Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
18 July 2025
Kilo Fentanyl Trafficker Sentenced to More Than Eight Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Raleigh man has been sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison for trafficking large quantities of fentanyl throughout Eastern North Carolina. Joshua Vines, 40, admitted to conspiring to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl and pleaded guilty earlier this year.
According to court records and evidence presented at sentencing, on October 25, 2023, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents were conducting surveillance on a vehicle registered to co-defendant Nigel Gray. They observed the car parked outside a Dollar General in Elizabeth City, where a passenger and co-defendant, Omar Cardenas, exited and got into another vehicle. Both cars then left the area.
Law enforcement later stopped the vehicle, driven by Vines, in Nashville, NC. During the stop, Vines contacted Gray by phone to ask for the car’s registration information. A trained K-9 alerted to the vehicle, prompting a search. Inside, officers found approximately 30,000 pills containing fentanyl or para-fluorofentanyl, with a combined weight of 1.5 kilograms, along with an additional kilogram of fentanyl powder. Vines had texted Gray that they were being detained and requested consent to search the vehicle. The group had planned to distribute the drugs in the Raleigh area.
Gray and Cardenas have already been sentenced in federal court for their roles in the conspiracy.
Vines has prior felony convictions for discharging a weapon into an occupied vehicle, trafficking heroin, and trafficking cocaine by transportation.
Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. HSI, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations, the Raleigh Police Department, the Nashville Police Department, the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office, the Greenville Regional Drug Task Force investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Severo and Katherine Englander 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. 5:24-CR-00076.
Kansas City Men Charged in String of Bank and Business Robberies Across Kansas City Metro AreaRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – On July 16, 2025, Makih A. Hall, 21, and Lazaro Medina-Lopez, 29, were charged with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, Hobbs Act robbery, and two counts of bank robbery, in a now-unsealed federal indictment filed in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Missouri. Hall is also charged individually in a separate count for attempted Hobbs Act robbery, with Medina-Lopez also charged individually in a separate count for attempted bank robbery.
The indictment alleges that between June 1, 2024, and June 14, 2024, Hall and Medina-Lopez jointly robbed, or attempted to rob, various banks, credit unions, and businesses across the Kansas City area.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
Under federal statutes, if convicted, each count of conspiracy, Hobbs Act robbery, bank robbery, or attempted bank robbery, carries a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment in federal prison without parole. 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.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Q. McCarther. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, and the Independence, Missouri Police Department.
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 (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Justice Department Publishes Proposed Rule to Grant Relief to Certain Individuals Precluded from Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — President Trump directed the Department of Justice to address the ongoing infringements of the Second Amendment rights of our citizens—all of them. Federal law disables the firearms rights of many citizens who have been convicted of crimes without regard to whether they actually pose a threat of violence. But federal law also empowers the Attorney General to restore Second Amendment rights to individuals who are not “likely to act in a manner dangerous to public safety.” Today, the Department of Justice submitted to the Office of the Federal Register a proposed rule regarding the exercise of the Attorney General’s authority under 18 U.S.C. 925(c) to grant relief to individuals who are otherwise precluded from possessing firearms.
"For too long, countless Americans with criminal histories have been permanently disenfranchised from exercising the right to keep and bear arms—a right every bit as constitutionally enshrined as the right to vote, the right to free speech, and the right to free exercise of religion—irrespective of whether they actually pose a threat," said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. "No longer."
The proposed rule will provide citizens whose firearm rights are currently under legal disability with an avenue to restore those rights, while keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous criminals and illegal aliens. Ultimate discretion to grant relief will remain with the Attorney General, and she will exercise that discretion on a case-by-case basis in light of all available facts and evidence that bear on an individual’s application. But absent extraordinary circumstances, violent felons, registered sex offenders, and illegal aliens, in particular, will remain presumptively ineligible for relief.
"General Bondi’s support of the rebooted 925(c) program is consistent with President Donald J. Trump’s promise to the American people to support the beautiful Second Amendment," said U.S. Pardon Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. "My team and I are developing a 925(c) program landing page with a sophisticated, user-friendly platform for Americans petitioning for the return of their gun rights, which will make the process easier for them."
The Justice Department welcomes comments from communities that could be affected by a final rule including law enforcement, victims’ advocates, elected officials, and individuals who would like to apply to have their gun rights restored. Because this proposed rule is intended to create a fair and thoughtful system to evaluate applications for the restoration of firearms right, the Justice Department recommends that individuals seeking the restoration of their firearm rights review and comment on the proposed process rather than submit applications at this time.
View the proposed rule as it was submitted to the Office of the Federal Register HERE. An official copy will be published next week.
Jury Finds Georgetown Law Professor Guilty of Assaulting His Wife and Obstructing JusticeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Shon Hopwood, 50, of the District of Columbia, was found guilty today by a Superior Court jury on charges of assault, contempt, and obstruction of justice, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Hopwood was found guilty of three counts of simple assault, five counts of contempt, and two counts of obstructing justice. Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur scheduled sentencing for September 18, 2025.
“A D.C. jury is demanding accountability from the batterer who not only beat his wife but was on the faculty of Georgetown Law teaching criminal law,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “This D.C. jury wasn’t afraid to demand accountability no matter who the defendant is.”
On September 21, 2023, the defendant, a Georgetown Law Professor and convicted felon, got into an ongoing verbal argument with his wife, the victim, in front of their children. The defendant then assaulted the victim when she attempted to retrieve her phone and purse from their shared bedroom by repeatedly pushing and physically throwing her out into the kitchen. The victim suffered multiple injuries, including several bruises on her body. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) only learned of the incident and injuries when, following a welfare check conducted at the home on September 24, 2023, it was discovered that the defendant had ordered the victim to remain in the basement and coached their children to lie about her whereabouts. Hopwood ran away from the house when he heard on an MPD officer’s radio that law enforcement had found the victim. Through additional investigation, MPD and USAO discovered a history of the defendant’s chronic emotional and physical domestic abuse to his wife stretching back several years. The defendant was also charged with, and found guilty of, assaulting the victim in April 2023 in addition to the September 2023 incident.
A trial date in this case was initially scheduled for June 3, 2024, and the victim and the victim’s daughter failed to appear for that trial despite being subpoenaed by the government. An investigation involving law enforcement in multiple jurisdictions revealed that Hopwood had been contacting the victim in violation of the court’s pre-trial stay away order for several months and had been pressuring her not to cooperate with the government. This culminated in a scheme the defendant initiated, and worked with the victim to implement, that would keep the victim and their children out of the jurisdiction on the trial date in an attempt to get the case dismissed. The victim went along with the defendant’s instructions, fled the jurisdiction, and did not show up for trial (and kept her daughter away from trial). As a result of his actions, Hopwood was subsequently indicted on five counts of contempt and two counts of obstruction of justice in addition to the initial counts of misdemeanor assault.
Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department with assistance from the United States Marshal Service, and the criminal investigators and investigative analysts from the United States Attorney’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Monisha Rao and Katherine Ballou.
Jury Finds Defendant Guilty in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy and Weapons ChargesRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that a jury found Nathan James Meek of Colorado Springs guilty of one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to evidence presented at trial, Meek sold large quantities of narcotics in the Colorado Springs area, including methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine and marijuana. He was arrested on January 18, 2024, and investigators recovered a cellphone, a firearm, 10 fentanyl pills, 6.2 grams of methamphetamine, and over $3,000 in cash. Officers obtained a search warrant for Meek’s apartment and recovered 2,202 grams of methamphetamine, 131 grams of fentanyl, 80 grams of cocaine, 698 grams of marijuana, and three firearms. Meek’s cellphone contained records of drug-related communications dating from January 1, 2024, through the time of his arrest.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Colorado Springs Police Department. The prosecution was handled by the Violent Crimes and Immigration Section at the United States Attorney's Office.
Case Number: 24-cr-00082-RMR-1
Individuals Charged with Conspiracy with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances and KidnappingRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On July 17, 2025, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging eight individuals with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and five of those defendants with kidnapping, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico and Devin J. Kowalski, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office.
The eight defendants are: Bryan Martínez-Albizu, FNU / LNU #1, FNU / LNU #2 (a/k/a Richard), FNU / LNU #3 (a/k/a Rochi), FNU / LNU #4, FNU / LNU #5, Santiago Nieves-Hernández, and Yoel Gómez-Gómez. A copy of the indictment is attached and the indictment includes photographs of the FNU / LNU (First Name Unknown / Last Name Unknown) defendants.
As alleged in the indictment, beginning on or about May 20, 2025, and continuing to on or about May 24, 2025, in the District of Puerto Rico, the defendants, knowingly and intentionally combined, conspired, confederated and agreed together and with each other, and with other persons known and unknown to the Grand Jury, to commit the following offense against the United States: to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine.
Furthermore, on or about May 21, 2025, the defendants, FNU / LNU #1, FNU / LNU #2 (a/k/a Richard), FNU / LNU #3 (a/k/a Rochi), FNU / LNU #4, and FNU / LNU #5, aiding and abetting each other and others, did unlawfully and willfully seize, confine, kidnap and abduct, and otherwise hold, S.N.H. and Y.G.G. for ransom. In committing and in furtherance of the commission of the kidnapping, the defendants used a means, facility, and instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce, namely a Toyota RAV4, a Nissan SUV, and cellular telephones.
“These defendants will be brought to justice through the hard work of federal and state law enforcement agents and our prosecutors,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow. “The actions by those drug traffickers involved in the kidnapping and brutal torture of the kidnapped victims have no place in civilized society and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Our office and law enforcement partners rely on those in our community who are willing to assist in making our streets safer. Anyone with information regarding the defendants charged in this case should contact the FBI.”
“This case shows the brutal violence that thrives in criminal networks—and how far they’ll go to harm even their own. What started as a failed drug deal became a gruesome kidnapping,” said Devin J. Kowalski, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “Whatever the threat, the FBI responds with urgency because every life matters. I’m proud of the brave agents who risked their lives and the investigative team who unraveled this case. Let this be a warning to the thugs: the FBI won’t be fooled, and we’ll use every resource to dismantle you and your crew. Operation Summer Heat should’ve made that clear. If it didn’t—here’s your reminder: If you terrorize our communities or think you can outsmart justice, you’re wrong. We’re coming.”
If convicted on the drug conspiracy charges, the defendants face a minimum sentence of five years in prison, and a maximum sentence of forty years in prison. Those defendants charged with kidnapping face a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Julian Radzinschi of the Violent Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is in charge of the investigation with the collaboration of the Puerto Rico Police Bureau.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
25-324_maj_indictment_redacted.pdfIdaho Man Charged with CyberstalkingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Rigby, Idaho man was arrested yesterday for allegedly cyberstalking a Massachusetts professor over the course of five months.
Edward John Kay, 53, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of cyberstalking. Kay was arrested yesterday in Rigby, Idaho and will make an initial appearance in the District of Idaho today at 11 a.m. MDT (1 p.m. EST). He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the charging documents, Kay met the victim in January 2025 when he enrolled in the victim’s online course on psychosis, which the victim taught at a university’s extension school. It is alleged that, after one Zoom meeting with the victim and one virtual class session, Kay became fixated on the victim, dropped the course, and proceeded to harass and intimidate the victim over email and LinkedIn for the following five months.
Specifically, it is alleged that between January and June of 2025, Kay sent the victim over 80 harassing communications via LinkedIn and email – including at least one anonymous email account. In the communications, Kay allegedly expressed his adoration and love for the victim and repeatedly mentioned the victim’s minor child by name. It is alleged that the communications included:
- An April 1, 2025 LinkedIn message sent to the victim, in which Kay allegedly stated: “I miss you-truly, deeply- with all of my heart and soul. That day I saw you on Zoom…You were the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Not just appearance. Everything. Your presence. Your mind. Your light. To gain you…and then to lose you like that? It devastated me.”
- A May 9, 2025 email sent to several of the university’s offices with the victim copied, in which Kay alleged stated: “Dr. [victim’s last name] has been copied on all communications. She knows what is coming.” He added that this was only the “VERY BEGINNING” because “Every day, starting today, will mark a **new action of serious consequence**, taken by me in accordance with divine alignment and institutional justice.”
- A May 12, 2025 anonymous email sent to the victim from the email address [victim’s name][email protected], in which Kay allegedly professed his love for the victim, encouraged the victim to leave the university and stated, “You are still free. But you are not unreachable.”
It is further alleged that Kay told another university professor about his obsession with the victim and his desire to separate the victim from her husband.
According to the charging documents, on June 5, 2025, Kay emailed the victim and the president of the university stating that he purchased a first-class nonrefundable plane ticket to attend an in-person negotiations class at the university this summer, despite being banned from enrolling in the university’s courses. Airline records allegedly confirmed that Kay had purchased a one-way flight to Boston Logan Airport, that was scheduled to land on the morning of July 11, 2025, however he did not board the flight.
The charge of cyberstalking provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by FBI Salt Lake City and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allegra Flamm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Honduran National Sentenced to 27 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Yesterday, Luis Banegas Rodriguez, 25 years old, of Honduras, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud in two cases, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Banegas Rodriguez was sentenced to 27 months in prison followed by 1 year of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $533,043 in restitution.
According to documents in each case, on January 11, 2023, Banegas Rodriguez and his co-conspirators used fake identification cards to cash 169 fraudulent paychecks totaling $233,569 at three branches of the same bank in the Northern District of Indiana. The fraudulent paychecks were designed to look like they had been issued by a company that operates dairy farms in the Northern District of Indiana.
Almost six months later, on June 23, 2023, Banegas Rodriguez and his co-conspirators used fake identification cards to cash 178 fraudulent paychecks totaling $299,474 at five branches of the same bank and three check cashing businesses in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The fraudulent paychecks were designed to look like they had been issued by a building materials supply company in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
“Banegas Rodriguez participated in a far-reaching conspiracy that caused major financial harm to community banks and small businesses across the United States. Due to the unwavering efforts and collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement, Banegas Rodriguez was brought to justice for his role in this scheme,” said Proctor. “The sentence imposed by the court sends a message that there are real consequences for engaging in fraud, particularly in northwest Indiana.”
“The illicit actions of co-conspirators to commit bank fraud as they travel throughout the United States will not be tolerated,” said Matthew J. Scarpino, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Chicago. “HSI will continue to partner with our fellow law enforcement agencies to disrupt these types of offenders and hold them accountable for their crimes.”
These cases were investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Secret Service, and the Indiana State Police, with valuable assistance provided by the Benton County (Indiana) Sheriff’s Department, the Benton County (Indiana) Prosecutor’s Office, the Poteau (Oklahoma) Police Department, and the Houston (Texas) Police Department. The cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Steven J. Lupa from the Northern District of Indiana and Assistant United States Attorneys Kara Traster and Jordan Howanitz from the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
Honduran National Guilty of Re-Entry of Removed AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ActingUnited States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that MARLON SANTOS (“SANTOS”), age 36, a native of Honduras, pleaded guilty on July 9, 2025, for re-entry of removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
According to court documents, SANTOS was found in Orleans Parish on April 21, 2025. He had previously been removed to Honduras on December 21, 2018.
At sentencing, SANTOS faces up to two years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to one year of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. United States District Judge Lance M. Africk has set the sentencing for October 22, 2025.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.
Honduran National Guilty of Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – Acting U.S. Michael M. Simpson announced that MELVIN JOSE TEJADA MORILLO (“MORILLO”), age 35, pled guilty on July 8, 2025, to illegal re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Sections 1326(a) and 1326(b)(2).
According to the indictment, MORILLO, re-entered the United States after being previously deported on March 21, 2016. At sentencing, MORILLO faces up to two years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to one year of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. However, because MORILLO has a prior felony conviction, MORILLO also faces a sentencing enhancement of up to 20 years’ imprisonment.
Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson praised the work of the United States Homeland Security Investigations in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Tiwana Wright is in charge of the prosecution.
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).
High School Teacher Arrested for Alleged Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WACO, Texas – A Belton High School teacher was arrested Thursday on criminal charges related to his alleged possession of visual depictions of sexual activities by minors.
According to court documents, Pietro Victor Giustino, 39, allegedly possessed and attempted to possess child sexual abuse material, including depictions of minors engaged in sexual intercourse.
Giustino made his initial appearance in a federal court in Waco today and, if convicted, faces up to 10 years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case with assistance from the Belton Police Department, and with cooperation from the Belton Independent School District.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Gloff is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Gun and Drug Trafficker ConvictedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced the conviction at trial yesterday of BIANNEURY PENA, a/k/a “Charly,” for his role in gun and drug trafficking conspiracies as well as his unlawful possession of a firearm as an illegal alien. The conviction comes after a 4-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote. PENA is scheduled to be sentenced on October 17, 2025.
“Within weeks of entering the United States unlawfully, Pena immersed himself in a gun and drug trafficking scheme,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Pena and his crew smuggled guns and cocaine up and down the east coast without regard for the danger they were bringing to New Yorkers. Thanks to the prompt action of the DEA and our prosecutors, Pena was arrested and has been held accountable for his crimes.”
As alleged in the Indictment and statements made in public filings and public court proceedings:
On June 7, 2024, PENA and ABEL ROSARIO were arrested in New York, New York, after arriving from North Carolina by bus. At the time of their arrest, PENA and ROSARIO were smuggling two firearms into New York City from North Carolina. In their possession were the below-depicted Aero Precision model M4E1 firearm, a Glock .40 caliber model 23 handgun, dozens of rounds of ammunition, a standard magazine, two high-capacity magazines, and a drum magazine.
Just a month earlier, in April 2024, PENA illegally entered the U.S. and began conspiring with ROSARIO, who was unlawfully present in the U.S. after having been previously deported. Between May and June 2024, PENA took three round trips between New York and North Carolina, during which he smuggled cocaine to North Carolina and returned with firearms.
* * *
PENA, 35, of the Dominican Republic, was convicted of three total counts and faces up to 50 years in prison.
CountChargeSentenceCount One18 U.S.C. § 933 (Gun Trafficking Conspiracy)15 years, a maximum term of supervised release three yearsCount Two18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(5) (Alien in Possession of a Firearm)15 years, a maximum term of supervised release of three yearsCount Three21 U.S.C. §s 846 and 841(b)(1)(C)20 years; maximum term of supervised release of three yearsThe maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives, the Department of Homeland Security, the New York City Police Department, the Port Authority Police Department, and the New York State Police.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley C. Nicolas, Alexandra S. Messiter, and Brandon D. Harper are in charge of the prosecution.
u.s._v._pena_indictment.pdfGrand jury charges Columbus man with money laundering $1M in business email scam proceedsRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Federal agents arrested a Columbus man Tuesday on charges alleging he received and laundered more than $1 million in proceeds of a business email compromise scam.
A federal grand jury charged Benjamin O. Alexander, 42, with 29 counts of money laundering crimes.
According to the indictment, Alexander laundered proceeds from a scheme related to a contract for personal protective equipment (PPE) for a health-care provider in response to COVID-19. In June 2020, workers at the health-care provider received email messages purporting to be from the contracted safety-equipment supplier and requesting payments be sent to a new bank account.
It is alleged that the new bank account where the health-care provider was directed to send payments was one controlled by Alexander in the name of a business he established in April 2019 called BOA Building Maintenance and Cleaning Services LLC.
As a result of the business email fraud scheme, four ACH transfers were sent to Alexander’s bank account totaling approximately $1.1 million.
Alexander then allegedly made multiple financial transactions to conceal the source of the money.
Conspiring to commit money laundering and committing concealment money laundering are both crimes punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Monetary transaction money laundering carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate is representing the United States in this case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
# # #
Gloucester drug trafficker sentenced to five years in prison for firearms offenseRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Gloucester man was sentenced yesterday to five years in prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, on July 15, 2024, Kyle Jacob Buquor, 26, parked a pickup truck in the area of Market Drive and entered a store. While Buquor was inside the store, a K9 positively alerted for narcotics in the truck as law enforcement conducted an open-air sniff around the vehicle.
Buquor was detained when he returned to the vehicle. During a probable cause search of the vehicle agents recovered a handgun, three loaded magazines, an empty magazine, 11.5 grams of methamphetamine, and various items indicative of drug trafficking.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Darrell W. Warren, Jr., Gloucester County Sheriff, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Devon Heath prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-cr-56.
Gary Man Sentenced to 480 months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Yesterday, Taquan Clarke, age 31, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after a jury found him guilty of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and using a firearm to commit murder, following a 6-day jury trial, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Clarke was sentenced to 480 months in prison for using a firearm to commit murder. He was also sentenced to 240 months in prison for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. He was also sentenced to 3 years of supervised release. Both sentences are to run concurrently.
According to documents in the case, between June 2016 and February 2018, Taquan Clarke and numerous others conspired to possess and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. On July 28, 2017, Clarke was involved in a plot to rob an individual of cocaine and money. During this attempted robbery, Clarke shot the victim, K.H., in the head, resulting in K.H.’s death.
“Taquan Clarke cut short the life of another man,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Proctor. “Thanks to the coordinated efforts of law enforcement, he has been brought to justice for that act. It is an honor to serve with the dedicated agents, officers, and prosecutors who made that happen.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Gang Response Investigative Team, the Gary Police Department, and the Lake County Sheriff’s Department. The trial was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys David J. Nozick and Caitlin M. Padula.
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.
Fort Lauderdale Investment Advisor Arrested on Federal Wire Fraud and Money Laundering Charges in Multi-Million-Dollar Ponzi Scheme Targeting Venezuelan InvestorsRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Federal authorities have arrested Andrew Hamilton Jacobus, 64, of Fort Lauderdale, on charges of wire fraud and money laundering stemming from a years-long scheme that defrauded international investors — primarily Venezuelan nationals — of more than $94 million.
According to an indictment in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Jacobus falsely portrayed himself as a seasoned financial advisor managing legitimate investment portfolios, while instead misappropriating investor funds for personal use and to pay returns to earlier investors — in classic Ponzi fashion.
Between 2019 and 2023, Jacobus allegedly solicited funds through entities under his control, including Kronus Financial Corporation, and Finser International, promising access to secure investment products and high-yield returns. Federal prosecutors allege Jacobus forged account statements, falsified documentation, and diverted client funds to luxury personal expenditures and unrelated business ventures.
Jacobus was taken into custody by federal agents without incident in Fort Lauderdale. He made his initial appearance in federal court. If convicted, Jacobus faces up to 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud and money laundering, in addition to forfeiture of assets and restitution.
U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Emmanuel Gomez of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert F. Moore.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-20309.
###
Former Real Estate Podcaster Sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Prison for Orchestrating $7M Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A popular former podcaster was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for orchestrating a real estate Ponzi scheme that took in over $7.3 million from at least 63 victims from across the United States, involving a wide range of income levels and ages.
According to court documents, from October 2017 to March 2022, Matthew Motil, 45, of North Olmsted, was a licensed real estate agent in Ohio who owned and operated several companies. He devised a scheme to defraud investors by using his podcast and other marketing tools to position himself as an expert in the field. Branding himself as the “Cash Flow King,” Motil produced and hosted programs which he promoted through social media and his websites. He also authored a book, “Man on Fire,” to further his credibility with investors. Using a combination of marketing tactics, he solicited prospective investors to invest their money with him and his real estate companies as a lucrative way to generate passive income. Motil provided the victim investors with promissory notes he said were secured by mortgages on properties located throughout Northeast Ohio. Unbeknownst to them, he used the same properties over and over to obtain money from one victim after another, each time providing them with a promissory note purportedly secured by a mortgage. Each victim believed that they were the sole mortgage holder of the investment property and that they would be able to recover their investment through foreclosure if Motil failed to make the payments he promised.
Motil deflected mortgage questions from investors by saying that there were long processing times. As he convinced more people to invest with him, he used those new funds to pay earlier investors to keep the scheme going.
“These victims were deceived and manipulated into handing over their hard-earned money to a shameless and selfish individual for his own benefit,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Carol M. Skutnik for the Northern District of Ohio. “Our office will take action to prosecute anyone who preys on the trusting nature of others.”
Motil also used the victim investors’ money to fund his lifestyle. He funded personal expenses such as leasing a large home on Lake Erie and securing courtside seats to Cleveland Cavaliers home games. He also used the funds to pay his credit cards and financially sustain his fitness businesses.
“The 63 victims of this investment/Ponzi scheme are at the forefront of our work, and this conviction reflects our steadfast commitment to justice on their behalf,” said U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Blaine M. Forschen for the Cleveland Field Office. “Together with our federal, state, and local partners on the Secret Service Money Laundering Task Force, we will continue to protect our communities from those who exploit trust and inflict financial harm.”
Motil pleaded guilty to securities fraud and wire fraud on Sept. 5, 2024. U.S. District Court Judge Donald C. Nugent imposed the sentence July 18, 2025. Motil was also sentenced to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $5,085,247.08 in restitution.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Secret Service Money Laundering Task Force* with significant assistance from the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office and the former Major Crime Task Force hosted by the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department. The Office of the United States Trustee for Region 9 – Cleveland, Ohio, also significantly contributed to the case.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erica D. Barnhill for the Northern District of Ohio.
*The United Secret Service Task Force consists of the following agencies: Social Security-OIG, US Postal-OIG, US Postal Inspection Service, USDA-OIG, HUD-OIG, FBI, TIGTA-OIG, IRS-CI, Ohio BCI, Westlake PD, Parma PD, Amherst PD, North Olmsted PD, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, Ohio Investigative Unit, Lorain County Sheriff’s Department, Stark County Prosecutor’s Office, Geauga County Prosecutor’s Office, Lorain County Prosecutor’s Office, Ohio Casino Commission, Richfield PD and North Ridgeville PD.
Former Marine sentenced to 60 years for sexual exploitation of minorRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 25-year-old Houston resident has been ordered to federal prison after his multiple convictions involving child sexual abuse material (CSAM), announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Derrick Alexander Barnum pleaded guilty April 11 to possession, distribution and production of child pornography.
U.S. District Judge Ewing Werlein Jr. has now sentenced Barnum to a total of 720 months in federal prison. He received 360 and 240 months for the production and distribution convictions, respectively, as well as another 120 months for the possession of CSAM. They will all run consecutively for a total of 60 years in federal prison.
At the hearing, the court heard additional information regarding the victim, who was only three at the time the exploitation began. The victim’s mother prepared and read from a victim impact statement which described how the minor victim needed counseling for the trauma Barnum caused and will live with his actions for the rest of their life. In handing down the prison terms, the court noted this case presents some of the worst, most horrible facts the court has ever seen and that the scars inflicted upon the young child are scars that last for a lifetime.
The court will determine and order restitution at a later date. Barnum will serve the rest of his life on supervised release following the completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Barnum will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
“The defendant robbed this child of their innocence, not only by committing a pattern of vicious sexual assault, but also by publicizing videos of this abuse for the world to see,” said Ganjei. “While the sentence of 60 years will likely mean Barnum spends the rest of his natural life in prison, it still falls short of healing the scars he sadistically inflicted on the minor victim. A similar sentence awaits anyone who dares commit a comparable act.”
“Derrick Barnum didn’t just commit a crime; he broadcast the torture of a child for the gratification of other abusers,” said FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams. “This case is a brutal reminder of the hidden world we are fighting, where predators treat the sexual abuse of children as entertainment. FBI Houston agents and analysts pierced the veil of online anonymity and made sure Barnum faced justice. No one who commits crimes against children should believe they are beyond our reach.”
The investigation began in July 2024 when authorities discovered Barnum’s posts in a CSAM trading room on an internet-based application. He posted multiple videos of himself with the victim and sought other users that engaged in similar conduct.
Authorities conducted a search of Barnum’s residence and seized his electronic devices. A forensic examination revealed he had nearly 1000 images and 259 videos on his phone. All depicted minor victims engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including oral, anal and vaginal penetration, masturbation, sadistic and masochistic conduct and lewd and lascivious exhibition of genitals.
Approximately 27 videos showed Barnum engaging in sexual activity with the victim. Barnum created and transmitted his videos showing the sexual exploitation of the victim to third parties on a social media platform.
He also received a video from another adult male engaging in oral sex with a minor child.
The FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Franklyn prosecuted the case which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Former Boston Teacher Indicted for Child ExploitationRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former science teacher at Josiah Quincy Upper School in Boston has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for allegedly coercing or enticing at least one underage female to engage in sexual conversations online and requesting she produce and send child sexual abuse material (CSAM) of herself.
John Magee Gavin, 35, of Brookline, was indicted on one count of coercion and enticement of a minor; one count of receipt of child pornography; and one count of possession of child pornography. The defendant is currently in state custody on related charges and will appear in federal court in Boston on July 21, 2025 at 10:45 a.m.
According to court filings, Gavin is a former teacher at the Josiah Quincy Upper School in Boston. Prior to that, he was a 6th grade teacher at the Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter Public School in Hyde Park and was a paraprofessional with the Brookline Public Schools.
In January 2025, Gavin was allegedly identified as the owner of a Discord account who messaged at least 20 underage females between the ages of 12 and 17 years old located throughout the country, including Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, West Virginia, North Carolina and Florida, as well as the United Kingdom and Canada. It is alleged that, in these chats, Gavin disclosed that he was a teacher, engaged in sexual conversations and often asked the minors to send him pictures of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct – knowing that the children were underaged. He was arrested by local authorities in February 2025 and charged in Brookline District Court with enticing a child under 16, possession of child pornography and other offenses.
A forensic review of evidence seized from Gavin’s Brookline residence allegedly revealed approximately 147 files (94 images and 53 videos) on his iPhone depicting CSAM. It is alleged that the CSAM depicted rape of both female and male minors, ranging in age from approximately five to 17 years old.
Further analysis of Gavin’s Discord account identified numerous chats with underage females in which he allegedly engaged in online masturbation sessions with the minors, solicitated images from and exchanged images with the minors and engaged in sexualized conversations with the minors while he was at school. The chats also allegedly included conversations in which Gavin expressed his sexual interest in certain students at Josiah Quincy. In one conversation, Gavin allegedly discussed his sexual interest in a freshman student at the school where he was employed as a teacher and fantasied about having sex with her.
The charge of coercion and enticement of a minor provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274 or contact [email protected].
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Brookline Police Department; the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations; and the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and a member of the Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Former Bay Area Insurance Executive Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Insurance FraudRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – Former insurance executive Jasbir Thandi pleaded guilty in federal court today for his role in fraud schemes that led to the collapse of two insurance companies, Global Hawk Risk Retention Group (Global Hawk) and Houston General Insurance Exchange (HGIE).
Thandi, 69, of San Francisco, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Nov. 16, 2023. In pleading guilty, Thandi admitted to two counts of conspiracy to commit insurance fraud.
According to court documents and the plea agreement, Thandi founded Global Century Insurance Brokers, an insurance brokerage based in Livermore, Calif., which helped manage the insurance business of Global Hawk. Beginning no later than May 2018, Thandi and his co-conspirators conspired to create fraudulent financial records, including bank and brokerage records, that falsely overstated the amount of insurance capital and reserves held by Global Hawk, which were submitted to the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation, Global Hawk’s insurance regulator. In May 2020, after regulators discovered the fraud, Global Hawk was declared insolvent and liquidated.
Thandi misappropriated more than $1.5 million in Global Hawk funds for personal use, including the purchase of a house and a luxury vehicle. He also bought and sold stocks using Global Hawk funds that were required by law to be maintained as insurance reserves to cover future losses or insurance claims.
Thandi also admitted that in August 2016, he obtained a $6.4 million line of credit, later increased to $14 million, on behalf of Global Hawk, which the company’s board of directors had not authorized. Around March 2017, Thandi applied for a second line of credit in the name of Global Hawk in the amount of $14.75 million, again misrepresenting that the line of credit had been authorized by the board of directors.
In addition, Thandi admitted to engaging in a similar fraud conspiracy with HGIE, a Texas-domiciled insurance company. Thandi and his co-conspirators created fraudulent financial documents that were used to create false financial statements submitted to the Texas Department of Insurance on behalf of HGIE. These false documents included bank statements and brokerage statements that falsely represented that HGIE had millions of dollars in insurance reserves and capital assets. These false financial documents were used to deceive the Texas Department of Insurance into believing that HGIE had more assets and monies than it in fact had, and to conceal the fact that HGIE did not have the capital reserves required by Texas law.
“Thandi and his co-conspirators’ scheme was far-reaching and had devastating financial consequences, including the collapse of two insurance companies and millions in losses to hundreds of victims. Together with our law enforcement partners, we work tirelessly to ensure that individuals who commit insurance and other forms of fraud are held accountable and this case is an important example of our efforts,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian.
“Today’s guilty plea reflects the FBI's commitment to holding accountable those who manipulate financial records and abuse positions of trust for personal gain. By misrepresenting assets and misappropriating funds, Thandi not only misled regulators but also defrauded his company’s customers,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani. “The FBI and our partners will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who exploit consumers through corporate fraud.”
“Criminals who would use the U.S. mail to commit fraud should know that postal inspectors and our federal law enforcement partners remain committed to protecting the public from financial crime,” said U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), San Francisco Division Inspector in Charge Stephen M. Sherwood.
Thandi is the fourth and final defendant to plead guilty to charges related to these insurance fraud schemes. Co-defendants Sandeep Sahota, Jaspreet Padda, and Gunjan Aggarwal all previously entered guilty pleas to the same charges.
Thandi is currently released on bail. He is next scheduled to appear in district court on Aug. 29, 2025, for a status hearing on sentencing before U.S. District Judge Jon S. Tigar. Defendant faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of conspiracy to commit insurance fraud. Any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
The Department of Justice is notifying identified victims of these crimes through the Department of Justice Victim Notification System (VNS). If you believe you are a victim and have not received communication from the VNS at [email protected], please contact the Mega Victim Case Assistance Program (MCAP) toll free number 1-844-527-5299 (Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm Eastern), or send an email to [email protected].
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Ward and Evan Mateer are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Kevin Costello and Amala James. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and USPIS.
Federal Jury Finds Clearwater Man Guilty of Receiving Child Sexual Abuse Material Involving an InfantRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that a federal jury has found William Jack Filing (29, Clearwater) guilty of receiving child sexual abuse material. Filing faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in federal prison and registration as a sex offender. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 9, 2025.
According to evidence presented at trial, Filing was involved in an online chat with other others who discussed their desires to sexually abuse little boys. During the chats, Filing received videos of a child being sexually abused. Filing also expressed his desires to abuse children between the ages of one and four.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations–Tampa with substantial assistance from the Clearwater Police Department and the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force of Central Florida. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Erin Claire Favorit and Abigail King.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Federal Jury Convicts Drug Dealer of Trafficking Fentanyl from Minneapolis to BemidjiRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Following a four-day jury trial, a federal jury found Antonio Trevyll McGraw- Williams, 35, guilty of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.
“This defendant knew exactly what he was doing—pushing deadly poison into our communities that he bragged was strong enough to kill. This is appalling,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “With a long and violent criminal history, this defendant made a career out of exploiting addiction and endangering lives. Today’s conviction sends a clear message: if you try to profit off of death and destruction, you will be held accountable. The people of Bemidji and greater Minnesota deserve better than to live under the threat of fentanyl-fueled addiction and loss.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, in the summer of 2022, special agents with the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force learned that McGraw-Williams was bringing fentanyl from Minneapolis to Bemidji and then selling it to others. McGraw-Williams bragged that his fentanyl was so “strong” he might “catch a body”—he might kill a person. The agents learned McGraw-Williams was in Bemidji with fentanyl, selling it out of a room at a hotel. The agents applied for and received a search warrant to search McGraw-Williams’s room.
Inside the hotel room, agents found a bag of fentanyl and the markings of a drug dealer: tinfoils with user amounts of drugs, a blender to mix drugs, a scale to measure out drugs for sale, and mini Ziploc-style plastic bags for packaging drugs for users. The agents also found McGraw- Williams’s cell phone and a receipt bearing McGraw-Williams’s name. Agents searched the phone and found numerous texts conversations where McGraw-Williams was arranging drug deals. Later, DNA experts at the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension identified McGraw- Williams’s DNA on the bag of fentanyl.
McGraw-Williams has a long and serious criminal history that includes convictions for First Degree Aggravated Robbery, Felony Violation of Order for Protection, and Felony Domestic Assault.
After a four-day trial before Judge Joan N. Ericksen in U.S. District Court, a federal jury found McGraw-Williams guilty of one count of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl. A sentencing hearing will take place at a later date. McGraw-Williams faces a sentence a minimum of ten years in prison and a maximum of life.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force, Bemidji Police Department, Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew D. Forbes and Matthew D. Evans prosecuted the case.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Louisville Woman for Defrauding Pool Business CustomersRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an indictment on July 16, 2025, charging a Louisville woman with engaging in a scheme to defraud customers of her pool installation business, Davenport Extreme Pools and Spas Inc.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Acting Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, Cincinnati Field Office, made the announcement.
According to the indictment, Tracy Davenport, 50, was charged with 13 counts of wire fraud, 5 counts of money laundering, and 1 count of bankruptcy fraud. The indictment alleges Tracy Davenport, and others working at her direction, engaged in a scheme to induce customers into signing a contract for a pool installation and paying a large down payment up front. Tracy Davenport then used those funds for purposes other than what was agreed upon.
The defendant will make her initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky at a later date.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and IRS-CI, with assistance from the Louisville Metro Police Department, the Jefferson County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, and the United States Trustee’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Elver is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Fargo Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal Prison for a Large Dangerous Drug Distribution Enterprise and Distribution of Drugs Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
FARGO: Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl announced that Karmen Charles Fox, age 34 of Fargo, ND, appeared in United States District Court today, and was sentenced by Chief Judge Peter Welte to serve 480 months in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release for the offenses of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and Distribute 400 grams or more of Fentanyl (Count 1); Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering (Count 2); Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance (Fentanyl) (Count 3); Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting In Death (Count 4); Distribution of a Controlled Substance (fentanyl) (Count 5); Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) (Count 7); and Possession of Firearms by a Convicted Felon (Count 9). Fox was also ordered to pay a $700 Special Assessment.
As reflected in court documents, federal law enforcement responded to an overdose death on the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation, North Dakota. A subsequent investigation revealed that Karmen Fox was the primary source of the pills that were ingested by the victim. Fox sold fentanyl pills to individuals throughout North Dakota, including on the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation and Fort Berthold Indian Reservation for further distribution, including codefendants Scott Roberts (Roberts), Kristin Carrington (Carrington), Chasity Lynn Feather (Feather), Aiana Richotte (Richotte), among other coconspirators. Throughout the conspiracy, Fox and his codefendants used CashApp and other money transfer services to transfer the drug proceeds.
In December 2022, Fox distributed more than 100 fentanyl pills to Feather and Richotte who in turn drove the pills from Fargo to Devils Lake for further distribution. While in Devils Lake, Richotte and the overdose victim smoked a pill. Thereafter, the victim returned to her residence on the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation where she later died. After the victim was found unresponsive by her significant other, he called emergency medical personnel who unsuccessfully performed life-saving measures.
Law enforcement later obtained search warrants for Richotte and Feather’s hotel room in Devils Lake as well as Feather’s person. Law enforcement seized $1,293 from Feather’s purse and approximately 175 fentanyl pills from Feather’s person.Further investigation of the coconspirators’ social media accounts revealed that Scott Roberts and Fox discussed having previously distributed “thousands” of pills. They also discussed the arrests of Feather and Richotte in Devils Lake on December 13, 2022. On November 21, 2023, a search warrant was executed on Fox’s residence in Fargo. Law enforcement seized approximately 25 grams of methamphetamine, two grams of heroin, three firearms, and 34 boxes of various ammunition. Fox was prohibited from possessing firearms because of two prior felony convictions, including Attempted Delivery of Controlled Substance-Heroin.
Following a jury trial, Fox was found guilty of the above-mentioned offenses on March 19, 2025. Fox’s coconspirators plead guilty and were sentenced to federal prison for the following terms of incarceration:- Roberts was sentenced to 120 months
- Carrington was sentenced to 42 months
- Richotte was sentenced to 28 months
- Feather is awaiting sentencing.
“Today’s action reflects the significant prison sentence that awaits those who choose to infect our community with fentanyl, methamphetamines and illegal firearms,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “Drug dealers can’t hide from law enforcement in North Dakota, or anywhere in this country. The FBI is proud of our role in this joint effort with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners.”
“The defendant prioritized financial gain over human life and it’s my hope that his sentence will serve as a stark warning to others who are engaging in the same conduct,” said Acting US Attorney Puhl. “If you distribute dangerous narcotics that result in overdose deaths, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law”.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; BIA, Lake Region Narcotics Task Force; North Dakota Crime Lab, BCI; Cass County Task Force; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). This case was prosecuted by the US Attorney’s Office, District of North Dakota.
# # #
Former Local Firefighter Facing Federal Charges for the Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Garey A. Buscaino, 48, of Pensacola, Florida, has been indicted in federal court on charges related to a decade-long pattern of producing and possessing child pornography. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges.
Buscaino is scheduled for arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Zachary C. Bolitho at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida, on July 22, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.
The Indictment charges Buscaino with the Production of Child Pornography of four different minor females between 2015 – 2025. He is also charged with the Possession of Child Pornography Involving Minors Under the Age of 12 Years Old.
If convicted, Buscaino faces up to 30 years’ imprisonment as to each minor victim for the Production of Child Pornography and up to 20 years’ imprisonment as to the Possession of Child Pornography Involving Minors Under the Age of 12 Years Old.
The case is being jointly investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Federal Charges Filed Against Pensacola Man for Attempting to Kill Escambia County Sheriff’s DeputyRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Darrion K. Finley, 21, of Pensacola, Florida, has been indicted in federal court on charges related to a shooting incident in late-2024 during an attempted traffic stop of a reported stolen vehicle. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges.
Finley is scheduled for arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Zachary C. Bolitho at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida, on July 22, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.
The Indictment charges Finley with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Attempting to Kill an Escambia County Sheriff’s Deputy to Prevent Certain Communications, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.
If convicted, Finley faces up to life imprisonment.
The case is being jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office; and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jessica S. Etherton.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
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.
Exceptional Student Education Assistant Indicted for Transporting and Receiving Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Marrell Dion Speights (32, St. Petersburg) with receipt, transportation, and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). If convicted on all counts, Speights faces a maximum penalty of 60 years in federal prison and will be required to register as a sex offender.
According to the indictment and criminal complaint, Speights transported, received, and possessed visual depictions of children under the age of 12 being sexually abused. On June 19, 2025, Speights attempted to enter the United States at the Tampa International Airport from a Canadian flight that was returning from a trip to Japan. He was stopped by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents who reviewed his cellphone and found images of CSAM in the hidden photos feature.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection – Tampa. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin Claire Favorit.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Eight Young Mob Gang Members Indicted in Memphis on Racketeering, Murder, Robbery, Firearm and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
Larry Wilson, of Memphis, Tennessee, made his initial appearance in federal court today for his role in Young Mob (YM), a violent street gang that allegedly commits crimes including murder, assault, arson, drug trafficking, kidnapping, robbery, and narcotics trafficking. Wilson is the last of eight Young Mob defendants charged to make his initial appearance related to this case.
“As alleged, this gang shot and killed a member of a rival gang in a restaurant drive-through and robbed customers at gunpoint at another Memphis establishment, recklessly endangering innocent bystanders,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Gang violence that spills into our community spreads fear and insecurity in our neighborhoods. The Criminal Division, in partnership with our federal and local law enforcement colleagues, remains steadfast in our pursuit of gangs that inflict senseless violence in our country.”
“This gang engaged in numerous unlawful activities, including acts of extreme violence, which demonstrated a blatant disregard for human life,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Stankiewicz of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “Through a coordinated effort, the ATF and its local, state, and federal partners worked tirelessly to dismantle the organization and ensure that its members are held accountable.”
Larry Wilson, 35, Brian Lackland, 35, Paul Nelson, 32, Mohamed Samba, 25, Braxton Beck, 33, Edgar Smith, 39, Jerrod Cox, 32, and Cedric Jackson, 33, all Tennessee residents, were charged for their membership and association with YM. YM members signify their membership by wearing red and/or black clothing and jewelry with an “Eight Ball” or the letters YM or YMM. YM members and recruits are required to commit acts of violence to gain membership and maintain their status in the gang.
On May 28, 2022, Samba and other, not-yet-identified, YM members, shot suspected rival KSBG gang members ─ murdering one and attempting to murder two others ─ in a McDonald’s restaurant drive-through in Memphis. After the shootings, YM members burned the stolen car used in the shooting.
The indictment further alleges that on May 13, 2023, at Tug’s Casual Grill, a Memphis restaurant, Nelson, Cox, and another unnamed YM member robbed customers at gunpoint. The unnamed member was shot and killed. Nelson and Cox left the mortally wounded man in a nearby fire station parking lot and then drove their stolen vehicle to another location and burned it.
The indictment also alleges that on March 17, 2024, Lackland and Beck attempted the murder of a suspected gang rival, which was thwarted in part due to police presence in the area. In addition, on June 11 and June 12, 2024, Lackland, Wilson, Beck, and Jackson attempted to rob customers at a Memphis tattoo shop before abandoning the scene because of police presence. Undeterred, the same group, along with Smith this time, returned to the tattoo shop after police left the area and robbed multiple customers.
As alleged, YM receives money and income from drug trafficking, kidnappings, and robberies. Such funds are used for gang purposes, including obtaining weapons and narcotics and providing support for YM gang members, including those in prison serving time for various crimes. YM also receives money and income from various musical interests, with defendant Lackland being a well-known rapper who goes by the stage name “Stupid Duke.”
YM members and associates are also separately charged as part of a drug conspiracy that was responsible for the distribution of 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Multiple members are also charged with various firearm offenses.
If convicted, Lackland, Samba, Nelson, Smith, and Cox face a maximum penalty of life in prison. If convicted, Wilson faces a maximum penalty of 60 years in prison, Beck faces a maximum penalty of 45 years in prison, and Jackson faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
The ATF, Memphis Multi-Agency Gang Unit, and Memphis Police Homicide Unit are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Brian P. Leaming and Amanda Kotula of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Neal Oldham for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative in Memphis conducted in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Tennessee and local, state, and federal law enforcement. The joint effort addresses violent crime by employing, where appropriate, federal laws to prosecute gang members and their associates in Memphis.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
District of Arizona Charges 124 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from July 12, 2025, through July 18, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 124 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 62 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 54 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 7 cases against 8 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), 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).
Recent matters of interest include:
United States v. Arnold Perez: On July 12, Border Patrol Agents watched as a group of four suspected illegal aliens enter a Toyota RAV4 in the Coronado National Park. Agents initiated a vehicle stop, but the driver failed to yield and quickly accelerated to over 80 mph. Agents deployed a Vehicle Immobilization Device and successfully spiked the vehicle, but the driver continued driving with smoke coming from the front tires, lost control, and drove into a grassy field and through a barbed wire fence before coming to a stop. The driver, later identified as Arnold Perez, and two passengers ran from the vehicle. Agents apprehended Perez and the other subjects who ran, along with two additional individuals who remained in the vehicle. The four passengers were determined to be citizens of Mexico illegally present in the United States. Perez was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien for Profit. [Case Number: 25-MJ-02295]
United States v. Luis Sahid Guanin-Manzaba: On July 13, Luis Sahid Guanin-Manzaba entered the primary inspection lane for the Interstate 19 Border Patrol Checkpoint in a Chevrolet Malibu. At secondary inspection, agents determined that the passenger in the Malibu was a citizen of Mexico, illegally present in the United States. Agents then searched the trunk of the vehicle and discovered another individual who was also determined to be a citizen of Mexico, illegally present in the United States. Guanin-Manzaba was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien for Profit. [Case Number: 25-MJ-02338]
United States v. Jasiel Antonio Moreno-Cuevas: On July 16, Jasiel Antonio Moreno-Cuevas was charged by criminal complaint with Re-entry of a Removed Alien. Moreno-Cuevas had been previously removed from the United States in 2014 after being convicted of Aid and Abet Impersonation of a United States Citizen, a felony, in the United States District Court, District of Arizona. Moreno-Cuevas was sentenced to six months in prison, followed by one year of supervised release. [Case Number: 25-MJ-08369]
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).
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-121_July 18 Immigration Enforcement
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Diamond District Fence Pleads Guilty in Connection with Large Scale Stolen Property OperationRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Dimitriy Nezhinskiy pleaded guilty to conspiring to receive stolen property that had been transported in interstate commerce. The proceeding was held before United States District Judge William F. Kuntz. When sentenced, Nezhinskiy faces a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment as well as restitution of approximately $2,500,000, and forfeiture of more than $2,500,000.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD); and Patrick J. Ryder, Commissioner, Nassau County Police Department (NCPD) announced the guilty plea.
“The defendant’s criminal conduct, purchasing items stolen from homes and businesses nationwide, provided a vital market for South American Theft Groups and other criminals to sell the proceeds of their crimes,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Our Office and our law enforcement partners are dedicated to ensuring that those who facilitate the victimization of people and businesses are brought to justice.”
“For more than five years, Dimitriy Nezhinskiy established a demand for stolen merchandise, which allowed South American Theft Groups to profit from repeated burglaries,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia. “His purchases perpetuated a ripple of criminality targeting residences and business across the country. The FBI will never tolerate any individual who provides economic support to other criminal actors to continue their illicit operations in our city.”
“This defendant ran a black-market pipeline, buying stolen luxury goods from organized theft crews that targeted homes and businesses,” said NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “It was a deliberate operation that helped professional burglars prey on innocent people. Today's guilty plea sends a clear message: If you profit off stolen property, we will find you and dismantle your operation. I want to thank our detectives and federal partners for their work on this case.”
“Thanks to the hard work of our Detective Division, working closely with our local and federal partners, the residents of Nassau County can rest easy that we have shut down another criminal group that set out to victimize innocent people,” stated Nassau County Police Commissioner Ryder. “Let this be a message to the South American Theft Groups and anyone who chooses to work with them: our detectives will find you and bring you to justice if you prey on the good people of our County.”
According to court filings and statements the defendant made at today’s guilty plea, between approximately 2020 and 2025, the defendant conspired with his co-defendant, Juan Villar, and others, to receive and purchase stolen property, including jewelry, watches, handbags, and assorted luxury items that had been stolen outside of the state of New York and transported into New York. Nezhinskiy and Villar regularly served as “fences” for South American Theft Groups, burglary crews based out of South America, who traveled around the United States committing burglaries, typically targeting wealthier neighborhoods or jewelry vendors, and stealing luxury accessories like watches, jewelry, and handbags. Nezhinskiy and Villar’s operation, which consisted of purchasing stolen property from these crews for cash, provided an essential market for the stolen goods, perpetuating the dangerous criminal activities of the burglary and theft crews composed largely of foreign nationals.
As detailed in court filings and the guilty plea, evidence linked Nezhinskiy and Villar to thefts around the country, including at least two dozen residential or commercial burglaries across the United States between 2019 and 2025. Additionally, between October 2022 and January 2024, an undercover detective conducted seven controlled sales of purported stolen property, including high-end handbags and luxury accessories, to Nezhinskiy or Villar, or both, at their business location on 47th Street in Manhattan’s Diamond District. During these controlled sales, the undercover detective provided the defendants with items that the undercover told the defendants had been stolen, and received cash in exchange for the stolen goods.
Simultaneous with the defendant’s arrest in February 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the location in the Diamond District where Nezhinskiy and Villar operated a pawn shop and seized large quantities of suspected stolen property, including dozens of high-end watches and jewelry. Law enforcement also recovered large quantities of cash and marijuana. A search warrant was also executed at storage units belonging to Nezhinskiy in New Jersey where an additional cache of suspected stolen property was found. From inside Nezhinskiy’s storage units, law enforcement recovered large quantities of luxury goods and clothing, including high-end handbags, wine, sports memorabilia, jewelry, artwork, and power tools consistent with those commonly used in burglaries and opening safes.
On June 16, 2025, Villar pled guilty to conspiring to receive stolen property that had been transported in interstate commerce and is pending sentencing.
The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division and the Office’s General Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael R. Maffei, Katherine P. Onyshko, and Sean M. Sherman are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendants:
DIMITRIY NEZHINSKIY
Age: 43
North Bergen, New JerseyJUAN VILLAR
Age: 48
Queens, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-40 (WFK)
Dealer Sentenced to 20 Years for Role in Fatal Fentanyl Overdose of Carlsbad WomanRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Prolific drug dealer Bryan Kim Bullard, who supplied fentanyl to 25-year-old Danielle Good of Carlsbad and failed to seek help for over an hour while she lay dying of an overdose in a bathtub, was sentenced today in federal court to 20 years in prison.
“This tragic case highlights not only the defendant’s role in a young woman’s death, but also his chilling lack of humanity during her final moments,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “Those who knowingly and repeatedly risk the lives of others by distributing fentanyl will face severe consequences.”
“The trafficking of fentanyl is not just a crime; it is an act of poisoning our communities, robbing families of their loved ones, and leaving behind a trail of grief and despair,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian Clark. “Our hearts go out to the victim’s family – no sentence can bring back their loved one, but her memory and their resilience, fuels our fight to combat this devastating crisis.”
During today’s hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill Streja argued for the maximum 20-year sentence, saying Bullard showed extreme indifference and callous disregard for Danielle, whose final hours on September 9, 2023, were marked by neglect and exploitation.
Despite early signs of a medical emergency—Bullard requested Narcan at 11:17 p.m.—he did not call 9-1-1 until 12:22 a.m. and fled the scene before help arrived. During the critical delay, Bullard engaged in multiple Facebook video chats and sent disturbing messages, including a video showing the unconscious victim in the bathtub. He later referenced the incident casually in unrelated conversations, showing no remorse.
Not only did Bullard’s 9-1-1 call come more than an hour after his initial request for Narcan, but it was also nearly 40 minutes after telling a friend he was “in the middle of saving someone’s life,” and 14 minutes after sending the video..
During Bullard’s 9-1-1 call, he stated, “overdose, overdose,” and that he was calling from “…her phone…” While the dispatcher was trying to explain life saving measures, Bullard stopped talking, and the call ended.
San Diego Police officers were dispatched immediately, at approximately 12:23 a.m., to the Mission Valley apartment complex. The defendant fled the scene before police arrived.
In arguing for the statutory maximum sentence, Assistant U.S. Attorney Streja told the court that on the very afternoon of the day that Bullard watched Danielle overdose and left her to die, he responded to a drug customer on Facebook, confirming he had fentanyl for distribution. Bullard continued to be involved in the sale of controlled substances in the following days and months. Streja also emphasized that Bullard has an extensive criminal history, including acts of violence and narcotics-related convictions.
Streja argued that the defendant’s messages sent after watching Danielle die reflected his focus was the inconvenience her death caused him. “He has never once shown any evidence that he appreciates the fatal risk of fentanyl, that he appreciates what he did to Danielle’s family and all who loved her, or that he has any desire or capacity or wherewithal to change his behavior going forward.”
When handing down the strongest possible sentence, U.S. Chief District Judge Cynthia A. Bashant told the defendant he is “a one-man crime wave” who has been in custody for most of his adult life, and who continued to sell fentanyl despite watching Danielle die in front of him. “I’m shocked and astounded you continued to deal after causing the death of Danielle,” Judge Bashant said, agreeing with Streja’s characterization of the defendant as callous. “Nothing deters you from criminal conduct…I don’t know what else to do to protect the public.”
According to the government’s sentencing memo, Danielle was a young woman who in her short life had overcome pain, adversity, and her own trauma to bring joy and love to her family and all those around her. The victim impact statements submitted in connection with this case highlight the devastating impact of Bullard’s conduct on Danielle’s family members. They describe shattered lives and the indescribable, unrelenting pain of losing their loved one.
At the hearing, Danielle’s mother, Cheryl Good, took the podium holding an urn containing her daughter’s ashes. She described her family’s devastation at the loss of a young woman who was universally loved by all who knew her. She said Danielle had a “nurturing spirit, always caring for others,” and was an especially kind and compassionate daughter, sister, aunt, friend and volunteer who enjoyed visits with special needs children and elderly in need of companionship.
She urged the judge to impose the maximum sentence for the man “who did nothing to save my daughter’s life.” She later added: “My heart shattered when I learned that she had died alone…my grief is profound,” she said.
Special Agents and Task Force Officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Overdose Response Team (formerly known as Team 10) led the investigation. This case is the result of ongoing efforts by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the San Diego Police Department, the La Mesa Police Department, National Guard Counterdrug Task Force and the California Department of Health Care Services to investigate and prosecute the distribution of dangerous illegal drugs—fentanyl in particular—that result in overdose deaths. The Drug Enforcement Administration created the Overdose Response Team as a response to the increase in overdose deaths in San Diego County.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill S. Streja.
The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program, created by Congress with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, provides assistance to federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States. This grant program is administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). There are currently 33 HIDTAs, and HIDTA-designated counties are located in 50 states, as well as in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 24-cr-01063-BAS
Bryan Kim Bullard Age: 44 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Distribution of Fentanyl
21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Drug Enforcement Administration
San Diego Police Department
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
Homeland Security Investigations
La Mesa Police Department
California Department of Health Care Services
High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program
Columbia Rapper Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison for Bank Fraud and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Malik Jahlil Bell, 28, a/k/a “Leek Obama,” of Columbia, has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for bank fraud, money laundering, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Bell was the leader of a fraud ring that called themselves “Swiperz Only.” Bell and his co-defendants learned to exploit a customer service benefit from banks that provided “provisional credits” to accounts when a customer reported fraudulent activity. These “provisional credits” were temporarily applied to the accounts while the bank investigated the disputed payments or reports of fraud. Bell and the “Swiperz Only” ring concocted a scheme that allowed them to make multiple withdrawals of these “provisional credits” from ATM machines, leaving the accounts with large negative balances.
Bell and the “Swiperz Only” brazenly flaunted their crimes, frequently posting pictures and videos on social media sites of huge stacks of cash, opulent jewelry and firearms. Bell personally posted multiple music videos referencing the “Swiperz Only” scheme and advertising it to others. Evidence presented during Bell’s guilty plea and sentencing showed that the fraud ring shared a large home, decorated with custom “Swiperz Only” logos. The logo depicts a man standing in front of an ATM with a duffle bag filled with cash. The group also purchased custom diamond jewelry of the “Swiperz Only” logo and frequently wore “Swiperz Only” branded clothing.
United States District Mary G. Lewis sentenced Bell to 108 months imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. He was ordered to repay $238,652.87 in restitution to the victim bank.
This case was investigated by United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney T. DeWayne Pearson is prosecuting the case.
###
Columbia Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Cocaine through the U.S. MailRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Axel Gustavo Calderon-Rosado, 36, of Columbia, has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for trafficking cocaine.
Evidence presented in court revealed that in 2021, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and U.S. Postal Inspection Service began investigating Calderon-Rosado for his involvement in a drug trafficking operation that used the U.S. Postal Service to ship parcels of drugs and drug proceeds. Investigators identified Calderon-Rosado as a significant supplier of cocaine in both the Columbia and Lexington County areas.
According to the investigation, Calderon-Rosado regularly shipped large sums of cash to Puerto Rico, and in return, received kilogram quantities of cocaine by mail. Investigators identified two locations associated with Calderon-Rosado that he used for storing and distributing illegal drugs. On July 13 and Oct. 4, 2021, investigators intercepted two suspicious parcels addressed to locations associated with Calderon-Rosado. The first package contained approximately one kilogram of cocaine; the second, more than three kilograms.
Following the October package, authorities executed an undercover operation involving the second package, and arrested Calderon-Rosado after he took possession of the cocaine. Law enforcement searched both associated addresses and seized more than $30,000 in cash, cocaine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, including a kilogram press, multiple stolen firearms, and ammunition. A review of postal and financial records revealed that between April 2020 and November 2023, Calderon-Rosado received over 30 kilograms of cocaine through the mail as part of the trafficking operation.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Axel Gustavo Calderon-Rosado to 168 months imprisonment, to be followed by a four-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI Columbia field office, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, the Columbia Police Department, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ariyana Gore and Lamar Fyall prosecuted this case.
###
Chinese national facing federal charges for posing as a federal agent to defraud a Belleville seniorRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging a Chinese national for allegedly participating in an imposter scam and trying to defraud a Belleville senior out of more than $70,000.
Zhigang Lian, 42, a Chinese national and lawful resident of La Puente, California, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud.
“Federal authorities will never call to demand your personal or financial information over the phone, notify you that you’re a victim of identity theft, ask you to send cryptocurrency or travel to your home to pick up money,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Scammers are preying on vulnerable victims through imposter scams, but the U.S. Attorney’s Office is using its full legal authority to hold offenders accountable.”
According to court documents, Lian is accused of defrauding a 76-year-old Belleville resident. On June 13, the victim received a scam text message purporting to be from Apple and explaining a transaction was detected for $258. The victim called to dispute the transaction and began speaking with the scammers.
“Criminal fraudsters are constantly devising new schemes aimed at intimidating innocent, often elderly, victims and scaring them into parting with their hard-earned money. If someone randomly contacts you and asks for money, do not give it to them and contact the proper authorities if they are persistent,” Acting Resident Agent in Charge David Bolin, of the U.S. Secret Service – Springfield Resident Office said. “Thank you to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Metropolitan Enforcement Group Special Investigations and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois for their work in pursuing this case and protecting unsuspecting victims from financial fraud.”
The scammer referred the victim to the Federal Trade Commission due to a “severe problem,” and the victim began speaking with another member of the conspiracy posing as a federal agent. The faux agent told the victim their identity had been stolen, and they needed to withdraw all the money from their bank accounts to protect their assets. The victim withdrew $25,000 and handed over to a conspirator on June 17.
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is charged with defending the nation’s mail system from illegal use. With the collaborative efforts of our federal law enforcement partners, Postal Inspectors investigate fraudsters who utilize the U.S. Mail to perpetuate financial schemes to defraud others to enrich themselves. Postal Inspectors seek justice for victims including those most vulnerable,” said Inspector in Charge, Ruth Mendonça, who leads the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which includes the St. Louis Field Office.
Lian is accused of posing as a federal agent and picking up $45,000 from the victim on July 1. After the cash exchange, officers with the Illinois State Police took Lian into custody.
An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
Convictions for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud are punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment and fines up to $250,000.
The U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service are contributing to the investigation with support from the Illinois State Police Metropolitan Enforcement Group Special Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Gross is prosecuting the case.
California Residents Guilty of Conspiracy to Commit Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property and Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property from Metairie BusinessRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that both LORENZO TAYLOR (“TAYLOR”), California resident, age 39, and NEMIRAH DAVIDSON (“DAVIDSON”), California resident, age 39, pled guilty on July 1, 2025, and that JOVAN COLLINS (“COLLINS”), age 35, also a California resident, pled guilty on July 16, 2025 to a two-count indictment for conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen goods, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, and interstate transportation of stolen goods, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2314.
According to the indictment, TAYLOR, DAVIDSON, and COLLINS conspired to transport cigarettes that were stolen during a November 21, 2024 burglary at a national chain retail distribution center. They then traveled out of state before being apprehended in Fort Stockton, Texas the following day while in possession of the cigarettes. TAYLOR, DAVIDSON, and COLLINS had been further implicated in similar burglaries in North Carolina and Texas in February of 2024.
For Count 1, TAYLOR faces up to 5 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release. As to Count 2, TAYLOR faces up to 10 years of imprisonment, up to 3 years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine.
For Count 1, DAVIDSON faces up to 5 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release. As to Count 2, DAVIDSON faces up to 10 years of imprisonment, up to 3 years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine.
Finally, as to Count 1, COLLINS faces up to 5 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release. As to Count 2, COLLINS faces up to 10 years of imprisonment, up to 3 years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine. For every charged count, TAYLOR, DAVIDSON, and COLLINS each face payment of a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, Knightdale Police Department, Atlanta Police Department, Rockmart Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Fort Stockton Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Paul J. Hubbell of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
* * *
CaaStle Founder Charged in $300 Million Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Christopher G. Raia, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging CHRISTINE HUNSICKER with wire fraud, securities fraud, money laundering, making false statements to a financial institution, and aggravated identity theft. The charges in the Indictment arise from an alleged scheme by the defendant to defraud investors in the fashion technology business CaaStle and a related venture out of more than $300 million through false statements, misleading claims, and fabricated documents. HUNSICKER self-surrendered this morning and will be presented this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken.
“As alleged, Christine Hunsicker defrauded investors of hundreds of millions of dollars through document forgery, fabricated audits, and material misrepresentations about her company’s financial condition,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “The promise of pre-IPO technology companies can be fertile ground for fraudsters who play on investor euphoria. Investors should be aware of these incentives and that pre-IPO companies are not subject to the rigors of SEC registration. This Office is committed to protecting investors who place their trust and capital in emerging companies. We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to investigate, detect, and prosecute those individuals who abuse our markets and our investors”
“Christine Hunsicker allegedly submitted fraudulent financial statements to swindle investors and banks of more than $300 million,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia. “This alleged scheme was stitched together with repeated deception and misinformation, ultimately betraying the trust of the defendant’s clients. The FBI remains committed to apprehending any business owners who implement unlawful practices to increase their personal wealth.”
As alleged in the Indictment:[1]
HUNSICKER, a well-known entrepreneur and successful businessperson in the fashion-tech industry, founded and was the chief executive officer of CaaStle, a clothing technology business. While promoting CaaStle as a rapidly growing business valued at more than $1.4 billion, HUNSICKER knew that CaaStle was in financial distress with limited cash and significant expenses. To raise the capital for CaaStle’s operations, HUNSICKER provided investors with falsified income statements, fake audited financial statements, fictitious bank records, and sham corporate documents that grossly overstated CaaStle’s operating profit, revenue, and available cash. She also misrepresented to investors that their funds would be used to purchase discounted shares from existing shareholders who needed liquidity, when in fact she fabricated the existence of those shareholders and used the money as new capital for CaaStle while concealing the company’s cash needs. In total, HUNSICKER fraudulently induced more than $275 million in investments.
When confronted by an audit firm in October 2023 about transmitting a fake audit to an investor, HUNSICKER lied, falsely claiming that she had created the fake audit in connection with a lecture she gave at Princeton University, and that sending the audit to the investor had been a one-time error. In reality, HUNSICKER had provided two fake audits to the investor while soliciting an investment. She later repaid that investor to prevent the public disclosure of her fraud. Undeterred, she continued the scheme, providing an investor with fake bank account screenshots showing nearly $200 million in available cash when CaaStle had less than $200,000. One month later, in October 2024, HUNSICKER provided a different investor with a fake draft audit. In 2024, HUNSICKER also falsified the signature of a Board director to make it appear that the Board had authorized the grant of stock options to another investor, raising more than $20 million for CaaStle. Around the same time, HUNSICKER extended her fraudulent activities to a new business venture, P180, using false information about CaaStle’s success to raise approximately $30 million for P180. HUNSICKER also submitted false information about CaaStle to a bank in order to obtain and keep a $20 million personal loan.
Even after the CaaStle Board removed HUNSICKER as Chair and prohibited her from soliciting investments, she continued her fraudulent activities and attempted to raise new capital. In early 2025, she sold $8 million of her CaaStle shares and more than $5 million in P180 convertible notes without disclosing material information to investors. In February 2025, HUNSICKER attempted to sell an additional $19 million of her CaaStle shares to another investor. HUNSICKER persisted in her deceptive practices even after law enforcement agents seized her electronic devices in March 2025, continuing to meet with the investor about a fake audit without revealing its fraudulent nature, her removal from the Board, or the prohibition against her selling shares. CaaStle filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on June 20, 2025.
* * *
HUNSICKER, 48, of Lafayette, New Jersey, is charged with one count of wire fraud, two counts of securities fraud, and one count of money laundering, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. HUNSICKER is also charged with one count of making false statements to a financial institution, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, and aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory sentence of two years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI. Mr. Clayton also expressed appreciation for the assistance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which separately initiated civil proceedings against the defendant today.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marguerite Colson and Alexandra Rothman are in charge of the prosecution.
us_v._hunsicker_indictment.pdf
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the descriptions of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Byrd Gang Member Sentenced for Racketeering, Firearm, and Drug ConspiraciesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – SAMUEL MORTON (“MORTON”),a/k/a “Sosa,” age 27, from New Orleans, was sentenced on July 2, 2025, for violations of 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d), conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C. § 1962(d); conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, in violation of Title 21, U.S.C. § 846,; and conspiracy to possess firearms, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C. § 924(o),.
According to court documents, MORTON was a member of the Byrd Gang, which operated primarily out of the former Magnolia Housing Development in Central City New Orleans. MORTON and other members of this organization and their associates ran a violent drug trafficking ring in and around New Orleans dating back to 2014. Its members daily distributed drugs, including heroin, fentanyl, crack cocaine and marijuana, and always possessed firearms. The gang, and MORTON specifically, committed many acts of violence, often in furtherance of an ongoing feud with its rivals, the Ghost Gang. Numerous individuals have been shot and killed on both sides, and innocent bystanders have also been caught in these retaliatory shootings.
United States District Judge Milazzo sentenced MORTON to 216 months imprisonment for each count, to be served concurrently, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. MORTON was also ordered to pay a $300 mandatory special assessment fee.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth Privitera and Sarah Dawkins of the Violent Crime Unit.
Buffalo man arrested on gun chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Aden Ibrahim, 29, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with being a felon in possession of ammunition, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy C. Lynch, who is handling the case, stated that on the morning of July 9, 2025, Buffalo Police responded to a Woodette Place residence for a report of an “Unwelcomed Guest.” Upon arrival, the complainant told officers that an individual known as “Beano” refused to leave the residence. The complainant also stated that “Beano” was in possession of crack cocaine and a firearm. Officers later observed “Beano,” exit the residence and attempt to flee on foot. He was in possession of a U.S. Permanent Resident Card identifying him as Aden Ibrahim. Detectives were then called to the residence, where they observed in plain view a revolver with tape on the handle lying on the floor in a bedroom. The complainant stated that “Beano” was staying in the room and that all the contents in the bedroom belonged to him.
Detectives subsequently executed a search warrant at the residence, seizing a revolver, ammunition, approximately 26 grams of suspected crack cocaine base, and drug paraphernalia. Ibrahim was convicted of felonies in March 2022 and January 2024 and is legally prohibited from possessing ammunition.
Ibrahim made an initial appearance before U.S. District Judge Michael J. Romer and was detained.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Alphonso Wright, and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
# # # #
Bronx Woman and Queens Man Plead Guilty to Participating in Murder Plot That Killed Innocent BystanderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, announced today that KARL SMITH, a/k/a “Pacavell,” and CHELSEY HARRIS, a/k/a “Ms. Chinn,” have pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Paul E. Engelmayer for their role in orchestrating a shooting that killed Clarisa Burgos, an innocent bystander. HARRIS pled guilty on June 26, 2025, and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 6, 2025, and SMITH pled guilty yesterday and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 8, 2025. Two other defendants, DAJAHN MCBEAN, a/k/a “Jeezy Mula,” a/k/a “Freeze,” and JULISSA BARTHOLOMEW, a/k/a “Trophy,” a/k/a “Tactical Mommy,” have been charged and are awaiting trial.
“Karl Smith and Chelsey Harris participated in an elaborate plot to murder their victim, setting him up to be shot multiple times at several locations across New York City in December 2023,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “During one of those shootings, an innocent bystander, Clarisa Burgos, was tragically killed. Thanks to the hard work of the prosecutors in this Office and our law enforcement partners, Smith and Harris will now be held to account for this heinous crime. We and the NYPD are committed to making our streets safer and will tirelessly fight against gun crime.”
“This wasn’t random gunfire – it was a calculated plot to carry out a murder on New York City streets, and an innocent woman paid the price,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “It’s a stark reminder of how reckless, calculated violence puts innocent New Yorkers in the line of fire. I commend our detectives and federal partners for their unrelenting work to take violent criminals off the streets and hold them accountable.”
As alleged in public court filings, statements at public court proceedings, and the charging documents in the case:
In December 2023, MCBEAN was detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York (“MDC Brooklyn”), awaiting sentencing for directing a separate gang-related shooting in January 2017. While in federal custody, MCBEAN feuded over social media with another person (“Victim-1”). MCBEAN then used a contraband cellphone from inside MDC Brooklyn to conspire with SMITH and HARRIS, who were at liberty in the community, to lure Victim-1 to various nightclubs in New York City where MCBEAN had arranged for gunmen to kill Victim-1. MCBEAN paid SMITH and HARRIS through intermediaries, including BARTHOLOMEW, for their roles in this scheme.
The plot to kill Victim-1 resulted in two shootings. First, on December 24, 2023, MCBEAN and his co-conspirators lured Victim-1 to a nightclub (“Club-1”) in Queens, New York. Outside Club-1, gunmen shot and struck Victim-1’s car multiple times but missed Victim-1. Second, on December 26, 2023, MCBEAN and his co-conspirators tried again to kill Victim-1, this time luring him to a different nightclub (“Club-2”) in Queens. At MCBEAN’s direction from within MDC Brooklyn, gunmen again fired on Victim1’s car when it was parked outside Club-2. The bullets struck Victim-1 multiple times, but Victim-1 survived. The bullets also struck and killed Clarisa Burgos, who was seated in Victim-1’s car. Clarisa Burgos was twenty-eight years old.
* * *
SMITH, 27, of Queens, New York, and HARRIS, 24, of the Bronx, New York, each pled guilty to stalking resulting in life threatening bodily injury and death, which carries a maximum term of life in prison. SMITH also pled guilty to aiding and abetting the discharge of a firearm in furtherance of the plot to kill Victim-1, which carries a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison. HARRIS additionally pled guilty to aiding and abetting the possession of a firearm in furtherance of the plot to kill Victim-1, which carries mandatory minimum term of five years in prison.
The mandatory minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the work of the U.S. Secret Service Financial Crimes Task Force and the NYPD. Mr. Clayton also thanked the Special Agents from Homeland Security Investigations’ El Dorado Task Force for their assistance in the investigation. He added that the investigation is ongoing.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent & Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan W. Allison, Andrew Chan, Dominic Gentile, and Timothy Ly are in charge of the prosecution.
Brazilian National Charged with Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brazilian national unlawfully residing in Framingham has been indicted with illegally reentering the United States after deportation.
Joelson Gomes Fonseca, 39, is charged with one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien.
According to the charging documents, Fonseca was deported in March 2008 after having been convicted of an aggravated felony.
The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years 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. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Ferguson 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 Charged with Assaulting Federal Officers During His ArrestRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England, today announced that LUIS PETERSON ROHR FERREIRA BORGES, 24, a citizen of Brazil, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with offenses related to his assaulting federal officers during his arrest.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, Ferreira Borges has a case pending in Connecticut Superior Court stemming from an arrest on September 16, 2023. In that case, he is charged with assault of public safety, emergency medical, public transit or health care personnel; assault in the third degree; breach of peace in the second degree; interfering with an officer; and intimidation based on bigotry or bias in the first degree. On October 10, 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) issued an arrest warrant for Ferreira Borges charging him with being present in the United States in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
It is further alleged that on January 28, 2025, officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), located and attempted to apprehend Ferreira Borges in Hartford, but he fled in his vehicle. Two ERO officers pushed themselves off the vehicle to avoid being run over. Ferreira Borges then drove on a sidewalk and nearly hit a bystander before fleeing the scene.
It is further alleged that on June 7, 2025, federal law enforcement officers made another attempt to arrest Ferreira Borges pursuant to the DHS warrant in East Hartford. Ferreira Borges led the officers on a lengthy foot chase before entering his vehicle, which had a license plate registered to another vehicle. Ferreira Borges fled the scene, hitting a law enforcement vehicle with his car as he drove away.
It is further alleged that federal law enforcement officers apprehended Ferreira Borges in the area of Zion Street in Hartford on June 25, 2025. Ferreira Borges was non-compliant and resisted arrest. After being placed in a government vehicle, he kicked, flailed, and screamed obscenities at ERO officers. As the vehicle traveled to the federal building on Main Street in Hartford, Ferreira Borges started to bite one ERO officer who tried to control him, and spit on a second ERO officer who was driving the vehicle.
Ferreira Borges is charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of eight years, and with influencing, impeding, or retaliating against a federal official, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of six years.
Ferreira Borges, who has been detained since his arrest, appeared yesterday in Hartford federal court.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.
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 Neighborhood (PSN).
Black Hawk Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Black Hawk, South Dakota, man convicted of Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on July 11, 2025.
Matthew Charles Ratliff, 51, was sentenced to five years and three months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $20,000 in restitution to online victims. He was further ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Ratliff will be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
Ratliff was indicted for Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography by a federal grand jury in May 2023. He pleaded guilty on April 7, 2025.
The case was reported through a Cybertip, which informed law enforcement the defendant was downloading and viewing images of young children being sexually abused. Searches of Ratliff’s various devices revealed around 280 images of child sexual abuse material. At sentencing, Judge Schreier discussed how each time an image of a child being sexually abused is viewed, that child is re-victimized. Some of the children in the images have been identified, and Ratliff was ordered to pay restitution to each of them.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case.
Ratliff was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Billings man sentenced to 6 years in prison for possessing a firearm following a felony convictionRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Billings man who illegally possessed a firearm was sentenced today to 72 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
In March 2025, a federal jury found Joshua David Heafner, 40, guilty of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on March 14, 2023, around 8:00 p.m., the Billings Police Department received a report of a hit and run at the intersection of North 31st Street and 6th Avenue North. Officers observed an unoccupied Volkswagen Passat in the middle of the intersection and witnesses described a man who resembled Heafner fleeing the scene on foot after the accident. Inside the car, officers saw a black pistol, some rounds of ammunition, and a methadone bottle with Heafner’s name on it. Heafner, who had outstanding arrest warrants at the time, was located near his residence, where he ran from the police before eventually being detained. Further investigation of the Passat revealed Heafner’s fingerprints in multiple locations on the driver’s side and on a cell phone found on the front driver’s side floorboard. Heafner was convicted of assault on a peace officer, robbery, and assault with a weapon, all felonies, in Billings in September 2013.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacob Yerger and Julie Patten prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the ATF and the Billings 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 violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.
XXX
Billings man sentenced to 12 years in prison for distributing meth and fentanylRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A man who distributed drugs in the Billings area was sentenced today to 144 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Shannon Ray Emeline, 45, pleaded guilty in January 2025 to one count of distribution of methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on February 22, 2024, DEA agents arranged for a confidential source to purchase methamphetamine from Emeline. The deal took place in Emeline’s vehicle and the source paid him $2,000 for a quantity of meth.
In April 2024, agents with the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation searched a residence in Billings, where they located a significant quantity of methamphetamine. They subsequently learned Emeline had purchased the meth and was actively distributing the drugs in Billings.
On May 1, another confidential source told investigators Emeline was staying at a Billings hotel to meet with a source of supply. Agents surveilled the hotel and located Emeline’s vehicle in the parking lot. They performed a traffic stop, searched the vehicle, and seized a plastic bag containing meth and another bag containing fentanyl.
Investigators interviewed Emeline, who admitted renting the hotel room to facilitate the purchase of two pounds of meth. Agents subsequently searched the room and found a bag of meth, a bag of fentanyl, and $6,855.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Yerger prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the DEA, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, and Montana Highway Patrol.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.
XXX
Auburn Man Charged with Federal Program Fraud Makes His Initial Appearance in CourtRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – On Friday, July 18, 2025, Cesar Campos-Reyes, 52, a naturalized U.S. citizen and resident of Auburn, Alabama, made his initial appearance in federal court following his arrest earlier this week, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson.
On July 15, 2025, federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies executed search warrants at multiple properties associated with Campos-Reyes after a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging him with four counts of bank fraud, four counts of wire fraud, and one count of money laundering. These charges stem from an alleged scheme involving federal program fraud. In total, law enforcement searched 14 locations across six Alabama counties—Autauga, Baldwin, Crenshaw, Elmore, Lee, and Macon. Eight of the 14 locations were restaurants.
During today’s hearing, Campos-Reyes pleaded not guilty to all charges. A federal magistrate judge set the trial date for November 3, 2025, and scheduled a detention hearing for July 23, 2025, to determine whether Campos-Reyes will remain in custody pending trial. He is currently being held by the United States Marshals Service. If convicted on all counts, Campos-Reyes faces up to 30 years in federal prison and significant financial penalties. There is no parole in the federal system.
As part of Tuesday’s enforcement actions, three Mexican nationals—Luis Miguel Campos-Reyes, Isaac Fernandez-Lopez, and Marco Antonio Guzman—were also arrested and face federal charges. Luis Campos-Reyes and Fernandez-Lopez were each charged with harboring and unlawfully employing aliens, an offense punishable by up to one year in prison. Guzman was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. All three are scheduled for their initial appearances in court later this afternoon.
An indictment or criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The July 15 operation and resulting charges are the culmination of a coordinated investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). Additional support was provided by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Alabama Department of Corrections, United States Marshals Service, and the police departments of Auburn, Opelika, Prattville, and Wetumpka, as well as the Elmore, Lee, and Macon County Sheriff’s Offices.
Significant operational support was also provided by the Gulf of America Homeland Security Task Force, a joint enforcement initiative led by the FBI and HSI.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle R. Turner and John J. Geer III.
Ashley Man Sentenced to 300 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Yesterday, Kyle T. Brady, 39 years old, of Ashley, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Brady was sentenced to 300 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release.According to documents in the case, on two occasions in July of 2022, Brady distributed methamphetamine. On July 19, 2022, a search warrant was served at Brady’s residence where approximately 250 grams of methamphetamine, a mixture of fentanyl and cocaine, and marijuana were found. Officers also located two handguns, a shotgun, an AR-15 rifle, two ballistic vests, and over a thousand rounds of ammunition. Brady has prior felony convictions for drug distribution and firearms offenses. This is Brady’s seventh conviction related to drug distribution, and as such, he was determined to be a career offender.
“Drugs, firearms, and large quantities of ammunition are never a good combination, especially when they are illegally possessed by a convicted felon,” said Proctor. “The public is safer thanks to the combined efforts of the excellent team that investigated and prosecuted this case.”
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with the assistance of the Auburn Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s North Central Laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey R. Speith.
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.
Armed Serial Robber Sentenced to 60 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
An armed serial robber and convicted felon who robbed five cash loan businesses across the Fort Worth metroplex was sentenced today to 60 years in federal prison, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson.
Charles Brownlee, 37, was convicted by a jury in March 2025 for one count of Hobbs Act Conspiracy to Interfere with Commerce by Robbery, five counts of Hobbs Act Interference with Commerce by Robbery, five counts of Using, Carrying, and Brandishing a Firearm during a Crime of Violence, and one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. He was sentenced today to 720 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor, who also ordered him to pay $21,123.47 in restitution.
According to evidence presented at trial, between May 9 and May 21, 2024, Brownlee robbed at gunpoint five Cash Store businesses in Grand Prairie, Fort Worth, Euless, Hurst, and Grapevine. Trying to conceal his identity, Brownlee covered his face with a medical mask and wore different baseball caps and outfits for the robberies.
“After terrorizing employees at multiple businesses throughout the DFW area, this defendant’s violent crime spree ended because of the stellar work of our law enforcement partners,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy E. Larson. “The lengthy sentence imposed justly puts this serial felon behind bars for a very long time and serves as a message to others that we will vigorously prosecute those who jeopardize our communities’ safety.”
“The significant sentence received by the defendant is a result of the collaborative efforts of the Longhorn Violent Crimes Task Force to hold a violent, serial robber accountable. This individual committed a series of robberies throughout Tarrant County and strong partnerships with local law enforcement allowed us to stop these acts of violent crime,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “The FBI will continue to work alongside our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to surge resources and fight violent crime in our communities across North Texas.”
Numerous law enforcement agencies were involved in the investigation, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, Fort Worth Resident Agency, Grand Prairie Police Department, Fort Worth Police Department, Euless Police Department, Hurst Police Department, and Grapevine Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric B. Chen and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Levi Thomas prosecuted and tried the case.
Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 15 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber has sentenced Reshay Rashard Nelson (45, Tampa) to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Nelson pleaded guilty in April 2025.
According to court documents, officers from the Tampa Police Department stopped a vehicle driven by Nelson on April 10, 2023. A search of Nelson and his vehicle resulted in the discovery of an ounce of cocaine, a scale, and a loaded firearm. Nelson received an enhanced sentence under the Armed Career Criminal Act based on his prior felony convictions for possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, obstructing an officer with violence, possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell, and trafficking in cocaine.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David P. Sullivan.
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.
Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 15 Years After Selling Drugs and Firearm to Undercover OfficerRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber has sentenced Rodrick Quinelle Dallas (38, St. Petersburg) to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and distributing cocaine. Dallas pleaded guilty in April 2025.
According to court documents, on December 20, 2022, Dallas sold an undercover officer from the St. Petersburg Police Department a firearm and cocaine. Dallas received an enhanced sentence under the Armed Career Criminal Act based on his prior felony convictions for resisting an officer with violence and sale of cocaine.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David P. Sullivan.
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.
Arizona drug trafficker sentenced to over seven years in prisonRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – An Arizona man was sentenced on July 15 to seven years and six months in prison after pleading guilty to distribution of methamphetamine and distribution of pills containing parafluorofentanyl and fentanyl.
According to court documents, three controlled buys were conducted in February and March 2022, Matthew Stuart Powlowsky, 35, sold meth and counterfeit Oxycodone pills containing fentanyl and parafluorofentanyl, which he shipped by mail from Arizona to Virginia. In all, the Powlowsky sold 86.48 grams of meth, which forensic analysis showed was 95% pure.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Stephen Farina, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Mastandrea prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-151.