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25 July 2025
Civil Rights Division Moves to Dismiss Court-Ordered Agreement Regarding Leflore County Juvenile Detention CenterRead the Press Release
Today, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division announced that it has moved to dismiss a 2015 Court-Ordered Settlement Agreement regarding the Leflore County Juvenile Detention Center (the Center) in Greenwood, Mississippi because the Center has achieved sustained substantial compliance with all areas of the Settlement Agreement.
The Center implemented reforms to ensure that children are not subjected to undue restraint use; children who feel suicidal or need to talk to mental health are connected to a mental health provider within hours; children are not punished with isolation and instead receive programs and activities that include cooking and robotics classes; sleeping rooms are clean and have appropriate beds. Additionally, the Center implemented an outstanding compliance review system and staff misconduct is taken seriously and handled professionally.
“All children deserve to be protected from harm,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. “We thank the Center’s leadership and staff for their commitment over the years to ensuring safety for these children and for the community of Leflore County.”
“The counties and municipalities that this center serves can now move forward, knowing that when they make use of this facility to hold juveniles, that they can do so with the knowledge that these youths are held safely in a constitutionally compliant manner,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner for the Northern District of Mississippi.
California Man Sentenced to Nearly 22 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl and Methamphetamine in the Sioux Falls AreaRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange has sentenced a man from Lancaster, California, who had been convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, including methamphetamine and fentanyl. The sentencing took place on July 21, 2025.
Clarence Williams, a/k/a “CJ,” 34, was sentenced to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Williams was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances by a federal grand jury in September 2024. He pleaded guilty on March 5, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine.
Williams is from Lancaster, California, and came to Sioux Falls to sell methamphetamine and fentanyl. Williams sourced the drugs from California, and worked with others from California and South Dakota to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Sioux Falls area using vehicles and the postal system. Throughout the investigation, law enforcement seized approximately 2 kilograms of fentanyl pills/powder through intercepted parcels and search warrants at a residence in Sioux Falls. The group also trafficked multiple pounds of methamphetamine. Throuhgout his involvement in the conspiracy, Williams also possessed firearms, three of which were seized by law enforcement during the investigation. In total, the group trafficked approximately 3 kilograms of fentanyl in pill and powder form and over 20 pounds of methamphetamine.
“This case is yet another example of the tremendous collaboration taking place between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to dismantle drug trafficking organizations in South Dakota,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. “Williams will rightfully spend the next two decades of his life in federal prison for callously exploiting drug addictions for his own financial gain.”
“Those attempting to harm members of our South Dakota communities by pushing poisons like fentanyl and methamphetamine should take note of this sentencing,” Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Omaha Division Acting Special Agent in Charge Rafael Mattei said. “Our agents leave no stone unturned as they work to locate and arrest the drug trafficking criminals who look to profit by inflicting pain and suffering on others. These attempts won’t fly in South Dakota. You will be brought to justice and you will serve time.”
This case was investigated by the DEA, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Williams was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Burglar Gets Prison Term for Stealing from the Same Business Twice in One DayRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Antonni Flores, 29, was sentenced to 42 months of jail time for breaking into a local business, stealing money and food, and returning the next day to break in a second time to steal a TV, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Flores was found guilty by a jury on April 28, 2025, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to two counts of second-degree burglary. As part of the sentence, Superior Court Judge Deborah Israel sentenced him on July 18, 2025, to 42 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for each count to be served concurrently.
According to the government’s evidence, in the early morning of July 26, 2024, the defendant broke into a local business. While inside, the defendant stole food, money, and various items before leaving the business. Surprisingly, the defendant returned less than 24 hours later with an accomplice. Once again, the defendant forced entry into the business and stole a large screen TV. Fortunately, the burglar alarm swiftly went off in the establishment and a Metropolitan Police Department officer, on the beat patrolling, stopped and arrested the defendant who was seen walking shirtless with the local business’s large screen TV.
Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Chief Smith commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
They also commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mikéla Cuffy and Michael Dal Lago, who prosecuted the case.
Brooklyn Man Convicted of Possessing 18 Rounds of Ammunition Inside Federal CourthouseRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced the conviction of JONATHAN BANYAN yesterday for possessing ammunition after a felony conviction. On April 7, 2025, BANYAN brought ammunition into the Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Courthouse. The defendant was found guilty following a four-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff.
“Everyone who enters a federal courthouse—judges and juries, lawyers and litigants, the press and the public—must know they are safe,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “This conviction sends a clear message: ammunition carried by a convicted felon should not be tolerated in our community, let alone in the court.”
According to the allegations contained in the Indictment and the evidence presented at trial:
On April 7, 2025, BANYAN entered the Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Courthouse wearing a backpack. Inside that backpack were 18 bullets in three different calibers. As BANYAN passed through the security station, court security officers spotted the bullets. BANYAN grabbed the bag of bullets and tried to hide it in his pocket, but court security officers stopped him and recovered the ammunition. BANYAN has previously been convicted of a felony.
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BANYAN, 39, of Brooklyn, New York, was convicted of knowingly possessing ammunition after having been convicted of a felony, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. BANYAN is scheduled to be sentenced on December 1, 2025.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for information purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the U.S. Marshals Service. He also thanked the court security officers for their assistance.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James G. Mandilk, Ariana L. Bloom, and Nicholas S. Bradley are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Samantha Roberts.
Brazilian National Indicted for Selling Nearly a Dozen FirearmsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brazilian national unlawfully residing in Marlborough was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for trafficking firearms.
Guilherme Fernandes-Tavares, 31, was indicted on one count of dealing firearms without a license. He will be arraigned in federal court on July 30, 2025. Fernandes-Tavares was previously charged by criminal complaint on March 7, 2025.
According to the charging documents, between December 2023 and May 2024, Fernandes-Tavares sold 11 firearms and ammunition across 10 different dates and offered others for sale. It is alleged that the firearms sold were pistols, some of which were privately manufactured firearms without serial numbers and one of which had an obliterated serial number. It is further alleged that one of the firearms was sold with a large capacity magazine that could hold 28 rounds of ammunition. In addition, a package intended for Fernandes-Tavares sent from Florida was intercepted and allegedly found to contain an additional firearm.
The charge of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Bryan DiGirolamo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Massachusetts State Police; and the Westborough Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Reynolds of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Brazilian National Indicted for Selling FirearmsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brazilian national unlawfully living in the Clinton and Framingham areas has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for trafficking firearms.
Patrick Rodrigues DeOliveira, 25, was indicted on one count of dealing firearms without a license and one count of conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing in firearms without a license. He will be arraigned in federal court in Boston on July 30, 2025. Rodrigues DeOliveira had previously been charged by criminal complaint Sept. 18, 2024.
According to the charging documents, between August and September 2024, Rodrigues DeOliveira conspired to obtain firearms in South Carolina and sell them in Massachusetts. Specifically, in August 2024, Rodrigues DeOliveira allegedly traveled with others to South Carolina to obtain firearms. Additionally, it is alleged that Rodrigues DeOliveira sold a shotgun and a pistol outside of a motel in Framingham on Sept. 10, 2024 for $3,500.
The charges of conspiracy and engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license each provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Bryan DiGirolamo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Framingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Reynolds of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Brazilian National Indicted for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brazilian national unlawfully residing in Weymouth has been indicted for illegally reentering the United States after deportation.
Josimar Fernandes-Pessoa, 38, is charged with one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien.
According to the indictment, Fernandes-Pessoa was removed from the United States in 2019 after being apprehended near the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas. Prior to his removal, Fernandes-Pessoa pleaded guilty to improper entry by an alien in the Western District of Texas. It is alleged that sometime after his 2019 removal, Fernandes-Pessoa unlawfully reentered the United States.
This charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to two years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Cutshall of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Brazilian Man Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the US After Prior RemovalRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Brazilian man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for re-entering the country after being deported.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Americo Lopes-Da Silva, 37, to time served. Lopes-Da Silva pleaded guilty on May 20, 2025.
According to court records, on April 7, 2025, a U.S. Border Patrol Agent from the Rangeley Border Patrol Station was on routine patrol when he ran the license plate of a white van from Massachusetts. He learned that the van was registered to a person who entered the United States in 2018 but had overstayed their visa. The agent stopped the vehicle to investigate further and found the driver and his passenger, Lopes-Da Silva, to be the vehicle’s only two occupants. Both men acknowledged that they did not have lawful authority to be in the country. The agent transported both men back to the Border Patrol station where further checks revealed that Lopes-Da Silva had been ordered removed and deported from the U.S. in 2021.
The U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
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Bogalusa Man Sentenced for Federal Drug ViolationsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced today that HENRY JERMAINE MILLER (“MILLER”), age 41, of Bogalusa, LA, was sentenced to 75 months imprisonment, followed by three (3) years of supervised release, and payment of a mandatory $100 special assessment fee, by U.S. District Judge Barry W. Ashe on July 17, 2025, after MILLER previously pled guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute, an amount of heroin and methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C).
According to court documents, MILLER conspired with other individuals in the Bogalusa area to distribute, and possess with the intent to distribute, a variety of drugs, including methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl. This conspiracy began in 2021 and continued through 2023.
Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bogalusa Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Narcotics Unit.
Baltimore Fentanyl Trafficker Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Today, U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Vincent Edison, 45, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and possession of firearms by a prohibited person. Edison led a fentanyl trafficking operation that distributed large quantities of fentanyl throughout the state of Maryland.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian, Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) – Washington Division; Secretary Carolyn J. Scruggs, Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS); and Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD).
According to the guilty plea, in 2022, the DEA identified Edison, as the leader of a drug shop operating on Winchester and North Dukeland Streets in West Baltimore. During the investigation, Edison’s drug shop sold fentanyl capsules to countless individuals, including undercover officers, daily, for 10-12 hours a day for several months. The investigation also revealed that Edison routinely sent text messages to street dealers imploring them to “open his drug shop on time,” 7 a.m. – or he would “dock” half their pay. Law enforcement also uncovered additional text messages from Edison terminating street dealers’ employment with his drug shop and collecting proceeds from drug sales.
In addition to Edison’s Baltimore-based customers, he supplied fentanyl to buyers from distant counties. On December 7, 2022, investigators surveilled the drug shop via closed circuit cameras. Law enforcement observed Edison arriving at the street shop in the afternoon where he delivered a black plastic bag to one of his dealers. Meanwhile, drug customers’ cars were parked near the drug shop.
Investigators checked the parked cars’ registrations and took note of a Chevy registered to an individual from Washington County, Maryland. The customer that owned the Chevy returned from the drug shop, got in the car, and left the area. The DEA notified local enforcement to conduct a traffic stop on the Chevy. When the Chevy arrived in Washington County, Maryland, law enforcement stopped and searched it, recovering 500 gel caps of fentanyl inside of a black plastic bag for a total weight 263 grams.
As the investigation progressed, investigators identified Edison’s stash location, in Baltimore County, Maryland. The stash location was used to prepare fentanyl for distribution. Investigators observed Edison frequenting the stash location daily and believed that he obtained drugs that he secreted inside black plastic bags. Then Edison delivered them to his street level dealers.
During the afternoon of December 11, investigators surveilled the stash location via a covert camera and observed Edison leave the stash location with a black plastic bag. Edison drove to the street shop and delivered the bag to street dealers. Soon after, investigators observed an increase in drug activity at the drug shop.
Then on January 27, 2023, investigators executed search warrants for Edison’s Baltimore City residence and his Baltimore County stash location. Edison was present when investigators searched his residence. During the search, law enforcement recovered five firearms, including an AR style rifle; a 12-gauge shotgun; and three, loaded semi-automatic handguns. Investigators also recovered 70 grams of fentanyl; multiple luxury jewelry items, valued at approximately $150,000; and approximately $90,805.
Additionally, investigators identified a fentanyl lab at the stash location. The lab contained hundreds of capsules, 22 Cap-M-Quick capsule fillers, a digital scale, numerous latex gloves, and paraphernalia for packaging fentanyl for distribution. Investigators also recovered 133.28 grams of fentanyl powder from a clear bag and 400 capsules of fentanyl powder, totaling 307 grams.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DEA, DPSCS, BCPD, and Washington County Sherriff’s Office for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Calvin C. Miner who is prosecuting the case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Athens, Georgia, Woman Pleads Guilty to Cyberstalking and Threat OffensesRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE –Gabryele “Gabby” Watson, 29, pled guilty today to four counts of cyberstalking, two counts of interstate transmission of threats to kidnap or injure, and two counts of unlawful use of a means of identification, announced Robert E. McGuire, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee.
“The defendant’s callous actions and complete disregard for the families she victimized was not only disturbing, it was also a violation of federal law,” said Robert E. McGuire, Acting United States Attorney. “We will aggressively seek to vindicate the rights of caring people who simply wanted to adopt, love and raise a baby and, instead, were heartlessly victimized by the defendant.”
“The devastating effects of cyberstalking cannot be understated, and I hope the victims can find some closure to the nightmares they endured during Gabby Watson’s relentless reign of harassment,” said Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “This plea is the result of the hard work of motivated agents and analysts. The FBI will continue to protect the community from those who try to commit similar scams.”
From May to June 2023, Watson cyberstalked a married couple living in the Middle District of Tennessee, who had been trying to adopt a baby for eight years. She assumed the identity of a real 16-year-old in Pennsylvania who was pregnant (Minor Victim 1), obtaining accurate details about Minor Victim 1 and her pregnancy from Minor Victim 1’s social media posts. These included Minor Victim 1’s full name and nickname, her date of birth, her home state, the full name and nickname of Minor Victim 1’s teenaged boyfriend, who was also the baby’s father (Individual A), and details about, and photographs and video recordings depicting, Minor Victim 1’s pregnancy. She obtained photographs and video recordings of Minor Victim 1 and Individual A, including a series of “baby bump” photographs and videos of Minor Victim 1 displaying her pregnant belly at various stages of development. She also obtained sonogram photographs and videos of Minor Victim 1 and Individual A’s unborn baby at various stages of development. Over the next several months, as Minor Victim 1 posted new content on her social media accounts, Watson copied that new content for continued use in her scheme.
Posing as Minor Victim 1 and using Minor Victim 1’s real nickname, Watson contacted Victim One online, initially through her social media adoption page and then later through spoofed text messages, spoofed voice phone calls, and e-mail messages using an account the defendant created in Minor Victim 1’s name. In their early conversations, the defendant claimed that she was 16 years old, was facing an unplanned pregnancy, and wanted to give her baby up for adoption. She shared detailed information about her (really, Minor Victim 1) life and elicited similar personal information from Victim One. Watson shared photographs of sonographs of Minor Victim 1’s unborn baby, and repeatedly assured Victim One and Victim Two (Victim One’s husband) that they were going to adopt her baby and encouraged them to share their good news with others. Over time, Watson began to demand that Victims One and Two be available at all hours to respond to her frequent communications and that they purchase baby-related gear and maternity clothing. Watson also repeatedly threatened to cancel the adoption, claimed that “her” baby suffered from various life-threatening health emergencies, and pretended to being stalked and to have disappeared from home. Watson also threatened to abort or injure the unborn baby or to commit suicide while pregnant. Finally, she threatened to kill Victims One and Two.
Watson engaged in the same disturbing conduct with Victims Three and Four, another married couple living in the Middle District of Tennessee, when she pretended to be a pregnant 18-year-old living in Arkansas (Victim Five). This time, Watson pretended to be pregnant with high-risk twins. She also communicated on speaker phone with Victim Three and Four’s two young sons and encouraged them to be excited about the adoption. She made similar claims about “her” unborn babies’ health, was verbally abusive to Victim Three, and threatened to kill Victims Three and Four and their children.
Watson is scheduled to be sentenced on January 9, 2026. She faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison, followed by up to three years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $250,000, for each of the eight counts in the second superseding indictment. The indictment also includes a forfeiture allegation.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nashville Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica R. Morrison is prosecuting the case with the assistance of the Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCPIS).
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Arizona Man Sentenced for Hand Sanitizer Scheme During the COVID PandemicRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron today sentenced Frank Richard Nickens (58, Arizona) to three years in federal prison for wire fraud. The court also ordered Nickens to forfeit $69,155 traceable to proceeds of the offense and to pay restitution to the victims. Nickens pleaded guilty on March 3, 2025.
According to court documents, in April 2020, at the beginning of the COVID pandemic, Nickens falsely claimed that he was a commercial producer of hand sanitizer. After promising to produce tens of thousands of units of hand sanitizer, three companies sent Nickens money to acquire his product. In truth, Nickens had no ability to produce hand sanitizer and was using the opportunity of high demand to require up-front deposits of 50% for the product that he never intended to provide. Nickens was a resident of Ormond Beach, Florida when he committed the crime.
This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Felicetta.
203 Federal Immigration Cases Added This Week in the Western District of TexasRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – United States Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas announced today, that federal prosecutors in the district filed 203 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from July 17 through July 24.
Among the new cases, Mexican national Pablo Alfredo Cazares-Carrion was turned over to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)/Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) on July 22. He had been in Bexar County Adult Detention Center since he was arrested April 13 for assault causing bodily injury to a family member. Cazares-Carrion was previously convicted for illegal re-entry in October 2017 and sentenced to 40 months in federal prison. He is again charged with illegal re-entry, facing up to 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
A Mexican national was arrested in Waco and charged with one count of failure to possess registration form. A criminal complaint alleges that Noe Fermin Guerrero-Mendieta was located on July 24 by the ICE Waco Fugitive Operations team without his required certificate of alien registration or alien registration receipt card. Upon his original apprehension by immigration authorities, Guerrero-Mendieta was granted an immigration bond and released from immigration custody. By federal law, he is required to, at all times, carry with him and have in his personal possession any certificate of alien registration or alien registration receipt card.
In Del Rio, Mexican national Emmanuel De Jesius Arroyo-Aviles was arrested for illegal re-entry. On Jan. 28, Arroyo-Aviles was convicted and sentenced to 10 years of probation in Zavala County for smuggling of persons with a likelihood of serious bodily injury or death. Three days after that sentence hearing, on Jan. 31, he was deported to Mexico.
U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested Mexican national Cesar Alejandro Munoz-Lopez for illegal re-entry in Eagle Pass. Munoz-Lopez was previously removed to Mexico through San Diego, California, on May 6, but also had an active warrant for failure to appear in court out of Fort Collins, Colorado, as of April 28. Munoz-Lopez has two prior convictions for assault and one felony conviction for bribery of a public servant, for which he was sentenced in 2012 to six years imprisonment.
Angel Amilcar Martinez-Martinez, a Honduran national, was also arrested for illegal re-entry in Eagle Pass. Martinez-Martinez is a convicted felon, having been sentenced in Houston in August 2021 to one year in prison for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Less than three months later, in November, he was convicted for causing an accident involving damage to a vehicle in Houston and sentenced to 90 days confinement. Martinez-Martinez was again convicted in Houston in May 2023 for assault causing bodily injury. He was sentenced to one year confinement and deported for the fourth time on April 5, 2024.
In El Paso, Mexican national Jose Alberto Ramos-Chino was arrested and charged with illegal re-entry after he was found on a Greyhound bus during an immigration checkpoint inspection. Ramos-Chino allegedly did not possess immigration documents allowing him to legally be or remain in the U.S. Estrada has been removed from the U.S. three times, the last time being to Mexico on May 18. Ramos-Chino has been removed from the U.S. twice before and was convicted of two felony charges for drug and firearm possession in 2021.
U.S. citizen Isaac Saldana was charged in El Paso for his alleged involvement in alien smuggling. A criminal complaint alleges that, on July 16, U.S. Border Patrol agents were searching for two illegal aliens who were observed illegally entering the U.S. less than four miles ease of the Bridge of the Americas Port of Entry. During their search, a vehicle allegedly driven by Saldana was seen speeding away, running a stop sign and making a hard turn. The agents conducted a traffic stop and transported Saldana to the El Paso Processing Center for further investigation. The investigation revealed that Saldana had been arrested for alien smuggling in 2024 by the Texas Department of Public Safety, and that he allegedly coordinated with a known smuggler for drivers to pick up aliens. A search of Saldana’s phone allegedly indicated approximately 20 instances of such coordination between March and July 16.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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24 July 2025
Whittier Man Arrested on Federal Indictment Alleging He Used Dating Apps to Con Victims Out of More Than $2 MillionRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – A Whittier man was arrested today on a 14-count federal indictment alleging that he used dating apps and websites such as Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble to con victims of his romance scams out of more than $2 million.
Christopher Earl Lloyd, 39, is expected to make his initial appearance and be arraigned on the felony charges this afternoon in United States District Court in Santa Ana.
Lloyd is charged with 13 counts of wire fraud and one count of engaging in a monetary transaction in property derived from the fraud.
According to the indictment that a federal grand jury returned on July 2, from April 2021 to February 2024, Lloyd used dating apps and websites to befriend and engage in romantic relationships with his victims. Lloyd lied to his victims to give them the impression that he was financially successful and knowledgeable about investments.
Lloyd’s falsehoods included that he had closed on multiple properties, that he had been a financial manager for years, that he was the vice president of a company called Planet 13 Holdings, and that he worked for an investment company called Landmark Associates. None of these statements was true.
Lloyd fraudulently induced his victims to provide money and property to him, including in the form of purported investments, by telling them he knew of investment opportunities that would benefit them. Lloyd also told his victims that he would invest their money, that they would receive regular returns on these investments, and that they could withdraw these investments at any time.
He supported his false statements by signing contracts with victims that specified the investments that the victims were to make and setting a false schedule of investment returns. Lloyd’s victims then sent him money, including via wire transfers, Cash App, Zelle, or cash payments. Lloyd used the victims’ money for his own personal benefit. For example, in May 2023, Lloyd allegedly withdrew $40,000 in funds a victim sent him to write a check to a Lexus car dealership in Mission Viejo.
In total, Lloyd caused his victims to suffer more than $2 million in losses.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
If convicted, Lloyd would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each wire fraud count and up to 10 years in federal prison for the monetary transaction count.
The FBI is investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Fu of the Orange County Office is prosecuting this case.
Warren County Man Admits Sharing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from Warren County, Missouri on Thursday admitted sharing child sexual abuse material online.
Donald Carl Held, 50, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of distribution of child pornography. He admitted sharing photos with an undercover investigator with Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) that Held claimed depicted a 15-year-old girl. He also claimed he was engaged in sexual activity with the teen. A joint HSI - St. Charles County Police Department investigation resulted in a court-approved search of Held’s home on March 4, 2024, that recovered electronic devices containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Held told investigators that he shared CSAM almost every day with others online via a messaging app, Teleguard. He said he lied about the teen.
Held’s cellphone contained 1,077 images and videos with CSAM. His Teleguard and Telegram accounts contained “extensive” communications between Held and others during which they shared and promoted CSAM. Held also advised others on how to avoid law enforcement detection.
Held is scheduled to be sentenced on October 27. Each charge carries a potential prison sentence of up 20 years.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Hayes is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Utah Man Sentenced for Wire Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
A Utah man was sentenced yesterday to 108 months in prison for wire fraud, impersonating a federal officer, aggravated identity theft, and making a false statement.
The following is according to court documents and statements made in court: from 2018 through 2020, Santiago Garcia Gutierrez (Garcia), of Salt Lake City, defrauded a single victim out of more than $2.8 million by falsely representing that he was a confidential informant with the Department of Homeland Security. He also falsely represented that he could acquire, at discounted prices, exotic cars, planes, and vessels that had been seized by the U.S. government through forfeiture. Garcia falsely induced the victim to use him as an intermediary to receive the money that the victim believed was then being used to purchase what turned out to be non-existent luxury assets. To convince his victim the scheme was legitimate, Garcia contacted the victim on numerous occasions via text message from multiple phone numbers, falsely claiming to be a confidential government informant, federal agent and, at times, Garcia’s own attorney.
In addition, from 2019 through 2024, Garcia defrauded eight additional victims across the country. To execute these other frauds, Garcia falsely induced victims to invest money into federal oil wells in which he had an ownership interest, promising large returns on investment. The victims never realized any profits, however, because Garcia diverted the investment funds for his own benefit. To effectuate these schemes and lend them legitimacy, Garcia again assumed the identity of his attorney. In total, Garcia defrauded these victims of more than $900,000.
Finally, Garcia did not pay royalties to the federal government on the sale of oil extracted from the wells, despite knowing that he had a duty to do so.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Howard C. Nielson Jr. for the District of Utah ordered Garcia to pay $3,795,930.60 in restitution to the victims of his crimes, and to forfeit $2,853,789.27.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah, and Special Agent in Charge Carissa Messick of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Phoenix Field Office made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation’s Phoenix Field Office and the EPA investigated the case.
Senior Litigation Counsel Richard M. Rolwing and former Trial Attorney Erika Suhr of the Tax Division prosecuted the case.
Two Men Plead Guilty to Illegal Re-Entry to the United StatesRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Two men pleaded guilty today in federal court in separate, unrelated cases to illegally re-entering the United States after having been previously removed.
Selvin Mejia-Ramos, 32, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Willie Epps, Jr. to one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after previously being removed. According to court records, Mejia-Ramos had previously been removed from the country in 2020.
Rubin Pinot-Banegas, 38, a Honduran national, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Willie Epps, Jr. to one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after previously being removed. According to court records, Pinot-Banegas had previously been removed from the country four times – on Dec. 20, 2007, June 4, 2009, Oct. 22, 2015, and April 19, 2017.
Under federal law it is illegal for an alien to knowingly re-enter the United States without permission after being removed.
Under federal statutes, Mejia-Ramos is subject to a sentence of up to 2 years in federal prison without parole. Pinot-Banegas is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. Both men are subject to a maximum fine of $250,000. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
These cases are both being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. They were investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations.
Operation Take Back America
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Three people sentenced to prison for a series of armed robberiesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A northern Virginia trio has been sentenced to prison for their roles in a series of armed robberies in northern Virginia.
According to court documents, on July 5, 2024, Javon Rustin Louis Paige, 38, robbed a cellphone store in Alexandria at gunpoint. Paige ordered an employee to the ground, hit the employee on the head with the handgun, and kicked the employee. Paige forced the employee through a back door into another business, then forced the owner of that business and the employee of the cellphone store back into the cellphone store and made them lie on the ground behind the counter. Paige stole several electronic devices and cash from the store, then fled.
On July 25, 2024, Paige robbed another Alexandria cellphone store with Vincent Henry Kirkland Jr., aka Daniel Eugene Robinson, 31, whom Paige met in prison. Paige pointed a handgun at an employee and customer, ordering them onto the ground and then to the back of the store. Kirkland started to drag the customer toward the back of the store before the customer was able to get up and walk to the rear. In the back of the store, Paige and Kirkland encountered the store manager and demanded cellular devices. Kirkland and Paige stomped on the employee’s head and Paige struck the store manager in the back of the head with his handgun. Paige and Kirkland loaded store merchandise and cash into backpacks and a trash can. Paige pepper-sprayed the employee and customer before fleeing the store.
On August 13, 2024, Brianna Mamie Oceolia Archie, 27, drove Paige and Kirkland to a Woodbridge business that sells and repairs electronic merchandise. Paige and Kirkland, both armed with handguns, entered the store and ordered two victims to the ground, demanded money, and ordered the victims to open the cash register. Paige and Kirkland struck both victims in the head with a handgun, causing injury. Paige and Kirkland loaded store merchandise and cash into bags and fled from the store. Archie then drove them back to a hotel in Dumfries where Paige was staying at the time.
Paige, Kirkland, and Archie were arrested in December 2024.
On March 11, Archie pled guilty to one count of Hobbs Act robbery. On June 17, she was sentenced to five years and ten months in prison.
On March 11, Kirkland pled guilty to two counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. On July 15, Kirkland was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
On April 29, Paige pled guilty to two counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Paige was sentenced today to 16 years in prison.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Reid Davis, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal Division; Kevin Davis, Fairfax County Chief of Police; and Peter Newsham, Chief of Prince William County Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Smalky and Megan Braun prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 1:25-cr-50 (Archie), 1:25-cr-59 (Kirkland), and 1:25-cr-63 (Paige).
Three Pennsylvania Residents Sentenced to Prison for Narcotics TraffickingRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Three residents of Pennsylvania have been sentenced in federal court on their convictions of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute quantities of crack cocaine, cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, and/or methamphetamine, with one of the defendants also being sentenced for unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
DefendantAgeResidenceSentenceAzheem Ellis49Philadelphia, Pa.96 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised releaseJames Dotson47Johnstown, Pa.180 months in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised releaseSandra Box59East Conemaugh, Pa.33 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release
The sentences imposed by United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan were:According to information presented to the Court, from in and around April 2019 to in and around July 2021, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Ellis conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine, and quantities of heroin, cocaine, and crack. During this same timeframe, Dotson conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, 500 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine, 28 grams or more of a mixture of crack, 40 grams or more of a mixture of fentanyl, and quantities of heroin and cocaine. Additionally, in and around June 2021, Dotson—who had been previously convicted of a felony—unlawfully possessed a firearm. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. Further, from in and around February 2021 to in and around April 2021, Box conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute quantities of heroin and crack. The defendants were intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining quantities of the drugs that they distributed to others, with Ellis and Dotson as two of the main targets of the wiretap investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of the defendants. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, Cambria County District Attorney’s Office, Indiana County District Attorney’s Office, Cambria County Sheriff’s Office, Cambria Township Police Department, Indiana Borough Police Department, Johnstown Police Department, Upper Yoder Township Police Department, Richland Police Department, Ferndale Police Department, and other local law enforcement agencies.
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.
Texas Man Pleads Guilty for Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
A Texas man pleaded guilty today to filing false tax returns with the IRS before U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan Hightower for the Western District of Texas. The plea must be accepted by a U.S. district court judge.
The following is according to court documents and statements made in court: Jason Smith, of Kerrville, was an independent distributor for a multi-level marketing (MLM) business that sold, among other things, essential oils and aromatherapy products. Smith created an entity, Live Young Now International Ministries (Live Young Now), and directed the MLM business to pay his compensation to that entity. Smith maintained control over Live Young Now’s bank accounts and used those funds to pay for personal expenses including his mortgage, automobiles, a motorcycle, a tractor, and an airplane. Although he received tax forms from the MLM business reporting his compensation as over $1,400,000 each year for both 2018 and 2019, Smith did not provide those forms to his return preparer and falsely told his return preparer that he did not have any such forms. This caused Smith’s return preparer to prepare false tax returns that omitted more than $2.9 million in income that Smith had earned from the MLM and instead reported that Smith earned only $43 from it. Instead, Smith reported earning only $43 from the MLM. In total, Smith caused a tax loss to the IRS over $1,500,000.
Smith is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date. He faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count of filing a false tax return, as well as a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Parker Tobin and Daniel Lipkowitz of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
Ten Arrested, One Wanted in FBI-led OCDETF Mississippi Multi-District TakedownRead the Press Release
Oxford, MS – Ten local Mississippi men were arrested yesterday on criminal charges related to their alleged participation in a fentanyl and methamphetamine conspiracy and related money laundering.
According to court documents, Terrance Rush, Gary Wraggs, Tilnorris Macon, Tonnee Holmes, Tyler Tanksley, Darnell Stone, Harvey Savior, Marcus Metts, and Austin Snow are all charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Nine of these individuals were arrested in Winston County, MS, and one was arrested in Minnesota. One individual, Quinton McWilliams, 41, of Louisville, MS, is at large and wanted by the FBI for these crimes.
In addition, three individuals are charged with violating federal firearm laws. As alleged in the indictment, several of these individuals have prior serious drug or violent felony convictions. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This operation is part of Summer Heat, the FBI’s nationwide initiative targeting violent crime during the summer months. As part of this effort, the FBI has launched a multi-pronged offensive to crush violent crime. By surging resources alongside state and local partners, executing federal warrants on violent criminals and fugitives, and dismantling violent gangs nationwide, we are aggressively restoring safety in our communities across the country.
U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner of the Northern District of Mississippi; and the FBI made the announcement.
The U.S. Marshals Service, Winston County Sheriff’s Office, and Louisville Police Department provided invaluable assistance in yesterday’s arrests. The FBI is investigating the case. The Starkville Police Department, ATF, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service have provided key partnership in the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel Stringfellow and Julie Addison are prosecuting the case.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Stolen Checks Scheme Lands Oklahoma City Duo in Federal Prison for More than Three Years CollectivelyRead the Press Release
Pair also Ordered to Pay Nearly $178,000 in Restitution
OKLAHOMA CITY – GAYLEN DASHON STEPHENS, 29, and LENIE EUGENE JENNINGS, 29, both of Oklahoma City, have been sentenced to serve more than 40 months in federal prison collectively and pay $177,964.74 in restitution for their roles in a scheme to obtain and forge checks stolen from the United States Mail, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public records, from March 2023 through October 2023, Stephens and Jennings conspired to obtain checks stolen from the United States Mail, forge the checks by altering the payee name, and then deposit the forged checks into bank accounts created by Stephens and Jennings to obtain cash. During the course of the conspiracy, it’s alleged Stephens and Jennings attempted to steal approximately $277,000.
On July 17, 2024, a federal Grand Jury indicted Stephens and Jennings. Stephens has pleaded guilty to bank fraud and admitted he knowingly and intentionally engaged in a scheme to deposit a fraudulent check with the intent to defraud the bank. Jennings has pleaded guilty to bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud and forge checks. As part of her plea, Jennings admitted she conspired with Stephens to obtain and deposit fraudulent checks with the intent to defraud the bank.
At a sentencing hearing held on July 21, 2025, U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton sentenced Stephens to serve 28 months in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release. That same day, Judge Heaton also sentenced Jennings to serve 12 months and one day in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Heaton also ordered restitution in the amount of $177,964.74, the total amount of actual loss reported by the victim banks, to be paid jointly and severally by Stephens and Jennings. In announcing his sentencings, Judge Heaton noted that crimes involving theft of United States Mail and fraud upon financial institutions undermine public trust in these institutions, and that the nature of these crimes, combined with the substantial loss in this case, warranted the sentences imposed to reflect the seriousness of the offenses and to deter this kind of conduct by others.
This case is the result of an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jackson D. Eldridge prosecuted the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
St. Tammany Parish Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Defraud Former Political Candidate and Four Other Louisiana ResidentsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that, on July 17, 2025, JOSEPH HAROLD WEST, JR. (“WEST”), a resident of St. Tammany Parish, was sentenced by United States District Judge Barry W. Ashe to 46 months of imprisonment, after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. Following imprisonment, WEST will be placed on supervised release for 3 years. WEST was also ordered to pay $446,302.23 in restitution to his victims and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
According to court documents, from as early as November 2020, and continuing through at least May 2024, WEST, and others, conspired to: defraud Candidate 1 with fake campaign services; defraud Victim 1 out of approximately $236,867 in fake real estate purchases and associated costs; defraud Victim 2 out of approximately $83,268.05 in fraudulent claims of real estate and title work; and defraud Victims 3 and 4 out of approximately $112,328.18 in connection with a fake legal defense scheme. Among other things, WEST, and others, utilized numerous fake aliases and occupations, “burner” numbers for text messages and calls, and fraudulent invoices, to defraud their victims.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution of the case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney, Andre J. Lagarde of the Public Integrity Unit.
Springfield Man Sentenced to 3 Years for Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man with ties to a local gang was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a firearm and making a false statement during a firearm purchase.
Darius R. Thomas, 28, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 3 years in federal prison without parole, to be followed by three years of supervised release.
On Jan. 3, 2025, Thomas pleaded guilty to being an unlawful user of a controlled substance while in possession of a firearm and to making a false statement during a firearm purchase.
Thomas is a close associate of an area gang known as “FTO,” who have been linked to several area violent crimes and firearms offenses.
On June 1, 2023, officers with the Springfield Police Department (SPD) responded to a 911 call reporting a verbal altercation where two males were yelling at an unarmed man and waving guns around in the parking lot of the Kum & Go gas station located at 2930 South National Ave. The victim told the 911 operator, “I pulled up, they were making a fuss, and I said, ‘do not ask me questions when you got a gun pulled,’ that is all.” Officers were able to identify Thomas from the surveillance footage recording of the incident.
On June 21, 2023, SPD officers were dispatched to the parking lot of an apartment complex on East Elm St. in response to a 911 call reporting that people were exhibiting firearms within two cars parked in the lot. When officers questioned the occupants of the vehicles, Thomas told officers that they lived in the complex and were just smoking “weed.” During questioning, Thomas rolled a marijuana cigarette and smoked it in front of the officer. When the officer asked Thomas about the reported gun, he told them that he couldn’t buy firearms because he “smoked weed.” Thomas gave officers permission to search the car, and they located a backpack with ammunition and magazines that appeared to fit a Glock pistol.
When officers arrested Thomas, on Aug. 1, 2023, for a warrant issued for the June 1, 2023, incident, he was carrying the loaded Glock 29 that he brandished during the altercation at the Kum N’ Go.
Just two days after he was interviewed regarding the June 1, 2023, incident, Thomas went to a local federal firearm licensee (FFL) and attempted to purchase a firearm. On the ATF Firearm Transaction Form, Thomas falsely claimed he was not an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance including marijuana. By pleading guilty Thomas admitted that he lied on the ATF Firearm Transaction Form in violation of federal law and, at the time he filled out the form in connection with the purchase of a firearm, he was a regular user of a marijuana. The FFL did not transfer the weapon to Thomas.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.
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.
Spencer Woman Sentenced for Bank FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Spencer woman was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Worcester for fraudulently obtaining Social Security benefits.
Gina Llerena-Donohue, 62, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to time served (approximately one day in prison) and three years of supervised release. Llerena-Donohue was also ordered to pay restitution of $45,154. In April 2025, Llerena-Donohue pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud.
From February 2006 through May 2021, Llerena-Donohue, fraudulently obtained approximately $41,954 in Social Security benefits and $3,200 in COVID economic impact payments. Llerena-Donohue held a power of attorney (POA) for a Social Security beneficiary that died in January 2006. She did not report the beneficiary’s death to either the Social Security Administration or the bank where the benefits were deposited. Instead, Llerena-Donohue accessed the improperly paid benefits through several counter cash withdrawals. Further, she submitted four false affidavits to the bank in 2018 and 2019 stating that the POA was still in effect because it had not been terminated by the death of the beneficiary.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Amy Connelly, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Spalding, Nebraska Man Sentenced for Distribution of FentanylRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Tanner Hudson, 27, of Spalding, Nebraska, was sentenced July 24, 2025, in federal court in Lincoln for distribution of fentanyl. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Hudson to 192 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Hudson is released from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.
On March 13, 2022, Hudson provided a round blue pill to the victim. Hudson believed the pill to be a controlled substance, a Percocet. This was confirmed through text messages and law enforcement interviews. Within an hour or so of receiving the pill, the victim loss consciousness. About five hours later, the victim’s roommate came home to find the victim alive, unconscious and suffering from pulmonary edema. Victim’s roommate called first responders. First responders arrived and administered Narcan to the victim. Eventually, medical doctors determined that the victim suffered two episodes of ventricular fibrillation and exhibited cerebral edema, which caused severe neurological damage. The victim remains in a vegetative state.
This case was investigated by the Kearney Police Department.
South Bend Man Sentenced to 100 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Terrence Dockery, 33 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Dockery was sentenced to 100 months in prison followed by 1 year of supervised release.According to documents in the case, police conducted a traffic stop as Dockery was riding his moped on a late summer night in South Bend. Police found Dockery in possession of two guns and about 30 grams of methamphetamine. Dockery has multiple prior felony convictions, including convictions for dealing methamphetamine and arson, and as such, he is prohibited from possessing the firearm in this case.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the South Bend Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joel Gabrielse.
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.
Shiprock Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for $1.5 Million Bid-Rigging Scheme Against Federally Funded Educational OrganizationRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man has been sentenced to 60 months in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution for orchestrating a bid-rigging and money laundering scheme that defrauded a federally funded Native American educational institution of approximately $1.5 million over several years.
According to court documents, William Badoni, 62, conspired with an employee of Kinteel Residential Campus, Inc. (KRCI), from April 2018 to June 2019 to obtain confidential information about construction projects and the bidding process, which was used to ensure Badoni’s company secured KRCI contracts. Badoni also caused the creation of falsified or fictitious bids from other companies to evade KRCI's contracting policies. The contracts and related change orders brought in about $1.5 million in revenue for Badoni’s company between 2016 and 2019.
In return, Badoni paid kickbacks of approximately $50,000 in cash and checks, funds largely derived from the fraudulent contracts. Badoni additionally admitted to conducting financial transactions designed to conceal the proceeds by depositing portions of contract payments into bank accounts and taking other portions in cash to avoid creating records of fraudulently obtained funds.
“This wasn’t just a financial crime, it was a betrayal of a community and its children,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison. “Badoni exploited federal funds meant to support Native students and eroded trust in an institution working to serve them. This sentence brings accountability and reinforces our commitment to protecting these communities from abuse and corruption.”
“The sentencing should serve as a deterrent to those who consider defrauding Federal programs that support Native American educational institutions,” said Special Agent in Charge Jamie DePaepe. “The Office of Inspector General will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and hold accountable individuals who violate the public’s trust and misuse funding intended for Native American students."
“Mr. Bodoni took corrupt actions to defraud a Native American institution, aiming only to enrich himself.” said Amanda Prestegard, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-CI Denver Field Office. “Our special agents will continue to work to find, investigate and prosecute those who steal money from essential government programs.”
Badoni pleaded guilty earlier to a 10-count Indictment charging conspiracy to commit federal program fraud, theft or bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds and money laundering. Upon his release, Badoni will be subject to up to three years of supervised release. At sentencing, the Court heard testimony and victim impact statements from members of the community affected by the crime and who have attempted to ensure quality education for children in New Mexico despite the prolific fraud of tax-dollars caused by Badoni’s criminal conduct.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison, the Department of the Interior (DOI) Office of Inspector General and the IRS Criminal Investigation Denver Field Office made the announcement today.
The U.S Department of the Interior, Office of Inspector General and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Mark A. Probasco prosecuted the case.
Shiprock Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Deadly Drunk Driving CrashRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for causing a deadly drunk driving crash on the Navajo Nation reservation that resulted in two deaths and serious injuries.
According to court documents, on December 1, 2023, Brian Gonnie, 45, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol on Highway 64 in Shiprock, New Mexico. He was traveling at approximately 86 mph in a 35-mph zone when he crossed into the oncoming lane and struck another vehicle head-on. The crash claimed the lives of Gonnie’s passenger and the driver of the other vehicle. A passenger in the struck vehicle sustained life-altering injuries, including multiple fractures and required extensive surgery.
Gonnie’s blood alcohol concentration was measured at .267%, with numerous empty alcohol containers found in his vehicle. During an interview with FBI agents, Gonnie admitted to drinking and driving the night of the crash.
Gonnie subsequently pled to two counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of assault. Upon his release, Gonnie will be subject to up to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
This case was investigated by the Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations and the New Mexico State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Jesse Pecoraro is prosecuting the case.
Schenectady Man Sentenced to 96 Months for Drug Trafficking and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Terence Butler, age 36, of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced yesterday to 96 months in prison for conspiring to distribute controlled substances and money laundering.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Michael McCarthy, Special Agent in Charge of the Newark Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.
Butler previously admitted to directing multiple people to meet up with a drug distributer in Beverly Hills, California, to obtain drugs to ship back to various Schenectady addresses. On January 4, 2023, investigators seized a package containing 1.65 kilograms of cocaine that Butler had shipped from California to Schenectady. On August 3, 2023, investigators seized another Schenectady-bound package containing approximately 10,000 fentanyl pills and 5,000 methamphetamine pills before it could be delivered in Schenectady. Butler also admitted to having two people funnel $35,000 in drug proceeds back to his supplier over a three-week period in December 2022 and January 2023.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said, “Terence Butler brought a significant amount of lethal drugs into the Capital District. Now he will be serving a significant amount of prison time for his crimes. Every day, with our law enforcement partners, we work to intercept drugs bound for the Northern District of New York, and to investigate and prosecute those would seek to bring this poison into our communities.”
HSI Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy stated: “Terence Butler orchestrated a bold and dangerous operation, trafficking highly lethal drugs, including fentanyl, into the northeast from across the nation. He has now been held accountable for his reckless disregard for public safety. I commend HSI Newark’s Opioid Border Enforcement Security Task Force and our dedicated law enforcement partners for their unwavering commitment to protecting the community and prioritizing the public’s wellbeing above all else.”
United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci also imposed a 4-year-term of supervised release and ordered the forfeiture of $77,427 in drug proceeds.
HSI investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner prosecuted.
This case is also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Sarasota Man Charged with Unlawful Possession of A Firearm and Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return by a grand jury of an indictment charging Aristeo Ceron-Morales (48, Sarasota) with unlawful possession of a firearm and illegal reentry. If convicted on all counts, Ceron-Morales faces a maximum penalty of 17 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Ceron-Morales that the United States intends to forfeit a Sig Sauer P226 firearm, a Savage 410 shotgun, Hornady 9 mm ammunition, and Remington .38 ammunition, which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense.
According to the indictment, Aristeo Ceron-Morales is a convicted felon and illegal alien. In 2002, he was convicted of “Sex Offense Against Child Fondling – Conduct by Person 18 Years of Age or Older.” Ceron-Morales possessed firearms and ammunition despite not being able to legally do so based on his status as a convicted felon and illegal alien. Additionally, Ceron-Morales was previously removed from the United States in 2003 and had returned to the United States illegally.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security – Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Bradenton Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Abigail K. King.
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).
San Rafael Certified Public Accountant Indicted for Filing False Tax Returns and Mail Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment yesterday charging a California man with filing false tax returns, mail fraud, and money laundering.
The following is according to the superseding indictment: Michael M. Gilbert, of San Rafael, filed false tax returns for himself and two business entities he controlled. Gilbert, a certified public accountant since 1985, allegedly underreported the total income his accounting and tax return preparation business, M.M. Gilbert & Company Inc., received during the years 2017 through 2020.
The superseding indictment further alleges that Gilbert solicited payments from clients of M.M. Gilbert for “tax strategies” and “donations,” among other things, which the clients paid to White Mountain Properties Inc., another entity Gilbert controlled. Gilbert allegedly did not report these payments as income on the company’s 2017 through 2021 business tax returns. These payments to White Mountain were allegedly proceeds from Gilbert’s scheme to defraud his clients through the promise of some tax benefit. In fact, the White Mountain funds did not create a tax benefit for Gilbert’s clients, and Gilbert allegedly instead diverted the payments for his own personal enrichment. In 2020-2021, Gilbert is alleged to have transferred more than $5 million from White Mountain to himself and then failed to report that income on his individual tax returns.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted, Gilbert faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of mail fraud, 10 years in prison for each count of money laundering, and three years for each count of filing a false tax return. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Oakland Field Office Special Agent in Charge Linda Nguyen made the announcement.
Assistant United States Attorney Sara E. Henderson, with the assistance of Marina Ponomarchuk, and Trial Attorneys Julia M. Rugg and Patrick Burns of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by IRS-CI.
San Diego Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Cocaine with Intent to Distribute and Unlawful Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Benito Lopez of San Diego pleaded guilty in federal court today to possession with intent to distribute more than two kilograms of cocaine and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Lopez admitted the nearly $60,000 that investigators seized from his residence were drug dealing proceeds and has agreed to forfeit that money to the United States.
According to court documents, officers with the San Diego Police Department’s Gang Suppression Unit were conducting surveillance at a residence occupied by Lopez. While surveilling the residence, officers observed Lopez approach three different vehicles to conduct what appeared to be hand-to-hand transactions in less than an hour. During each transaction, Lopez exchanged small white objects for money with the occupants of each vehicle.
A subsequent traffic stop of Lopez’s vehicle revealed him to be in possession of multiple bags containing golf-ball sized amounts of cocaine. At the time of the traffic stop, Lopez was on parole for a state drug trafficking conviction and subject to search as a condition of his parole. Investigators with the San Diego Police Department conducted a parole search of Lopez’s residence and found two additional kilograms of cocaine, digital scales, empty plastic baggies, a loaded firearm .40 caliber Smith & Wesson firearm, and $59,246.00.
As part of his plea agreement, Lopez admitted he intended to distribute the cocaine seized from his residence and that the cash investigators found was money he made selling drugs. Lopez further admitted to knowingly possessing the loaded Smith & Wesson firearm despite previously being convicted of a felony crime, including a 2023 conviction for unlawful firearm possession and a 2024 conviction for possession of cocaine for sale, as alleged in the criminal complaint.
DEFENDANT Case Number 25CR2207
Benito Lopez Age: 30 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Possession with Intent to Distribute 500 Grams and More of Cocaine — 21 U.S.C. §841(a)(1)
Maximum Penalty: Forty years in prison with a minimum of five years in prison and a $5 million fine
Felon in Possession of a Firearm — 18 U.S.C. §922(g)(1)
Maximum Penalty: Fifteen years in prison and a $250,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Drug Enforcement Administration
San Diego Police Department
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 gun violence and other violent crime, 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.
Roxbury Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Heath Street Gang member/associate was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston on drug conspiracy charges.
Charles Bomman, 34, of Roxbury, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to nine years in prison and three years of supervised release. In January 2025, Bomman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Bomman was among more than 40 alleged Heath Street Gang members/associates arrested and charged in February 2024 with various charges including racketeering conspiracy, drug trafficking, firearms and financial fraud.
From 2021 through 2024, Bomman participated in a conspiracy to distribute various controlled substances, in particular, powdered cocaine, cocaine base (crack) and fentanyl.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Bryan DiGirolamo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. The investigation was supported by the Boston Housing Authority Police Department and Massachusetts State Police. Valuable assistance was provided by the Quincy Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Crowley and Sarah Hoefle of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Roswell Man Sentenced for Threatening Former FBI Director Christopher WrayRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – John Woodbury, 35, of Roswell, GA, has been sentenced to seventeen months in prison after pleading guilty to transmitting threats to injure then-FBI Director Christopher Wray.
“My office has zero tolerance for threats against law enforcement officers,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Threatening to harm public servants who enforce our criminal laws weakens the foundation of our society and will be punished accordingly.”
“The functioning of our democracy requires that our country’s public servants be able to do their jobs without fearing for their lives,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “The sentencing of John Woodbury is yet another example of the FBI’s commitment to holding those accountable who threaten public officials.
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On June 7, 2023, Woodbury posted a message on 4chan.org that threatened violence against then-FBI Director Wray. In his message, Woodbury posted Director Wray’s purported home address and wrote: “Let’s show them what a fucking ‘Nazi’ . . . looks like. . . . It’s time to burn these mother fuckers down and hang them from trees. Hit them where it fucking hurts. Hit Chris at his home. Make his family fear stepping one foot outside their god damn door.”
Earlier today, United States District Judge Sarah E. Geraghty sentenced Woodbury to seventeen months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Woodbury was convicted of transmitting a threat in interstate commerce, after he pleaded guilty on April 18, 2025.This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Rocky Mount Brothers Sentenced for Large-Scale Drug Trafficking OperationRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – Two Rocky Mount men were sentenced this week to federal prison for their roles in separate but related drug trafficking operations involving crack cocaine, fentanyl, and firearms.
“Pumping illicit narcotics—especially fentanyl—into our communities not only endangers the lives of our citizens, it is a serious federal crime,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar. “We’re grateful to our local and federal partners who worked to shut down both operations, hold these defendants responsible, and make Nash County neighborhoods safer.”
“I’m proud of the investigators who refused to stop at the street level and took this case to a higher level,” said Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone. “Their tireless work helped take down major players in the drug trade and made our community a safer place.”
Anivel Pedro Puddy, 35, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute fentanyl and crack cocaine. His brother, Carvell Shamike Puddy, 33, of Rocky Mount, was sentenced to nine years for distributing crack and possessing a firearm in connection with drug trafficking. Both men pleaded guilty earlier this year.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Anivel Puddy was selling crack and fentanyl-laced Percocet pills in the Rocky Mount area between 2023 and early 2024. Investigators used informants and surveillance to track his activities and eventually searched multiple residences associated to him. On one occasion, officers found more than 470 grams of cocaine, fentanyl pills disguised as Percocet, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and high-capacity magazines.
Carvell Puddy ran his operation from several homes across Rocky Mount. Law enforcement bought more than 500 grams of crack from him during undercover buys. When they searched his locations, they found over 60 grams of crack, a loaded 9mm handgun with an extended magazine, and a disassembled sawed-off shotgun.
Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Nash County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie A. Childress and Caroline Webb prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-CR-00252 and 5:24-CR-00092.
Repeat Offender Sentenced for Meth Distribution in South GeorgiaRead the Press Release
VALDOSTA, Ga. – A South Georgia resident with an extensive criminal history, who admitted to possessing methamphetamine while trying to run from troopers during a traffic stop, was sentenced today to federal prison for his actions.
Joshua Keith Thompson, 37, of Morven, Georgia, and formerly of Adel, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 200 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by Senior U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands on July 24. Thompson previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on April 22. There is no parole in the federal system.
"Convicted felons who repeatedly disregard the law will face federal accountability," said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. "This case highlights our commitment to collaborating with law enforcement to target those causing significant disruption and bring them to justice."
“Joshua Thompson has repeatedly shown he has no respect for the laws of our country,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “FBI Atlanta will continue to work with our partners to bring to justice those who continue to break the law and harm our communities.”
“The sentencing of Joshua Keith Thompson underscores the importance of holding repeat offenders accountable, including those whose criminal activity impacts multiple counties and communities,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “Thompson repeatedly ignored the law and put public safety at risk. The GBI remains committed to working with our local, state and federal partners to protect our communities and stop repeat offenders from continuing their criminal activity.”
“This case shows that from a seatbelt violation to a federal court case, we partner with state and federal agencies to hold criminals accountable for their crimes,” said Colonel William W. Hitchens, III, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety.
According to court documents and statements made in court, a Georgia State Patrol (GSP) trooper observed Thompson driving a sportscar and not wearing a seatbelt on March 25, 2023. During the traffic stop, Thompson handed the trooper a driver’s license with another person’s name on it. During the conversation, the trooper noticed what appeared to be a clear plastic baggie beside the defendant’s leg; consequently, he was asked to step out of the vehicle and was temporarily detained. A drug detection K-9 alerted on the passenger side of the vehicle. In the passenger side floorboard area, the trooper located a clear plastic baggie containing 784.53 grams of methamphetamine. After being told he was under arrest, the defendant fled on foot. The trooper displayed his taser and began giving verbal commands to stop. The defendant tripped and was quickly detained. Thompson has a lengthy criminal history in the South Georgia region, to include multiple felony convictions in Cook County, Georgia, Superior Court and convictions in Crisp County, Georgia, and Lowndes County, Georgia, Superior Courts. Thompson’s prior felony convictions include possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, burglary, theft by taking, giving false information to law enforcement and possession of controlled substances.
The case was investigated by the FBI Atlanta’s Valdosta Resident Agency, the GBI and the GSP, a division of the Georgia Department of Public Safety (DPS).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica L. Daniels is prosecuting the case for the Government.
Registered Sex Offender Convicted of Sex Trafficking Minors and an AdultRead the Press Release
DETROIT – After a seven-day trial, a federal jury convicted Kevin Lavon Giles of sex trafficking two minors and one adult, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. announced.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Giles, 59, of Detroit, was convicted of four counts—two counts of sex trafficking children through force, fraud, or coercion, one count of sex trafficking an adult through force, fraud, or coercion, and one count of committing a felony against a minor after having been required to register as a sex offender. Giles was required to register as a sex offender based on his 1986 conviction for Criminal Sexual Conduct. United States District Court Judge Terrence Berg presided over the trial. Giles faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison and up to life.
The testimony at trial proved Giles exploited his female victims by requiring them to perform commercial sex acts in return for shelter for them and their children. Two of Giles’s victims were under 18 at the time he trafficked them. Giles posted advertisements for commercial sex for all his victims, arranged their commercial sex dates, and collected the proceeds of the sex acts. Witnesses testified that Giles used hidden cameras to monitor the sex acts of all his victims and to direct the sex acts of the adult victim.
“If you question whether evil exists, you have your answer,” said U.S. Attorney Gorgon. “We are called to protect women and children. This man abused and exploited them to fill his pockets.”
"The conviction of Kevin Giles, a registered sex offender, reinforces our unwavering commitment to protecting our citizens, especially the most vulnerable from those who seek to exploit them,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to our Southeast Michigan Trafficking and Exploitation Crimes (SEMTEC) Task Force for their thorough investigative work. Investigating Human Trafficking is a top priority to the Bureau. We will continue to focus our efforts to save lives of those who are victimized by bad actors and bring those accountable to justice.”
The FBI’s Southeast Michigan Trafficking and Exploitation Crimes Task Force investigated this. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Diane Princ and Ranya Elzein prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Patio Furniture Company Grosfillex Inc. to Pay $4.9 Million to Resolve Allegations it Evaded Duties on Extruded Aluminum from the PRCRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that Grosfillex Inc. (Grosfillex), a patio furniture company located in Pennsylvania, has agreed to pay $4.9 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act and other statutes by evading antidumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD) on items made of extruded aluminum originating from the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
The Department of Commerce assesses, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) collects, antidumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD) to level the playing field for domestic producers. Antidumping duties protect against foreign companies “dumping” products on U.S. markets at prices below cost, while countervailing duties offset foreign government subsidies. The settlement announced today resolves allegations that Grosfillex knowingly submitted, and caused to be submitted, false customs forms to CBP claiming that certain furniture parts made of extruded aluminum were not subject to AD/CVD. For a subset of such parts, the United States alleged that Grosfillex attempted to camouflage the aluminum extrusions by packaging the parts as sham furniture “kits.” In addition, for a different subset of such parts, Grosfillex knowingly failed to correct customs forms it had submitted previously, even after learning that the forms falsely stated to CBP that certain extruded aluminum parts were not subject to AD/CVD.
“Antidumping and countervailing duties protect American companies from unfair subsidies and trade practices that harm domestic industries,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s settlement demonstrates that the Justice Department will continue to actively pursue those who knowingly fail to pay customs duties.”
“This settlement should serve as a warning that the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania will use every tool available to combat fraud in international trade,” said U.S. Attorney David Metcalf for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. “We will pursue those who seek an unfair advantage in U.S. markets by attempting to evade paying the customs, duties, or tariffs on foreign imports meant to level the playing field for U.S. manufacturers.”
“The investigation into Grosfillex Inc. highlights our relentless dedication to enforcing our nation's trade laws and protecting the integrity of our economy. By uncovering and dismantling intricate schemes to defraud the government, we ensure that all businesses operate on a fair and level playing field,” said Special Agent in Charge Edward V. Owens of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) at the Philadelphia office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “The successful settlement of this case is a testament to the outstanding collaboration between HSI, CBP and the U.S. Department of Justice. We remain vigilant in our efforts to identify and hold accountable those who attempt to exploit our trade system for their benefit.”
The allegations resolved by this settlement arose from a whistleblower lawsuit filed under the False Claims Act by Edward Wisner, a former employee of Grosfillex. Under the False Claims Act, private citizens can sue on behalf of the government and share in any recovery. Wisner will receive a $962,662.74 share of today’s settlement.
The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, with assistance from CBP.
Trial Attorney Nelson Wagner in the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Sherer for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania handled the matter.
The pursuit of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating fraud, waste, and abuse. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential customs fraud can be reported to CBP at www.help.cbp.gov/s/tip.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Note: Read the Settlement here.
Passaic County Man Sentenced to 194 Months in Prison for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Passaic County, New Jersey, man was sentenced to 194 months in prison for transporting and possessing videos and images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced today.
Edward M. O’Hagan, 51, of Hawthorne, New Jersey previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo to an information charging him with one count of transportation of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Judge Arleo imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
During the course of the investigation, law enforcement obtained records and legal process pertaining to two email accounts that were identified as belonging to O’Hagan. Based on these email accounts, law enforcement determined that, on or about January 19, 2023, O’Hagan transmitted video files containing child pornography through the internet. The investigation further revealed that O’Hagan’s email addresses utilized an encrypted file storage platform to upload and/or create files containing child pornography, which was accessed from an IP address that was traced to O’Hagan’s address.
Subsequent to a lawful search of O’Hagan’s residence on May 22, 2023, law enforcement officers recovered hundreds of images and videos depicting child pornography on O’Hagan’s electronic devices.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Arleo sentenced O’Hagan to a lifetime term of supervised release, and to pay restitution of $86,000 to the victims.
U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy, with the investigation leading to the sentencing. She also thanked the Hawthorne Police Department and the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Farhana C. Melo and Aaron L. Webman of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.
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Defense counsel: Areeb Salim, Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Newark
Panama City Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking 10 Pounds of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Calvin Eugene Williams, 35, of Panama City, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court today to two counts: possession with the distribute fentanyl and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the excellent work of our state and federal law enforcement partners, this drug trafficker has been taken off our streets and he won’t be able to continue flooding our communities with this poison. My office remains committed to fulfilling the promise of President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America by aggressively targeting the drug traffickers who have victimized our communities for far too long.”
Court documents reflect that Williams was arrested on April 19, 2024, by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office after being stopped with six-ounces of methamphetamine and approximately 95 pressed-pills containing fentanyl. Williams subsequently bonded out of jail and was stopped on March 11, 2025, by the Florida Highway Patrol on I-10. During the traffic stop, FHP troopers developed probable cause to search the vehicle and found a firearm and approximately 10 pounds (4450.1 grams) of 97% pure methamphetamine hydrochloride. Williams had two cellphones which contained evidence of his drug-trafficking.
Williams faces up to life imprisonment.
The case involved an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 6, 2025, at 9:30 am at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Oklahoma City Man to Serve More than a Decade in Federal Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – ANTHONY MICHAEL GRIMM, 42, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 121 months in federal prison for possession of, and access with intent to view, child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public records, in May 2024, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) discovered Grimm had distributed multiple videos depicting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to an individual in Michigan. HSI executed a search warrant of Grimm’s apartment and confiscated Grimm’s cell phone where numerous images and videos depicting CSAM were found.
On January 7, 2025, a federal Grand Jury charged Grimm with possession of, and access with intent to view, child pornography. Grimm pleaded guilty on March 31, 2025, and admitted he knowingly accessed a cell phone that contained images depicting CSAM.
At the sentencing hearing on July 23, 2025, U.S. District Judge Bernard M. Jones sentenced Grimm to serve 121 months in federal prison, followed by ten years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Jones noted the need to deter Grimm and to protect the public from future crimes of Grimm.
This case is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Edgmon prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC 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 PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Nicholas County Man Sentenced for Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Carlisle, Ky., man, Ronald G. Miller, 43, was sentenced on Thursday by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell to 60 months in prison, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to his plea agreement, on July 2, 2024, law enforcement observed Miller, who was known to be a convicted felon, at the Blackberry Festival, openly carrying a loaded handgun on his hip. Miller admitted to knowing he was a convicted felon, and during his arrest, he yelled to his girlfriend to “go home and lock everything down.” A search warrant was obtained for Miller’s residence and revealed a rifle, pistol, and multiple magazines and boxes of ammunition.
Under federal law, Miller must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Office; Chief Gary Kinder, Carlisle Police Department; and Sheriff Berl Perdue, Jr., Clark County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by ATF, Carlisle Police Department, and Clark County Sheriff’s Office. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paco Villalobos.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, Acting U.S. Attorney McCaffrey coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
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Newburyport Man Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Scheme to Defraud Home Repair Insurance Providers of More Than $2 MillionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Newburyport man has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for defrauding a home repair insurance provider by billing for purported repair jobs that were never performed.
Christian Decristofaro, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to two years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Decristofaro was also ordered to pay $2,196,323 in restitution. The Court ordered forfeiture in the same amount. In March 2025, Decristofaro pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with wire fraud.
Decristofaro caused NE Premier Home Services LLC (NE Premier) – a purported home repair company he controlled – to enroll as a contractor with a home repair insurance provider (the victim). Decristofaro used false identities to enroll non-existent homeowners in insurance plans with the victim insurance provider. Decristofaro then reported fictitious home emergencies to the victim on behalf of the purported homeowners and requested that NE Premier be assigned to perform the repairs. He then caused NE Premier to bill the victim insurance provider for the repair jobs, even though there was no repair work done. As a result of these fraudulent billings, between approximately October 2020 and June 2023, the victim insurance provider paid NE Premier approximately $2,196,323 for services that NE Premier had not rendered.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan C. Cleary and Leslie A. Wright of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
New York Woman Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation OffenseRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SASHA MAY, formerly known as Owen May, 24, of Pelham, New York, waived her right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to a child exploitation offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between December 2023 and May 2024, May engaged in online conversations with an undercover law enforcement officer on the messaging platforms Kik and Whisper. In those conversations, May detailed her sexual interest in children and distributed child pornography.
May pleaded guilty to possession and access with intent to view child pornography, an offense that carries a maximum term of 20 years imprisonment. Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for October 16.
May, who was arrested on a criminal complaint on August 26, 2024, is released on a $100,000 bond and on home confinement with electronic monitoring pending sentencing.
This matter has been investigated by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force, the Greenwich Police Department, and the Pelham (N.Y.) Police Department. The Task Force includes federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Lembo.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
New York Man Indicted in Multi-Million Dollar Fraud and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A federal grand jury in Rhode Island returned a seven-count indictment alleging that a New York resident participated in a fraud and money laundering scheme that defrauded a Rhode Island law firm and other businesses of more than eight million dollars, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
The indictment charges Tushal Rathod, 45, of Baldwinsville, NY, with wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud (two counts), aggravated identity theft, money laundering conspiracy, money laundering, concealment of money laundering, and engaging in transactions with proceeds of criminal activity.
The indictment alleges that Rathod worked with individuals that he met online to receive fraudulent proceeds and launder those funds through businesses and financial accounts, some of which he created, keeping an approximate 10% cut for himself. The fraud scheme involved business email compromise, account takeover, and counterfeit checks. Among the victims of the fraud and money laundering conspiracy detailed in the indictment are a Rhode Island law firm who was defrauded of more than $163,200; a California credit union that was defrauded of approximately $8,000,000; and an Information Technology company of $154,900.
As reflected in the indictment it is alleged that:
- Rathod opened business bank accounts at multiple financial institutions to receive fraudulent proceeds and recruited others to do the same.
- Rathod monitored the activity in those accounts and communicated account information to other members of the conspiracy.
- Rathod created and provided false documents to financial institutions to gain access to funds deposited into the receiving accounts, which he withdrew and transferred in a manner designed to conceal the nature, source, location, ownership, or control over the funds.
- Rathod converted some of the fraudulent proceeds into Bitcoin.
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 Sandra R. Hebert.
The matter was investigated by the FBI.
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indictment.pdfNebraska Man Sentenced for Distributing Fentanyl AnalogueRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Larry D. Moss, 22, of Omaha, Nebraska was sentenced on July 23, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for distributing fentanyl analogue. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Moss to 125 months’ imprisonment to be served consecutively to the state sentence he is presently serving at the state penitentiary. There is no parole in the federal system. After Moss’ release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
On September 13, 2023, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobaccos and Firearms (ATF) special agents received information from a confidential source (CS) that Larry Moss and co-conspirator Craig Ruffin had acquired 1,500 fentanyl pills. Agents arranged a controlled purchase of approximately 200 ‘M30’fentanyl pills for $2,000 from Moss at his Omaha residence, during which Moss sold the pills containing fentanyl analogue.
On March 27, 2024, Drug Enforcement Agency task force officers (TFOs) encountered a suspicious package sent from Laveen, Arizona to a Bellevue residence. TFOs executed a search warrant on the package and found it contained approx. 2,000 ‘M30’ fentanyl pills. TFOs delivered the package to the residence where Moss collected it and drove away. Law enforcement pursued and attempted to stop his vehicle, but Moss drove onto the sidewalk and through a construction site and ultimately escaped. He threw the package out of the window. Officers also found a Sig Sauer P250, .357 SIG handgun in his path.
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.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration and the Omaha and Bellevue Police Departments.
Monroe Man Sentenced to 48 Months’ Imprisonment for Committing $2 Million in Covid-19 Pandemic FraudRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Brian J. Albelli, age 46, of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on June 23, 2025, to 48 months of imprisonment by Senior United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion, following his convictions of wire fraud and money laundering.
According to Acting United States Attorney John Gurganus, Albelli filed approximately 20 fraudulent applications for pandemic stimulus funds, including under the Payment Protection Program (PPP) and for Economic Injury and Disaster Loans (EIDLs). Albelli filed the applications in the name of various business entities under his and his family’s control, listing himself, his wife, and his parents as the signatories. Some of the applications submitted by Albelli were filed on behalf of corporate entities under his control that did not, in fact, have actual business operations.
Through his scheme, Albelli secured over $2.2 million in pandemic stimulus funds. Instead of using his funds on business expenses, as intended, Albelli used them to purchase automobiles, a boat, and make casino withdrawals, among other personal expenses. A significant portion of the loan proceeds were passed through an account held in the name of Outbreak Assets LLC, a company Abelli created for the sole purpose of receiving fraudulent proceeds, before being used on personal expenses.
In addition to the sentence of imprisonment, Judge Mannion also sentenced Albelli to three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment, to pay full restitution of $2,232,077, and to forfeit numerous assets seized by investigators which included funds in bank accounts, two vehicles, and jewelry.
The PPP and EIDL programs, both funded by the March 2020 CARES Act, were designed to help small businesses facing financial difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic. PPP funds were offered in forgivable loans, provided that certain criteria are met, including use of the funds for employee payroll, mortgage interest, lease, and utilities expenses. EIDL funds are offered in low-interest rate loans, designated for specific business expenses, such as fixed debts, payroll, and business obligations.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle A. Moreno prosecuted the case.
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Monmouth County Man Admits to Armed Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A Monmouth County man admitted to armed bank robbery, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.
Jeffrey L. Kniffin, 51, of Wall Township, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi on July 22, 2025, to a one-count Information charging him with armed bank robbery.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On October 23, 2024, Kniffin entered a bank in Wall Township, New Jersey armed with a loaded handgun, approached a bank teller, and demanded cash from the teller. After demanding the money, Kniffin removed the handgun from his pocket and displayed it towards the teller. During his interaction with the teller, Kniffin instructed multiple times, “Don’t do anything stupid.” Kniffin received approximately $27,072 in cash from the teller and then fled the bank. He was apprehended and arrested by law enforcement several minutes later. At the time of his arrest, law enforcement recovered from Kniffin and his immediate surroundings a loaded firearm and more than $25,000 in cash.
The count of armed bank robbery carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for November 24, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Habba credited task force officers with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charges. She also thanked the Wall Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Sean O’Halloran, and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago, for their assistance in the investigation.
The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Garelick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.
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Defense counsel: John M. Holliday, Esq.
kniffin.information.pdfMiddle District of Florida Prosecutors Charge More Than 150 Individuals with Immigration-Related Offenses During the Third Quarter of 2025Read the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces today that federal prosecutors have charged 154 defendants with immigration and immigration-related offenses during the third quarter of fiscal year 2025, ending June 30, 2025. The majority of the defendants (146) have been charged with illegally reentering the United States.
During the same time period, 123 defendants pleaded guilty, and 96 defendants were sentenced for illegal reentry or other immigration-related offenses.
“Enforcement of our country’s immigration laws is one of the top priorities of the United States Attorney’s Office,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. “We, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to work to investigate and prosecute aliens who enter or remain in the United States in violation of our laws, and any individuals that help them do so.”
Q3 FY 2025 Highlights
U.S. v. Ana Juanita Andrade-Reyes
Ana Juanita Andrade-Reyes, a Honduran national illegally present in United States, was sentenced to three years and one month in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit tax fraud. The court also ordered Andrade-Reyes to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $2,084,182 and entered a money judgment against Andrade-Reyes in the amount of $664,588, representing the proceeds of the wire fraud. According to court documents, Andrade-Reyes established a shell company that obtained a workers’ compensation insurance policy to cover a minimal payroll for a few purported employees. Andrade-Reyes then “rented” the workers’ compensation insurance to work crews who had obtained subcontracts with construction contractors on projects, sent the contractors a certificate of insurance as “proof” that the work crews had insurance, and falsely represented that the work crews worked for the shell company. As part of the scheme, Andrade-Reyes facilitated the employment of undocumented illegal workers and avoided payroll taxes, resulting in a loss to the government of $2,084,182.
U.S. v. Pedro Antunez-Galarza
According to court documents, Pedro Antunez-Galarza, a Mexican citizen, was removed from the United States in 2018 after he was convicted of an aggravated felony and served a prison sentence. He illegally reentered the United States, and when law enforcement found him in the Middle District of Florida in July 2024, he unlawfully possessed a firearm, ammunition, and false permanent resident and Social Security cards. For these offenses and for violating his supervised release, he was sentenced to a total of four years and eight months in federal prison.
U.S. v. Hubert Richard Crew
In May 2025, Hubert Richard Crew, a Jamaican national, was sentenced to five years in federal prison for illegal reentry into the United States by an alien. According to court documents, Crew, after serving a prison sentence for multiple felony offenses, was removed from the United States multiple times—most recently in 2016. He illegally reentered the United States again and was found in the Middle District of Florida in November 2024.
U.S. v. Angel Antonio Trochez-Cruz
Angel Antonio Trochez-Cruz was sentenced to six years in federal prison for illegal reentering the United States. According to court records, Trochez-Cruz, a native and citizen of Honduras, was removed from the United States in 2014 after serving a state prison sentence for robbery. Federal immigration authorities found him in the Middle District of Florida in December 2023 after he was arrested on a state charge for unlawful sexual activity—a crime for which he received a sentence of 24 months in prison. The court ordered the federal sentence to run consecutive to the term of imprisonment imposed in the state case.
U.S. v. Juan Leon David Vazquez
Juan Leon David Vazquez, a Colombian national, was sentenced to 3 years and 10 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by an alien illegally and unlawfully in the United States. According to court documents, Vazquez shot and injured a man during an argument. Before fleeing the scene, he told the victim that he would kill him if he called the police. Despite the threat, the victim called 911 and reported the shooting. Law enforcement, after determining that Vazquez was the shooter and arresting him, searched the Vazquez’s residence and located the firearm.