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Thursday 12 June 2025
Honduran National Indicted for Illegal Re-entryRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Honduran national deported from the United States in January 2020 has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Rhode Island on a charge of illegal re-entry, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Pedro Marquez Benetiz, 56, recently arrested on a Rhode Island state charge of simple assault, is currently detained at the Adult Correctional Institutions. Immigration officers learned of the defendant’s presence in the United States through an automated biometric fingerprint match.
A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dulce Donovan.
The matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Honduran National Indicted for Re-Entry of Deported AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that OSMAN JOSE URBINA-CENTENO (“URBINA-CENTENO”), a/k/a Jose Urbina-Centeno, a/k/a Jose Enrique Mecias, a/k/a Jose Urbina, a/k/a Urbina Enrique, a/k/a Osmond Urbina, age 33, a native of Honduras, was indicted on June 5, 2025, for re-entry of removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
According to court documents, URBINA-CENTENO, an illegal alien, was found in the Eastern District of Louisiana on May 12, 2025. He had previously been removed to Honduras on September 8, 2010.
If convicted, URBINA-CENTENO faces a maximum penalty of two years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.
Hazleton Man Sentenced to 151 Months in Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Brian Castillo, age 33, of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on June 12, 2025, to 151 months’ imprisonment by Senior United States District Judge Robert D. Mariani for distribution of methamphetamine.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, on August 20, 2021, and September 10, 2021, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents made two controlled buys of methamphetamine from Castillo in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. Castillo sold 42 grams during the first sale and 55 grams of the drug on the second sale for $1,000 on each occasion. Before he was arrested, Castillo fled the country when he learned he was under investigation. He was later arrested on July 8, 2024, when attempting to re-enter the country. On February 21, 2025, Castillo entered a plea of guilty to one of the charges in the indictment.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pennsylvania State Police. Acting U.S. Attorney John C. Gurganus prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Hamburg sex offender arrested on new child pornography charges, investigators looking to the public for assistanceRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Bernard (“Bernie”) J. Keller, 27, of Hamburg, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with receipt, distribution, and possession of child pornography, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of 30 years and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that in 2017 and 2018, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received reports that files of suspected child pornography had been shared on the Kik application. Subsequent investigation traced the files to Keller, who was ultimately convicted in Erie County Court of Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child less than 16 in August 2022, sentenced to 10 years’ probation, and placed on the New York State Sex Offender registry. In March 2025, the New York State Police received another report from NCMEC that four files of suspected child pornography were shared between two users on the Kik application. Subsequent investigation traced the files once again to Keller. On May 21, 2025, a search warrant was executed at Keller’s residence, during which investigators seized his cellular telephone. A preliminary search located suspected child pornography on the cell phone.
If any members of the public have information regarding this defendant, you are asked to call the FBI at 716-856-7800.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Grimm, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Guatemalan National Indicted for Illegal Re-entryRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Guatemalan national deported from the United States in 2004 has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Rhode Island on a charge of illegal re-entry, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Marco Tulio Gonzales Cahueque aka Santos Israel Ortiz Cahueque, 48, came to the attention of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through an automated biometric fingerprint match of fingerprints entered into the National Crime Information Center as a result of his arrest on a driving under the influence charge in Rhode Island in December 2024. ICE encountered him in his car on June 3, 2025, and he was arrested.
Government records indicate that Marco Tulio Gonzales Cahueque was deported from the United States in May 2004.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Julianne Klein and Dulce Donovan.
The matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with the Assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Guatemalan National Illegally in the United States Indicted for Impeding and Assaulting Federal AgentsRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A previously deported Guatemalan national illegally present in the United States has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Rhode Island on two counts of assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, or interfering with federal officers engaged in official duties, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
It is alleged that on April 30, 2024, Miguel Tamup-Tamup, a/k/a Miguel US Tamup, 28, struggled with an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation officer and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents as they attempted to apprehend him as authorized by an arrest warrant. An HSI agent suffered a serious injury during the encounter.
Charging documents reflect that on April 19, 2025, Tamup-Tamup was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence after his car allegedly collided with another vehicle. He was subsequently arraigned and released. Tamup-Tamup's fingerprints matched ICE fingerprint records associated with a person flagged as being in the United States illegally.
It is alleged that on April 30, 2025, an ICE deportation officer and Homeland Security Investigations agents stopped a car that Tamup-Tamup was operating. After he refused to exit, Tamup-Tamup was guided out of the vehicle. While the agents attempted to place Tamup-Tamup in handcuffs, he allegedly resisted, threw his upper body and shoulders against the agents, flailed his arms, and broke an agent’s hold. During the encounter, one of the agents fell to the ground and suffered a serious leg injury. Tamup-Tamup fled as the injured agent was attended to.
On May 16, 2025, ICE and HSI agents located Tamup-Tamup at a Providence residence and took him into custody. He has been detained since making an initial appearance on that date before a U.S. Magistrate Judge.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Milind Shah.
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Guatemalan National Charged with Forcibly Assaulting Federal Officers During Immigration ArrestRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Guatemalan national unlawfully residing in Marlborough, Mass. has been charged with assaulting multiple federal officers during an immigration arrest.
Guido Andres Cuellar Batres, 24, was charged with one count of forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating, or interfering with federal officers engaged in the performance of official duties. The defendant is currently in ICE custody and will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the charging documents, Cuellar had overstayed his non-immigrant visa by more than four years and, as a result, there was an outstanding immigration warrant for his arrest. It is alleged that at approximately 9:45 a.m. on May 4, 2025, four federal officers – three Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and a Drug Enforcement Administration agent – set up surveillance in a parking lot in Marlborough. There, a vehicle was observed entering the parking lot, with Cuellar sitting in the front passenger seat. It is alleged that the officers – wearing outer garments identifying themselves as law enforcement – approached the vehicle and ordered Cuellar, in both English and Spanish, to step out of the car. Cuellar allegedly refused. The officers then allegedly instructed Cuellar and the driver to unlock the vehicle, but they did not do so. It is alleged that after being instructed by the officers to keep his hands visible, Cuellar reached down in the front passenger seat such that the officers lost sight of his hands – raising concern that he might be reaching for a weapon. Given this concern and the refusals to comply with orders, the officers broke the rear passenger side window, through which they gained entry and unlocked the front passenger door.
It is alleged that, upon being removed from the vehicle, Cuellar forcibly resisted officer efforts to bring his arms behind his back for handcuffing. It is further alleged that, Cuellar bit one of the officers in the wrist, attempted to bite another officer in the leg and struck an officer in the head multiple times, among other acts. According to the charging documents, the officers ultimately handcuffed Cuellar and applied leg restraints. During this process, it is alleged that Cuellar continued to forcibly resist including, among other things, by kicking at the officers.
Additionally, it is alleged that while officers attempted to secure Cuellar in rear seat of their vehicle, Cuellar jumped numerous times to prevent being put in the vehicle. As a result, one of the officers entered the opposite side of the vehicle to pull Cuellar into the rear seat. As the officer took hold of Cuellar, the defendant allegedly head-butted the officer and spat directly into the officer’s face and eyes.
The charge of forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating, or interfering with federal officers engaged in the performance of official duties provides for a sentence of up to eight years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston; and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert E. Richardson of the Major Crimes 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.
Golden Valley Man Pleads Guilty; Forty-Sixth Conviction in the Feeding Our Future Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Golden Valley man has pleaded guilty to wire fraud for his role in the $250 million fraud scheme that exploited a federally funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.
According to court documents, in October 2020, shortly after the Minnesota Department of Education announced that it was no longer approving food sites run by restaurants and other for-profit companies, defendant Ahmed Mohamed Artan, 40, acquired a non-profit entity, Stigma-Free International, for use in carrying out the scheme. Artan and his co-conspirators used Stigma-Free International to open a number of new Federal Child Nutrition Program sites around the state of Minnesota, including in Willmar, Mankato, St. Cloud, Waite Park, and St. Paul. At the same time, Artan’s conspirators created additional shell companies to serve as meal vendor companies purporting to provide the meals to be served to children at these Stigma-Free International sites. Together, the defendants claimed to be serving meals to tens of thousands of children each day throughout the state of Minnesota, for which they fraudulently claimed and received millions of dollars in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.
Over the 12-month period from November 2020 to November 2021, Artan and his co-conspirators fraudulently claimed to have served nearly 5 million meals to children at the Stigma-Free International sites. In support of these claims, they prepared and submitted fraudulent meal count sheets and invoices. The conspirators also submitted fraudulent attendance rosters listing the names of fake children who purportedly received food at the Stigma-Free International sites.
To accomplish his scheme, Artan and his co-conspirators also created a company called Olive Management Inc. that purported to operate a federal child nutrition program site in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The Olive Management site fraudulently claimed to have served meals to 3,000 children a day, seven days a week, at a small storefront deli located in a strip mall in St. Cloud. During the 12-month period from September 2020 to September 2021, the Artan and his co-conspirators fraudulently claimed to have served more than 1.6 million meals to children at the Olive Management site. In support of these claims, the defendants prepared and submitted fraudulent meal count sheets and invoices. In support of their fraudulent claims, the defendants also submitted a fake attendance roster purporting to list the names of 2,040 children who attended the Olive Management site’s “after-school program.” The roster was fraudulent and the names on it were fake.
Artan and co-conspirators also created another company called Optimum Community Services for use in carrying out the fraud scheme. Optimum Community Services purported to have food distribution sites in Golden Valley and Waite Park, at which they claimed—fraudulently—to have served nearly 700,000 meals to children between March and December 2021.
According to court documents, rather than use fraudulently obtained money to serve meals or feed children, Artan and his co-conspirators fraudulently misappropriated much of it. He and his co-conspirators created a shell company called Five A’s Projects LLC, where they transferred more than $1 million in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. They used these proceeds to purchase the former location of Kelly’s 19th Hole, a bar and restaurant in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, which will be now forfeited to the United States.
In total, Artan caused a loss of approximately $1,682,664 in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds based on fraudulent reimbursement claims.
Artan pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court before Judge Eric C. Tostrud. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
The case is the result of an investigation by the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew S. Ebert, Harry M. Jacobs, and Daniel W. Bobier are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Baune is handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets.
Georgia Student Pilot Pleads Guilty to Stealing Aircraft, Flying to North CarolinaRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A student pilot who admitted to stealing a private plane from a Perry, Georgia, hanger and flying it to North Carolina and back—at one point flying in foggy weather conditions requiring specialized instrument training for safety—is facing up to ten years in prison for his crime.
Rufus Crane, 27, of Coconut Creek, Florida, pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transportation of stolen aircraft on June 11. Crane faces a maximum of ten years imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release and a maximum fine of $250,000. U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell is presiding over the case. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 17. There is no parole in the federal system.
“By choosing to steal a single-engine aircraft and fly to North Carolina—making landings at several regional airports along the way—the defendant put his own life and the lives of others at risk, despite not being fully trained or holding a pilot’s license,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker. "The regulations governing our nation's airspace are designed to ensure the safety of everyone. Those who disregard federal law will be held accountable. I want to thank the Perry Police Department investigators for their diligent work alongside our federal partners in this case."
“The theft and unauthorized operation of an aircraft is not just a property crime—it’s a serious threat to public safety,” said Captain James Jones of the Perry Police Department. “Mr. Crane’s reckless actions placed countless lives at risk across multiple states. I’m proud of the investigative work done by Perry Police Detective Ike Wilcox and thankful for the strong collaboration with our federal partners to bring this case to justice.”
“A situation like this can escalate quickly when critical aviation safety laws and regulations are brazenly disregarded,” said Joseph Harris, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Southern Region. “We’re committed to working closely with our law enforcement, agency and prosecutorial partners to pursue those whose actions endanger lives and jeopardize the safety of our nation’s airspace.”
According to court documents and statements referenced in court, Crane stole a Bonanza A-36 aircraft stored at the Perry Airport in Perry, Georgia, on May 4, 2024. Without having the required lawful flying credentials, Crane took the single-engine aircraft and flew it to the JAARS-Townsend Airport in Waxhaw, North Carolina, landing at approximately 12:42 a.m. on May 4. Crane departed from Waxhaw on May 5 at approximately 3:14 a.m. After stopping in South Carolina to attempt to refuel, Crane began a return flight in the stolen aircraft to Perry. When Crane arrived in Perry at approximately 5:47 a.m., he could not land safely because the area was too foggy for him to see the runway. Crane operated the aircraft under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), meaning he used the aircraft's instruments and navigation aids instead of visual cues to fly the plane. Because of the fog, Crane flew to Cochran Municipal Airport in Cochran, Georgia, where he refueled before landing the stolen aircraft back in Perry at around 11:01 a.m. on May 5, and returned the plane to the hangar.
At the time of these flights, in addition to not having permission to fly the stolen aircraft, he only held a Student Pilot Certificate. Crane had not received the proper endorsements required to fly alone or to fly the make and model of the plane. During these flights, which took place in the middle of the night, he also kept the transponder of the Bonanza turned off, which meant the plane did not send signals to air traffic control to provide information on the plane’s location, altitude and speed.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Perry Police Department with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Howard is prosecuting the case for the Government.
Fugitive Physician Sentenced to Prison in Medicare Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A California physician was sentenced today in Los Angeles to 54 months in prison for health care fraud arising from her false home health certifications and related fraudulent billings to Medicare. She is a fugitive and was sentenced in absentia.
According to court documents, Lilit Gagikovna Baltaian, 61, of Porter Ranch, was a physician licensed to practice in California and an enrolled Medicare provider. From approximately January 2012 to July 2018, she falsely certified patients to receive home health care from at least four Los Angeles area home health agencies. These certifications were used by the home health agencies to fraudulently bill Medicare. In some instances, Baltaian pre-signed blank, undated physician certification forms knowing that the home health agencies would falsify the forms to make appear that she had seen the Medicare beneficiaries and made clinical findings to support the need for home health care, when she had done neither. Baltaian received cash payments related to these referrals and also separately billed Medicare for signing the fraudulent certifications.
Between January 2012 and July 2018, four home health agencies used Baltaian’s false certifications to submit fraudulent claims to Medicare, resulting in loss to the government estimated at $1,497,159.64.
Baltaian pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud on Nov. 21, 2024. At sentencing, she was also ordered to pay $1,497,159.64 in restitution.
Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Bilal A. Essayli for the Central District of California, Assistant Director in Charge Akil Davis of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office and Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.
The FBI and HHS-OIG are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Matthew Belz of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Four Charged with Health Care Fraud and Related CrimesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Edward Cannatelli (60, Parkland), Robbyn Cannatelli (68, Parkland), Thomas Farese (82, Fort Lauderdale), and Virginia Lockett (55, Margate) for their roles in a conspiracy to defraud the United States’ Medicare program, make false statements relating to health care matters, and offering and paying illegal kickbacks and bribes. They are also charged in a second conspiracy to commit wire and health care fraud, and with related substantive counts concerning the falsification of records in the federal investigation leading to the indictment. If convicted on all counts, Edward and Robbyn Cannatelli and Farese each face a maximum penalty of 65 years in federal prison. Lockett faces a maximum penalty of 85 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies the defendants that the United States intends to forfeit any property, real or personal, which constitutes or is derived from proceeds traceable to the commission of the offenses.
According to court documents, beginning in June 2019 and continuing into at least June 2020, Edward and Robbyn Cannatelli, Farese, and Lockett, and other conspirators, including Patsy Truglia (56, Parkland) and LouTricia Morgan (49, Sunrise) generated medically unnecessary physicians’ orders via a telemarketing operation for certain orthotic devices—knee braces, back braces, wrist braces, and other braces—referred to as durable medical equipment (DME). Through the telemarketing operation, federal health care program beneficiaries’ (i.e., Medicare beneficiaries) personal identifying information—names, dates of birth, and Medicare ID numbers—and other health-related information was harvested to begin forming DME brace orders.
The information related to the emerging brace orders was then transmitted to purported “telemedicine” vendors that, in exchange for a fee, paid illegal kickbacks and bribes to physicians who signed the orders, often without ever contacting the beneficiaries to conduct the required telehealth consultations. The fraudulent, illegal brace orders were then returned to the conspirators, who used the orders as support for bogus DME claims submitted to Medicare. To avoid Medicare scrutiny, the conspirators spread the fraudulent claims submitted to Medicare across three DME storefronts operated under the conspirators’ ownership and control.
Patsy Truglia and LouTricia Morgan previously pleaded guilty in separate cases for their roles in the charged conspiracies. Farese is presently awaiting sentencing in another case brought in New Jersey, charging him with money laundering.
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 United States Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General and the Department of Veterans Affairs - Office of Inspector General. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jay G. Trezevant and Tiffany E. Fields. Assistant United States Attorney James A. Muench will be handling asset forfeiture matters in this case.
IndictmentFormer State Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty to Planting Prison Contraband That He Then Pretended to DiscoverRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Avelino Ramirez, a former K-9 sergeant at California state correctional facilities, pleaded guilty in federal court today to one count of wire fraud in connection with a scheme to plant contraband that he would then discover.
Ramirez, 52, of Vallejo, Calif., was indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 31, 2024. According to his plea agreement, from approximately 2013 to September 2022, Ramirez worked as an Investigative Services Unit K-9 Officer with the California Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation at San Quentin State Prison. In September 2022, he was promoted to K-9 sergeant and began working at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, Calif., around November 2022.
From October 2021 to February 2024, Ramirez engaged in a scheme to smuggle and then plant contraband in common areas of San Quentin State Prison and the California Medical Facility, which he would then pretend to discover. Ramirez did so in order to hold himself out as a successful K-9 officer with the hope that it would help him obtain a promotion to K-9 sergeant. The contraband items Ramirez planted included drugs, such as methamphetamine, marijuana, and cocaine; drug paraphernalia; tobacco; cell phones; and weapons. At times, Ramirez mixed the narcotics he planted in the prisons with salt and/or sugar and mixed the marijuana he planted in the prisons with lawn trimmings.
Ramirez also sought to inflate his salary by claiming overtime related to searches where contraband was recovered pursuant to his fraudulent scheme and writing reports of these false discoveries. In total, Ramirez fraudulently obtained approximately $8,200 in overtime pay.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement.
Ramirez is currently released on bond. Ramirez’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Sept. 18, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. District Judge William H. Orrick. Defendant faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343. Any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin K. Kleinman is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Amala James and Lance Libatique. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.
Former California Corrections Sergeant Indicted for Receiving and Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an indictment today against Ralph Contreras Jr., 39, of Chowchilla, charging him with receipt and distribution of child pornography, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.
According to court documents, between September 2024, and January 2025, Contreras received and distributed at least one visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Contreras was a corrections sergeant with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at the time of the offenses.
This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Madera County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany M. Gunter is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Contreras faces a maximum statutory penalty of up to 20 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, and a fine up to a $250,000. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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 those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Former CEO of Guam Helicopter Company Sentenced to 405 Months in Federal Prison for Criminal Aviation ViolationsRead the Press Release
Hagåtña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that John D. Walker, age 60, was sentenced on June 9, 2025 by Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood in the District Court of Guam to 405 months imprisonment. On September 9, 2022, a jury returned guilty verdicts against Walker and his company, Hansen Helicopters, Inc., on 110 counts involving conspiracy to defraud the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) and National Transportation Safety Board (“NTSB”), aircraft parts fraud that caused serious bodily injury and death, employing a mechanic without a mechanic’s certificate, registration violations involving helicopters, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. Walker was also ordered to pay a $250,000 fine, and a $9,900 special assessment fee. Walker forfeited $58,407,513, which represented the proceeds of aircraft parts fraud and wire fraud, in addition to $11,770,000, which represented the amount of money involved in the money laundering offenses.
Hansen Helicopters, Inc., was found guilty of conspiracy to defraud the FAA and NTSB, in addition to aircraft parts fraud that caused serious bodily injury and death. Hansen received a five-year term of probation, a $4,900,000 fine, and a $2,000 special assessment fee.
Walker subverted aviation laws and regulations, enforced by the FAA and NTSB, which protect public health and safety. Walker used at least 48 shell companies, most incorporated internationally, to operate an illicit helicopter/pilot/mechanic leasing business in Guam. By concealing that his aircraft were unregistered or illegally registered, unairworthy, and maintained and operated by uncertificated airmen, Walker entered fraudulent lease agreements with numerous tuna boat companies. He earned over $400 million dollars through his scheme. He concealed his crimes by forging documents, counterfeiting aircraft parts, and bribing aviation officials.
“The defendants built helicopters from an assortment of discarded frames and counterfeit parts,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “They blatantly disregarded aviation laws to build and operate aircraft that should never have left the ground. Fishing companies throughout the Pacific region relied on these aircraft for spotting tuna. Unfortunately, the defendants’ quest for money resulted in the deaths of many pilots. This was a difficult case to investigate and prosecute, but well worth federal resources. I commend our law enforcement partners on bringing these defendants to justice.”
“Unchecked greed and flagrant disregard for aviation safety create a recipe for disaster with catastrophic results,” said Special Agent in Charge Cory LeGars of the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Western Region. “This sentencing epitomizes the criminal justice system’s commitment to holding individuals and companies accountable for egregious illicit conduct. I commend the relentless efforts of our special agents and the outstanding collaboration between our law enforcement, prosecutorial, and regulatory partners, whose collective efforts brought this complex and hazardous fraud scheme to justice.”
“How many times have we heard, ’It’s just money…’ when it comes to financial crime?” asked Special Agent in Charge Adam Jobes, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Seattle Field Office. “This case shows that all too often, innocent people suffer catastrophic harm because of someone else’s greed. Financial crime is not victimless, and IRS-CI will continue to protect our communities from people like Mr. Walker who put their greed above all else.”
“Over several years, Mr. Walker engaged in a multi-layered scheme to bribe public officials and defraud the government, significantly jeopardizing public safety in the process,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “The FBI remains steadfast and persistent in our efforts to investigate these schemes and bring bad actors to justice.”
This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and in partnership with the Customs and Quarantine Agency of Guam.
Assistant United States Attorney Stephen F. Leon Guerrero, Special Assistant United States Attorney Marie L. Miller, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Samantha R. Miller prosecuted this case.
Foreign National Sentenced for Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Adelby Isloa Martinez Mendez, age 36, of Honduras, was sentenced to 63 months in prison for one count of Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien Subsequent to an Aggravated Felony Conviction.
The charge arose from investigations by the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office, Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division.
On December 31, 2024, Martinez Mendez, pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on March 5, 2024, Martinez Mendez, an alien, was found in the United States after having been previously removed twice without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States. The second removal was after an April 2019 conviction for a felony offense punishable by five years or more years in prison.
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).
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Martinez Mendez will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick M. Flanigan represented the United States.
Florida Men Convicted after Cleaning Crew Locates More Than $30K of Cocaine in Hotel RoomRead the Press Release
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — A federal jury convicted Vincent Ellis Wilson, 54, and Ervin Lee Smith, 50, both of Fort Pierce, Florida, of conspiring to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine and a quantity of crack cocaine after a two-day trial in Florence.
Evidence introduced at trial showed that during the evening hours of Feb. 25, 2021, Wilson and Smith checked in to an oceanfront hotel in Myrtle Beach. Wilson and Smith are both from Florida and they would later tell police that they were simply “passing through” Myrtle Beach when they had car trouble that required them to put their truck in a shop in Myrtle Beach. That night, however, they met with a local individual who agreed to serve as a middleman to help Wilson and Smith sell more than a half kilogram of cocaine and a small quantity of crack cocaine they had brought with them to South Carolina. The next morning, before the drug deal could be done, Wilson and Smith left their room to go to breakfast at a nearby restaurant. While they were gone, hotel staff, believing the room had been vacated, went in to clean the room and stumbled upon a grocery bag containing more than $30,000 worth of drugs in a dresser drawer. The hotel contacted Myrtle Beach Police who responded and collected the illicit substances. Later that morning, Wilson and Smith returned to the hotel to attempt to collect their belongs, including the drugs. Police interviewed them and they were released pending further investigation.
Through an ongoing partnership between the Myrtle Beach Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration, authorities were later able to connect this drug seizure to a much larger drug trafficking organization that was already under federal investigation. Once that connection was made, Wilson and Smith were charged by a federal grand jury with being suppliers to the drug trafficking organization. All the other defendants in the federal case pled guilty. Wilson and Smith denied their involvement, but were convicted after the jury heard the evidence of their involvement.
Court records show that Wilson has a prior state conviction for possession with intent to distribute narcotics in Maryland from 2003, and Smith has a prior federal conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine from 2004. U.S. District Judge Sherri A. Lydon presided over their trial and will sentence the two after reviewing a presentence report from the U.S. Probation Office. They each face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and may be sentenced up to the 40-year maximum.
"These defendants brought a significant quantity of cocaine and crack cocaine into South Carolina, intending to profit from its distribution,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “Thanks to the diligent work of the Myrtle Beach Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration, what started as a hotel cleaning led to the dismantling of a larger drug trafficking operation. This conviction underscores our unwavering commitment to prosecuting individuals who bring dangerous narcotics into our communities."
“This case represents the continued commitment of the DEA to identify and hold accountable those who engage in the distribution of dangerous drugs,” said Jae W. Chung, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “Keeping our communities safe is our highest priority.”
"The Myrtle Beach Police Department is fortunate to work with partners and community members to assist us holding those accountable who bring poison into our community,” said Myrtle Beach Police Chief Amy Prock. “Our mission has not and will not change, the safety of our community will always be our priority."
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Myrtle Beach Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Everett McMillian and Department of Justice Trial Attorney Jasmin Salehi Fashami prosecuted the case in close coordination with the 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
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Florida Fuel Supplier Charged in Multimillion-Dollar Scheme to Defraud U.S. Department of Defense, other Federal AgenciesRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A federal grand jury in Miami returned an indictment charging a Florida business owner with multiple counts of wire fraud, money laundering, and forgery for orchestrating a scheme to defraud the U.S. Department of Defense and other federal agencies by submitting altered and fake invoices to U.S. Navy ships and other vessels through the SEA Card Program, which allows U.S. vessels to purchase critical fuel from suppliers at ports around the world.
According to court documents filed in the Southern District of Florida, between August 2022 and January 2024, Jasen Butler, 37, of Jupiter, Florida, the owner of Independent Marine Oil Services LLC, submitted dozens of falsified documents to multiple U.S. warships — including the USS Patriot — demanding and receiving over $5 million dollars in payments for phony expenses that Butler had not incurred. These ships were attempting to purchase fuel in international ports such as Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Croatia, among others. Butler also concealed his identity from government officials by using a false name and feigning employment by a fictitious fuel division of a different company. As alleged in the indictment, Butler used the millions in fraud proceeds to personally enrich himself and purchase multiple properties, including in Florida and Colorado.
“Our office is steadfast in its commitment to prosecute individuals that seek to unjustly profit at the expense of the U.S. military,” said U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida. “Such fraud undermines military readiness and jeopardizes the dedicated service members who selflessly defend our country.”
“This indictment sends a clear, public message: the Antitrust Division and its Procurement Collusion Strike Force under President Trump will not rest until all who defraud the brave men and women of the U.S. military and the American taxpayers receive swift justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Abigail A. Slater of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division.
“Investigating complex fraud schemes which impact U.S. Coast Guard operations is a priority for CGIS,” said Special Agent in Charge Josh Packer of the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) Southeast Field Office. “CGIS remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate any fraud which undermines the integrity of the Coast Guard’s supply chain.”
“Mr. Butler’s alleged involvement in unlawfully submitting fraudulent invoices related to U.S. naval ships receiving fuel during port visits is an affront to the warfighter and taxpayer,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Economic Crimes Field Office. “NCIS remains committed to thoroughly investigating those who commit fraud impacting the Department of Navy.”
If convicted, Butler faces maximum penalties of 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud, up to 10 years for each count of forgery, and up to 10 years for each count of money laundering. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by the Coast Guard Investigative Service, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
Assistant Chief Sara Clingan and Trial Attorney Jonathan Pomeranz of the Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
Anyone with information about this investigation or other procurement fraud schemes should notify the PCSF at www.justice.gov/atr/webform/pcsf-citizen-complaint. The Justice Department created the PCSF in November 2019. It is a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government — federal, state and local. For more information, visit www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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-80093.
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Five Defendants Charged in Federal Investigation Targeting Fentanyl Sales in ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal investigation into fentanyl sales in Chicago has resulted in drug or firearm charges against five individuals.
An indictment unsealed this week in federal court in Chicago accuses four of the defendants of conspiring to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin in the city in 2023 and 2024. Three defendants are charged with illegally possessing firearms, including handguns equipped with a “switch” device, making them capable of firing multiple rounds with a single pull of the trigger.
Charged with drug conspiracy and distribution are JARED DANIELS, 33, of Chicago, CRISTINE SERRANO, 34, of Chicago, SHERNELL ANDERSON, 35, of Chicago, and LARRY LEMON, 43, of Brookfield, Ill. Daniels, Serrano, and JONATHAN COLLINS, 33, of Chicago, are also charged with federal firearm offenses.
All five defendants are in law enforcement custody. The charges against Daniels, Serrano, Anderson, and Lemon carry a maximum sentence of life in federal prison, as well as mandatory minimums ranging from ten to 15 years. The charge against Collins is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by the Brookfield, Ill. Police Department, U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Chicago, FBI Minneapolis, Minn. Field Office, and the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Satellite Office of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
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.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
daniels_et_al_indictment.pdfFederal grand jury indicts North Carolina man on fentanyl chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.–U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging William McKinney a/k/a Zell, 43, of Greensboro, NC, with distribution of fentanyl, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $10,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey E. Intravatola, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, on November 12, 2023, McKinney sold fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance. Specifically, McKinney traveled from North Carolina to Buffalo and distributed approximately two kilograms of fentanyl.
McKinney was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was ordered detained. He’s been returned to custody in North Carolina, where he is facing unrelated charges.
The indictment is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan and the Eire County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Federal agents arrest Morrow County man for 2 armed banked robberiesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Morrow County man was arrested this morning and charged with committing two armed bank robberies.
James Travis Scurlock, 44, of Cardington, is charged with bank robbery and using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
According to charging documents, on March 6 and May 16, Scurlock robbed the same bank near the Polaris mall while carrying a firearm. Scurlock allegedly wore a black sweatshirt, jeans, white Nike shoes, black gloves and a white camouflage mask during both robberies.
An affidavit details that the first time Scurlock robbed the Huntington Bank on Gemini Place, he initially inquired about opening a bank account. After the teller asked him for two forms of identification, he allegedly pointed a handgun at the teller and told the teller to put money in his backpack. Scurlock allegedly stole approximately $13,700.
During the May robbery, Scurlock allegedly pointed the handgun at a teller before walking to two tellers’ drawers and taking cash. It is alleged that he then ordered the tellers to the vault and placed more cash into his backpack. Scurlock allegedly stole approximately $27,700 during the second robbery.
Scurlock appeared in federal court this afternoon and his case was unsealed at that time.
Bank robbery is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence carries a penalty of at least five years and up to life in prison.
Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Noah R. Litton is representing the United States in this case.
A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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FBI Dallas and the North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Announce the Results of Operation Soteria ShieldRead the Press Release
The North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and FBI Dallas’s North Texas Child Exploitation Task Force announce the conclusion of Operation Soteria Shield, a month-long collaborative enforcement effort conducted in April 2025 aimed at rescuing children from online sexual exploitation and bringing perpetrators to justice. This operation was run in conjunction with the National Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and was jointly managed by the FBI Dallas Division, Dallas Police Department, Plano Police Department, Wylie Police Department, and Garland Police Department.
More than 70 Texas law enforcement agencies joined forces throughout the month of April to combat the exploitation of children in the digital space. These agencies leveraged the expertise of highly skilled computer crimes investigators that worked around the clock to identify victims and apprehend offenders engaged in the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material.
Operation Soteria Shield resulted in the rescue of 109 children and the arrest of 244 offenders. In addition to these enforcement actions, investigators seized extensive volumes of digital evidence, including terabytes of illicit data stored on electronic devices that were used in the commission of these crimes. These devices are undergoing forensic analysis and may lead to further arrests and the identification of additional victims.
“Operation Soteria Shield brought together over 70 agencies from across the state of Texas, including police departments, federal agencies, state and federal prosecutors, children’s advocacy centers, and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. We had a common goal, which was to rescue children from abuse and exploitation,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “This was not an easy operation, but a necessary one. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to protect the children in our communities, and we will hold child predators accountable for their crimes.”
“Operation Soteria Shield was a massive team effort and a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we unite around one clear mission: protecting our kids and holding offenders accountable. I am proud that the Dallas Police Department is the lead agency for the North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and am grateful for the many, many agencies who contributed to this successful operation,” said Dallas Police Chief Daniel C. Comeaux.
“Online exploitation of children is one of the most insidious crimes we face as a society. It reaches into every community, crosses every boundary, and leaves lasting harm on its youngest victims. Operation Soteria Shield brought together an unprecedented level of collaboration and resolve to confront this crisis head-on. Through this operation, we not only rescued children from unimaginable abuse, but we also sent a clear message: those who seek to harm our children online will be found and brought to justice. Our work is far from over, but this effort has made our communities safer and brought hope to those who need it most.” Said Plano Police Chief Ed Drain.
"The coordinated efforts of all agencies involved in Operation Soteria Shield serve as a powerful demonstration of unwavering dedication in the battle against online child exploitation. By exposing the darkest corners of the internet, this operation has targeted predators who seek to harm vulnerable children,” said Wylie Police Chief Anthony Henderson. “The trauma inflicted by these crimes runs deep, affecting not only the victims, but also their families and entire communities. With every arrest made and every child protected, the operation moves us closer to a safer community. Every step forward in this operation reflects a shared commitment to protecting the most vulnerable and ensuring those who seek to exploit children are brought to justice."
"The Garland Police Department is proud to stand alongside our local, state, and federal partners in the fight against those who exploit our most vulnerable, our children. Operation Soteria Shield was more than an enforcement effort; it was a mission to rescue, protect, and restore hope,” said Garland Police Chief Jeff Bryan. “The scale of this operation sends a strong message: predators will be pursued, and survivors will never stand alone. We are grateful to the FBI, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), and all the agencies involved for their tireless work. This operation demonstrates our shared commitment to the safety of every child in every community."
Operation Soteria Shield stands as a powerful example of what can be accomplished with coordinated, interagency cooperation. It reflects the shared commitment of law enforcement professionals across Texas to relentlessly pursue those who prey on children and to ensure that survivors are no longer silenced or hiding in the shadows.
The participating agencies also extend their gratitude to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) for their unwavering support. NCMEC analysts provided vital intelligence and case coordination that proved instrumental to the success of this operation.
Essex County Convicted Felon Sentenced to 73 Months in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Possession of Firearms, including Two Assault RiflesRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County, New Jersey, man was sentenced on June 10, 2025, for his role in distributing cocaine, possessing with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin, and possessing three firearms, including two assault rifles with high-capacity magazines, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.
Azmar Carter, a/k/a “Bizzy,” 32, of East Orange, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo to a superseding information charging him with two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon, and possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In 2021, law enforcement began investigating a drug trafficking organization that operates primarily in and around Orange, New Jersey and distributes narcotics throughout Essex County. During the investigation, Carter distributed cocaine to law enforcement in May 2021 and in July 2021. Subsequently, on August 18, 2021, law enforcement searched Carter’s residence and car in East Orange, New Jersey and recovered the following items: one Draco AK 47 rifle; one Smith and Wesson AR rifle; one .40 caliber pistol; ninety-four rounds of associated ammunition; a distribution quantity of heroin and cocaine; and approximately $7,177.00.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Arleo sentenced Carter to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents and members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks, Jr.; members of the Orange Police Department, under the direction of Police Director Todd Warren, Chief Vincent Vitiello and Captain Brian Mooney; members of the Elizabeth Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Giacomo Sacca and Police Director Earl J. Graves; members of the East Orange Police Department, under the direction of Chief Phyllis Bindi; member of the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda and Chief of Police Sharonda Morris; and the Belleville Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Minichini, with the investigation leading to the charges and arrests.
This case is part of Operation Orange, which is a part of the Newark Violent Crime Initiative (VCI), which was formed in August 2017 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, and the City of Newark’s Department of Public Safety for the purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Newark. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate and pool resources to prosecute violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the DEA, the U.S. Marshals, the Newark Department of Public Safety, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, N.J. State Parole, Union County Jail, N.J. State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center, N.J. Department of Corrections, the East Orange Police Department, the Orange Police Department and the Irvington Police Department.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Levin, Chief of the OCDETF/Narcotics Unit in Newark.
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Defense counsel: Christopher D. Adams, Esq.
Employee at Multinational DVD Company Pleads Guilty to Stealing, Selling Pre-Release Commercial DVDs for Blockbuster FilmsRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Steven R. Hale, 37, of Memphis, appeared before United States District Court Chief Judge Sheryl H. Lipman on May 27, 2025 and entered a guilty plea to criminal copyright infringement in one case and to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm in another case. Interim United States Attorney Joseph C. Murphy, Jr. announced the guilty pleas today.
According to information presented in court, from approximately May 2019 to March 2022, Hale worked for a multinational company in Memphis that, among other things, manufactured and distributed DVDs and Blu-rays of movies. From approximately February 2021 to March 2022, Hale stole hundreds of “pre-release” DVDs and Blu-rays, that is, discs being prepared for commercial distribution in the United States and not available for sale to the public. Hale’s theft included DVDs and Blu-rays for such popular films as “F9: The Fast Saga”, “Venom: Let There Be Carnage”, “Godzilla v. Kong”, “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”, “Dune”, and “Black Widow”. Hale then sold the discs through e-commerce sites.
As a result of Hale’s illegal activities, at least one pre-release Blu-ray, “Spider-Man: No Way Home”, was “ripped” — that is, extracted from the Blu-ray by bypassing the encryption that prevents unauthorized copying — and copied. That digital copy was then illegally made available over the internet more than a month before the Blu-ray’s official scheduled release date. Copies of “Spider-Man: No Way Home” were downloaded tens of millions of times with an estimated loss to the copyright owner of tens of millions of dollars. In his plea agreement, Hale agreed to make full restitution to his victims and return approximately 1,160 stolen DVDs and Blu-rays he unlawfully possessed.
In addition, Hale also unlawfully possessed a Sarsilmaz 9mm firearm that was loaded with one live round in the chamber and 13 rounds in the magazine. Hale has a prior felony conviction for armed robbery in 2008 for which he served seven years' imprisonment.
Hale is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Chief Judge Sheryl H. Lipman on August 29, 2025. There is no parole in the federal system.
The two cases were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Memphis Police Department. Senior Counsel Matthew A. Lamberti and Trial Attorney Debra Ireland of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Raney Irwin for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the cases.
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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
East Granby Woman Admits $1.1 Million Pandemic Relief Program SchemeRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Harry Chavis, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, announced that KAREN GASTON, 44, of East Granby, waived her right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sarah F. Russell in New Haven to offenses stemming from a scheme to defraud COVID-19 pandemic relief programs of more than $1.1 million.
In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act provided emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). The PPP was overseen by the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”), and individual PPP loans were issued by private lenders, which received and processed PPP applications and supporting documentation, and then made loans using the lenders’ own funds, which were guaranteed by the SBA. The CARES Act also authorized SBA to distribute Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDLs”), which provided working capital to eligible small businesses, including sole proprietors, to meet operating expenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2020, Gaston controlled certain entities including LNK, Elegant Clinical, Ruby Red LLC, and Diamond Shine LLC. LNK and Diamond Shine LLC were operational, but shared resources and employees. Ruby Red LLC had only one client and Gaston was its sole employee. Elegant Clinical was no longer operational. Beginning in approximately April 2020, Gaston submitted loan applications to the PPP and EIDL programs that falsely represented the status of the operations, resources, and employees of these entities. She also filed loan applications at separate financial institutions in order to disguise the true nature of her criminal activity.
Specifically, Gaston’s loan applications falsely represented that her businesses were all active and operating concerns; falsely represented the number of employees and the amount of wages purportedly paid by the businesses; included copies of fraudulent tax returns and tax related documents; and falsely represented that a family member, used as an applicant on an application, was a part owner of one of her entities.
Gaston received $1,163,910 in PPP and EIDL loan funds through this scheme. Instead of using the funds for payroll or other operating expenses, she spent the money on personal expenditures, including travel, food, luxury home goods, expensive jewelry, cars, and paying off her home mortgage.
Gaston pleaded guilty to wire fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and making illegal monetary transactions, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
Gaston has agreed to make full restitution. She also has agreed to the forfeiture of a ring she purchased in July 2020 from the jeweler Harry Winston for $39,521.63.
Gaston is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing, which is not scheduled.
This investigation has been conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. McGarry.
Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Dominican National Indicted for Illegal Re-entryRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Dominican national twice deported from the United States has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Rhode Island on a charge of illegal re-entry, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Celso Herrera-De Los Santos, 49, of Cranston, recently arrested on Rhode Island state charges of possession with intent to deliver cocaine and possession with intent to deliver 1oz to 1 kilo of cocaine is currently detained at the Adult Correctional Institutions.
According to government records, Herrera-De Los Santos was previously deported in 2011 and in 2017.
A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter I. Roklan, with the assistance of Assistant United States Attorney Dulce Donovan.
The matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Deven Moffitt of Bennington Sentenced for Federal Gun and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on June 10, 2025, Deven Moffitt, 34, of Bennington, Vermont, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 150 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 7-year term of supervised release. Deven Moffitt previously was convicted by a jury on May 16, 2024 of possessing fentanyl and cocaine with the intent to distribute, knowingly possessing firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking, and of possessing firearms while being a convicted felon after a four-day trial.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Moffitt was arrested by the Vermont State Police in Bennington, Vermont on June 1, 2022. During a search of the bags Moffitt was carrying that day, law enforcement recovered over 3,500 individual bags containing fentanyl, additional bags of cocaine and cocaine base, as well as two firearms: a .22 High Standard Manufacturing Corporation revolver and a 9mm Hi-Point semi-automatic pistol. Both guns were loaded, and the 9mm pistol had a bullet in its chamber, with its safety off. Moffitt also possessed over $16,000 in cash upon his arrest.
“Vermont State Police encountered Deven Moffitt, as he possessed two fully loaded handguns, one with a bullet chambered and the safety off,” stated Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher. “He possessed those weapons to protect his stash of over 3500 bags of fentanyl and more than $16,000 in drug proceeds. It was a likely just a matter of time before the danger of armed drug dealing would have become a violent reality. We recognize the courage and skill of the VSP for their efforts protecting the public not only in this case, but everyday across the state.”
“This sentence of more than 12 years in prison sends a strong message that our communities will not tolerate those who traffic illegal drugs, especially when they bring firearms into these already extremely dangerous situations,” said Col. Matthew T. Birmingham, director of the Vermont State Police. “We are grateful for the efforts of our federal partners in the U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement to investigate and prosecute offenses of this nature, collaborating with us to ensure accountability and make Vermont a safer place for everyone.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew C. Gilman as well as Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia “Jules” Torti. Deven Moffitt was represented by Kevin Henry, Esq.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Delaware Resident Indicted for Making False Statements in a Passport Application and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Wilmington, Delaware, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of making false statements in a passport application and aggravated identity theft, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The two-count Indictment named Alexis Morgan Young, a/k/a Omar Core, age 43, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, Young used the identification of another person to apply for a United States passport in 2024.
Count one provides for a maximum total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. At Count Two, the law provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 24 months incarceration plus a fine of $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Diplomatic Security Service conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Dallas man who trafficked a 17-year-old minor victim sentenced today to over 21 years in federal prisonRead the Press Release
A Dallas man who trafficked a 17-year-old minor victim was sentenced today to more than 21 years in federal prison, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson.
Renald Antae Brown, 42, pleaded guilty to federal charges of Sex Trafficking of a Minor in January 2025. He was sentenced today to 262 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Ada Brown, who also ordered him to pay $25,000 in restitution to the minor victim.
According to court documents, in January 2023, agents with the North Texas Trafficking Task Force received a lead from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) concerning a suspected victim of Child Sex Trafficking. Law enforcement agents located a commercial sex advertisement containing photographs of the minor female and organized an operation to rescue the child. The victim was recovered from a Dallas-area hotel.
The minor victim told law enforcement that she met Brown after running away from foster care in November 2022. Brown offered her a place to stay but demanded that she perform sex acts and turn all of the proceeds over to him. The victim understood that if she did not complete these acts, she would be kicked out of the residence.
In plea documents, Brown admitted that he managed the minor victim’s advertisements and coached her on how to interact with customers.
At today’s sentencing, prosecutors informed the Court that Brown had previously been convicted of Compelling Prostitution.
Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy Larson praised the efforts of the law enforcement agents and officers with the North Texas Trafficking Task Force, led by Homeland Security Investigations, who conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Winters prosecuted the case.
Crafton Man Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison for Drug and Money Laundering ViolationsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa - A former resident of Crafton, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to twenty three years of imprisonment and five years of supervised release on his convictions of Conspiracy to Distribute Five Kilograms or More of Cocaine and a Kilogram or More of Heroin and Conspiracy to Launder Drug Trafficking Proceeds, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on Andrew Beatty, age 41, on June 11, 2025.
According to information presented to the Court, an extensive investigation that included court-authorized wire taps revealed that Beatty was the leader of a large-scale Pittsburgh-area drug trafficking organization that obtained kilogram quantities of heroin and cocaine from a Mexican drug trafficking organization and distributed those drugs throughout the Pittsburgh area. Beatty communicated directly with sources of supply based in Mexico who arranged for associates in California to hide heroin and cocaine inside vehicles that were then shipped to Pittsburgh (and several other cities) via commercial car carriers. Beatty, with the assistance of others, received the cars and unloaded the heroin and cocaine at residences in Pittsburgh. After the drugs were sold, Beatty, with the assistance of others, utilized the same method to transport large money payments to the Mexican organization in California via commercial car carriers.
On December 17, 2013, DEA agents arranged for the Ohio Highway Patrol to conduct a traffic stop of a car-carrier truck. The truck was carrying a car that Beatty had shipped to the Mexican organization in California. A search of that car resulted in the seizure of approximately $130,000 in U.S. currency. Following that seizure, Beatty began utilizing a Colombian broker to arrange the services of a personal courier to transport money payments from Beatty to the Mexican organization. Unbeknownst to the defendants, the courier was an undercover DEA agent. On January 12, 2014, and again on February 9, 2014, the undercover DEA agent posing as a money courier, received from Beatty and/or his associates approximately $225,000 (on each occasion).
In the days leading up to March 5, 2014, agents intercepted communications between the source of supply in Mexico and Beatty that revealed a car containing cocaine had been shipped to Pittsburgh and left in a parking lot for Beatty to retrieve. On March 5, 2014, the agents located the car before Beatty had an opportunity to retrieve it. A law enforcement search pursuant to a warrant revealed approximately four kilograms of cocaine and one kilogram of heroin hidden in metal containers bolted to the wheels inside the tires.
Search warrants, along with arrest warrants for Beatty and a conspirator, were executed on March 19, 2014. The search warrants led to the seizure of approximately $400,000 in cash, $267,000 of which was found in Beatty’s storage locker. The following day, on March 20, 2014, agents located one of Beatty’s several vehicles parked on a city street. A search warrant for the vehicle was executed, and inside a trap compartment in the door panel agents found approximately 3.5 kilograms of heroin, three firearms, and four cell phones belonging to Beatty.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the numerous law enforcement agencies and officers involved in this case from the Pittsburgh region and from New York and California, for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Beatty. The agencies included the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service, and the police departments involved included the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, the Munhall Police Department, the Scott Township Police Department, and the Baldwin Police Department.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, combat illegal immigration, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Convicted Sex Offender on Federal Supervised Release Is Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – David Michael Dakoski, 62, of Charlotte, was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Chief U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger also ordered Dakoski to serve a lifetime of supervised release, to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison, and to pay $88,000 in restitution.
Cardell T. Morant, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement.
According to court records, this case arose from a probation violation after Dakoski was convicted in a previous case. In January 2018, Dakoski was convicted in federal court of possession and receipt of child pornography and was sentenced to prison. In November 2022, Dakoski was released from prison and began a term of court-ordered supervised release under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office (USPO). In April 2024, USPO conducted an unannounced home visit at Dakoski’s residence, as part of the terms of his post-release supervision. During the visit, USPO officers found Dakoski’s unauthorized cell phone that contained sexually explicit images of minors. As a result, Dakoski’s supervised release was revoked, and he was taken into custody. He was later sentenced to two years in prison for the supervised release violation on his prior conviction.
Court records show that Dakoski’s contraband cell phone was turned over to HSI. A forensic examination of the phone revealed that Dakoski possessed more than 8,270 images and six videos of CSAM, some of which depicted toddlers and infants being sexually abused. New federal charges were filed against Dakoski, and on April 25, 2024, he pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography involving minors under the age of 12.
Dakoski is in federal custody. He will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked HSI for their investigation of the case and commended the USPO for their invaluable assistance investigating a repeat offender.
Assistant United States Attorney Daniel Cervantes of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Buffalo man charged with selling oxycodoneRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.–U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that David Pena-Batista, 21, Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with two counts of distribution of oxycodone, which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey E. Intravatola, Joshua A. Violanti, and Louis A. Testani, who are handling the case, stated that in January of 2024, the FBI Buffalo Safe Streets Task Force and New York State Police began investigating criminal activity on Buffalo’s west side. Through the investigation, Pena-Batista was identified as an individual engaging in criminal activity. During the investigation, law enforcement conducted multiple purchases of oxycodone from the defendant.
Pena-Batista made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and was held pending a detention hearing.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Grimm and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Buckhannon Man Sentenced to Decade in Prison for Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – David Walter McCauley, 66, of Buckhannon, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 120 months in federal prison for a child pornography charge.
According to court documents and statements made in court, McCauley enticed a 17-year-old boy to engage in sexually explicit conduct for photo and video production. Several electronic devices containing illegal images and videos of the minor engaged in sexual acts with McCauley were seized from McCauley’s residence and office.
McCauley will serve 10 years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley Crockett prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pittsburgh Police Department, and the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office.
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.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
British National Pleads Guilty to Fraud, Money Laundering, and Immigration ChargesRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A British national from Northern Ireland illegally in the United States today admitted to a federal judge that he participated in a multi-state construction and money laundering fraud scheme that netted more than a million dollars, and that he provided false information to gain entry into the United States, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
In pleading guilty to wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, and false statement in a document used to gain entry into the United States, Elijah Gavin, 29, admitted to the following:
- Gavin used a variety of different names when he approached and defrauded property owners in Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York by, among other things, misrepresenting to property owners’ construction needs or repairs required on their properties.
- Gavin and his co-conspirators formed multiple construction businesses and falsely represented the business’ status, experience, and quality of work; falsely represented their identities and skills to homeowners; and made false representations to property owners regarding the condition of their properties, work they would perform, and the machinery, materials, and equipment needed to perform work.
- Between October 2022 and January 2025, Gavin and his co-conspirators defrauded property owners of over one million dollars, including a Rhode Island widow who was defrauded of $850,000, as well as other elderly victims in Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, and a church in New York.
- Gavin sent checks to money launderers in New York and California representing funds that were fraudulently obtained from his victims.
- Gavin is a fugitive from justice in the United Kingdom who entered the United States illegally. Gavin used a false Electronic System for Travel Authorization application to gain entry into the United States without a visa. Gavin’s ESTA application contained materially false information with respect to Gavin’s criminal history in the United Kingdom.
According to the FBI’s Terrorist Screening Center, Conmen Travelers are groups of Irish or U.K. nationals who entered the United States on pleasure or tourist visas and overstayed their visits or, more commonly, entered the United States illegally. Once in the United States, they go to different cities and states, soliciting construction work. The members often quote a low price, and then, after further inspection, demand much more money and/or convince the homeowner that their homes or business are in need of major repairs. Conmen Travelers often hire day laborers; do not have work authorization documents or pull permits; and do low quality, unnecessary, or incomplete work, sometimes damaging homeowners’ residences.
Gavin has been detained in federal custody since his arrest in New Jersey on January 29, 2025. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 11, 2025. The sentences imposed will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sandra R. Hebert and Taylor A. Dean.
The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Rhode Island State Police, and U.S Diplomatic Security Service.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Box Elder woman sentenced to more than 17 years in prison for trafficking drugs on Rocky Boy’s Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Box Elder woman who trafficked large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl while possessing a firearm on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 210 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Melody Rose Bernard, 50, pleaded guilty in January 2025 to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and one count of use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that from October 2023 to May 21, 2024, Bernard trafficked substantial amounts of meth, fentanyl, and cocaine to the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation in Hill County. One witness told law enforcement about making four trips for Bernard since November 2023 and estimated transporting 23 pounds of meth, 4,500 fentanyl pills, five ounces of fentanyl powder, and three ounces of cocaine for Bernard. The witness further estimated transporting $230,000 for Bernard and watched as Bernard distributed narcotics from her house in Box Elder and from her business, Ziah’s. The witness also admitted that a firearm located in the residence belonged to the witness and that Bernard had given it to the witness for protection.
Law enforcement learned from other individuals that Bernard was selling narcotics out of Ziah’s. One of the individuals described buying fentanyl pills two or three times from Bernard, received 25 to 40 pills each time and was charged $10 to $20 per pill. In an interview with another person, law enforcement learned Bernard was a source of supply for the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation, dealing from 500 to 1,000 fentanyl pills at a time. Bernard’s common price for a pill was about $40, but she would sell them for as little as $10 or $20 per pill to customers willing to buy larger quantities.
On May 21, 2024, law enforcement executed a state search warrant at Bernard’s residence. Both Bernard and a codefendant were in the house. The codefendant was located hiding in a bathroom. The agent observed a large amount of meth and cocaine in the bathtub with the water running, and it was apparent to the agent the codefendant was attempting to destroy evidence. Law enforcement recovered meth, cocaine, fentanyl pills, approximately $8,800 in cash, and a firearm.
In addition, on March 27, 2024, another co-defendant purchased two firearms from North 40 Outfitters in Havre and immediately traveled back to Box Elder where the firearms were traded to Bernard in exchange for four oxycodone pills. The two firearms were recovered several hours later after they were used in a double homicide and were still in the possession of the homicide suspects. The co-defendant admitted to lying on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Form 4473 to buy the firearms for Bernard, a transaction known as a straw purchase. The firearms were a .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol and a 9mm semi-automatic pistol.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by FBI, ATF, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement Services, and Hill County Sheriff’s Office.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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Armed Threat of Insurance Inspector Leads to 21-Month Sentence for Springfield Man Convicted of Unlawfully Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Springfield man was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Bangor today for unlawfully possessing a firearm.
U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced James Elliott, 67, to 21 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Elliott pleaded guilty on February 4, 2025.
According to court records, in February 2024, a deputy from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report that Elliott had threatened an insurance company home inspector with a firearm. During a search of Elliott’s home in March 2024, deputies found six firearms, including a loaded .44 magnum lever-action rifle. Elliott is precluded from possessing firearms due to two prior felony convictions in the state of Kansas.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office, the Maine Warden Service, and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency.
Project Safe Neighborhoods: This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psn.
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Arizona Residents Charged in Felony Indictments with Assaulting FBI Agents During Immigration OperationRead the Press Release
PHOENIX Ariz. – On June 10, 2025, a federal grand jury in Phoenix returned a three-count indictment against Jose Sarinana, 42, and Abran Villa, Jr., 40, both of Chandler, Arizona for Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding Federal Officers.
The indictment alleges that on June 1, 2025, FBI agents were assisting ICE/ERO with immigration enforcement operations. As part of those operations, FBI and ICE/ERO pulled over Villa’s vehicle and arrested the passenger, who was illegally present in the United States. After the passenger was arrested, Villa returned to the passenger’s residence and told Sariana, at which point both men got into their vehicles and returned to the scene of the arrest.
As one of the FBI agents involved in the immigration enforcement action was leaving the scene, Sarinana followed the agent and made several attempts to run the agent off the road with his vehicle. The agent called for backup and multiple FBI agents responded to the scene to stop Sarinana.
While agents were pursuing Sarinana, Villa used his truck to block one of their cars, revving his engine as he obstructed the agent’s exit from a parking lot. Villa eventually left after the agent called for assistance.
After agents successfully pulled Sarinana over and detained him, Villa appeared again, driving up to the group at a high rate of speed in his truck. Villa stopped shortly before reaching the agents, but pointed the truck directly at them and revved his engine. Villa eventually complied with commands from the FBI agents after several of them unholstered their firearms, and he was taken into custody without further incident.
A conviction for Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding Federal Officers carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison, up to five years supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
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).
An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The FBI is conducting the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Addison Owen, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-25-00865-PHX-DWL-JZB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-092_Sarinana, et al.# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.10-time illegal reentry felon sentenced to 69 months for unlawfully reentering U.S. againRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 47-year-old Mexican national who illegally resided in Houston has been sentenced to federal prison again, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Josue Rodriguez-Rodriguez pleaded guilty on March 14.
U.S. District Judge Ewing Werlein Jr. has now ordered Rodriguez-Rodriguez to serve 69 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that Rodriguez-Rodriguez’s previous 41-month sentence for illegal reentry failed to deter him.
Rodriguez-Rodriguez has felony convictions for illegal reentry as well as two convictions for aggravated assault-family violence and possession with intent to deliver or manufacture a controlled substance. He was first removed in 2000.
On May 5, 2014, authorities discovered Rodriguez-Rodriguez near Carrizo Springs for a 10th time. Rodriguez-Rodriguez was later sentenced to 41 months in federal prison and removed again. Authorities found him once more on Feb. 23, 2021, in Houston.
“Our nation’s immigration laws are not mere suggestions, they are backed by criminal penalties,” said Ganjei. “The defendant could have easily avoided further prison time by simply remaining in Mexico, but he instead chose to break the law…again…and again…and again. Perhaps with today’s sentence, Mr. Rodriguez-Rodriguez will finally understand the lesson he should have learned long ago.”
Rodriguez-Rodriguez will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigrations and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Franklyn prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Wednesday 11 June 2025
Wasilla man indicted for distributing carfentanil resulting in two overdoses, one fatal and one non-fatalRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment yesterday charging a Wasilla man with distributing carfentanil to two individuals, resulting in the non-fatal overdose of an adult victim and the fatal overdose of a minor.
Per court documents, the Alaska Bureau of Investigations (ABI) discovered that between Nov. 14 and 15, 2024, Sean Mobley, 45, allegedly distributed what appeared to be powder fentanyl to two different people, one adult and one minor. Both victims allegedly used the substance and overdosed. The adult victim was successfully revived by Narcan, but the minor victim died. Further analysis revealed that the substance causing the overdose and death was not fentanyl, but carfentanil. Carfentanil is a highly potent opioid not approved for human use. It is used by veterinarians to sedate large animals and is 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Court filings indicate that on Nov. 14, 2024, Mobley and an unnamed individual allegedly sold a small quantity of what appeared to be powdered fentanyl to the adult victim. Later that night, the unnamed individual received a telephone call informing them that the victim was overdosing. The individual returned to the victim’s residence where Narcan was administered to revive the victim.
These same court documents further allege that Mobley later distributed the same carfentanil to a minor victim, causing her to overdose and die. Specifically, during the late evening of Nov. 14, 2024, Mobley drove to a gas station and met the minor victim. The minor victim entered Mobley’s truck, and at roughly 11:54 p.m., texted a friend that she was, “banging one out with Sean” (a slang phrase that allegedly means using drugs).
The court records then allege that Mobley drove the minor victim to a remote ATV trail in Wasilla, arriving around midnight on Nov. 15, 2024. While at the trail, the minor victim used some of the carfentanil that Mobley allegedly provided to her, which resulted in the minor victim fatally overdosing in his truck. He then allegedly dumped her body at the trail, all between 12:00 and 12:13 a.m. Court documents additionally allege that after discarding the minor victim’s body, Mobley left to distribute more narcotics.
On Nov. 15, 2024, a man walking his dog found the body of the minor female on the ATV trail. The state medical examiner found the minor’s cause of death as acute combined toxic effects of carfentanil and methamphetamine.
“Unfortunately, this indictment marks a troubling milestone – the first federal prosecution in Alaska for the distribution of poisonous carfentanil. To make matters worse, Mr. Mobley is accused of distributing this toxic substance to two people, resulting in the near deadly overdose of one and the heartbreaking fatal overdose of a local minor whose body he then dumped onto a secluded trail in the middle of the night,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “Aggressive prosecutions of individuals peddling deadly drugs to our communities, including our children, is a national priority, especially when those narcotics kill and the perpetrator acts with callous disregard for his victims. I want to commend the ABI and the DEA for their diligent investigation, and to the Alaska Department of Law for their continued collaboration as we pursue justice for the victims and loved ones impacted by this tragedy.”
“The callousness and cowardice of poisoning then dumping a young woman goes way beyond the pale, even for an alleged drug distributor,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “This case cries for justice and I am proud that DEA and our partners helped bring federal charges in this case.”
“This is a tragic reminder of the deadly consequences of dangerous drug use and distribution in our great state—especially when it involves our youth,” said Alaska State Trooper Colonel Maurice Hughes. “Your Alaska State Troopers remain committed to holding those accountable who deal deadly drugs like carfentanil. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to pursue justice for victims and disrupt drug trafficking in Alaska no matter where it occurs.”
“The tragedy of this case highlights the urgent need to protect our Alaskan communities from the deadly impact that the illicit sale of controlled substances has on our state,” said Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor. “The Department of Law is resolved to aggressively prosecute those who traffic in these dangerous drugs and to work closely with our criminal justice partners to deter anyone who seeks to bring this harm into Alaska.”
Mobley is charged with one count of distribution of a controlled substance resulting in serious bodily injury and death, one count of distribution of a controlled substance resulting in serious bodily injury and one count of distribution of a controlled substance to a person under the age of twenty-one. The defendant will make his initial court appearance on a later date before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of at least 20 years and up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The DEA Anchorage District Office and the ABI are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tom Bradley and Alana Weber are prosecuting the case, with assistance and collaboration from the State of Alaska Department of Law.
Learn more: Carfentanil: A Synthetic Opioid Unlike Any Other
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 and drug trafficking. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Virginia Man Sentenced to 33 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
A Virginia man was sentenced today to 33 years in prison for transporting a teenager across state lines with the intent to sexually abuse her.
According to court documents, in 2022, Daniel Wayne Kidd, 50, of Powhatan, spent thousands of dollars to entice a teenage girl to come to Virginia so that he could sexually abuse her over the course of a week. Kidd and his co-defendant, Rosalinda Delgado Rosas, schemed to obtain custody of the minor in order to ply her with expensive gifts and experiences and coerce her into engaging in sexual acts with Kidd. Prior to the nightly sexual abuse acts, the minor was given medications, including medications that made her drowsy. Kidd and Rosas also recorded Kidd’s sexual abuse of the minor. Rosas was sentenced on Sept. 4, 2024, to 25 years in prison for her role in the scheme.
Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Christopher Heck of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) Washington made the announcement.
ICE-HSI investigated the case with the assistance of the Powhatan Sheriff’s Office.
Trial Attorney Alicia A. Bove of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather H. Mansfield for the Eastern District of Virginia prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department 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, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Vian Resident Sentenced for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Stephanie Leigh Rodgers, aka Stephanie Larsen, aka Stephanie Yoder, aka Stephanie Ward, age 40, of Vian, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 151 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, followed by three years of supervised release.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office.
On January 13, 2025, Rodgers pleaded guilty to the charge. On August 19, 2024, law enforcement officers apprehended Rodgers after she sold approximately 447 grams of methamphetamine to an undercover officer. According to investigators, Rodgers sold approximately 3.5 kilograms of methamphetamine in the months preceding her arrest.
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Rodgers will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.
Veterans Affairs Contractor Agrees to Pay $4.3 Million to Resolve Claims of Overbilling for ProductsRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – Omnicell, a company based in Delaware, has agreed to pay $4,366,660 to resolve claims that it fraudulently overbilled the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for medical device hardware and software, announced Richard R. Barker, the Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.
Between January 2017 and February 2023, Omnicell held a federal contact with the VA to sell and lease products at a set price or negotiated discounted price.
According to the settlement agreement, a False Claims Act (FCA) claim arose from allegations that Omnicell did not always charge the correct prices for products purchased and leased by federal agencies.
When Omnicell became aware of certain pricing issues related to specific individual orders, including when federal government customers raised concerns and questions, Omnicell at times issued credits or otherwise corrected prices charged to federal government customers. However, Omnicell did not always timely correct the known issues in its sales and pricing system in a systemic way, nor did Omnicell undertake an analysis to determine whether other federal government customers that may have been previously overcharged due to the pricing issues in order to provide those customers with refunds of overcharges.
In August 2023, a former Omnicell employee came forward with allegations of fraudulent product overcharging. This individual, known as a “Relator,” filed a qui tam complaint under seal in the U.S. District Court (EDWA). When a relator files a qui tam complaint, the False Claims Act requires the United States to investigate the allegations and elect whether to intervene and take over the action or to decline to intervene and allow the relator to go forward with the litigation on behalf of the United States. The relator is generally able to then share in any recovery. As part of the settlement agreement, the relator will receive $785,998.80 of the settlement amount. $2,183,330 of the settlement amount has been designated as restitution, meaning that it will be returned to the VA.
“Veterans who served our country deserve the best health care possible. It is important that companies who do business with the VA and the federal government are accurate in how they charge for goods and services,” stated Acting United States Attorney Barker. “I am grateful that Omnicell quickly accepted responsibility and has taken steps to comply with its billing obligations going forward.”
“This settlement sends a clear message that the VA OIG will actively investigate allegations involving contractors overbilling for products provided to VA,” said Special Agent in Charge Dimitriana Nikolov with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Northwest Field Office. “The VA OIG will continue to work with the US Attorney’s Office to ensure the integrity of VA programs and services.”
The settlement was the result of an investigation jointly conducted by the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) and the VA Office of Inspector General. The USAO’s investigation and prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jacob E. Brooks.
U.S. Attorney, FBI vow strong action after federal building defaced in CarbondaleRead the Press Release
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Following an incident in Carbondale on Tuesday evening where criminals defaced a federal building, U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson are vowing to protect law and order in southern Illinois.
“There are bright lines separating where speech ends and criminal conduct begins. Those who committed this targeted vandalism to federal property will be pursued and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Our system protects good faith expressions of ideas and opinions, but it abhors lawlessness and violence. Any such criminality cannot, and will not, be tolerated.”
In the evening on June 10, individuals gathered outside the entrance of the Senator Paul Simon Federal Building in Carbondale. During the gathering, some members defaced the outside of the building, from which any damage is being assessed at this time.
“The Senator Paul Simon Federal Building’s houses multiple United States federal entities and has been located in the community since 1978. These offices employ dozens of local residents, and the tenants of this building deserve to go to work without fear or intimidation. The FBI Springfield Field Office respects the rights of individuals to peacefully exercise their First Amendment rights, but we will not tolerate individuals inciting violence or engaging in criminal activity and violating federal law. The individuals who defaced the building last night will be identified and charged, as well as those who aid and abet them,” said Christopher J.S. Johnson, the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Springfield Field Office.
If you have any information about this incident, please call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) and reference “Carbondale Illinois Federal Building.” The operator will take down any information you have and contribute it to the investigation.
Two Sentenced for Roles in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy in Monongalia CountyRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Two men have been sentenced for their roles in a drug trafficking organization in Monongalia County.
Jason Davis, 35, of Youngstown, Ohio, was sentenced today to 135 months in federal prison. James Peoples, II, 28, of Pennsauken Township, New Jersey, was sentenced to 72 months in prison. According to court documents, Davis and Peoples worked with others to distribute drugs in Morgantown, West Virginia.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda Wesley prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
This case was investigated by the Mon Metro Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative. The task force consists of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the West Virginia State Police; the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office; the Monongalia County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office; the Morgantown Police Department; the WVU Police Department; the Granville Police Department; and the Star City Police Department.
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).
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Two Men Charged Federally with Possession of Machineguns related to Graduation Ceremony ShootingsRead the Press Release
St. Paul, Minn. – Hamza Abdirashiid Said, 20, and Amiir Mawlid Ali, 18, have been charged federally with unlawfully possessing machineguns, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.
According to court documents, on May 30, 2025, at approximately 8:00 p.m., University of Minnesota Police (UMPD) responded to a report of a shooting at the Mariucci Arena on the University of Minnesota Campus. The arena was hosting the Wayzata High School graduation ceremony at the time of the shooting, with numerous pedestrians and attendees outside. Officers found a chaotic scene in which two victims—both attendees of the graduation ceremony—suffered gunshot wounds. After interviewing witness and viewing surveillance footage, law enforcement located and apprehended the shooter, Hamza Said. Law enforcement also recovered a Glock 9mm semiautomatic pistol equipped with a high-capacity extended magazine and a machinegun conversion device, commonly called a “switch.” Switches turn semi-automatic handguns into fully automatic machineguns. Said has been federally charged by complaint with unlawful possession of a machinegun.
According to court documents, on June 3, 2025, at approximately 3:44 p.m., MPD officers observed a vehicle fail to stop at an intersection. The vehicle then accelerated aggressively through the intersection, and officers noted the windows were tinted to such a degree that they could not observe the interior of the vehicle. The officers initiated a traffic stop and identified three occupants of the vehicle. An MPD officer recognized the front passenger as Amiir Ali. The officer knew from prior investigations that Ali was associated with multiple recent gang-related shootings and was known to carry firearms. The occupants stated they were heading to the Edina High School graduation ceremony at the University of Minnesota. Officers were aware of a shooting that occurred at the Wayzata High School graduation ceremony at the same location just four days earlier. Officers located a Glock 10mm semiautomatic firearm under Ali’s seat. The Glock was equipped with a loaded 33-round extended magazine and a machinegun conversion device, also known as a switch. Ali was arrested when he was located by police responding to the June 6, 2025 shooting at the Burnsville High School graduation ceremony. In recorded jail calls, Ali said that, upon his release, he would need a “button,” a slang term for a switch or machinegun conversion device. Ali has been federally charged by complaint with unlawful possession of a machinegun.
“High school graduation ceremonies are a rite of passage. A time for friends and family to come together to celebrate one of life’s major milestones. To bring machineguns and violence to such a ceremony is immoral and shameful,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “On behalf of all Minnesotans, I want to express a sense of moral outrage at these crimes and assure the public that the perpetrators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Said and Ali made their initial appearance in U.S. District Court yesterday, before Magistrate Judge John F. Docherty. Both men are detained, pending detention hearings.
These cases are a result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Explosives and Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Minneapolis Police Department, and the University of Minnesota Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristian C. Weir is prosecuting the case.
A complaint is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Tulsa Resident Sentenced for Federal Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Mark Galen Putnam, age 41, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for one count of Distribution of Fentanyl, 70 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, and 70 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. The Court ordered the terms to run concurrently.
The charges arose from an investigation by the District 27 Drug Task Force, the Adair County Sheriff’s Office, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
On January 24, 2025, Putnam pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, on September 6, 2023, Putnam sold a baggie of two hundred pills containing fentanyl to an undercover officer. A week later, on September 14, 2023, law enforcement arrested Putnam after he agreed to sell another 1,600 fentanyl pills. When officers arrested Putnam, they discovered Putnam in possession of more fentanyl pills and approximately sixteen grams of methamphetamine.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Putnam will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.
Tulsa Man Arrested at Airport Sentenced for Attempting to Coerce and Entice Minor and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – Nicholas Kyle Dietzel, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, was sentenced Tuesday for Attempting to Coerce and Entice a Minor Child and Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Nicholas Kyle Dietzel, 45, to 210 months imprisonment, followed by 15 years of supervised release. Upon his release, Dietzel will also be required to register as a sex offender. Judge Hill also ordered Dietzel to pay a $200 special monetary assessment.
According to court documents, Nicholas Kyle Dietzel, used a website and an encrypted messaging app to communicate with a woman Dietzel believed to be a mother of a seven-year-old female child. From November 2023 to January 2024 Dietzel communicated with the mother about grooming and engaging in sexual activity with the seven-year-old child. Dietzel sent videos of child pornography to mother so that she could show them to the child and Dietzel also sent sex toys to the mother for her to use on the child. Court documents indicate that Dietzel believed this woman and her child lived in Phoenix, Arizona and he booked a flight to Phoenix. On January 18, 2024, law enforcement officers arrested Dietzel at the Tulsa International Airport where he was about to board an airplane to Phoenix to meet the purported mother of the child, who in fact was an undercover law enforcement officer. During this same time, Dietzel also possessed child pornography in Indian Country
Nicholas Kyle Dietzel is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation Tribe.
Dietzel will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Homeland Security Investigations – Tulsa and Phoenix offices, the Tulsa International Airport Police Department, the Tulsa Police Department, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, the Creek County Sheriff’s Office, and the Collinsville Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert 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.
Thirty Defendants Charged with Narcotics and Firearms Offenses in Connection with Newark Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
Newark, N.J. – U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced charges today against thirty people for their respective roles in a drug trafficking organization that sold large quantities of controlled substances – including fentanyl and crack cocaine – in the area of the Kretchmer Homes housing complex along Frelinghuysen Avenue in Newark.
Today’s charges and arrests are the result of a long-running wiretap investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in collaboration with the Union County Prosecutor’s Office. The charges include conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 280 grams or more of cocaine base, and various firearm and substantive narcotics offenses. (See chart below).
The 17 defendants arrested today are scheduled to have their initial court appearances this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jessica S. Allen in Newark federal court. 7 defendants were already in custody on state charges, one defendant was already in federal custody and previously appeared, and 4 defendants remain at large.
“These defendants are charged with operating a large-scale drug trafficking organization that poisoned our community with its distribution of massive quantities of fentanyl and crack cocaine,” U.S. Attorney Alina Habba said. “Fentanyl remains the deadliest driver of overdose deaths in our nation, devastating families everyday. We will have zero tolerance for violent gangs terrorizing our communities, flooding our neighborhoods with drugs and violence. Let today’s arrests serve as a clear warning — if you bring violence into our state, we will find you, we will dismantle your networks, and we will bring you to justice.”
“This was a sweeping and surgical strike against a violent drug trafficking network that terrorized an elderly community with poison and fear. The scale of this takedown sends a loud and clear message: we will not allow gangs to hold neighborhoods hostage. I commend U.S. Attorney Alina Habba for her bold leadership and thank our partners at the DEA, ATF, FBI, and local law enforcement for their relentless pursuit of justice,” FBI Director Kash Patel stated.
“Over the past year, the Bloods gang has terrorized the Kretchmer Homes public housing complex in Newark, NJ, using violence and fear to operate their drug trafficking business. Thanks to the hard work of our DEA team and our law enforcement partners, we successfully targeted this drug trafficking organization that has plagued and poisoned our community with illicit narcotics. This operation, which resulted in the arrest of over two dozen individuals, removed numerous firearms, and approximately seven thousand grams of heroin and fentanyl from our streets. That’s enough fentanyl to kill up to 500,000 people,” stated DEA Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz. “This wasn’t just a bust; it was a life-saving operation. As we know, fentanyl continues to be the leading cause of death in drug overdoses and poisonings. The DEA remains committed to working alongside our federal, state, and local partners, in targeting the drug cartels and those individuals responsible for pushing these deadly drugs into our neighborhoods. We will continue to hold them accountable.”
“ATF is committed to working with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, with unwavering determination and steadfast collaboration, to dismantle these drug trafficking organizations that threaten our communities,” said SAC L.C. Cheeks Jr. “Today’s arrests hold criminals accountable for drug-related activity and the related gun violence in our neighborhoods. We appreciate the dedication of our personnel and our partners who will continue to work tirelessly to protect and secure public safety.”
"When the FBI begins a street gang investigation, we go after the leaders of the enterprise to dismantle it from the top down. We allege these men wreaked havoc in Newark, selling illicit drugs and defending their lucrative turf by using violence and guns. But this case is about more than drugs and guns, it's about removing criminals from a community they have been terrorizing and leaving in their wake a trail of addiction and potential death for their customers. The FBI Newark Safe Streets Task Force and our partner agencies will not stop the work we are doing to rid Newark of violent offenders," said SAC Stefanie Roddy.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
The defendants are members of a drug trafficking organization that operates an open-air narcotics market in and around the area of Kretchmer Homes – a public housing complex positioned along the 900 block of Frelinghuysen Avenue (the “Frelinghuysen DTO”). Many members of the Frelinghuysen DTO are affiliated with a neighborhood-based street gang, comprised largely of members and associates of the Bloods street gang, who pledge their allegiance, first and foremost, to the neighborhood surrounding the 900 block of Frelinghuysen Avenue.
Law enforcement used investigative techniques including, but not limited to, wiretaps, controlled purchases of narcotics by confidential informants and undercover law enforcement officers, telephone record analysis, and physical and fixed surveillance, among other lawful means of investigation. The investigation revealed that the Frelinghuysen DTO distributes large quantities of fentanyl and cocaine base in this public housing community. Moreover, the investigation revealed, through seizure of multiple firearms, that members of the Frelinghuysen DTO use firearms to protect their drug supply and proceeds.
U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents and task force officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New Jersey Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Newark Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks Jr., detectives with the Newark Police, under the direction of Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda, and the Essex County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sherriff Amir Jones, with the investigation leading to the charges in this case. She also thanked detectives with the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor William A. Daniel, for their assistance with the case.
The investigation was conducted as part of the Newark Violent Crime Initiative (“VCI”). The Newark VCI was formed in August 2017 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, and the City of Newark’s Department of Public Safety for the sole purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Newark. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate and pool resources to prosecute violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the DEA, New Jersey Division, the U.S. Marshals, the Newark Department of Public Safety, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Parole, New Jersey State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center, New Jersey Department of Corrections, the East Orange Police Department, and the Irvington Police Department.
This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The 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.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Thypin-Bermeo and Senior Trial Counsel Robert Frazer of the Organized Crime and Gangs Unit.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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DEFENDANTS
Defendant Name
Age
Charges
Potential Penalties
Anderson, Noah
33
21 U.S.C. § 84610 year mandatory minimum; up to life
Broadnax, Nathaniel
42
21 U.S.C. § 84610 year mandatory minimum; up to life
Coleman, Latisha
35
21 U.S.C. § 84610 year mandatory minimum; up to life
Cooper, Edwin
23
21 U.S.C. § 84610 year mandatory minimum; up to life
Hall, Farard
34
21 U.S.C. § 84610 year mandatory minimum; up to life
Hargrove, Alquawi
30
21 U.S.C. § 846
18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)
10 year mandatory minimum; up to life
Up to 15 years in prison
Harris, Ali
31
21 U.S.C. § 84610 year mandatory minimum; up to life
Harrison, Dawan
34
21 U.S.C. § 84610 year mandatory minimum; up to life
Harrison, Jaquay
36
21 U.S.C. § 84610 year mandatory minimum; up to life
Hoover, Bernard
40
21 U.S.C. § 84610 year mandatory minimum; up to life
Jenkins, Khyair
21
21 U.S.C. § 84610 year mandatory minimum; up to life
Kalonji, Ajamu
60
21 U.S.C. § 84610 year mandatory minimum; up to life
Latimore, Nigel
44
21 U.S.C. § 84610 year mandatory minimum; up to life
Leaks, Shaquan
31
21 U.S.C. § 84610 year mandatory minimum; up to life
Levett, Anthony
28
21 U.S.C. § 846
18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)
10 year mandatory minimum; up to life
Up to 15 years in prison
Massenburg, Isaiah
31
21 U.S.C. § 84610 year mandatory minimum; up to life
McClean, Tauheed
38
21 U.S.C. § 84610 year mandatory minimum; up to life
Morgan, Raheem
28
21 U.S.C. § 84610 year mandatory minimum; up to life
Shell, Lamar
35
21 U.S.C. § 846
18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)
10 year mandatory minimum; up to life
Up to 15 years in prison
Smith, Jamar
34
21 U.S.C. § 84610 year mandatory minimum; up to life
Swinton, Jamaal
32
21 U.S.C. § 84610 year mandatory minimum; up to life
Traynmam, Kaidean
28
21 U.S.C. § 84610 year mandatory minimum; up to life
Tutler, Radee
41
21 U.S.C. § 84610 year mandatory minimum; up to life
Woody, Timothy
47
21 U.S.C. § 84610 year mandatory minimum; up to life
Wright, Mario
47
21 U.S.C. § 84610 year mandatory minimum; up to life
Travis, Najee
28
18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)Up to 15 years in prison
Reed, Nyerei
24
18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)
21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C)
18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i)
Up to 15 years in prison
Up to 20 years in prison
5 year mandatory minimum; up to life
Martin, Dashawn
32
21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C)Up to 20 years in prison
Kennedy, Divine
25
18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)
21 U.S.C. 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C)
18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i)
Up to 15 years in prison
Up to 20 years in prison
5 year mandatory minimum; up to life
Overstreet, Tysone
29
18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)Up to 15 years in prison
Texas Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison and Ordered to Pay $2M Fine for Conspiring to Monopolize International Transit Industry, Fix Prices, Extort $9.5M, and Launder MoneyRead the Press Release
Carlos Martinez, 39, of Mission, Texas, was sentenced today to 11 years in prison and a fine of $2 million for his conduct in a long-running and violent conspiracy to monopolize the transmigrante forwarding agency (TFA) industry in the Los Indios, Texas, border region. Martinez and his co-defendants controlled the TFA industry through monopolization and extortion of competitors.
Transmigrantes transport used vehicles and other goods from the United States through Mexico for resale across Central America. There are only a few locations where transmigrantes are permitted to cross from the United States into Mexico, one of those being the Los Indios Bridge in Texas. TFAs are U.S.-based businesses that provide services to transmigrante clients, including helping clients complete the customs paperwork required to export vehicles into Mexico. According to court documents and statements made in court, Martinez and his co-defendants fixed prices for TFA services and created a centralized entity known as “The Pool” to collect and divide revenues among the conspirators, limit competition from other agencies, and increase prices for their services.
“The defendants exploited hardworking professionals in the freight forwarding business using extortion and illegal price-fixing schemes to manipulate the market and inflate the cost of moving goods,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The lead defendant’s 11-year prison sentence reflects the serious economic harm inflicted on the business community along the southern border. The Criminal Division will continue to pursue and prosecute those who threaten fair competition and the integrity of our markets.”
“Today’s sentence reflects the significant danger and harm the American people face from violent and extortive actions aimed at fixing prices and monopolizing the market for essential services in the Texas border region,” said Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The Antitrust Division will continue to aggressively pursue violent criminals who aim to corrupt America’s free markets and advocate for their incarceration.”
“Price fixing is not a victimless crime; it harms customers in the form of artificially high prices. Consumers need to have faith that the prices they pay are fairly determined by the market, rather than the product of illegal collusion,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei for the Southern District of Texas. “The 11-year sentence Mr. Martinez received reflects the size and scope of his criminal operation, as well as his leadership role in organizing and facilitating the unlawful scheme.”
“All of these defendants used their positions with the TFA to extort hardworking individuals who relied on these services to support their families and livelihood,” said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI is committed to dismantling criminal enterprises that prey on vulnerable communities, and today’s sentencing sends a clear message that those who abuse systems will be found, stopped and brought to justice.”
“This case underscores the serious threat posed by transnational criminal networks operating at our borders,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio. “Carlos Martinez and his co-conspirators orchestrated a violent scheme that extorted small businesses, fixed prices, and laundered millions of dollars — all while threatening the safety and integrity of lawful commerce. HSI will continue to aggressively pursue those who exploit legitimate industries through corruption and intimidation, and we remain steadfast in our mission to protect our communities and our economy.”
Individuals in the industry who were not part of the conspiracy were forced to join and pay into The Pool or face financial and violent consequences. Martinez and other members enforced the rules by monitoring whether forwarding agencies were charging the agreed-upon prices and whether the forwarder was making payments to The Pool.
Martinez and some of his co-defendants also conspired to force forwarding agencies to pay other extortion fees, including a “piso” for every transaction processed as well as a “fine” for operating in the market outside of Pool rules. Martinez and his co-defendants intimidated, coerced, and used threats and acts of violence in furtherance of the antitrust and extortion conspiracies.
Martinez was responsible for collecting at least $9.5M in extortion payments. Cash obtained from the extortions was laundered through bank accounts controlled by Martinez and his family, with the cash deposits disguised to hide the nature, source, ownership, and control of the dirty money.
Martinez is the son-in-law of the former leader of the Gulf Cartel in Mexico, a violent criminal syndicate that operates at the U.S.-Mexico border and elsewhere. Martinez took control of Los Indios Bridge and employed individuals who worked to track TFA transactions to calculate the piso owed by each forwarding agency. Pool and piso payments were made in cash to the individuals working for Martinez. Martinez ordered disciplinary actions against those operating in the transmigrante market without permission, those who violated Pool rules, those who did not charge the fixed prices, and those who did not pay the piso. Disciplinary actions could include clients not being allowed to cross Los Indios Bridge, cars being stolen, or more serious repercussions such as kidnappings, beatings, firebombings, shootings, and murder.
Carlos Martinez pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy to illegally fix prices and allocate the market for TFA services, conspiracy to monopolize the transmigrante market, conspiracy to interfere with commerce by extortion, interference with commerce by extortion, and money laundering conspiracy. The government will also seek forfeiture of at least one house, luxury vehicles, a boat, and expensive watches.
Prior to Martinez’s sentencing, his co-defendants were sentenced as follows:
Carlos Yzaguirre, 66, of McAllen, Texas, was sentenced to two years in prison, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by extortion.
Sandra Guerra Medina, 70, of Rancho Viejo, Texas, was sentenced to eight months of home detention, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to illegally fix prices and allocate the market for TFA services and conspiracy to monopolize the transmigrante market.Juan Hector Ramirez Avila, 59, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to time served, after pleading guilty to one count of structuring a financial transaction to evade reporting requirements.
Jose Tapia, Mireya Miranda, Pedro Calvillo and Roberto Garcia Villarreal pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Three other defendants, Rigoberto Brown, Miguel Hipolito Caballero Aupart, and Diego Ceballos-Soto, were also charged in the superseding indictment and remain fugitives.
The Court will determine the final restitution amount owed to victims of the conspiracies at a hearing set for Sept. 3, 2025.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI investigated the case.Trial Attorney Christina Taylor of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section; Senior Litigation Attorney John Davis and Trial Attorneys Brittany E. McClure, Anne Veldhuis, and Michael G. Lepage of the of the Antitrust Division; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander L. Alum for the Southern District of Texas prosecuted the case.
Anyone with information in connection with this investigation should contact the HSI Tip Line at 866-347-2423; the FBI Tipline at tips.fbi.gov, or by contacting the FBI San Antonio Field Office at 210-225-6741; or the Antitrust Division’s Complaint Center at 888-647-3258, or visit http://www.justice.gov/atr/report-violations.
Syracuse Man Sentenced for Illegally Possessing an Assault Rifle at Gas StationRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Richard Bradley, age 36, of Syracuse, was sentenced yesterday to 14 months in prison following his conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), made the announcement.
As part of his prior guilty plea, Bradley admitted that, on September 9, 2024, he possessed a loaded assault rifle in his vehicle, which was parked at a gas station in East Syracuse. Bradley inadvertently fired the rifle several times, but did not strike anyone. As a result of his prior felony conviction for criminal mischief, Bradley could not lawfully possess a firearm.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, Senior U.S. District Court Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also imposed a three-year term of supervised release to begin following the term of imprisonment and ordered Bradley to forfeit the rifle he possessed.
U.S. Attorney Sarcone stated, “When Bradley fired the rifle in the parking lot, he put the lives of everyone at that gas station in danger. Thanks to the quick thinking of the gas station employees and the fast response by law enforcement, no one was harmed.”
ATF Special Agent in Charge Miller said, “This case is a powerful reminder of the danger posed when illegal firearms end up in the hands of those who are prohibited from possessing them. We thank our partners at the Manlius Police Department, the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of New York for their work in holding this individual accountable. This shows the impact of Project Safe Neighborhoods and our collective commitment to reducing violent crime.”
ATF and the Manlius Police Department investigated the case with assistance from the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica N. Carbone prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.
St. Michael Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Involuntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
Fargo – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl announced today that Ryan Cody Guy, age 46, from St. Michael, North Dakota, was sentenced before Chief United States District Judge Peter D. Welte to 63 months in federal prison for involuntary manslaughter. Judge Welte also sentenced Guy to serve 3 years of supervised release following his incarceration and ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $2,000. Guy pleaded guilty on March 10, 2025.
On February 26, 2022, Ryan Guy was driving a vehicle on the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation while intoxicated when he rolled it. A passenger in the vehicle died as a result of injuries sustained in the rollover. Guy’s blood alcohol content was 0.164, over twice the legal limit under North Dakota state law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the North Dakota Highway Patrol and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard Lee.
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