2022, Gilda Rosenberg, of Golden Beach, conspired with two family members to conceal from the IRS more than $90 million in assets and income held in undeclared bank accounts in Andorra, Israel, Panama, and Switzerland.
Rosenberg’s family had maintained offshore accounts since the 1970s. By the late 1990s, Rosenberg — who was identified as an owner and an authorized signer on some of the accounts — knew that she and her family members had not disclosed their ownership of these foreign financial accounts to the U.S. government and that they had not paid any taxes on the income earned from the assets in those accounts as was required by law.
Starting in the early 2000s, the family consolidated their assets at accounts with Credit Suisse in Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Family members told Credit Suisse employees that they were U.S. persons and seeking to hide their assets from U.S. authorities. The assets remained at Credit Suisse until 2013, when Credit Suisse closed the accounts because the family members were U.S. persons.
When Credit Suisse closed their accounts, the family moved their assets, which were typically titled in the names of nominee entities, to new accounts located at Bank Leumi in Israel, Union Bancaire Privée (UBP) and PKB Privat Bank SA in Switzerland, and an Andorran bank. Rosenberg was documented as the beneficial owner of accounts at UBP and the Andorran bank. She also signed false account opening documents that claimed she was a Colombian citizen and not a U.S. citizen.
Rosenberg, as well as her relatives, did not file Reports of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBARS) disclosing their foreign financial accounts, as they were required to do. In addition, Rosenberg and her relatives continued to file false tax returns that omitted income generated by their offshore assets.
In or about 2017, as part of a scheme to continue to evade their U.S. tax and reporting obligations, Rosenberg and the family members divided the family’s assets and signed documents to make it appear that Rosenberg and a relative gifted the offshore assets to another relative after he had renounced his U.S. citizenship. Rosenberg and her relatives then tried to covertly transfer assets to Rosenberg in the United States and to conceal their ongoing and historical tax evasion. To do so, Rosenberg and her relatives, among other things, created fake loan and investment documents to make it appear that transfers to and from Rosenberg were loans and business investments.
From 2010 through 2017, Rosenberg filed false tax returns that did not report income she earned from assets in the account she concealed at UBP. For the 2009 through 2017 tax years, unreported income belonging to Rosenberg and two of her co-conspirators totaled more than $5.5 million, causing a tax loss of $1,927,342. Prior to her sentencing, Rosenberg had agreed to pay $1,927,342 in restitution to the IRS. She had also agreed to pay interest on the restitution. Separately, Rosenberg’s plea agreement required her to agree to pay a penalty of $5,857,045.50 to the IRS to resolve her civil liability for failing to file an FBAR.
Rosenberg previously pleaded guilty in the Eastern District of Texas to an information charging her with conspiracy to commit wire fraud related to a scheme to defraud the Army and Air Force Exchange Service by making and presenting false reports in order to avoid fully paying contractually required commissions. See United States v. Rosenberg, 4:24-cr-00062-ALM-AGD (E.D. Tex.).
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation’s International Tax & Financial Crimes Unit investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided critical assistance in obtaining important evidence.
Senior Litigation Counsel Mark Daly and Trial Attorney Marissa Brodney of the Tax Division, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Ana Maria Martinez for the Southern District of Florida, prosecuted the case.
Fairfield Man Sentenced for Prescription Drug DiversionRead the Press Release
Des Moines, Iowa – A Fairfield man was sentenced on July 28, 2025, to four years of probation for stealing thousands of prescription pills from a pharmacy that he owned and operated.
According to public court documents, Bryan Paul Vander Linden, 43, admitted that from June 2022 to at least November 2023, he obtained prescription pills from Summit Pharmacy of Iowa for his own use. To obtain the pills, Vander Linden would order and not report the pills in the pharmacy’s inventory, take from the pharmacy stock, or take pills from the controlled substance collection bin. In total, Vander Linden obtained more than 3,500 oxycodone and hydrocodone pills, Schedule II controlled substances, and more than 400 carisoprodol pills, a Schedule IV muscle relaxant.
Vander Linden was ordered to pay a $9,500 fine.
“Pharmacists are entrusted with the handling of controlled substances and ensuring that laws are followed in their handling,” DEA Omaha Division Acting Special Agent in Charge Rafael Mattei said. “This Iowa pharmacist broke that trust by diverting controlled substances for his own use. I commend the DEA Diversion Investigators whose work uncovered the diversion of controlled substances in this case and who work diligently to ensure that pharmacies follow the law and maintain a safe and secure environment.”
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa and Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
East Orange Convicted Felon Sentenced to 120 Months in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Possessing Firearm in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – An East Orange, New Jersey man was sentenced on July 24, 2025, to 120 months for possessing quantities of fentanyl, heroin and cocaine he intended to distribute, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.
Ibraheem Muhammad, 41, of East Orange, New Jersey previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti to an Indictment charging him with one count of possessing a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, one count of possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Law enforcement investigated Muhammad for his drug distribution from an apartment in East Orange (the “Residence”). On May 9, 2022, Muhammad was arrested on a warrant after law enforcement saw him exit the Residence and engage in a suspected drug transaction. He was caught in possession of numerous envelopes of suspected heroin and keys to the Residence. A subsequent search of the Residence revealed Muhammad to be in possession of controlled substances that subsequently lab tested positive for heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl, and various glassine envelopes and other paraphernalia used for packaging drugs. Law enforcement also recovered approximately $14,000 in cash; a Girsan 9mm semi-automatic handgun, loaded with fourteen (14) rounds of 9mm ammunition; and an additional fifteen (15) rounds of 9mm ammunition.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Martinotti sentenced Muhammad to 3 years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks Jr., Newark Field Division; and the East Orange Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Maurice Boyd, with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Farhana C. Melo and Aja Espinosa of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.
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Defense counsel: Jacqueline Cistaro, Esq, New York, NY
East Aurora man pleads guilty to receipt of child pornographyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Brian O’Brien, 42, of East Aurora, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to receipt of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a fine of $250,000. O’Brien will also have to register as a sex offender.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan K. Glaberson, who is handling the case, stated that between June 2022, and July 19, 2023, O’Brien used Snapchat and WhatsApp to receive, view, and upload visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct on his cellular telephone. Between June 2022, and March 2023, O’Brien used WhatsApp to communicate with an individual located in Phoenix, Arizona. During these communications, he discussed sexually abusing minor children, and distributed files containing child pornography to the other individual.
Between December 2022, and May 2023, O’Brien communicated by text message with a person he knew as “J.J.” During these communications, he solicited J.J. to find a minor boy for him to sexually abuse. J.J. provided O’Brien with a phone number for a person purported to be a 15-year-old boy. O’Brien then negotiated with the purported 15-year-old boy to perform sex acts. O’Brien then sent a message to J.J. in which he agreed to pay both the purported 15-year-old boy and J.J. for sexual activity with the purported minor, and offered to buy drugs for the purported minor.
In July 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at O’Brien’s residence in East Aurora, during which numerous devices were seized, including two cell phones, a hard drive, and a laptop computer. A search of the devices recovered over 2,000 images and videos of child pornography.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Grimm and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 1, 2025, before Judge Vilardo.
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District Man Sentenced to 35 Year Prison Term for Killing Man in Southeast WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Dennis Chase, 33, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on July 25, 2025, to 420 months in prison for the 2020 murder of Anthony Orr in Washington D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
In October of 2024, a jury sitting in Superior Court found the defendant guilty of first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
According to the government’s evidence, the defendant drove around the Washington Highlands neighborhood with the victim, Anthony Orr, sitting in the passenger seat. As the defendant slowly drove down Xenia St. SE, he raised a gun to Mr. Orr’s head and fired one lethal shot. The defendant pushed Mr. Orr out of the car and sped off. The defendant drove 30 miles North of the District to the woods of Severn, Maryland, where he doused the car in diesel exhaust fluid and attempted to light it on fire. The defendant then hiked through the woods until he found a random home, where he stripped down and hid his clothes and other evidence in the back shed, knocked on the back door, and asked for help. The homeowner called 911, and Anne Arundel County Police arrested the defendant on an unrelated warrant. MPD Homicide Detectives later charged defendant for the murder of Mr. Orr. The defendant testified at trial and claimed he acted in self-defense.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the Anne Arundel County Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case form the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Investigative Analyst Zach McMenamin, Paralegal Specialist Meridith McGarrity, Litigation Technology Specialists Leif Hickling and Charlie Bruce, Victim/Witness Advocate Jenn Clark, and Victim/Witness Coordinators Maenylie Watson and Katina Adams-Washington.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Roman, who investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wes Faulkner and Andrea Antonelli, who prosecuted the case.
Detroit Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in Huntington Methamphetamine Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Mark Lawrence Lowe, also known as “Cell,” 24, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced today to one year and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Lowe admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Huntington area.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from at least September 2023 through November 2023, Lowe participated in the distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl at various locations in the Southern District of West Virginia and elsewhere as part of the DTO.
On September 9, 2023, Lowe and co-conspirator Paul Anthony Rucker were transporting fentanyl and methamphetamine from Huntington to Nitro when law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of their vehicle on Interstate 64 in Cabell County. An officer seized approximately 149 grams of fentanyl and 222.62 grams of methamphetamine from the vehicle during the traffic stop. As part of his guilty plea, Lowe admitted that he and Rucker intended to distribute the seized controlled substances.
Rucker, 48, of Nitro, was sentenced on July 15, 2024, to six years and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Lowe and Rucker are among 27 individuals indicted on charges alleging the DTO distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl transported from Detroit, Michigan, in Huntington and other locations within the Southern District of West Virginia.
Lowe, Rucker and 22 other defendants have pleaded guilty, including one who pleaded guilty to a separate charge in lieu of the offenses alleged in the indictment. Charges against the remaining defendants are pending. An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case.
The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-180.
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Delaware County Man Arrested for Sexual Exploitation of a ChildRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Brent G. Trimbell, age 44, of Delaware County was arrested Sunday evening and had his initial appearance today on a charge of sexual exploitation of a child. 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.
The complaint alleges that Trimbell exchanged sexually explicit messages with a female child victim, including messages persuading her to create and send him videos of her engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The child created the content Trimbell requested and sent it to him over social media. The complaint also alleges that Trimbell had sexual contact with the victim on at least three occasions and sent the victim videos depicting him masturbating.
Trimbell was first charged by state authorities with state sex offenses related to the foregoing conduct, but late last week he was released on bail.
If convicted of sexual exploitation of a child, Trimbell faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years and a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years, a term of supervised release of at least five years and up to life, a fine of $250,000, forfeiture of property used to commit the offense, and restitution to the victim. Trimbell also would be required to register as a sex offender.
Acting U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “Trimbell was charged with serious state sex offenses but was released on bail. Now, Trimbell is in federal custody—facing serious federal offenses—which if convicted, will result in a mandatory term of imprisonment of 15 years. This is how we keep the children in our community safe.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli stated: “FBI Albany is incredibly thankful for the swift coordination from our partners at the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office and United States Attorney’s Office that has now resulted in serious federal charges against Mr. Trimbell. The FBI, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to coordinate with our state and local partners to share the information and resources needed to ensure anyone hurting our most vulnerable is investigated and brought to justice.”
Following the initial appearance, Trimbell was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending further proceedings.
The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Cranston Man Admits to Trafficking Tens-of-Thousands of Methamphetamine-Laced PillsRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Cranston man today pleaded guilty to charges related to his trafficking of tens-of-thousands of counterfeit pills laced with methamphetamine, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Anthony Stevens, 37, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to two counts of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 30, 2025. The sentences imposed will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
According to information presented to the court, in November 2023, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) opened an investigation into Stevens for trafficking in counterfeit Adderall pills. At the same time, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) developed information that Stevens was in possession of a large quantity of counterfeit pills.
Subsequently, during an investigation that spanned nine months, DEA seized a total of 30,226 pills containing methamphetamine from Steven’s vehicle and from a Providence residence he utilized as a stash house, along with $3,360 in cash.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie White.
The matter was investigated by the DEA and ATF.
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Covington Woman Charged for Distributing Animal Crush VideosRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that ARIEL KORNIENKO (“KORNIENKO”), age 42, of Covington, Louisiana, was charged by bill of information on July 23, 2025 for distributing animal crush videos, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 48(a)(3).
According to the bill of information, KORNIENKO distributed animal crush videos online, in particular, videos depicting the impaling of monkeys in the genitals, penetrating them with inanimate objects, and subjecting them to serious bodily injury and death.
If convicted, KORNIENKO faces up to 7 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to 3 years of supervised release and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
Acting United States Attorney Simpson reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Cyber Crimes Group in conjunction with HSI Wildlife and Environmental Unit. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mary Katherine Kaufman of the General Crimes Unit.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to Nearly Nine Years in Federal Prison for Possessing a HandgunRead the Press Release
A convicted felon who possessed drugs and handgun and fled from police was sentenced today to more than eight years in federal prison.
Daijon Stokes, age 32, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 10, 2025, guilty plea to one count of felon in possession of a firearm.
Information from the sentencing hearing showed that on December 3, 2023, Stokes was stopped by an officer with the Waterloo Police Department. During the stop, Stokes took off in his car. While driving through a residential area, he reached speeds of nearly 90 mph. Stokes eventually crashed his car into another vehicle. A woman and two young children were in the other vehicle. Stokes then ran from officers on foot and had to be tackled. Officers found a loaded handgun, marijuana, and other drugs in the car.
Stokes was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Stokes was sentenced to 104 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Stokes is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by a Federal Task Force composed of the Waterloo Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms assisted by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar Falls Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-cr-2012.
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Cadence Design Systems Agrees to Plead Guilty and Pay over $140 Million for Unlawfully Exporting Semiconductor Design Tools to a Restricted PRC Military UniversityRead the Press Release
Note: View a copy of the plea agreement and criminal information.
The Counterintelligence and Export Control Section (CES) of the Justice Department’s National Security Division (NSD), and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California (NDCA) today announced that Cadence Design Systems Inc. (Cadence), a multinational electronic design automation (EDA) technology company headquartered in San Jose, California, has agreed to plead guilty to resolve charges that Cadence committed criminal violations of export controls by selling EDA hardware, software, and semiconductor design intellectual property (IP) technology to the National University of Defense Technology (NUDT).
NUDT, a university in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) under the leadership of the PRC’s Central Military Commission, was added to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Entity List in February 2015 due to its use of U.S.-origin components to produce supercomputers believed to support nuclear explosive simulation and military simulation activities in the PRC.
Today, the Department filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California a criminal information charging Cadence with conspiracy to commit export control violations and the Department’s plea agreement with Cadence, pursuant to which the company has agreed to plead guilty and pay criminal penalties of nearly $118 million to resolve the charges.
In addition to the criminal charges, the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) today announced the resolution of a parallel civil enforcement action against Cadence in which Cadence has agreed to pay over $95 million in civil penalties. The Department of Justice and BIS have coordinated the resolution of the parallel criminal and civil actions, with each agreeing to credit against their respective fines a portion of the payments made by Cadence to satisfy the other agency’s fine. After the Department of Justice and BIS credit payments made by Cadence under the coordinated agreements, Cadence will pay aggregate net criminal and civil penalties and forfeiture totaling more than $140 million.
“Cadence has agreed to accept responsibility for unlawfully exporting sensitive semiconductor design tools to a restricted Chinese military university and has implemented a strong export compliance program to help prevent any further illegal transmission of American technology,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “American ingenuity is one of our Nation’s most precious assets, and the National Security Division will vigorously enforce U.S. export control laws to protect the technological advantage we enjoy because of that ingenuity.”
“Export controls safeguard America’s advanced technological know-how from falling into the wrong hands, which is particularly important in the Silicon Valley as the epicenter of groundbreaking innovation,” said U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California. “With this plea, Cadence has admitted to unlawfully exporting its semiconductor design technology to a restricted PRC military university using a front company, and accepted responsibility for its wrongdoing. Cadence’s remedial measures are a positive step toward rectifying the company’s violations of export control laws and demonstrating corporate responsibility.”
“Protecting the U.S. semiconductor industry is critical to our national defense,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “Working with NUDT, which has been on the entity list for a decade for its work to advance China’s military capabilities, is unacceptable. The FBI will stop at nothing to defend the homeland from China’s Communist Party.”
According to Cadence’s admissions and court documents, from February 2015 to April 2021, Cadence and its indirectly owned and wholly controlled subsidiary in the PRC, Cadence Design Systems Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. (Cadence China), engaged in a conspiracy to commit export control violations in connection with the provision of EDA tools that were subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to NUDT through Central South CAD Center (CSCC), an alias for NUDT, and another associated entity, Phytium Technology Co. Ltd. (Phytium), without seeking or obtaining the requisite licenses from BIS. Specifically, Cadence, Cadence China, and their employees exported, reexported, and transferred in-country U.S.-origin EDA tools to CSCC in the PRC, despite having knowledge that CSCC was an alias for NUDT. As a result, Cadence and Cadence China exported and caused to be exported EDA tools at least 59 times through September 2020, when Cadence terminated Cadence China’s business relationship with CSCC due to CSCC’s association with NUDT.
In court documents, Cadence admitted that Cadence China employees installed EDA hardware on NUDT’s Changsha, China, campus and that NUDT personnel downloaded EDA software and IP technology from Cadence’s download portals while Cadence and Cadence China, through its employees, had knowledge that NUDT had been added to the Entity List. On Feb. 18, 2015, the same day that NUDT was added to the Entity List, Cadence’s export control officer emailed Cadence and Cadence China employees that NUDT had been added to the Entity List “meaning that export licenses will be required if sales are made.” Further, in March 2016, a Cadence China employee authored a presentation for a quarterly sales review meeting with her colleagues stating (as translated from Chinese) that as of Feb. 18, 2015, the U.S. Department of Commerce had “embargoed” four national supercomputer centers in the PRC, including NUDT, due to U.S. microprocessor chips being used in the “TianHe” supercomputing systems believed to be used for nuclear explosion simulation. Cadence also admitted that its employees who conducted work at CSCC’s location on NUDT’s campus knew about connections between CSCC and the PRC military.
According to Cadence’s admissions and court documents, employees of Cadence China did not disclose to and/or concealed from other Cadence personnel, including Cadence’s export compliance personnel, that exports to CSCC were in fact intended for delivery to NUDT and/or the PRC military. For example, in May 2015, a few months after NUDT was added to the Entity List, Cadence’s then-head of sales in China emailed colleagues, cautioning them to refer to their customer as CSCC in English and NUDT only in Chinese characters, writing that “the subject [was] too sensitive.” Further, in October 2019, a Cadence China employee instructed another to recall and recirculate an updated version of a weekly email on Cadence China’s customers in the PRC. The updated version of the weekly email removed a reference to the People’s Liberation Army of the PRC in relation to CSCC that was written in the original version. Employees of Cadence’s subsidiaries, including employees of Cadence China involved in sales to CSCC, also received sales commissions that incentivized achieving sales quotas as part of their compensation packages.
Further, in October 2020, while Cadence and Cadence China had knowledge that items previously sold and exported to CSCC had in fact been exported to NUDT in violation of U.S. export control laws, Cadence consented to CSCC’s assignment to Phytium, a semiconductor company closely associated with CSCC and NUDT in the PRC, of CSCC’s contracts for Cadence EDA tools. Prior to the transfer of Cadence’s business from CSCC to Phytium in or about October 2020, Cadence’s business with CSCC included contractual agreements with Phytium, reflecting Phytium’s ongoing collaboration with CSCC and NUDT during the period in which CSCC was used as an alias for NUDT. Cadence, through its subsidiaries, including Cadence China also had knowledge that Cadence China’s business with CSCC involved Phytium, and that NUDT personnel were affiliated with Phytium. Some of Cadence China’s contracts with CSCC listed Phytium as the contractual party and stated that the work would occur at NUDT. Internal Cadence communications show certain Cadence employees’ understanding that CSCC and Phytium were effectively the same entity both before and after the decision to transfer Cadence China’s business from CSCC to Phytium. Cadence and Cadence China transferred U.S.-origin EDA software and IP technology to Phytium until February 2021. In March 2021, Cadence placed Phytium on export hold as a result of its internal compliance review and discontinued transactions with Phytium without completing all of the originally anticipated transfers, including any hardware transfers. Phytium was later designated on the Entity List in April 2021.
CES and NDCA entered into the plea agreement with Cadence after considering the factors set forth in the Department’s Principles of Federal Prosecution of Business Organizations and the National Security Division Enforcement Policy for Business Organizations (NSD Enforcement Policy). The Department reached this resolution with Cadence based on a number of factors, including Cadence’s failure to voluntarily disclose the misconduct to NSD pursuant to the NSD Enforcement Policy; the nature and seriousness of the offense, which included exports of sensitive semiconductor design tools and technology to a restricted PRC military university involved in the development of supercomputers with applications for military and nuclear explosive simulations, and which included Cadence agreeing to an assignment of the hardware and software contracts to another PRC-based company despite being aware that those items had been unlawfully exported to a restricted PRC military university; Cadence’s willingness to accept responsibility for the actions of its employees and agents, including its subsidiary Cadence China, by entering into the plea agreement with the Department and resolving the parallel civil investigation with BIS; and Cadence’s efforts to remediate the root cause of the offense conduct by enhancing and agreeing to enhance further its export control compliance program. Cadence received partial credit for its cooperation with the Department’s investigation, which involved collecting and disclosing relevant evidence, facilitating interviews with certain employees, making detailed factual presentations, and agreeing to toll the statute of limitations, but Cadence did not receive full credit for cooperation because it failed proactively to obtain and disclose to the government relevant communications, and it failed proactively to facilitate interviews of certain China-based employees with information relevant to the offense conduct. Accordingly, the amount of the criminal monetary penalty attributable to the criminal fine reflects a 20 percent reduction off the statutory maximum fine.
The plea agreement is subject to the approval of a federal district judge in the Northern District of California.
BIS’s Office of Export Enforcement and the FBI investigated the case.
Chief Counsel Ian C. Richardson, Deputy Chief Counsel Christian J. Nauvel, and Trial Attorney Emma Dinan Ellenrieder of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, together with Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Cheng of the National Security and Special Prosecutions Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, are prosecuting this case.
Cadence Design Systems Agrees to Plead Guilty and Pay over $140 Million for Unlawfully Exporting Semiconductor Design Tools to A Restricted PRC Military UniversityRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California (NDCA) and the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section (CES) of the Justice Department’s National Security Division (NSD) today announced that Cadence Design Systems Inc. (Cadence), a multinational electronic design automation (EDA) technology company headquartered in San Jose, California, has agreed to plead guilty to resolve charges that Cadence committed criminal violations of export controls by selling EDA hardware, software, and semiconductor design intellectual property (IP) technology to the National University of Defense Technology (NUDT).
NUDT, a university in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) under the leadership of the PRC’s Central Military Commission, was added to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Entity List in February 2015 due to its use of U.S.-origin components to produce supercomputers believed to support nuclear explosive simulation and military simulation activities in the PRC.
Today, the Department filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California a criminal information charging Cadence with conspiracy to commit export control violations and the Department’s plea agreement with Cadence, pursuant to which the company has agreed to plead guilty and pay criminal penalties of nearly $118 million to resolve the charges.
In addition to the criminal charges, the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) today announced the resolution of a parallel civil enforcement action against Cadence in which Cadence has agreed to pay over $95 million in civil penalties. The Department of Justice and BIS have coordinated the resolution of the parallel criminal and civil actions, with each agreeing to credit against their respective fines a portion of the payments made by Cadence to satisfy the other agency’s fine. After the Department of Justice and BIS credit payments made by Cadence under the coordinated agreements, Cadence will pay aggregate net criminal and civil penalties and forfeiture totaling more than $140 million.
“Export controls safeguard America’s advanced technological know-how from falling into the wrong hands, which is particularly important in the Silicon Valley as the epicenter of groundbreaking innovation,” said U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California. “With this plea, Cadence has admitted to unlawfully exporting its semiconductor design technology to a restricted PRC military university using a front company, and accepted responsibility for its wrongdoing. Cadence’s remedial measures are a positive step toward rectifying the company’s violations of export control laws and demonstrating corporate responsibility.”
“Cadence has agreed to accept responsibility for unlawfully exporting sensitive semiconductor design tools to a restricted Chinese military university and has implemented a strong export compliance program to help prevent any further illegal transmission of American technology,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “American ingenuity is one of our Nation’s most precious assets, and the National Security Division will vigorously enforce U.S. export control laws to protect the technological advantage we enjoy because of that ingenuity.”
“Protecting the U.S. semiconductor industry is critical to our national defense,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “Working with NUDT, which has been on the entity list for a decade for its work to advance China’s military capabilities, is unacceptable. The FBI will stop at nothing to defend the homeland from China’s Communist Party.”
“The United States leads the world in semiconductor innovation, with Silicon Valley at the forefront of that global leadership. The FBI, working alongside our partners at the Department of Commerce, is committed to protecting sensitive U.S. technology from falling into the hands of the PRC government,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani. “Today’s guilty plea is a clear reminder that U.S. companies must take export control laws seriously and closely monitor where their most advanced technologies are headed. This case should serve as a wake-up call to the broader emerging tech and innovation ecosystem: safeguarding our technological edge is not optional – it is essential to national security.”
According to Cadence’s admissions and court documents, from February 2015 to April 2021, Cadence and its indirectly owned and wholly controlled subsidiary in the PRC, Cadence Design Systems Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. (Cadence China), engaged in a conspiracy to commit export control violations in connection with the provision of EDA tools that were subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to NUDT through Central South CAD Center (CSCC), an alias for NUDT, and another associated entity, Phytium Technology Co. Ltd. (Phytium), without seeking or obtaining the requisite licenses from BIS. Specifically, Cadence, Cadence China, and their employees exported, reexported, and transferred in-country U.S.-origin EDA tools to CSCC in the PRC, despite having knowledge that CSCC was an alias for NUDT. As a result, Cadence and Cadence China exported and caused to be exported EDA tools at least 59 times through September 2020, when Cadence terminated Cadence China’s business relationship with CSCC due to CSCC’s association with NUDT.
In court documents, Cadence admitted that Cadence China employees installed EDA hardware on NUDT’s Changsha, China, campus and that NUDT personnel downloaded EDA software and IP technology from Cadence’s download portals while Cadence and Cadence China, through its employees, had knowledge that NUDT had been added to the Entity List. On Feb. 18, 2015, the same day that NUDT was added to the Entity List, Cadence’s export control officer emailed Cadence and Cadence China employees that NUDT had been added to the Entity List “meaning that export licenses will be required if sales are made.” Further, in March 2016, a Cadence China employee authored a presentation for a quarterly sales review meeting with her colleagues stating (as translated from Chinese) that as of Feb. 18, 2015, the U.S. Department of Commerce had “embargoed” four national supercomputer centers in the PRC, including NUDT, due to U.S. microprocessor chips being used in the “TianHe” supercomputing systems believed to be used for nuclear explosion simulation. Cadence also admitted that its employees who conducted work at CSCC’s location on NUDT’s campus knew about connections between CSCC and the PRC military.
According to Cadence’s admissions and court documents, employees of Cadence China did not disclose to and/or concealed from other Cadence personnel, including Cadence’s export compliance personnel, that exports to CSCC were in fact intended for delivery to NUDT and/or the PRC military. For example, in May 2015, a few months after NUDT was added to the Entity List, Cadence’s then-head of sales in China emailed colleagues, cautioning them to refer to their customer as CSCC in English and NUDT only in Chinese characters, writing that “the subject [was] too sensitive.” Further, in October 2019, a Cadence China employee instructed another to recall and recirculate an updated version of a weekly email on Cadence China’s customers in the PRC. The updated version of the weekly email removed a reference to the People’s Liberation Army of the PRC in relation to CSCC that was written in the original version. Employees of Cadence’s subsidiaries, including employees of Cadence China involved in sales to CSCC, also received sales commissions that incentivized achieving sales quotas as part of their compensation packages.
Further, in October 2020, while Cadence and Cadence China had knowledge that items previously sold and exported to CSCC had in fact been exported to NUDT in violation of U.S. export control laws, Cadence consented to CSCC’s assignment to Phytium, a semiconductor company closely associated with CSCC and NUDT in the PRC, of CSCC’s contracts for Cadence EDA tools. Prior to the transfer of Cadence’s business from CSCC to Phytium in or about October 2020, Cadence’s business with CSCC included contractual agreements with Phytium, reflecting Phytium’s ongoing collaboration with CSCC and NUDT during the period in which CSCC was used as an alias for NUDT. Cadence, through its subsidiaries, including Cadence China also had knowledge that Cadence China’s business with CSCC involved Phytium, and that NUDT personnel were affiliated with Phytium. Some of Cadence China’s contracts with CSCC listed Phytium as the contractual party and stated that the work would occur at NUDT. Internal Cadence communications show certain Cadence employees’ understanding that CSCC and Phytium were effectively the same entity both before and after the decision to transfer Cadence China’s business from CSCC to Phytium. Cadence and Cadence China transferred U.S.-origin EDA software and IP technology to Phytium until February 2021. In March 2021, Cadence placed Phytium on export hold as a result of its internal compliance review and discontinued transactions with Phytium without completing all of the originally anticipated transfers, including any hardware transfers. Phytium was later designated on the Entity List in April 2021.
NDCA and CES entered into the plea agreement with Cadence after considering the factors set forth in the Department’s Principles of Federal Prosecution of Business Organizations and the National Security Division Enforcement Policy for Business Organizations (NSD Enforcement Policy). The Department reached this resolution with Cadence based on a number of factors, including Cadence’s failure to voluntarily disclose the misconduct to NSD pursuant to the NSD Enforcement Policy; the nature and seriousness of the offense, which included exports of sensitive semiconductor design tools and technology to a restricted PRC military university involved in the development of supercomputers with applications for military and nuclear explosive simulations, and which included Cadence agreeing to an assignment of the hardware and software contracts to another PRC-based company despite being aware that those items had been unlawfully exported to a restricted PRC military university; Cadence’s willingness to accept responsibility for the actions of its employees and agents, including its subsidiary Cadence China, by entering into the plea agreement with the Department and resolving the parallel civil investigation with BIS; and Cadence’s efforts to remediate the root cause of the offense conduct by enhancing and agreeing to enhance further its export control compliance program. Cadence received partial credit for its cooperation with the Department’s investigation, which involved collecting and disclosing relevant evidence, facilitating interviews with certain employees, making detailed factual presentations, and agreeing to toll the statute of limitations, but Cadence did not receive full credit for cooperation because it failed proactively to obtain and disclose to the government relevant communications, and it failed proactively to facilitate interviews of certain China-based employees with information relevant to the offense conduct. Accordingly, the amount of the criminal monetary penalty attributable to the criminal fine reflects a 20 percent reduction off the statutory maximum fine.
The plea agreement is subject to the approval of a federal district judge in the Northern District of California.
BIS’s Office of Export Enforcement and the FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Cheng of the National Security and Special Prosecutions Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California and Chief Counsel Ian C. Richardson, Deputy Chief Counsel Christian J. Nauvel, and Trial Attorney Emma Dinan Ellenrieder of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting this case.
Cadence Information
Cadence Plea Agreement
Buffalo man going to prison for 20 years for selling fentanyl that led to fatal and non-fatal overdosesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Davon Mitchell, a/k/a Blu Boyy, 35, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, fentanyl, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, was sentenced to serve 20 years in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan K. Glaberson, who handled the case, stated that beginning in 2019, Mitchell obtained and distributed fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine in the Western District of New York to numerous regular drug customers. Between March 22 and May 12, 2022, he sold approximately 2.7 grams of fentanyl, 72 grams of methamphetamine, and 3 grams of crack cocaine to an undercover police officer. On June 1, 2022, law enforcement arrested Mitchell and executed a search warrant at his Janice Street residence, recovering a quantity of methamphetamine, $3,257 in cash, a cell phone, a revolver, ammunition, and drug paraphernalia.
Mitchell admitted that he distributed fentanyl that resulted in the overdose deaths of two individuals from acute fentanyl intoxication. Mitchell also admitted selling fentanyl that resulted in the non-fatal overdose of another individual on three occasions.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Alphonso Wright, the West Seneca Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Cosgrove, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto.
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Buchanan Man to Serve 24 Years on Child Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A Buchanan, Virginia man, who exposed the genitals of a minor female during a party at his residence and took pictures of the victim on his cell phone, was sentenced today to 24 years in federal prison.
Christopher Buono, 45, pled guilty in January 2025 to one count of child sexual exploitation and one count of possession of child pornography.
“Individuals who take advantage of children, be it online or in person, must be held accountable for their actions,” United States Attorney C. Todd Gilbert said today. “This sentence sends a clear message that anyone targeting children in the Western District of Virginia will be held accountable to the fullest extent possible.”
According to court documents, in January 2024, a party was hosted at the defendant’s home in Buchanan, Virginia. At one point in the evening, Buono took a minor female, who was approximately six years old at the time, to Buono’s game room, and either the minor victim or Buono pulled down her pants and underwear, exposing her genitals.
Buono then used his cellphone to take sexually explicit photographs of the minor victim. Later that night, Buono used a messaging application to send one of these photos to another individual with a sexual interest in minors.
The investigation was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security with assistance from the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Scheff prosecuted the case for the United States
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
Brinks Armored Car Robbery Defendant Sentenced to Additional Time for Jail StabbingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Anthony McNair, 36, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced earlier today to 42 months in prison for a jail stabbing that occurred on October 11, 2024, at the DC Central Detention Facility, located at 1901 D Street SE in Washington, D.C., announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
On January 27, 2025, the defendant pleaded guilty to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon for the jail stabbing. The Honorable Judith Pipe, of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, ordered McNair to the prison term on July 28, 2025.
According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 11:00 a.m., on October 11, 2024, in the Southwest 2 housing unit of the DC jail, McNair used a sharp object to repeatedly stab another inmate, 28-year-old Tyjuan McNeal, in an apparently unprovoked attack. The attack was captured on the facility’s surveillance cameras. In the footage, McNair can be observed with a clenched fist repeatedly using a stabbing motion while holding a sharp, white object to stab McNeal all over his body, at one point pulling a shirt over McNeal’s face so that he could not see to defend himself. McNair did not stop assaulting McNeal until a correctional officer intervened. As a result of the attack, the victim sustained multiple stab wounds on his head, neck, shoulder, chest, and palm, and was taken to the hospital by ambulance.
At the time of the assault, McNair was in custody pending sentencing in a matter before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. In that case, a federal jury found McNair guilty of charges stemming from his involvement in a series of armed robberies of Brinks armored cars in Washington, D.C., that took place in late 2021 and early 2022, and resulted in the loss of approximately $1.2 million. For his role in the robberies, the defendant was sentenced on March 26, 2025 by U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth to 31.5 years. His co-defendants in the robbery case – William Brock and Erin Sheffey, were sentenced to 54.7 years and 18 years, respectively.
McNair’s sentence for the jail robbery will run consecutive to any other sentence he is already serving, including the sentence for the Brinks robberies.
Joining the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Lieberman, who prosecuted the case.
Armed Drug Cocaine Trafficker Convicted at TrialRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that a federal jury has found Georgelys Natal Vazquez (29, Hudson) guilty of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Natal Vazquez faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in federal prison on the conspiracy charge and a consecutive term of at least 5 years’ imprisonment for the firearm offense. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 28, 2025. Natal Vazquez was charged in a superseding indictment on March 28, 2024, along with twelve other co-conspirators for charges related to drug trafficking. The others all previously pleaded guilty.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Natal Vazquez was a high-ranking member in a familial drug trafficking organization operating between Puerto Rico and the Middle District of Florida. Natal Vazquez had over 470 grams of cocaine in her freezer and a loaded firearm in her home on January 18, 2024, during the execution of a search warrant at her home.
Natal Vazquez was also seen delivering cocaine to a home used by the drug trafficking organization. Agents obtained a warrant for her phone following her arrest and located photographs of Natal Vazquez with suspected cocaine and the same firearm recovered during the search warrant.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Samantha Beckman and Jeff Chang.
Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Charges Related to a $13M Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
An Arizona man pleaded guilty today to money laundering and conspiracy to obstruct justice for his role in a scheme to defraud investors.
According to court documents, Vincent Anthony Mazzotta Jr., 54, also known as Vincent Midnight, Delta Prime, and Director Vinchenzo, formerly of the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles but residing in Arizona, conspired with his co-defendant and others to defraud investors by falsely promising high-yield profits from investments in cryptocurrency markets using automated trading robots powered by artificial intelligence.
“Vincent Mazzotta defrauded investors in a sophisticated cryptocurrency scheme and then doubled down by using a fake government entity to further victimize those who had entrusted him with their money,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Combatting fraud in digital assets is critical to the Criminal Division’s efforts to vindicate victims’ interests and to keep bad actors out of the crypto markets. The Department and its law enforcement partners will aggressively pursue and hold accountable fraudsters who use the veneer of legitimacy and public trust to steal from investors.”
“New types of investments such as Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies may seem alluring, but they also carry the risk of criminals using their relative novelty to prey on victims,” said U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “I encourage investors to be skeptical when approached by anyone promising novel riches. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
“The defendants in this case purported to be U.S. governmental entities to legitimize their scams, before ultimately attracting the scrutiny of actual federal authorities who were special agents from IRS Criminal Investigation,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Los Angeles Field Office. “Today’s admission of guilt is another example of our resolve and unique ability to unravel complex financial transactions regardless of how sophisticated the scheme may be.”
Mazzotta and his co-defendant, David Saffron, falsely promised victims short-term, high-yield returns from cryptocurrency trading if the victims invested with cryptocurrency investment companies Mind Capital, Cloud9Capital and others. They also created a fictitious government entity called the Federal Crypto Reserve (FCR) and further victimized the investors by soliciting thousands of dollars to hire the FCR to “investigate” Mind Capital, Cloud9Capital and other crypto-investment firms that had disappeared with the victims’ investments. Mazzotta and Saffron defrauded victims of more than $13 million.
According to court documents, Mazzotta also conspired with others to obstruct justice. Specifically, Mazzotta worked with other co-conspirators after Saffron’s initial arrest to conceal and destroy evidence at Saffron’s apartment, including an iPad and the contents of a personal safe. Mazzotta also conspired to falsify the records of his business, Runway Beauty Inc., to conceal his involvement in the investment fraud scheme from a federal grand jury.
Mazzotta pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the money laundering count and a maximum penalty of five years in prison on the conspiracy to obstruct justice count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
IRS-CI is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Theodore Kneller and Siji Moore of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney James Hughes for the Central District of California are prosecuting the case.
If you believe you are a victim in this case, please contact the Fraud Section’s Victim Witness Unit toll-free at (888) 549-3945 or by email at [email protected]. To learn more about victims’ rights, please visit www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-vns/victim-rights-derechos-de-las-v-ctimas.
Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Charges Related to Ponzi Scheme that Resulted in $13 Million in Investor LossesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – An Arizona man pleaded guilty today to money laundering and conspiracy to obstruct justice for his role in a scheme to defraud investors.
Vincent Anthony Mazzotta Jr., 54, a.k.a. “Vincent Midnight”, “Delta Prime,” and “Director Vinchenzo,” formerly of Hollywood Hills but currently residing in Arizona, conspired with his co-defendant and others to defraud investors by falsely promising high-yield profits from investments in cryptocurrency markets using automated trading robots powered by artificial intelligence, according to court documents.
Mazzotta pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice.
United States District Judge Dale S. Fischer scheduled a December 15 sentencing hearing, at which time Mazzotta will face a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on the money laundering count and a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison on the conspiracy to obstruct justice count.
“New types of investments such as Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies may seem alluring, but they also carry the risk of criminals using their relative novelty to prey on victims,” said United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “I encourage investors to be skeptical when approached by anyone promising novel riches. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
“Vincent Mazzotta defrauded investors in a sophisticated cryptocurrency scheme and then doubled down by using a fake government entity to further victimize those who had entrusted him with their money,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Combatting fraud in digital assets is critical to the Criminal Division’s efforts to vindicate victims’ interests and to keep bad actors out of the crypto markets. The Department and its law enforcement partners will aggressively pursue and hold accountable fraudsters who use the veneer of legitimacy and public trust to steal from investors.”
“The defendants in this case purported to be U.S. governmental entities to legitimize their scams, before ultimately attracting the scrutiny of actual federal authorities who were special agents from IRS Criminal Investigation,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Los Angeles Field Office. “Today’s admission of guilt is another example of our resolve and unique ability to unravel complex financial transactions regardless of how sophisticated the scheme may be.”
Mazzotta and his co-defendant, David Saffron, falsely promised victims short-term, high-yield returns from cryptocurrency trading if the victims invested with cryptocurrency investment companies Mind Capital, Cloud9Capital and others. They also created a fictitious government entity called the Federal Crypto Reserve (FCR) and further victimized the investors by soliciting thousands of dollars to hire the FCR to “investigate” Mind Capital, Cloud9Capital and other crypto-investment firms that had disappeared with the victims’ investments. Mazzotta and Saffron defrauded victims of more than $13 million.
According to court documents, Mazzotta also conspired with others to obstruct justice. Specifically, Mazzotta worked with other co-conspirators after Saffron’s initial arrest to conceal and destroy evidence at Saffron’s apartment, including an iPad and the contents of a personal safe. Mazzotta also conspired to falsify the records of his business, Runway Beauty Inc., to conceal his involvement in the investment fraud scheme from a federal grand jury.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney James C. Hughes of the Major Frauds Section and Justice Department Trial Attorneys Theodore Kneller and Siji Moore of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting this case.
Armed Drug Trafficker Sentenced to Federal Prison for Narcotics and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Eric Shirone Thompson, 47, of Gainesville, Florida was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “My office is dedicated to making our community the safest place to live and raise children. Today’s sentence is another achievement in furtherance of that objective. But we will not stop here. We will continue to aggressively prosecute armed drug traffickers like Mr. Thompson who present a danger to the health and safety of our community until all drug trafficking organizations in our community are dismantled and eliminated.”
According to court documents, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Thompson’s residence, where they found Thompson attempting to flush fentanyl down a toilet. During a search of the residence, law enforcement also located two loaded firearms and drug paraphernalia consistent with drug dealing, including baggies and cooking utensils with cocaine residue. Additional investigation revealed that Thompson conspired with other individuals to possess and distribute cocaine, marijuana, and “molly” in the Northern District of Florida.
The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Gainesville Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner.
“This joint investigation involving state and federal law enforcement agencies shows how integral partnerships are in the fight against drug traffickers,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “We each bring specific skills to the investigation, and this leads to more success. These communities will benefit greatly from this drug trafficker being off the streets.”
“This case and subsequent federal prosecution sends a clear message: we will not tolerate drug trafficking in our community. We remain committed to working with our federal partners to hold offenders accountable and protect the safety of our residents,” said Chief Moya of the Gainesville Police Department.
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.
Armed Drug Dealer Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Isaih Malik Cox, a/k/a “Glizzy,” 27, of Gainesville, Florida was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and carrying a firearm in relation to a drug-trafficking offense. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “The defendant’s conviction and sentence is the result of excellent work by local and federal law enforcement and my office. In collaboration with our partners in and around the Northern District of Florida, we will continue to aggressively prosecute armed drug traffickers like the defendant who present a danger to the health and safety of our community until all drug trafficking organizations in our community are dismantled and eliminated.”
“We are committed to holding criminals accountable in close coordination with our federal partners. Our community will continue to stand strong against drug dealers who carry firearms and threaten the safety of our neighborhoods,” said Chief Nelson Moya, Gainesville Police Department.
According to court documents, while traveling in a vehicle in Gainesville, Florida, the defendant possessed a loaded pistol with an extended magazine and approximately 54 grams of a controlled substance commonly known as “molly,” which he intended to distribute. Prior to getting in the vehicle, the defendant was seen leaving an apartment where he had an AR-15 style pistol loaded with 32 rounds of ammunition.
The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Gainesville Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner.
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.
25 July 2025
Vehicle Theft Investigation Leads to 33-Year Federal Prison Sentence for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
An Arlington resident was sentenced to 405 months in federal prison for Production of Child Pornography and Illegal Possession of a Machinegun, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson.
Court documents revealed that in late September 2024, the Bedford Police Department began investigating a theft of a truck that belonged to a business in Bedford, Texas. A few days later, the Arlington Police Department recovered the vehicle and returned it to the owners. Multiple bags containing cell phones and illegal firearms that belonged to Carlos Isaac Barrientos were found in the vehicle. A forensic review of the devices by agents from the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms located images and videos of child pornography on the devices. Barrientos, 36, of Arlington, Texas, was arrested, charged, and subsequently pled guilty to production of child pornography and illegal possession of a machinegun on April 16, 2025. On July 24, 2025, Barrientos was sentenced to 405 months in federal prison by United States District Judge Reed O’Connor.
The investigation was conducted by the Arlington Police Department, Bedford Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and Department of Homeland Security. Assistant United States Attorney Allyson Monte prosecuted the case.
USP Lewisburg Inmate Charged with Possession of Child Porn and Possessing Contraband in PrisonRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Carl Jones, age 51, from Chester, PA, was charged on July 24, 2025, with possession of child pornography and for possessing contraband in prison.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment charges that from February 24, 2025 to April 9, 2025, Jones possessed a cell phone containing images of a minor, including a minor under the age of 12, engaged in sexually explicit conduct, while he was an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution Lewisburg (FCI Lewisburg), Lewisburg, Pennsylvania,
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Zenzinger is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for the offense is 20 years and a fine. A sentence for this offense must also include a period of supervised release of 5 years up to life following imprisonment. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
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U.S. Enforces Fugitive's Appearance Bond by Selling Greenwich Mansion for $7.35 MillionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced today that her office enforced the appearance bond for fugitive defendant Iftikar Ahmed by selling his Greenwich, Conn., mansion for $7.35 million.
In April 2015, Ahmed was charged with one count of securities fraud. He was released from pre-trial custody subject to conditions, including that he and his wife, as sureties, sign a $9 million appearance bond secured by their Greenwich, Conn., residence, which they did. At some time in May 2015, Ahmed violated his conditions of release by fleeing to India and has remained at-large ever since.
“There are serious consequences for evading justice,” said U.S. Attorney Foley. “An appearance bond is not simply a procedural formality; its purpose is to deter defendants from violating conditions of their release and ensure they appear in court to face their charges. Those who contemplate fleeing should know that my office will doggedly seek to find them and enforce their bond obligations.”
In May 2019, the government commenced proceedings to enforce Ahmed’s appearance bond. After the bond was declared forfeited, default judgment was entered and was affirmed on appeal. A petition for remission was denied and, pursuant to appearance bond documents signed by Ahmed and his wife, the Court tendered the deed to the United States and ownership was transferred. Pursuant to a court order, the United States Attorney’s Office listed the property for sale and on July 15, 2025, the house sale closed at a price of $7.35 million.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley made the announcement today. The bond forfeiture action was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol E. Head, Chief of the Asset Recovery Unit. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Marshals Service in the Districts of Massachusetts and Connecticut.
U.S. District Court in Chicago Approves the Appointment of Andrew S. Boutros as United States Attorney for the Northern District of IllinoisRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — The U.S. District Court in Chicago has approved the appointment of Andrew S. Boutros as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.
U.S. Attorney Boutros has been serving in the position of United States Attorney since April 7, 2025, pursuant to a 120-day appointment by Attorney General Pamela Bondi. The order to approve the appointment beyond Aug. 5, 2025, was entered on Thursday by U.S. District Chief Judge Virginia M. Kendall after the full Court met in executive session.
“I am deeply grateful that two branches of our government have agreed upon my appointment,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “President Donald J. Trump, acting through Attorney General Pamela Bondi, appointed me as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois on April 7, 2025. Then the full U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois met in executive session on July 21, 2025, and, pursuant to Title 28, United States Code, Section 546(d), approved my appointment as U.S. Attorney effective Aug. 5, 2025. I am thankful to President Trump and Attorney General Bondi, as well as Chief Judge Kendall and the U.S. District Court judges of the Northern District of Illinois for their confidence in me. It is an honor of a lifetime to have the trust and support of both the Executive (Article II) and Judicial (Article III) branches of our constitutional government. As the son of Coptic Christian parents who immigrated from Egypt to this great land, it is incredibly special to be the first person of any color to assume the role of Chicago U.S. Attorney in the 170-year history of this extraordinary and esteemed Office. The strong support I’ve received from so many different communities has been heartwarming and profoundly touching. I am energized to tackle the enormous challenges that our district faces and to do so by calling balls and strikes in the proudest ways of this incredibly storied Office. I am grateful for the extraordinary talent, work ethic, and warm reception I have received from the Office and its exceptional attorneys and staff. I look forward to working with them for years to come, along with our various law enforcement partner agencies and leaders. The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office has always been one of the crown jewels of the Department of Justice, and I intend to carry forward that tradition under my leadership.”
As an Assistant U.S. Attorney from 2008 to 2015, U.S. Attorney Boutros investigated and prosecuted hundreds of cases, many of which involved matters of national and international significance. Among the types of matters he handled, U.S. Attorney Boutros investigated and prosecuted drug trafficking organizations, street gangs, violent criminals, illegal immigrants with criminal records of violence, and money launderers, as well as fraud and white collar crimes. U.S. Attorney Boutros worked closely with law enforcement partners in the FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, IRS, Secret Service, and the U.S. Marshals Service, among other law enforcement partners, as well as with various DOJ components and U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country--and in some cases, law enforcement authorities throughout the world. U.S. Attorney Boutros’s notable convictions included the world’s largest online drug trafficker on the dark web, one of the country’s “Top Ten Most Wanted” mortgage fraud defendants, and the owner of a Chicago hospital who thwarted collection of more than $188 million in civil judgments. U.S. Attorney Boutros also successfully prosecuted a series of cases involving unprecedented criminal violations of international trade, customs, and anti-dumping laws, which have been described as the largest of their kind ever prosecuted in the country.
U.S. Attorney Boutros received numerous awards and accolades for his work as a federal prosecutor. The Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association selected him as the National Prosecutor of the Year, presenting him with the National Prosecutorial Award. The American Bar Association honored U.S. Attorney Boutros with the Criminal Justice Section’s Norm Maleng Minister of Justice Award for best exemplifying the prosecutor’s duty to seek justice. U.S. Attorney Boutros also received honors from the FBI, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
From 2015 until his appointment as United States Attorney, U.S. Attorney Boutros worked in private law practice in Chicago, holding various leadership roles. For 15 consecutive years, U.S. Attorney Boutros has taught an advanced criminal law course at the University of Chicago Law School. While practicing law full time, Mr. Boutros has also written and spoken extensively on criminal law and criminal law adjacent topics, including publishing two books, authoring nearly 160 articles and book chapters, and presenting at 90 speaking engagements.
U.S. Attorney Boutros earned a bachelor’s degree, In-Honors summa cum laude, from Virginia Tech, and his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. He clerked for the Honorable Eugene E. Siler, Jr. of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Ramps up Prosecution of Illegal Re-Entry into the United States Following DeportationRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – In the latest example of federal prosecutors’ increased focus on defendants alleged to have been found in the United States following removal, a federal grand jury yesterday returned an indictment charging Jesus Alexis Cervantes-Luna, aka “Sinaloa,” with one count of illegal reentry following removal from the United States and multiple counts of drug and firearms offenses.
Cervantes-Luna, 29, a Mexican national, was initially charged by complaint on July 8, 2025. The eight-count indictment filed on July 24, 2025, charges Cervantes-Luna with one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams and more of fentanyl; two counts of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams and more of fentanyl; two counts of possession with intent to distribute five grams and more of methamphetamine; one count of unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition as a felon; one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; and one count of illegal reentry following removal.
According to the complaint, in February 2025, law enforcement responded to a hit-and-run collision in Salinas, Calif., involving a grey GMC SUV registered to an individual at an address in Soledad, Calif. While heading to the Soledad address, law enforcement observed a grey GMC SUV matching the description of the hit-and-run vehicle parked at a nearby gas station and made contact with the alleged driver, Cervantes-Luna. During a search of the GMC, law enforcement allegedly found a backpack with suspected narcotics, two boxes of 9mm ammunition, clear plastic baggies, shaved keys, and a glass pipe.
The complaint further describes that, on March 25, 2025, based on an outstanding warrant, law enforcement attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a van that Cervantes-Luna was driving. When officers exited their patrol car, the van accelerated at a high rate of speed and led officers on a 23.5-mile pursuit from Soledad to Paicines, Calif. Officers were unable to locate Cervantes-Luna, but found a black backpack that they had previously seen Cervantes-Luna hold. Inside the backpack, officers allegedly located approximately 17 net grams of suspected methamphetamine, a baggie of suspected fentanyl pills weighing approximately 51.4 net grams, a baggie of suspected fentanyl powder weighing approximately 59.7 net grams and a digital scale.
On March 31, 2025, law enforcement arrested Cervantes-Luna for an outstanding warrant while he was driving a Jeep in Monterey County. During a search incident to arrest, officers allegedly found a semiautomatic firearm in Cervantes-Luna’s waistband, and also located on his person a black satchel containing approximately 37 net grams of suspected methamphetamine and approximately 75.2 net grams of suspected fentanyl.
On April 2, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant in King City, Calif., during which they located an Audi that allegedly belonged to Cervantes-Luna. Inside the Audi, officers allegedly found a white compressed brick of suspected fentanyl with a net weight of 624.8 grams.
As charged in the indictment, Cervantes-Luna was previously deported and removed from the United States on or about September 2023.
Cervantes-Luna was previously arrested on the complaint on July 14, 2025, in Monterey, Calif., and made his initial appearance that same day. He is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment on July 28, 2025.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Brannigan made the announcement.
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Since January 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California has significantly increased the number of such prosecutions and has publicly filed criminal charges against over a dozen defendants alleged to have been found in the United States following removal. Many of the charged defendants were previously convicted of felony offenses prior to their removal from the United States, including, for example:
- Juan Jose Vazquez Hernandez, 34, a Mexican national, was convicted of and has been sentenced for illegal reentry following removal, in violation of 8 U.S.C. §§ 1326(a) and (b)(1). Vazquez Hernandez was previously convicted of possessing an assault weapon. He has been deported or removed from the United States on at least nine occasions since 2010.
Jose and Jonathan Erazo: Jose Erazo, 36, and Jonathan Erazo, 33, Honduran nationals, were charged with illegal reentry into the United States following deportation, in violation of 8 U.S.C. §§ 1326(a) and (b)(1) and 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a), respectively. Both defendants were previously ordered removed from the United States.
On June 20, 2025, Jose Erazo pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams and more of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine, and illegal reentry following removal. According to the plea agreement, in May 2024, Jose Erazo was found with fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Law enforcement also found an industrial press, cutting agents, large amounts of currency, and packaging materials at his residence and stash house.
Jonathan Erazo also pleaded guilty on June 20, 2025, to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and illegal reentry following removal. According to the plea agreement, in May 2024, Jonathan Erazo was found with fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine base, and heroin that he intended to distribute.
- Wilson Acosta-Zuniga: 53, a Honduran national, was charged with being found in the United States following deportation, in violation of 8 U.S.C. §§ 1326(a) and (b)(1), and possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). He pleaded guilty to both counts of the information on July 7, 2025. According to the plea agreement, Acosta-Zuniga was removed from the United States in 2011, following a felony illegal reentry conviction in 2009. On or about April 28, 2025, Acosta-Zuniga was arrested for selling methamphetamine near 9th and Mission Streets in San Francisco. Law enforcement found methamphetamine, cocaine base, heroin, and cocaine in Acosta-Zuniga’s possession.
- Augustin Luna-Gasca, 41, a Mexican national, was charged with illegal reentry into the United States following deportation, in violation of 8 U.S.C. §§ 1326(a) and (b)(2). According to the criminal complaint, Luna-Gasca was deported from the United States on two prior occasions in March 2022 and June 2019. Luna-Gasca has a prior felony conviction for lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14.
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).
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A criminal complaint or indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, defendants who were removed after a prior felony conviction face a maximum sentence of ten years in prison, and defendants removed after a prior aggravated felony conviction face a maximum of 20 years in prison. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
The prosecutions are the result of investigations by HSI, DEA, ICE ERO, and FBI.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Filed 76 Border-Related Cases This WeekRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 76 border-related cases this week, including charges of assault on a federal officer, bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is the fourth-busiest federal district, largely due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district, encompassing San Diego and Imperial counties, shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world’s busiest land border crossing, connecting San Diego (America’s eighth largest city) and Tijuana (Mexico’s second largest city).
In addition to reactive border-related crimes, the Southern District of California also prosecutes a significant number of proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and national security. Recent developments in those and other significant areas of prosecution can be found here.
A sample of border-related arrests this week:
- On July 20, Adrian Arturo VILLAR-Chavez (VILLAR), was arrested and charged with Importation of a Controlled Substance. According to a complaint, VILLAR applied for entry through Andrade, California Port of Entry driving a black Mercedes. Upon inspection of the vehicle, Customs and Border Protection officers found 75.38kg (166.18 pounds) of methamphetamine concealed in the vehicle.
- On July 24, Juan Roberto CRUZ-Quinonez, a Guatemalan national, was arrested and charged with Transportation of Illegal Aliens. According to a complaint, U.S. Border Patrol Agents were conducting a pro-active patrol of State Route 94 when they observed a suspicious vehicle driving eastbound. Following a traffic stop on the suspicious vehicle, U.S. Border Patrol Agents identified the driver of the vehicle as CRUZ, who was attempting to transport two illegal aliens within the United States for financial gains.
- On July 24, Alberto LOPEZ-Salazar, a Mexican national, was arrested and charged with Attempted Entry after Deportation. According to a complaint, LOPEZ was attempting to enter the U.S. at the San Ysidro Port of Entry by hiding under a blanket in the rear of a vehicle. LOPEZ was discovered by Customs and Border Protection officers after the officers noticed two adult males hiding in the rear of the vehicle. The defendant has a criminal history in the U.S. and had previously been deported to Mexico twice, the most recent deportation being in June 2025.
Also recently, a number of defendants with criminal records were convicted by a jury or sentenced for border-related crimes such as illegally re-entering the U.S. after previous deportation. Here is one of those cases:
- On July 25, 2025, Perla IBARRA Rodriguez, a Mexican national who is a permanent resident of the United States, was sentenced to 27 months in custody for smuggling more than 20 pounds of fentanyl into the United States. While on bond in this case, IBARRA was charged in San Bernardino County in a separate incident for possessing methamphetamine for sale, transporting methamphetamine, and willfully causing or permitting any child to suffer.
Pursuant to the Department’s Operation Take Back America priorities, federal law enforcement has focused immigration prosecutions on undocumented aliens who are engaged in criminal activity in the U.S., including those who commit drug and firearms crimes, who have serious criminal records, or who have active warrants for their arrest. Federal authorities have also been prioritizing investigations and prosecutions against drug, firearm, and human smugglers and those who endanger and threaten the safety of our communities and the law enforcement officers who protect the community.
The immigration 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), Customs and Border Protection, 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 the support and assistance of state and local law enforcement partners.
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.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Charges Man with Felony Possession of a Dangerous Weapon During Standoff in Federal Courthouse in Downtown ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — The U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged a man with feloniously possessing a dangerous weapon during a standoff in the federal courthouse in downtown Chicago earlier this week.
MARIO SANTOYO, 38, of Chicago, was charged with possession of a dangerous weapon in a federal facility with intent to use the weapon in the commission of a crime, according to a criminal complaint filed today in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The charge is punishable by up to five years in federal prison. Santoyo made an initial appearance in federal court this afternoon and was ordered to remain detained in federal custody. A detention hearing was set for July 31, 2025, at 11:30 a.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel P. McLaughlin.
The complaint alleges that Santoyo entered the Dirksen Federal Building, 219 S. Dearborn St. in Chicago, at 10:27 a.m. on Tuesday and asked to speak with the FBI about “gangsters” or “gangbangers” who were trying to kill him. After a Court Security Officer advised Santoyo that the FBI does not have an office in the Dirksen Building and that he could not remain in the building if he had no other business there, Santoyo put a knife to his throat and threatened to hurt himself, the complaint states. Law enforcement attempted to get Santoyo to drop the knife, but he refused, the complaint states. An hours-long standoff ensued, with Santoyo remaining in the lobby of the building with the knife to his throat and carrying a dark bag the contents of which were unknown. Santoyo’s conduct prevented individuals from entering or exiting the Dirksen Building.
Approximately nine and a half hours after the standoff began, and after the federal building had been evacuated throughout the day—causing enormous disruption to the business of the federal courthouse, including criminal and civil trials, hearings, and other proceedings—law enforcement used non-lethal force and took Santoyo into custody at 7:55 p.m. He was transported to a Chicago hospital for treatment.
The complaint was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, LaDon A. Reynolds, United States Marshal for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the Chicago Police Department, Chicago Fire Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Protective Service. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Chmura.
“As I have said before, under my leadership, there will be zero tolerance for violence against federal officials or violence against the important work of the federal government as it is conducted in the Northern District of Illinois,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “The defendant’s actions impeded the due administration of justice in the largest federal courthouse in the country both by square footage as well as number of federal judges, as it houses the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and the offices of various governmental agencies. The Court Security Officers, Deputy U.S. Marshals, and FBI Special Agents who bravely resolved the situation and took Santoyo into custody deserve our utmost respect and appreciation.”
“The defendant created a dangerous situation for himself, law enforcement, and the thousands of federal employees and members of the public inside the Dirksen Building,” said Marshal Reynolds. “The standoff in this case was peacefully resolved thanks to the courage and professionalism of the law enforcement officers from the U.S. Marshals Service and FBI. I am deeply appreciative of this U.S. Attorney’s strong partnership with the U.S. Marshals Service and for his strong leadership in choosing to bring a felony charge to hold the defendant accountable for his intolerable actions.”
“Federal agents courageously put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe from harm," said FBI SAC DePodesta. “I remain grateful that this situation resolved without incident, thanks to the heroic efforts of law enforcement professionals, and in particular, the U.S. Marshals Service and the FBI's SWAT and Crisis Negotiations Teams. The dedicated agents who comprise these highly trained teams ensure that when dangerous situations occur, everyone affected has the best probability of returning home safely.”
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.
santoyo_complaint.pdfU.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico Weekly Immigration and Border Crimes ReportRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Today, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico announced its immigration enforcement statistics for this week. These cases are prosecuted in partnership with the El Paso Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, along with Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, and assistance from other federal, state, and county agencies.
In the one-week period ending July 25, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office brought the following criminal charges in New Mexico:
- 40 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326)
- 4 individuals were charged this week with Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324)
- 37 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325)
- 35 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325), violation of a military security regulation (50 U.S.C. 797) and Entering Military, Naval, or Coast Guard Property (18 U.S.C. 1382), arising from the newly established National Defense Area in New Mexico.
Many of the defendants charged pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1326 had prior criminal convictions for robbery, alien smuggling, DUI, assault, and illegal reentry.
In one significant case, Jose Luis Ramirez-Montoya, a Mexican national illegally in the U.S., was charged with providing a false statement to a firearms dealer by falsely claiming on an ATF form that he was a U.S. citizen. At the time of the false statement, Ramirez-Montoya was attempting to purchase a firearm from a pawn shop in Deming, NM. The sale was denied, and HSI agents located Ramirez-Montoya at a residence in Deming, NM where he was arrested.
Protecting law enforcement officers is a key part of border security. During this time period, two Guatemalan nationals were charged with assault of a federal officer. On July 17, 2025, a group was spotted crossing the border in Santa Teresa, New Mexico. When a Border Patrol agent arrived at the location, the group was spotted hiding in some brush. When the agent attempted to apprehend one of the subjects, Sarbelio Garcia-Ramo, “threw elbows” and was able to break free for a short time. The agent then attempted to arrest Juan Gutierrez-Gutierrez who began wrestling with the agent. As the agent was wrestling with Gutierrez-Gutierrez, Garcia-Ramo approached them and grabbed the agent by her duty belt and started to pull her away. A second agent arrived, and both defendants were subsequently subdued and arrested.
From the beginning of Fiscal Year 2025 through June 2025, 50 El Paso Sector Border Patrol Agents have been assaulted, following 103 assaults in Fiscal Year 2024. U.S. Border Patrol is collaborating closely with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office to ensure that those who assault federal officers are brought to justice. This interagency cooperation is crucial in protecting the men and women who serve on the frontlines of our nation's border security efforts and in deterring future attacks on law enforcement personnel.
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.
These statistics represent prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico only. The numbers do not include individuals apprehended by immigration enforcement officials and subjected solely to administrative process.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the District of New Mexico. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.
The District of New Mexico consists of 33 counties and shares 180 miles of international border with Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from Albuquerque and Las Cruces work directly with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to prosecute immigration-related and other federal offenses.
Two Staffers at Ontario Surgery Center Charged in Federal Complaint Alleging They Assaulted and Interfered with ICE InvestigationRead the Press Release
RIVERSIDE, California – Two staff members at a surgery center in San Bernardino County have been charged via a federal criminal complaint alleging they assaulted and interfered with United States immigration officers attempting to lawfully detain an illegal alien, the Justice Department announced today.
Jose de Jesus Ortega, 38, of Highland, was arrested this morning and is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in U.S. District Court in Riverside.
Law enforcement is looking for Danielle Nadine Davila, 33, of Corona.
Ortega and Davila are charged with assaulting a federal officer and conspiracy to prevent by force and intimidation a federal officer from discharging his duties.
“This story is another example of a false narrative echoed in the media in furtherance of an agenda to delegitimize federal agents,” said United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “The illegal alien arrested inside the surgery center was not a patient. He ran inside for cover and these defendants attempted to block his apprehension by assaulting our agents. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you work, if you assault our agents or otherwise interfere with our operations, you will be arrested and charged with a federal crime.”
According to an affidavit filed Thursday with the complaint, on July 8, two U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers conducted roving immigration-related operations as part of their duties in Ontario. The officers wore government-issued equipment, including law enforcement vests, and were in an unmarked government-operated vehicle.
The officers were following a truck with three adult men when the truck made a quick turn into the parking lot of a surgery center in Ontario. Officers approached the men after the men had exited the truck, and two of the men ran away. One of the fleeing men – an illegal alien from Honduras – was partially detained near the surgery center’s front entrance before he resisted and pulled away, causing both him and the ICE officer to fall to the ground. Shortly afterward, a medical staffer helped the alien off the ground and helped pull him away from the officer. The alien proceeded inside the surgery center and was pursued by the ICE officer, who eventually stopped him.
Ortega and Davila, both dressed in medical scrubs, impeded and interfered with the arrest – Davila by wedging herself in between the officer and the alien, pushing the officer, and shouting, “Let him go!” and “Get out!”; Ortega by grabbing the officer’s arm and then his vest.
The officer called for assistance and another ICE officer arrived on scene and saw multiple staff members grabbing the first officer. The officers eventually detained and handcuffed the alien, then exited the surgery center with him.
A criminal complaint contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted, the defendants would face a statutory maximum sentence of eight years in federal prison on the assault count and up to six years in federal prison on the conspiracy count.
Homeland Security Investigations is investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Cory Burleson of the Riverside Branch Office is prosecuting this case.
Two New Orleans Men Plead Guilty to Multiple Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that HENRY MITCHELL (“MITCHELL”), age 35, and JAYLAN WASHINGTON (“WASHINGTON”), age 30, both residents of New Orleans, were sentenced on July 22, 2025, by United States District Judge Greg G. Guidry pursuant to their pleas of guilty to federal drug and gun charges. Listed below are the charges to which each Defendant pled guilty, and the sentence received:
CHARGE
DEFENDANT
SENTENCE
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute marihuana, Fentanyl, tapentadol and tramadol (21 U.S.C. § 846)MITCHELL151 months, 3 years of supervised releasePossession With Intent to Distribute marihuana, Fentanyl, tapentadol and tramadol (21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) & (b)(1)(C))MITCHELL151 months, 3 years of supervised releaseFelon in Possession of a Firearm (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1))MITCHELL151 months, 3 years of supervised releasePossession of a Machine Gun (18 U.S.C. § Section 922(o))MITCHELL120 months, 3 years of supervised releasePossession of a Machine Gun (18 U.S.C. § 922(o))MITCHELL120 months, 3 years of supervised releaseConspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute marihuana, Fentanyl, tapentadol and tramadol (21 U.S.C. § 846)WASHINGTON120 months, 3 years of supervised releasePossession with Intent to Distribute marihuana, and tapentadol (21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C)WASHINGTON120 months, 3 years of supervised releaseFelon in Possession of a Firearm (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1))WASHINGTON120 months, 3 years of supervised releasePossession of a Machine Gun (18 U.S.C. § 922(o))WASHINGTON120 months, 3 years of supervised releaseAll sentences were ordered to run concurrently with each other. Judge Guidry also ordered MITCHELL to pay $500.00 in mandatory special assessment fees and ordered WASHINGTON to pay $400 in mandatory special assessment fees.
Court documents reflect that MITCHELL and WASHINGTON were openly selling various controlled substance in the Plum Orchard Neighborhood of New Orleans. Federal Bureau of Investigation Violent Crime Task Force Officers (TFO) observed this activity after receiving multiple citizen complaints. The TFOs notified New Orleans Police Department Officers who surrounded the area and arrested MITCHELL and WASHINGTON. A search of their vehicles revealed both controlled substances and firearms. Officers also recovered “Glock switches” that convert semiautomatic weapons into fully automatic ones. These switches are considered machineguns under federal law. Additionally, both MITCHELL and WASHINGTON have several prior felony convictions including ones for violation of drug and firearm laws.
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.
The case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation Violent Crime Task Force, and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Mark A. Miller of the Narcotics Unit is assigned the prosecution.
Tulsan Sentenced to 30 Years After Taking Sexually Explicit Images of an 8-Year-OldRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Tulsa man was sentenced today for Production of Child Pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, sentenced Gregory Miller, 56, to 360 months imprisonment, followed by lifetime supervised release, ordered to pay a $15,000 fine, and not to have any contact with the victim. Upon his release, Miller will also be required to register as a sex offender.
In February 2024, law enforcement conducted a search warrant on Miller’s home and seized various electronic devices. A search of those devices revealed images and videos of a minor child, known to Miller, posed in a sexually explicit way. The investigation revealed that the images and videos were taken at Miller’s residence. At the time the photos were taken, the minor child was only 8 years old.
Miller will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Robert and Christopher J. Nassar 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.
Three Juveniles Charged in December 2024 Capitol Hill Robbery SpreeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Rashad Ervin (17), Markell Butler (16), and Dereon Butler (17), all of Washington, D.C., were arrested and charged by complaint as adults under Title 16 with multiple counts of armed robbery and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for a robbery spree in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
According to the government’s evidence, in the early-morning hours of December 2, 2024, the defendants utilized a stolen gray Kia Sorento and a stolen red Lexus sedan to locate and target commuting pedestrians in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. In all, they approached ten different unsuspecting pedestrians across numerous locations, brandished a firearm (or imitation thereof) at them, and robbed them of their wallets, purses, cellphones, and other personal belongings. They then fled each scene before the police could arrive.
Rashad Ervin was arrested on May 13, 2025; Markell Butler was arrested on June 23, 2025; and Dereon Butler was arrested on July 22, 2025 in Superior Court. They are all in custody.
Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Levy.
A complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Tennessee Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
Paducah, KY – A Henry County, Tennessee man was sentenced on July 21, 2025, to 11 years in federal prison for possessing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Sheriff Nicky Knight of the Calloway County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Matt Hilbrecht of the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, and Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police made the announcement.
Trey Cowans, 30 years old, admitted in a plea agreement that on April 17, 2024, agents arranged to purchase 2 pounds of methamphetamine from him using a confidential source. Cowans was apprehended when he arrived at the pre-determined location for the purpose of engaging in drug distribution and found to be in possession of 2 pounds of methamphetamine. Through a separate search of a location in Tennessee, Cowans was also found to be in possession of 20.7 pounds of methamphetamine. Based on this conduct and his criminal history, the Court imposed a sentence of 11 years in federal prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Cowans was a significant drug distributor in the Calloway County area that is now off the streets because of first-class law enforcement efforts of the DEA, Calloway County Sheriff’s Office, Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, and Kentucky State Police Drug Enforcement and Special Investigations,” said U.S. Attorney Kyle Bumgarner. “This prosecution is yet another example of the strong work that can be done when federal, state, and local partners join forces for a common good.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, prosecuted the case.
This conviction is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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TSA Employee Charged with Attempted Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Columbia Mo., man employed by the TSA appeared in Federal Court today after being charged by complaint with attempted production of child pornography.
Daniel P. Meenehan, 64, was charged by complaint with attempted production of child pornography on July 24, 2025.
The investigation began on Oct. 29, 2024, when HSI agents in St. Louis, Missouri received information from the Miller County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office regarding a report of a minor victim sending nude photographs to an adult male in exchange for money. The investigation shows the defendant made over 41 transactions to the minor victims in exchange for nude images for a period of one year.
The charges contained in the complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
Under federal statutes, if convicted, Meenehan faces a federal prison sentence of up to 30 years to be served without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is provided by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Turner. It was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, Boone County Sheriff’s Office, and the Miller County Sheriff’s Office.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Tickfaw Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Federal Prison for Distribution of Cocaine and FentanylRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Ellison C. Travis announced that U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick sentenced Randevois Ingram, age 28, of Tickfaw Louisiana, to 60 months imprisonment in federal prison following his conviction for distribution of cocaine and fentanyl. The Court further sentenced Ingram to serve four years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, between May 2, 2024, and June 27, 2024, Ingram distributed controlled substances containing cocaine and fentanyl to a confidential source working under the direction of the Drug Enforcement Administration and Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations.
This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations, and Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul L. Pugliese.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
Tallahassee Man Sentenced for Multiple Federal Child Exploitation CrimesRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Danny Reams, Jr., 32, of Tallahassee, Florida was sentenced to 168 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release after previously pleading guilty to attempted enticement of a minor as well as receipt and distribution of child pornography. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: There is no greater charge than the protection of our children, and I am deeply appreciative of the excellent work of our state and federal law enforcement partners to target those who attempt to prey upon our kids. This sentence is yet another example of the unwavering commitment of my office to protect our most vulnerable from the predations of sex offenders, and should serve as a warning to others who seek to target our children. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who engage in such heinous conduct.”
According to court records, the Defendant distributed an image of child pornography in June 2024 through a social media application. He then received child pornography in a second social media application in August 2024. Finally, in September 2024, the Defendant solicited sex from an undercover officer who was pretending to be a 14-year-old child. The defendant was arrested upon his arrival at a predetermined meeting location.
“HSI is committed to working with our state, local, and federal law enforcement partners to ensure the safety of children throughout North Florida,” said Homeland Security Investigations Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno. “Sexual predators, like Reams, should know that HSI is unwavering in our dedication to finding you and holding you accountable.”
Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil said: “We at the Leon County Sheriff’s Office are unwavering in our commitment to protect our children from those who seek to exploit them. I commend our investigators, along with our federal partners, for their relentless work in uncovering and stopping these repugnant crimes.”
This conviction was the result of an investigation by the U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric W. Welch.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Statement from U.S. Attorney David Toepfer on the Death of Police Officer Phillip WagnerRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND - U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer made the following statement regarding the death of Lorain Police Officer Phillip Wagner.
"With sorrowful hearts, we offer our sincerest condolences to the family of Officer Phillip Wagner, his friends, and his fellow officers with the Lorain Police Department. Officer Wagner’s tragic loss is a painful reminder of the dangers our law enforcement officers face in service to keep our communities safe. There are no words to express the depths of pain in losing such a young life to a senseless act of violence. We have lost a protector of our community who dedicated his career to ensuring that others can live in safety. We will forever be grateful to Officer Wagner for his bravery and sacrifice in service of others.
We also ask everyone to continue to keep Officers Peter Gale and Brent Payne in their thoughts and prayers as they recover not only physically from this brutal attack, but also from the immense pain of losing their friend and colleague."
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Southern District of Texas charges 204 this week alone in relation to border enforcement effortsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A total of 201 new cases have been filed related to immigration and border security from July 18-24, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Among those are 87 people who face charges of illegally reentering the country. The majority have prior felony convictions for narcotics, violent crime, prior immigration crimes and more. A total of 98 people are charged with illegally entering the country, while 11 cases allege various instances of human smuggling with the remainder involving other immigration crimes and assault of officers.
Some of those facing new criminal charges are five Mexican nationals, all of whom have previous felony convictions, according to their charges. One is Cristian Jesus Rodriguez-Cuarenta who allegedly has a prior conviction for conspiracy to transport an illegal alien and had just been removed in January. Four others – Juan Manuel Perez-Tamez, Ramiro Rodriguez-Esquivel, Jose Martinez-Lemus and Hector Esael Gonzalez-Garcia – are also alleged to be convicted felons of crimes including drug trafficking, multiple driving while intoxicated instances or illegal reentry. Despite their previous removals on varying dates between 2019 - 2022, authorities allegedly discovered all five men in the Edinburg area without any authorization to be in the United States. They face up to 20 years in federal prison, if convicted.
Also in the McAllen area this week, a suspicious vehicle led to the arrest of three, two of whom are Mexican nationals, and the discovery of nearly three dozen illegal aliens. They are now charged with human smuggling after authorities discovered 24 illegal aliens hidden in a tractor trailer at a Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint, which included defendant Elbis Lisandro Moreno Uruqia. Joe Michael Cruz and Uruqia allegedly transported the aliens from Mission to Hebbronville. According to the charges, Uruqia and Cruz smuggled 18 aliens two weeks earlier. A related search at a Mission residence led to the arrest of Jesus Felipe Hernandez Rangel and the discovery of 10 additional illegal aliens, according to the complaint. If convicted, each faces up to 10 years in federal prison.
In addition to the new cases, Laredo resident Juan Francisco Reyna was ordered to federal prison. He led a multi-year human smuggling operation that used social media, inclement weather and the Covid-19 pandemic to transport over 100 illegal aliens, including minors, across the United States. Reyna coordinated the scheme through Facebook, paid drivers to monitor checkpoints and scheduled crossings during storms to avoid detection. Authorities linked him to stash houses in Laredo and San Antonio where they seized over $56,000 in U.S. currency and ammunition. He received a sentence of 63 months.
“Over the past six months, the Department of Justice has made securing our national border the number one priority, and the Southern District is putting that promise into action,” said Ganjei. “Human smugglers may have had an easy time over the past few years, but those days are over. If you engage in these crimes, if you break our nation’s immigration laws, you will be caught and you will be punished. Simple as that.”
An armed cartel carjacker was also sentenced this week. Mexican national Johnathan Mata-Espinoza received 108 months for two counts of armed carjacking. On July 27, 2023, he threatened two adults and a child, stealing their vehicle after they refused to give him a ride to the bus station, saying, “You better take me because if not, I will kill you all.” Authorities later linked him to a second armed encounter that same night, during which he threatened another victim and displayed a concealed firearm.
In Corpus Christi, a 40-year-old Mexican national illegally living in Houston pleaded guilty to leading a human smuggling organization and unlawfully reentering the United States. Edgar-Ruiz-Briones coordinated transportation of illegal aliens crossing the southern border, recruited drivers from as far as Kansas and managing over 100 smuggling trips into the United States over an 18-month period. He handled payments from aliens and paid drivers to move them from stash houses to destinations across the country. Ruiz-Briones, who had previously been removed multiple times, now faces up to 30 years in federal prison.
Jose Pascual Soliz received a sentence of 240 months in federal prison after admitting to recruiting Clara Miranda Aleman and others as well as coordinating the transportation of methamphetamine hidden in a vehicle’s gas tank. Aleman helped smuggle the drugs into the United States as part of a Laredo-based trafficking operation tied to Cartel De Noreste. Authorities seized more than 11.85 kilograms of methamphetamine from the pair, noting it was part of a larger shipment. The court also found Soliz had multiple felony convictions, including one for narcotics trafficking. Aleman previously received a 41-month sentence.
A Corpus Christi jury also convicted a former Texas National Guard soldier of smuggling illegal aliens. Mario Sandoval coordinated smuggling trips in the Rio Grande Valley and sent text messages to a co-conspirator about law enforcement activity. The defense attempted to convince the jury no conspiracy existed, and his text messages were out of context. The jury did not believe those claims and found him guilty. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison.
In Houston, a 32-year-old Mexican national was ordered to serve 42 months after again illegally reentering the country. Juan Medina-Garcia has felony convictions for possession, aggravated assault and illegal reentry. He also has two prior removals from the United States. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the sentence should serve as a significant deterrence to prevent any future illegal reentries.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, BP, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The 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 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.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.
An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
South Georgia Drug Trafficking Organization Defendants Found Guilty at TrialRead the Press Release
VALDOSTA, Ga. – Three co-conspirators involved in an armed drug trafficking organization (DTO) based out of Cook County, Georgia, were found guilty at trial this week of federal drug and weapons charges, the second federal trial of members of this criminal organization.
Calvin James Smith, Jr., 36, of Tifton, Georgia, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, one count of distribution of methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Smith faces a maximum of life in prison.
Eddie Lee Hardley, 36, of Adel, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Hardley faces a maximum of life in prison.
Yardley Payne, 57, of Adel, Georgia, was found guilty of one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possession of a firearm by a drug user. Payne faces a maximum of 15 years in prison per count.
The trial began on Monday, July 14, and concluded on Thursday, July 24. Senior U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands is presiding over the case. Sentencing dates will be determined by the Court. There is no parole in the federal system.
“This case highlights the commitment of our law enforcement partners alongside our office to combat armed drug trafficking organizations and hold those connected to them accountable for their crimes,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “We are thankful for the strength of the collaboration between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in the Middle District of Georgia as we work together to make the communities we serve safer for everyone.”
“The success of this large-scale investigation and the arrests of these drug dealers demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to fighting the drug trafficking organizations responsible for driving addiction and destroying communities,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown.
"Today’s verdict sends a clear message that criminal organizations operating in Georgia, especially those trafficking in dangerous drugs and using firearms to further their operations, will be held accountable,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “This conviction is a testament to the tireless work of our law enforcement partners, who have dedicated countless hours to ensuring that those who threaten our communities with violence and illegal substances will face justice.”
According to court documents and statements referenced in court, the FBI undertook a significant investigation beginning as early as December 2020 of an armed drug trafficking organization (DTO) centered in Adel. The DTO was led by co-conspirator Calvin James Smith, Sr., aka “Rollo,” 56, of Adel, Georgia, who, in January 2025, was found guilty at trial of all 23 counts charged in the 44-count indictment. For more information about that trial, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/guilty-verdict-cook-county-armed-drug-trafficking-conspiracy-trial. The investigation determined that Smith, Jr. (the son of Smith, Sr.), Hardley and Payne conspired with others to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine and crack cocaine, as well as marijuana, working with several associates of the DTO. Agents discovered 13 locations used by the DTO. Search warrants were executed at these locations on Nov. 10, 2022, and methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, marijuana and 15 handguns and rifles were seized. Agents recovered more than five kilograms of pure methamphetamine, more than ten pounds of marijuana and several hundred grams of crack cocaine and cocaine.
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).
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI), with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, the Adel Police Department, the Hahira Police Department and the Moultrie Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica Daniels prosecuted the case for the Government with assistance from Criminal Chief Leah McEwen and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Morrison.
South Florida Telecom Company and its CEO Pay $128 Million and CEO is Sentenced to 5 Years for Massive Government Program FraudRead the Press Release
MIAMI –Issa Asad, 51, of Southwest Ranches, Florida, and Q Link Wireless LLC, of Dania Beach, Florida, were sentenced yesterday for conspiring to defraud and commit offenses against the United States in connection with a years-long scheme to steal over $100 million from a celebrated federal program providing discounted phone service to people in need. Asad, Q Link’s CEO, was also sentenced for laundering money from a separate scheme to defraud a different federal program meant to aid individuals and businesses hurt by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Asad and Q Link were each sentenced on Count 1 of an Information, which charged them with conspiring to commit wire fraud and to steal government money, and also with conspiring to defraud the United States, Asad was also sentenced on Count 2 of the Information, which charges him with money laundering.
Asad received a sentence of 60 months’ imprisonment. Q Link agreed to pay a forfeiture money judgment of over $109 million. Asad and Q Link also agreed to jointly paid $109,637,057 in restitution to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Asad separately paid $1,758,339.25 in restitution to the United States Small Business Association, and paid a forfeiture judgment against him of $17,484,118.00. The paid financial penalties and restitution totaled over $128 million.
"Issa Asad and his company, Q Link Wireless, deliberately scammed two vital government programs aimed at supporting people and companies in economic distress, wrongfully diverting hundreds of millions of dollars for their personal benefit and gain, all while impeding the government's capacity to assist those who genuinely required the help," stated U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’ Byrne for the Southern District of Florida. "These outcomes underscore our resolve to make sure that those who mastermind corporate fraud schemes face personal consequences.”
“IRS Criminal Investigation special agents are specially equipped to follow the complex financial trail left by criminals, and we are dedicated to holding those accountable for crimes committed,” said Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carterof the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington, D.C. Field Office. “This was a brazen scheme of staggering proportions. Mr. Asad prioritized his own greed, stealing $100 million from taxpayers. Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that our Global Illicit Financial Team and our law enforcement partners remain vigilant and will vigorously pursue those who attempt to enrich themselves through fraudulent means.”
“Q Link and Asad stole funds from a key FCC program meant to serve low-income households,” said Inspector General Fara Damelin of the FCC, Office of Inspector General (FCC-OIG). “This sentencing sends an important message that egregious criminal misconduct against FCC programs will not go unanswered. FCC OIG investigators and their law enforcement partners at DOJ, IRS, SIGPR, and USPIS, did an outstanding job on this investigation, and we thank FCC for its assistance. FCC OIG is dedicated to stopping waste, fraud, and abuse, and will continue to vigorously pursue investigations against wrongdoers who defraud FCC programs and victimize our most vulnerable populations.”
“Issa Asad used the cover of a legitimate business to line his pockets at the expense of taxpayers and vulnerable communities,” said Acting Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Miami Division. “Today’s sentencing reinforces our commitment to protecting our communities and government programs from abuse.”
According to court records, the case arose out of the Asad and Q Link’s scheme to defraud the FCC’s Lifeline program. Lifeline makes basic communications services more affordable for low-income consumers. It provides subscribers a deep discount on qualifying monthly cellphone service, broadband Internet service, or bundled voice-broadband packages purchased from participating telecommunications providers. The discount helps ensure that low-income consumers can afford 21st century connectivity services and the access they provide to jobs, healthcare, and educational resources.
Asad and Q Link agreed that they purposefully conspired to defraud this program. Specifically, beginning as early as 2012 and continuing through at least 2021, Q Link, directed by Asad, cheated the Lifeline program by making repeated false claims for reimbursement, taking and retaining Lifeline funds that it was not entitled to receive, providing false information about its Lifeline customers, and deceiving the FCC about its compliance with program rules. Asad directed these illegal activities and conspired with others to commit the fraud.
Among other things, according to court records, the Asad and Q Link engaged in multiple tricks designed to mislead the FCC about how many people were actually using Q Link’s Lifeline phones, and to prevent customers who did not want the phones from ending their relationship with Q Link (which would have prevented Q Link from billing the program for them). Asad and Q Link manufactured non-existent cellphone activity and engaged in coercive marketing techniques to get people to remain Q Link customers. On one occasion, for example, Asad and Q Link devised the following automated script to be played for Q Link customers: “Hello, your Medicaid, Food Stamp and Lifeline benefits are about to get cancelled. To avoid cancelation of these benefits, press 1 now to indicate that you wish to remain enrolled in these government programs. Press 2 if you wish to speak to a representative about your government benefits. To opt out of any future calls, press 3.” The Asad and Q Link used this false and threatening script to coerce customers into accepting Lifeline services. In another recorded call in which a similar script was deployed, a customer, who called to cancel due to a non-working cellphone, asked the Q Link customer service representative, “Do you want me to throw it in the garbage?” The representative instructed the customer to “Just make sure you continue to use the device at least once every 30 days.”
Upon learning that the FCC was investigating their Lifeline billing, Asad and Q Link created and provided false records to the FCC to conceal the scam and to continue collecting reimbursement. As part of this plan, Asad and Q Link, with the help of others, simply manufactured cellphone activity on behalf of Q Link customers who were not using their cellphones. At no point did Q Link amend past Lifeline claims for customers who were not using their cellphones or return any of the Lifeline payments. Asad and Q Link, together with their co-conspirators, caused a $109,637,057 loss to the FCC. Asad admitted that he sent over $50 million in Lifeline funds to bank accounts he and his family member controlled in Jordan.
Meanwhile, Asad defrauded another federal government program, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), by making false statements about Q Link’s business. Congress created the PPP during the Covid-19 pandemic to authorize forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses. Asad, in Q Link’s name, executed a fraudulent scheme to obtain, and keep, PPP proceeds. To further the scheme, Asad made false statements about Q Link’s business, including a false claim that Q Link’s Lifeline reimbursements substantially decreased because of the pandemic. Asad then, in 2021, engaged in an unlawful financial transaction involving approximately $389,000 of those proceeds. Asad spent PPP loan proceeds on a Land Rover payment, his personal Amex card, jewelry, and personal property taxes.
Resolution of this matter makes this the largest criminal matter involving the FCC and the largest criminal plea deal in the history of Southern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney O’ Byrne, acting Inspector in Charge Rojo, Executive Special Agent in Charge Carter, and Inspector General Damelin, made the announcement.
The FCC-OIG, USPIS, IRS-CI’s Global Illicit Financial Team, and Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery (SIGPR), investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Young and John Shipley prosecuted the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Pastor and Mitch Hyman are handling asset forfeiture.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Croke is handling restitution.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-cr-20363.
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Somerset County Man Indicted for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Tyler Fuller, age 31, of Somerset County, PA, was indicted yesterday on charges of receipt and possession of child pornography.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that Fuller received and possessed child pornography from August 2023 to January 2024, in Centre County.
The case was investigated by the State College Police Department, Ferguson Township Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, and the Department of Homeland Security. Assistant United States Attorney Alisan V. Martin is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is 20 years, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
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Six Massachusetts Men Arrested for Alleged Roles in Bank Fraud RingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Six Massachusetts men have been charged and arrested in connection with a multi-million-dollar scheme to defraud banks in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.
The following individuals have been indicted on one count each of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering:- Phalentz Vernot, 24, of Waltham, who was also indicted on one count of aggravated identity theft;
- Selby Okai, 23, of Worcester;
- Yves Bissainthe, 23, of Randolph;
- Marvin Kimani, 24, of Lowell;
- Keith Wainaina, 23, of Lowell; and
- Victor Kolawole, 25, of Brockton.
All six defendants were arrested this morning and appeared in federal court in Boston.
According to the charging documents, from at least December 2022 through the present, the defendants allegedly obtained, without authorization, the names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers and bank account numbers of customers of various local banks; recruited individuals to pose as those customers; obtained fake identification documents with the victim customers’ names but the imposters’ photos; drove the imposters to banks in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island, where the imposters presented the fake identification documents and withdrew large sums from the victim customers’ accounts in the form of Cashier’s checks; deposited those checks into bank accounts defendants and their co-conspirators controlled; and transferred the money to other bank accounts they controlled. The defendants allegedly recruited bank insiders to facilitate their scheme, including by providing them access to victim customers’ information and disabling account notifications that would have alerted customers to the unauthorized withdrawals.
The charges of bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud provide for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $500,000 or twice the amount of money involved in the laundering transactions, whichever is greater. The charge of aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year prison sentence consecutive to any sentence received on the other charges. 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 P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New Haven Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Connecticut State Police; Glocester (RI), Sutton, Concord (Mass.), Dracut, Westwood and Abington Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Kearney of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.Serial Cyberstalker Who Terrorized Women for 16 Years Sentenced to Nine Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Plymouth, Mass. man has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for cyberstalking more than a dozen Massachusetts women over a 16-year period. Beginning as early as 2008 and continuing into 2024, the defendant engaged in elaborate online harassment campaigns that targeted and tormented women he knew personally – including two who were minors when the conduct began. Among other things, the defendant hacked into victims’ personal accounts and used over 60 accounts across nearly 30 platforms to relentlessly impersonate, intimidate and abuse them – sharing thousands of fake sexually explicit images of the victims along with their personal information and urging others to contact, shame and sextort them.
James Florence Jr., 37, was sentenced on July 23, 2025, by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to nine years in prison and 10 years of supervised release. In April 2025, Florence pleaded guilty to seven counts of cyberstalking and one count of possession of child pornography. Florence was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in September 2024 and has remained in custody since.“This was not internet trolling. It was psychological torture – sustained, targeted, and deeply personal. For 16 years, this defendant tormented more than a dozen women who considered him a friend, a loved one or an ally and, at the stroke of a key, inflicted lasting harm that changed the way many of these women move through the world. And he did it all while hiding, cowardly, behind a keyboard. Now, he’ll face the consequences of that cruelty behind bars for the better part of the next decade,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “The courage of the victims in this case is extraordinary and it’s their strength that made justice possible here. Our office will continue to do everything in our power to unmask and hold predators like this accountable.”
“James Florence Jr. is a serial cyber stalker who led a double life, weaponizing modern technology to debase, destroy and traumatize more than a dozen women, many of whom were family and close friends, for over a decade. What he did was sickening, demented, and cruel, and he’ll now pay for it with his freedom,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Cyberstalking is a serious crime, and you can be sure the FBI will work to unmask and bring to justice anyone who uses today’s technology in such a despicable way.”
According to court filings, Florence targeted women he knew personally as well as acquaintances – stealing photos from their online accounts and digitally altering the images to make the victims appear nude or engaged in sexual acts. Florence would then post the doctored images publicly alongside the victims’ names, home addresses and other identifying details. For nearly all seven victims, Florence’s cyberstalking campaigns included:- Creating “imposter” social media accounts designed to appear as if they were operated by the victims themselves;
- Posting sexually explicit, AI-generated or photoshopped images of victims, often tagging the victims’ real accounts to maximize exposure;
- Publishing victims’ personal information, including driver’s license photos, home addresses and professional affiliations, with messages urging others to humiliate and expose them;
- Using hacked and compromised personal accounts to surveil victims and gain access to additional private content;
- Attempting to sell doctored nude images of one victim online; and
- Setting up notifications to monitor any changes to victims’ online biographies.
Florence often prompted strangers to contact the victims directly – with some unknown senders demanding that the victims produce real sexually explicit content under threat of distributing the doctored images to friends, family and professional contacts.
For one of the victims, Florence used the name, image and other personal identifying information to program at least three AI-driven chatbots to interact with strangers across multiple platforms in sexually explicit conversations and disclose how to contact or find the victim. For another victim, he created a false online persona describing her sexual preferences, fabricated stories about sex toys and equipment in her home and posted her home address inviting strangers to contact her for sex.
Florence also designed a collage of digitally altered images depicting one victim nude, which he posted to a website alongside her full personal information, encouraging viewers to “Post & Share Her Everywhere. Make The Whore Famous.”
Many of Florence’s victims continue to receive harassing and threatening messages from unknown individuals who encountered the content he created and distributed online.
Additionally, the following items were uncovered during a search of Florence’s residence in Plymouth in September 2024:
- Dozens of pairs of women’s underwear and socks stolen from his victims;
- A custom phone case featuring the image of one of the victims;
- At least 11 digital wallpapers of his victims stored on his phone;
- At least one photo of a victim taken when she was a minor; and
- 62 images and four videos of child sexual abuse material, depicting minor female victims between the ages of approximately eight and 15 years old.
Florence used his expertise to employ several techniques to hide his online identity and criminal activities. According to court filings, Florence was an Information Technology professional who had worked for 10 years at MIT Lincoln Laboratory and had a DoD “Secret” clearance. With this knowledge, he employed a variety of tactics to evade law enforcement – via VPN services, anonymous overseas “revenge porn” websites and encrypted foreign email providers that do not respond to U.S. legal process or retain identifying records.
If you or someone you know is a victim of cyberstalking, please visit: Office for Victims of Crime | What can I do if I am a victim of stalking?
U.S. Attorney Foley and FBI SAC Docks made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Norfolk and Plymouth Police Departments and the Plymouth Fire Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and a member of the Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case.San Diego Man Sentenced in D.C. to 108 Months in Prison for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Eduardo Alberto Zelaya Vides, 31, of San Diego, California, was sentenced today in the District of Columbia to 108 months in prison in connection with repeatedly posting child sexual abuse materials to an online chatroom, with aggressively encouraging other group members to do the same, and possessing a collection of child pornography that numbered more than 2,000 digital files, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Zelaya Vides pleaded guilty on February 7, 2025, before U.S. District Court Judge Beryl A. Howell, to one count of distribution of child pornography.
In addition to the 108-month prison term, Judge Howell ordered Zelaya Vides to serve 15 years of supervised release, to register as a sex offender, and to provide a total of $106,500 in restitution to the 14 children depicted in the child exploitation images that he distributed.
Joining in the announcement was FBI Assistant Director in Charge Steven J. Jensen of the Washington Field Office, which conducted the investigation.
According to court documents, Zelaya Vides joined an instant messaging group which existed as a chatroom for the purpose of discussing the sexual exploitation of children and sharing child pornography. To gain entry and remain in the group, members were required to actively post and share child sexual abuse content. Zelaya repeatedly shared child pornography videos in the group and encouraged other members to share materials they collected, repeatedly imploring the group to “post your sluts” and “post your young sluts.”
On May 10, 2024, law enforcement arrested Zelaya Vides. FBI agents executed a search warrant at the defendant’s home and recovered six digital devices, three of which contained more than 2,000 videos and images depicting the sexual abuse of children.
During his interview with investigators, Zelaya Vides admitted that he participated in the chatroom that began as a forum for discussion and exchange of pornography. He later admitted that he was aware that the pornographic images shared in the group depicted minors who were under 18-years-old. He further admitted that he uploaded images to the chatroom.
This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen L. Shinskie.
This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Sallisaw High School Coach Pleads Guilty to Receiving Child Sexual Exploitation MaterialRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Joshua Lee Bolin, age 26, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to a Superseding Indictment of one count of Receipt of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, punishable by five to twenty years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.
The Superseding Indictment alleged that beginning in January 2024 and continuing until June 28, 2024, Bolin received visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sallisaw Police Department.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Bolin was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessie K. Pippin and Emily Wittlinger represented the United States.
Roanoke Rapids Man Sentenced in Large-Scale Drug and Gun CaseRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – Diandre Sherod Ireland, aka “Debo”, 35, was sentenced Wednesday to 13 years in prison for drug trafficking in Roanoke Rapids.
“This sentence reflects the serious threat posed by fentanyl traffickers who fuel addiction and violence in our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar. “We remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who profit from dealing this deadly poison.”
“This conviction is the culmination of hard work by the Halifax Narcotics and Gang Taskforce, a partnership between RRPD and the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, as well as our federal law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The dedication of each,” said Roanoke Rapids Police Chief Lawrence Wiggins.
“Over the past three years we have built an excellent relationship with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners. We have used this partnership to go after those who are terrorizing our community,” said Halifax County Sheriff Tyree Davis. “Drugs and gangs are a problem in Halifax County and a vast majority of our murders, violent crimes and non-violent crimes are directly related to drugs and gangs. In partnership with the Roanoke Rapids Police Department, our (HCSO & RRPD) Drug and Gang Task Force works tirelessly to ensure our communities are safer. Our agents will build strong, detailed cases. The Chief and I take a tough stance on drugs and gangs.”
According to court documents and other information presented in court, the Halifax Regional Drug and Gang Task Force began investigating Ireland in 2022 after sources identified him as a major drug supplier. Officers observed him making short visits to suspected drug houses in North Carolina and Virginia and interacting with known traffickers.
In February 2024, agents executed a search warrant at his home. When they arrived, law enforcement observed Ireland exit out the back door and toss two backpacks into the neighboring yard before returning inside. Inside the bags, investigators found more than 1,500 grams of cocaine and 300 grams of fentanyl. A search of Ireland’s home uncovered nearly 250 grams of marijuana, digital scales, more than $38,000 in cash, and four firearms – including two stolen handguns and a rifle with a high-capacity magazine.
Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, the Roanoke Rapids Police Department, and the ATF investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie A. Childress prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-CR-00075.
Repeat offender convicted at trial of drug trafficking and firearms offensesRead the Press Release
Seattle – A Seattle man with prior convictions for robbery, burglary and indecent liberties with forcible compulsion for sexually assaulting a homeowner during the course of a residential burglary, was convicted late yesterday in U.S. District Court in Seattle of possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Anthony Raymond Dodd, 36, was convicted following a three-day jury trial. The jury deliberated about 6 hours before returning the guilty verdict. At a second proceeding, the jury convicted Dodd of being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge John H. Chun scheduled sentencing for October 20, 2025.
According to records filed in the case and testimony at trial, on February 22, 2024, Dodd was scheduled to meet with his community corrections officer in the SODO neighborhood of Seattle. Law enforcement had received a report that Dodd was armed and dealing fentanyl pills. Corrections officers followed Dodd in a car he was driving to the check-in meeting. The car was kept under surveillance while Dodd met with his corrections officer and failed to truthfully an
swer some questions about guns and drugs. When corrections officers searched the vehicle Dodd was driving, they found two bags of fentanyl pills in the center console, with a loaded handgun sitting on top of the pills. DNA consistent with Dodd’s DNA profile was found on the trigger of the gun and the magazine holding the bullets. When law enforcement searched Dodd’s apartment, they found $1,460 in cash and a few pills hidden in a heat vent. On Dodd’s phone was a request from someone asking for ‘blues’ – the street name for fentanyl pills.
In closing arguments Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson told the jury, Dodd “was the only person in that car, he was the last person in that car.”
Dodd’s defense tried to argue that the case was a ‘cautionary tale’ about borrowing the wrong car from a friend – a car Dodd claimed he did not know contained drugs and a loaded gun. Prosecutors say the case is something different, “This is a ‘cautionary tale’ about a defendant thinking he could commit crimes on the way to and from his Department of Corrections appointment.”
To limit what the jury knew of Dodd’s criminal history, Judge Chun held a second trial on whether Dodd illegally possessed the firearm since he is a convicted felon. Jurors briefly deliberated before returning that guilty verdict.
Possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute is punishable by a mandatory minimum 5 years imprisonment and a maximum penalty of 40 years. Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime is punishable by a mandatory minimum 5 years in prison to run consecutive to any sentence imposed on the drug trafficking count. Unlawful Possession of a firearm is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
The case was investigated by the Washington State Department of Corrections, the Seattle Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Cecelia Gregson and Rachel Yemini.
Puerto Rico Man Indicted for Straw-Purchasing Dozens of Firearms on Behalf of OthersRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return by a grand jury of an indictment charging Esai Pastrana Cruz (30, Puerto Rico) with conspiring to make and making false statements to a firearms dealer. If convicted, Pastrana Cruz faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison on the conspiracy count and up to 10 years on each substantive count. The indictment also notifies Pastrana Cruz that the United States intends to forfeit all firearms and ammunition involved in or used in the violation.
According to the indictment, between June 29, 2019, and December 22, 2023, while living within the Middle District of Florida, Pastrana Cruz purchased dozens of firearms on behalf of his co-conspirators. While making the purchases, Pastrana Cruz falsely represented to federally licensed firearms dealers that he was the actual buyer or transferee of the firearms.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.
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).