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1 September 2026
Ritchie County Man Admits to Inciting Violence Against Law EnforcementRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Pennsboro, West Virginia, man has admitted to solicitating others online to attack federal law enforcement, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
Christopher Bentley, 34, pleaded guilty to solicitation to commit a crime of violence. According to court documents, Bentley issued several statements on his Facebook page, encouraging people to kill Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Several posts included information about body armor, firearms capable of penetrating it, and vulnerable areas not protected by a bulletproof vest.
“Targeting federal law enforcement officers is not just dangerous—it is an attack on the rule of law itself,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. “Soliciting violence online is a serious federal crime, and we will respond decisively to protect the men and women who keep our communities safe.”
Bentley faces up to 20 years in federal 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 Andrew Cogar is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
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.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Repeat Felon Sentenced for Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – Keelon Jamar Bridges, 25, of Mobile was sentenced on August 24, 2026, to 77 months in prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. According to court documents Bridges has multiple prior felony convictions for Receiving Stolen Property 1st Degree, Burglary 3rd Degree, Attempt to Elude, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, Receiving Stolen Property 3rd Degree, Assault 2nd Degree, Receiving Stolen Property 2nd Degree, and Burglary Unoccupied Conveyance.
On November 17, 2025, a Mobile Police officer observed a white Kia Soul with an expired tag. When the officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop the Kia accelerated away from the officer. Bridges fled at speeds of 70 miles per hour in a 25 mile per hour zone. Bridges bailed out of the car carrying a blue backpack while the car was still moving. Bridges was detained, and inside the backpack officers located a Tan Glock 19X, a wallet with Bridges’ driver’s license, a Black Nike Ski mask, and a pair of black gloves.
Following the term of incarceration, Bridges will be placed on three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Mobile Police Department along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. Hutchins III prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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.
Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to 40 Years for Producing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced a man with a prior child sex offense conviction to 40 years in prison yesterday for producing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Christopher James Porter, 33, was also ordered to serve a lifetime of supervised release and to register as a sex offender.
“Mr. Porter went to extraordinary lengths to take advantage of a minor and avoid being caught. After soliciting explicit photos and videos, he traveled across the country, took her from her home and destroyed the minor’s phone, engaged in sexual relations with her, and created photos and videos of his sexual abuse. He will now spend 40 years in federal prison—longer than he has been alive,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson.
“Porter targeted, groomed, and violated a child for his own sexual gratification. While it is difficult to understand how anyone could do this, it is the stark reality of the danger lurking online every day. We must talk to our children to prevent them from being victimized by disgusting predators like Porter,” said Reid Davis the FBI Charlotte Special Agent in Charge.
According to court documents and the sentencing hearing, Porter began to communicate online with a 16-yer-old victim in May 2023. During their communications, and after the victim disclosed her age, Porter asked the minor to make and send him sexually explicit videos and photos, which the minor shared. Over the course of their communications, Porter discussed visiting the minor in Western North Carolina. At the time, Porter was in Colorado.
In October 2023, the minor left her home and met Porter, who was waiting nearby in his vehicle. Once the minor was in the car, Porter instructed her to delete her social media application from her phone. Porter drove west and near the Tennessee border, he destroyed minor’s cell phone and threw it into a dumpster. In Tennessee, Porter got a hotel room, engaged in sexual activity with the minor, and made child pornography videos of her. Over the next few days, Porter and the minor continued to travel west and stopped at rest stops and parking lots to sleep along the way. Porter continued to engage in sexual activity with the minor in his car.
On October 25, 2023, officers with the Kirkwood Missouri Police Department observed Porter’s vehicle parked in a parking lot. The officers approached the vehicle, made contact with Porter, and determined that he was a registered sex offender. The police also discovered that the minor who was with him in the vehicle had been reported as missing. Officers arrested Porter and seized his phone. A forensic analysis of the phone revealed that Porter had produced sexually explicit videos and images involving the minor. In an interview with law enforcement, Porter admitted that he had met the minor online and he had travelled to North Carolina from Colorado to pick her up. He further admitted that he had engaged in sexual activity with the minor.
Porter is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation to a federal facility.
In making the announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the FBI in Charlotte, the Monroe Police Department, Kirkwood Missouri Police Department for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimlani Ford of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Ponchatoula Man Sentenced for Violating the Federal Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – ROBERT HINES (“HINES”), age 47 of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, was sentenced on August 27, 2026, to 60 months of imprisonment by United States District Judge Barry Ashe for violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
Judge Ashe also sentenced HINES to a 4-year period of supervised release following his term of imprisonment, and payment of a mandatory $100 special assessment fee per count.
HINES pled guilty to Counts 1, 3, and 4 of the superseding indictment pending against him. Count One charged him with conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, over 40 grams of fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 846. Count Three charged him with knowingly using a telephone in committing the commission of a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 843(b) and Title 18, United States Code, Section 2. Count Four charged him with possession with intent to distribute over 40 grams of fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B).
According to court records, HINES conspired with co-defendants to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, fentanyl in the Eastern District of Louisiana. In recorded wire calls, HINES discussed ordering fentanyl from his suppliers on multiple occasions. After observing HINES meet with his supplier, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of HINES and observed HINES throw fentanyl pills out of his car window. Law enforcement recovered the pills, and they tested positive for 341 grams of fentanyl.
United States Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Hammond Police Department, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Rachal Cassagne and Lauren Server of the Narcotics Unit.
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.
Perry Man Sentenced to Decade in Federal Prison for Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Fairley Trey Pitts, 35, of Perry, Florida was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This repeat felon has demonstrated that the only way we can guarantee he won’t continue to flood our streets with deadly drugs is by keeping him locked away behind bars, and my office will do just that. Anyone who peddles poisonous drugs, like meth, in the Northern District of Florida should be on notice that federal prison awaits them.”
According to court records, on June 9, 2025, a search warrant was executed at Pitts’ home, leading to the discovery of 81 grams of methamphetamine. Pitts was on federal supervision at the time following a 2017 federal conviction for distributing methamphetamine. Once he is released from prison, he will be on supervised release again for a ten year term.
“Drug dealers who profit by poisoning North Florida communities will be brought to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar, DEA Tampa Field Division. “Methamphetamine is highly trafficked in this region and our agents and law enforcement partners will not stop until these bad actors are held accountable for their actions.”
The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Pennsylvania Man Indicted on Federal Drug Charges and Apprehended in U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force OperationRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – A federal grand jury in Jackson recently returned an indictment charging a Pennsylvania man with multiple federal drug offenses. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the return of the indictment today.
The investigation in this case revealed that in September 2024, Douglas James Moran, 38, of Pittsburgh, PA, traveled from Pennsylvania to Texas to obtain a large amount of cocaine for redistribution. During his return trip to Pennsylvania, Moran encountered a law enforcement officer in Jackson. A probable cause search of Moran’s vehicle revealed 15 kilograms of cocaine hidden in the rear cargo area.
Earlier this month, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against Moran charging him with conspiring with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute over 5 kilograms of cocaine and possessing with intent to distribute over 5 kilograms of cocaine.
Following the return of the indictment, the U.S. Marshals Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force in Jackson adopted the case for a fugitive investigation and determined that Moran was in Pennsylvania. A collateral lead was sent to the U.S. Marshals Western Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force in Pittsburgh. The task force located Moran and took him into custody in Swissvale, PA, just outside of Pittsburgh.
This case is pending before United States District Court Judge J. Daniel Breen in Jackson. Moran is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment on each count in the indictment. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "This indictment represents another great example of federal and local law enforcement working together to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations that distribute illegal narcotics into and through the Western District of Tennessee. I commend the outstanding fugitive recovery efforts of the U.S. Marshals Service, and we look forward to holding the defendant accountable in federal court."
“I commend the efforts of law enforcement in combating drug trafficking and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for holding offenders accountable," said U.S. Marshal Tyreece Miller. “The United States Marshals Service will always support our partners to bring fugitives to justice no matter where they hide.”
This case is being investigated by members of the Department of Homeland Security and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.
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For more information, please contact our Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Norfolk man convicted of federal drug trafficking and firearms charges sentenced to 31 years in prisonRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – Jamar Edward Gay, 37, of Norfolk, was sentenced to 31 years in prison following his conviction at trial for maintaining a drug-involved premises to distribute cocaine fentanyl, marijuana, and suboxone; possessing a machinegun in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes; being a felon in possession of a firearm; and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on Dec. 18, 2025, law enforcement conducting a Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) investigation searched Gay’s residence in Norfolk. During the search, investigators located a container with crack cocaine, powder cocaine, fentanyl, and suboxone strips in the kitchen. Inside the bedroom, investigators found a handgun equipped with a machinegun conversion device (MCD), rendering the firearm capable of automatic fire. Investigators also recovered two other MCDs, marijuana, and Gay’s driver’s license, debit card, and United States Marine Corp identification. Investigators found another firearm in the living room.
Gay has previous convictions for, among other crimes, unlawful wounding in March 2018 and malicious wounding in August 2022. As a previously convicted felon, Gay cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
On March 18, a federal jury convicted James Edward Sweat on charges of using a drug involved premises, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl. Sweat faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to life in prison when sentenced on Sept. 25.
Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant 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 Dominique Evans, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes. The Chesapeake Police Department and the Norfolk Police Department assisted in the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph E. DePadilla and Luke Bresnahan prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Washington, D.C., comprises agents and officers from the ATF; FBI; Washington Baltimore HIDTA; Homeland Security Investigations; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; Diplomatic Security Service; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service; Naval Criminal Investigative Service; Transportation Security Administration Federal Air Marshals Service; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and Enforcement and Removal Operations, with the prosecution being led by 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. 2:25-cr-6.
Nine gang members charged with RICO conspiracy and murderRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A second superseding indictment was unsealed today charging a total of nine alleged gang members with racketeering influenced corrupt organization (RICO) conspiracy, racketeering murder and attempted murder, and firearms charges, all as part of their membership with the United Bloods Nation gang and the Cautious District subset of the Immaculate Balla Family, commonly called the Makk Ballers.
The indictment alleges that the following defendants were members of Cautious District, a violent Eastern Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware street gang that participated in murder, robberies, narcotics trafficking, shootings, violent assaults, weapons violations, and other acts of violence:
• Christopher Clovis-Weathers Monfiston, aka YB or Twin, 34, of Chesapeake;
• Tyvon Lyncurtis Smith, aka Rich Fargo, Cautious, or Teddy, 34, of Parksley;
• Ky’riq Nygee Weathers, aka OG Kane, Riq, or Rico, 29, of Parksley;
• Markiece Obryant Harmon, aka Issue, 41, of Hare Valley;
• Zyshon Bell, aka Problem, 24, of Temperanceville;
• Travon Bell, aka Lil Sav or Sav, 22, of Parksley;
• Antoine Muhammad Beverley, aka Psycho, 30, of Onancock;
• Quaizal Kellam, aka Sleaze Da Fox, Front, Frontline, or Qui, 25, of Exmore; and
• Kemyrion Boggs, aka 38, 22, of Onancock.
Smith, Monfiston, and Weathers were charged in the original indictment and the newly added defendants were the result of additional investigation.
According to court documents, members and associates of the gang were expected to retaliate against members of rival gangs.
On Feb. 13, 2024, Smith, Monfiston, and Weathers allegedly coordinated travel from their homes in Virginia Beach to Brown’s residence in Accomack County, where they hoped to encounter a rival gang member they believed had assaulted Weathers two days earlier. That night, they allegedly hid in the woods near the home and ambushed Victim 1, shooting him multiple times. Victim 1 died of his injuries.
On Jan. 19, 2024, Smith, Boggs, and other Cautious District members allegedly shot at the home of the father of a rival gang member in an attempt to draw that member out of hiding. On Feb. 11, 2024, Smith, Weathers, Zyshon Bell, and other gang members returned to the residence. There, Zyshon Bell and another gang member allegedly looked through windows to locate the sleeping victim and fired dozens of shots into the home, striking Victim 2, who was partially paralyzed from his injuries.
The gang members were also allegedly involved in numerous other shootings, including at vehicles and homes associated with rival gang members. They also allegedly carried out robberies, including armed carjackings. During the execution of search warrants, law enforcement seized numerous firearms, including guns that were traced forensically to shootings carried out by the gang.
Smith, Monfiston, and Weathers each face a minimum penalty of life in prison for their role in Victim 1’s murder. Zyshon Bell faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. The remaining defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Theophani K. Stamos, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Tysen Duva, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and Eric Weindorf, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement.
This prosecution is a result of a years-long investigation led by Accomack County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO). ACSO continues to actively investigate this case, along with HSI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen S. Taylor and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Wirt for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Ben Tonkin of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case.
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. 2: 25-CR-00140.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Nine Gang Members Charged with RICO Conspiracy and MurderRead the Press Release
A second superseding indictment was unsealed today charging a total of nine alleged gang members with racketeering influenced corrupt organization (RICO) conspiracy, racketeering murder and attempted murder, and firearms charges, all as part of their membership with the United Bloods Nation gang and the Cautious District subset of the Immaculate Balla Family, commonly called the Makk Ballers.
The indictment alleges that the following defendants were members of Cautious District, a violent Eastern Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware street gang that participated in murder, robberies, narcotics trafficking, shootings, violent assaults, weapons violations, and other acts of violence:
- Christopher Clovis-Weathers Monfiston, also known as “YB” and “Twin,” 34, of Chesapeake, Virginia;
- Tyvon Lyncurtis Smith, also known as “Rich Fargo,” “Cautious,” and “Teddy,” 34, of Parksley, Virginia;
- Ky’riq Nygee Weathers, also known as “OG Kane,” “Riq,” and “Rico,” 29, of Parksley, Virginia;
- Markiece Obryant Harmon, also known as “Issue” and “I$$Ue,” 41, of Hare Valley, Virginia;
- Zyshon Bell, also known as “Problem,” 24, of Temperanceville, Virginia;
- Travon Bell, also known as “Lil Sav” and “Sav,” 22, of Parksley, Virginia;
- Antoine Muhammad Beverley, also known as “Psycho,” 30, of Onancock, Virginia;
- Quaizal Kellam, also known as “Sleaze Da Fox,” “Front,” “Frontline,” and “Qui,” 25, of Exmore, Virginia; and
- Kemyrion Boggs, also known as “38,” 22, of Onancock, Virginia.
Smith, Monfiston, and Weathers were charged in the original indictment and the newly added defendants were the result of additional investigation.
According to court documents, members and associates of the gang were expected to retaliate against members of rival gangs.
On Feb. 13, 2024, Smith, Monfiston, and Weathers allegedly coordinated travel from their homes in Virginia Beach to Brown’s residence in Accomack County, where they hoped to encounter a rival gang member they believed had assaulted Weathers two days earlier. That night, they hid in the woods near the home and ambushed Victim 1, shooting him multiple times. Victim 1 died of his injuries.
On Jan. 19, 2024, Smith, Boggs, and other Cautious District members shot at the home of the father of a rival gang member in an attempt to draw that member out of hiding. On Feb. 11, 2024, Smith, Weathers, Zyshon Bell, and other gang members returned to the residence. There, Zyshon Bell and another gang member looked through windows to locate the sleeping victim and fired dozens of shots into the home, striking Victim 2, who was partially paralyzed from his injuries.
The gang members were also allegedly involved in numerous other shootings, including at vehicles and homes associated with rival gang members. They also allegedly carried out robberies, including armed carjackings. During the execution of search warrants, law enforcement seized numerous firearms, including guns that were traced forensically to shootings carried out by the gang.
Smith, Monfiston, and Weathers each face a minimum penalty of life in prison for their role in Victim 1’s murder. Zyshon Bell faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. The remaining defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; First Assistant U.S. Attorney Theophani K. Stamos for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Special Agent in Charge Eric Weindorf of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., Field Office made the announcement.
The Accomack County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) is leading the investigation, along with HSI.
Trial Attorney Ben Tonkin of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen S. Taylor and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Wirt for the Eastern District of Virginia are 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.
Newark Real Estate Developer Admits to Participating in Bribery Scheme and to the Unauthorized Sale of I.D. Cards with Department of Homeland Security InsigniaRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – Menashe Davidovitz, 31, of Airmont, New York, a real estate developer, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Georgette Castner today to a four-count Information that charged him with conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, conspiracy to commit bribery in connection with the business and transactions of a federally funded local government and organization, conspiracy to sell false seals and conspiracy to sell official insignia, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. These charges related to Davidovitz’s role in a scheme to bribe Newark, New Jersey employees and to sell law enforcement identification cards embossed with the insignia of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From June 2024 through November 2024, Davidovitz conspired with others to provide City of Newark employees with cash and other benefits in exchange for the employees’ official action in matters related to City of Newark properties that Davidovitz owned. Specifically, Davidovitz paid bribes in order to obtain permits and certificates, including certificates of occupancy, which were required before his properties could be occupied or sold. Davidovitz also paid bribes to local officials for their help in resolving violations at his properties.
Additionally, from October 2021 through January 2023, Davidovitz worked with co-conspirators, including Jonathan Ledesma, a former U.S. Air Marshal, to sell “Law Enforcement Family Member” cards that identified their bearers as “family member[s]” of Ledesma, “a Federal Officer.” These cards were embossed with the apparent insignia of the DHS as well as a QR code that was linked to Ledesma’s cellular phone. Though Davidovitz was not authorized to sell the insignia of the DHS, or any colorable imitation of the insignia, he received approximately $30,000 in proceeds from the sale of these cards.
On July 17, 2024, Ledesma pleaded guilty before District Judge Castner to a two-count Information that charged him with making false statements and selling official insignia without authorization. On December 13, 2024, Ledesma was sentenced to three years of probation.
The conspiracy to commit honest services fraud charge that Davidovitz pleaded guilty to carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment. The conspiracy to sell false seals and conspiracy to commit bribery charges each carry a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment. The conspiracy to sell official insignia charge is punishable by a maximum penalty of six months in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for January 21, 2027.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy and special agents of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Shawn A. Rice with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francesca Liquori of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Special Prosecutions Division.
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Defense counsel:
Jerome A. Ballarotto, Esq., Trenton, New Jersey
John W. Mitchell, Esq., Bedford, New York
davidovitz.information.pdfNew York Woman Sentenced for Multiple Fraud OffensesRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A New York woman was sentenced on August 31, 2026, in U.S. District Court in Portland for bank fraud, false use of a passport, and aggravated identity theft.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Arlene Sands, 61, to 25 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Sands will also be ordered to pay restitution. Sands pleaded guilty on July 16, 2025.
According to court records, in February 2023, Sands attempted to withdraw $17,000 from a credit union account belonging to two victims. Sands claimed to be one of the victims and presented a fake United States passport card, which bore her image but the victim’s name and date of birth, as identification. Credit union staff did not complete the transaction.
The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service investigated the case, with assistance from the Portland Police Department.
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New Gloucester Man Sentenced for Presenting Counterfeit Treasury Checks and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A New Gloucester man was sentenced on August 31, 2026, in U.S. District Court in Portland for passing counterfeit U.S. Treasury checks and wire fraud.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Keith Mitchell, 39, to 30 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Mitchell was also ordered to pay $104,464 in restitution. Mitchell pleaded guilty on February 5, 2026. In addition, Mitchell was on supervised release for a federal drug conviction when he deposited the counterfeit checks. His term of supervised release was revoked and he was sentenced to 21months in prison, to be served consecutively.
According to court records and statements made in court, Mitchell deposited 13 counterfeit U.S. Treasury checks totaling $83,632 into his bank account from April through June 2024. The checks contained the serial numbers and amounts of actual U.S. Treasury checks that had been issued to third parties, but were counterfeited to be made payable to Mitchell. In May 2021, Mitchell also received $20,832 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds based on a fraudulent PPP loan application. The application falsely claimed that Mitchell owned a sole proprietorship business that had earned gross revenue of $100,000 in 2020. Mitchell also submitted a falsified tax return in support of the application.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Paycheck Protection Program: The PPP was a COVID-19 pandemic relief program administered by the SBA that provided forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses. The PPP permitted participating third-party lenders to approve and disburse SBA-backed PPP loans to cover payroll, fixed debts, utilities, rent/mortgage, accounts payable and other bills incurred by qualifying businesses during, and resulting from, the COVID-19 pandemic. PPP loans were fully guaranteed by the SBA.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs
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Mobile Man Sentenced to over 12 Months in Prison for Illegally Possessing a MachinegunRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Mobile man was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for illegally possessing a machinegun.
According to court documents, on February 17, 2026, Mobile Police Department officers were patrolling downtown Mobile as part of increased law enforcement presence during Mardi Gras parades and festivities. During the surveillance operation, officers arrested Joshua Marcel Pugh, 22, for possessing a machinegun-conversion device. A machine gun conversion device, commonly referred to as a “Glock switch,” is designed to convert a pistol into a fully automatic weapon.
Pugh was subsequently indicted on a charge of possessing a machine gun and pleaded guilty to the offense. United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer sentenced Pugh to 12 months and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Mobile Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica S. Terrill prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
Mobile Man Sentenced to over 12 Months in Prison for Illegally Possessing a MachinegunRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Mobile man was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for illegally possessing a machinegun.
According to court documents, on February 16, 2026, Mobile Police Department (MPD) officers arrested Braedan Matthew Thomas, 20, for possessing a machinegun-conversion device. Earlier that day, a photo and video were posted on social media showing Thomas lying flat on his back with his arms outstretched and his shoes removed and placed on the ground near his feet. Thomas was surrounded by a group of individuals, some of whom appeared to be laughing. The scene was consistent with mocking an individual who had been killed the previous night, February 15, 2026, and much of the display appeared consistent with details surrounding that individual’s death. Based on the background, the video appeared to have been recorded in downtown Mobile.
On February 16, MPD officers were conducting increased patrols in and around downtown Mobile as part of heightened law enforcement presence during Mardi Gras parades and festivities. A few hours after the social media posts were made, officers approached Thomas in downtown Mobile to further investigate. Officers found Thomas in possession of a Glock handgun affixed with a machinegun-conversion device.
Thomas was indicted for possessing a machinegun and subsequently pleaded guilty to the charge. United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer sentenced Thomas to 12 months and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possessing the machinegun.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Mobile Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica S. Terrill prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
Missouri Man Who Blackmailed Teens for Nude Images Sentenced to 12 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – A man from Bollinger County, Missouri was sentenced Tuesday to 12 years in prison for using threats to coerce two 13-year-old girls into sending him nude images.
Terry Michael Howard, 21, of Marble Hill, pleaded guilty in May in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to one count of enticing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct. He admitted communicating with the two teens via Snapchat in December of 2024, when he was 19. Howard claimed to be the father of a 13-year-old boy who the victims knew. He threatened to hurt or kill the boy if they did not send him sexually explicit material. In January 2025, the Bollinger County Sheriff’s Office received a report about the allegations and investigated, resulting in Howard’s confession. The FBI located records of the chats, and Howard’s threats. Howard told investigators that he initially did this as a joke and stopped when he realized the girls were scared.
“Terry Michael Howard actually knew both minors but pretended to be someone else online to trick them. He threatened to harm a third juvenile if the two victims didn’t produce sexually explicit images,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Joe Weston of the FBI St. Louis Division. “I commend both 13-year-old victims for their bravery. Even though they were the ones who were sexually exploited, they called 911 because they were worried another person would be harmed.”
After his release from prison, Howard will be on supervised release for 20 years and will be required to register as a sex offender.
The Bollinger County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Missoula man pleads guilty to child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – A Missoula man who distributed Child Sex Abuse Material (CSAM) through social media admitted to charges today, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Derek Allen Moderie, 41, pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing child pornography. Moderie faces up to 40 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and approximately $50,000 in special assessments.
U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided and will determine a sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for a later date. Moderie remained in custody pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that tips from Google and Instagram to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in the spring of 2024 identified Moderie as a user possibly distributing Child Sex Abuse Material on their platforms.
Law enforcement sought a warrant and searched Moderie’s Gmail and Instagram accounts, where they found evidence that he had distributed illicit material between February and June 2024. Investigators learned prior tips in 2023 had also identified Moderie. They obtained a search warrant for Moderie’s Missoula home where they discovered emails in which he had traded CSAM with others online.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Lowney is prosecuting the case. The Missoula Police Department and the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation.
Midwest City Man Sentenced to Serve 15 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – CHRISTIAN NATHANIEL RAFFORD, 41, of Midwest City, has been sentenced to serve 180 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
“The exploitation of children is among the most reprehensible crimes in society,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. “This 15-year sentence reflects the seriousness of Rafford’s conduct and the lasting harm inflicted on victims. The Department of Justice remains committed to tracking down online predators, rescuing victims, and removing these horrific materials from our communities. I commend the FBI and the entire prosecution team for the tireless work that made this prosecution possible.”
“Protecting children from online exploitation is one of the FBI’s highest priorities,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater. “This investigation reflects the dedication of our agents and partners who work every day to identify offenders and stop the circulation of these devastating materials. I am grateful for their continued efforts in pursuing child predators and bringing them to justice.”
According to public records, between June 13, 2025, and August 12, 2025, Rafford possessed hundreds of images of child pornography, some of which depicted prepubescent minors, which he accessed using the BitTorrent file-sharing network. He was arrested on August 12, 2025, after law enforcement executed a search warrant at his Midwest City apartment.
On November 18, 2025, a federal grand jury charged Rafford with possession of child pornography. Rafford pleaded guilty on March 2, 2026, and admitted he knowingly possessed child pornography, including images of prepubescent minors, which he intended to view.
At a sentencing hearing on August 31, 2026, Chief U.S. District Judge Scott L. Palk sentenced Rafford to serve 180 months in federal prison, followed by ten years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, Judge Palk noted the seriousness of the offense, the need for just punishment, and Rafford’s troubling history. Rafford’s prior felony convictions include domestic violence offenses against spouses and partners, assault and battery, second-degree robbery, attempted robbery, and violation of a protective order.
The case was brought as part of Operation Relentless Justice, a coordinated nationwide enforcement effort by the Department of Justice and FBI to identify, track, and arrest child sex offenders. The operation resulted in the arrests of more than 293 child sexual abuse offenders and the location of more than 205 child victims nationwide. This case is also part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jordan Ganz and Brandon Hale prosecuted the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Mexican National Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Council Bluffs, Iowa – A Mexican national and former California resident was sentenced on August 27, 2026, to 13 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Jose Alfredo Moreno Hernandez, 35, conspired with other individuals to distribute methamphetamine. From December 2020 to the fall of 2025, Moreno Hernandez mailed packages containing a total of more than 35 pounds (16 kilograms) of methamphetamine to locations in Iowa and Florida. Moreno Hernandez received packages containing drug proceeds at his Delano, California residence and distributed the proceeds to other co-conspirators.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Moreno Hernandez will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. An immigration detainer is in place.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Investigation Service, Internal Revenue Service, Homeland Security Investigation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mid-Iowa Drug Task Force, and Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement – West investigated the case.
Mercer County Felon Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Armed Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A former resident of Sharon, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 72 months in federal prison on his conviction of violating federal firearm and narcotics laws, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentence on Bruce Lindsey, 47. Judge Schwab also ordered Lindsey to pay a $10,000 fine and to serve three years of supervised release following his prison term.
According to information presented to the Court, on March 20, 2025, Lindsey—who served state prison sentences for prior Pennsylvania state convictions for homicide and robbery—engaged in the armed trafficking of crack cocaine in Sharon. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. Lindsey pleaded guilty in April 2026 to (1) possessing with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine base, (2) possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and (3) possessing a firearm after a felony conviction.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Mercer County Drug Task Force, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Lindsey.
Maryland Man Sentenced for Disability Benefits ScamRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A Maryland man received a federal-prison term, today, stemming from a social-security disability benefits scam.
U.S. District Judge Lydia K. Griggsby sentenced Andrew Langford, 50, of Ft. Washington, to eight months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for wire fraud in connection with the scheme. U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) records show that from January 2014 through May 2021, Langford received more than $270,000 in disability benefits that he was not entitled to.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Amy Connelly, Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General (SSA-OIG) Boston–New York- Philadelphia Field Division, and Special Agent in Charge Andrew McKay, Mid-Atlantic Field Division of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). This prosecution is part of the Trump Administration’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.
According to court documents, Langford devised a scheme to defraud the SSA to obtain money to personally enrich himself and to benefit him and his associates. Back in November 2008, Langford applied for SSA disability benefits, reporting that he was unable to work due to a disabling condition.
Then in May 2009, Langford applied for child/auxiliary benefits for his three minor children. Later in 2009, SSA notified Langford that he was eligible for and would begin receiving disability benefit payments. SSA also notified Langford of his responsibility to inform the agency if he returned to work or if his health improved.
As part of the scheme, Langford operated two cleaning companies — NDA Cleaning Services, LLC, and CK Janitors, Inc. — registered in Maryland and Virginia, respectively. Langford utilized an IRS system to apply for Employer Identification Numbers for his businesses associated with the alleged fraud. But Langford failed to report that he returned to work as required. Langford concealed his ownership of the businesses, along with his income and ability to work, from the SSA.
In August 2020, when a SSA employee inquired about the businesses, Langford verbally advised that he never heard of NDA Janitorial Services or NDA Cleaning Services. Langford also maintained he last worked in 2008.
But records showed that in March 2015, Langford filed Articles of Organization for NDA Cleaning Services, LLC, and then in October 2018, he filed Articles of Reinstatement for the business. Langford is also listed as the resident agent for the business. Further, records from the Virginia State Corporation Commission Information System show Langford is listed as the director/CEO of CK Janitors, Inc., from November 2015, through April 2018.
Then in September 2019, the SSA mailed Langford a Continuing Disability Review notice, informing him of an impending review of his disability case. In January 2020, after the SSA didn’t receive required documentation, it mailed Langford a proposed decision to end his benefits. The SSA’s decision was based on the agency’s review of documents, including his earning records, as reported to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
In May 2021, SSA mailed Langford notices informing him that he received SSA disability and child/auxiliary payments overpayments to which he was not entitled. IRS records revealed that Langford earned more than $100,000, annually, for tax years 2012, 2014, and 2016.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the SSA-OIG and TIGTA for their work in the investigation, along with the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation for its valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kertisha Dixon who prosecuted this case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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Maryland Man Faces Charges for Threats Against President of the United States and Other Domestic Terrorism ChargesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced, today, that a Maryland man made his initial appearance in federal court in connection with domestic terrorism charges.Donald Franklin Swope, 53, is charged by criminal complaint for threats against the President of the United States; interstate communication containing a threat to harm; and influencing, impeding, or retaliating against a federal official by threatening or injuring a family member.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the criminal complaint with Special Agent in Charge Brian McDonough, United States Secret Service (USSS) – Baltimore Field Office.
According to the criminal complaint, between May 12, 2026, and July 27, Swope repeatedly made Facebook posts about harming President Donald J. Trump. Additionally, on August 5, Swope made multiple Facebooks posts threatening the USSS. Then Swope continued to post threatening posts from August 6 until August 8.
This case is part of the nationwide National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 initiative, which is a White House directed, interagency effort to integrate federal, state, and local partners in protecting First Amendment rights while targeting individuals and organizations engaged in political violence and is led by the investigative and prosecutorial Joint Task Force Vanguard.
A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by criminal complaint are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.
If convicted, Swope faces a maximum of five years in prison for each count of threatening communications and 10 years for influencing, impeding, or retaliating against a federal official.
Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the USSS for its work on this case. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia McLane, who is prosecuting the federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.
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Mankato Man Sentenced to 35 Years’ Imprisonment for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that Mitchell Ray Williams, 40, of Mankato, Minnesota, was sentenced to 420 months in prison for his role in the production of child pornography.
Williams was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Jerry W. Blackwell on August 19, 2026. He previously pleaded guilty on November 4, 2025.
According to court documents, throughout October 2024, Williams attempted to employ a minor male victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography. Williams knowingly recorded the minor and used messaging applications to share child pornography.
Throughout the investigation, law enforcement found hundreds of files of child pornography of which nine files involved visibly pre-pubescent child victims involved in sexually explicit acts. Williams has two prior convictions in another state, from August 2005 and April 2017, for Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse.
“Williams is a repeat sexual predator and posed a danger to vulnerable children. Today’s sentencing ensures that he is held accountable for the harm he has caused to the child victims and their families,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.
“Mitchell Williams is now on his third conviction for child sexual exploitation offenses. The abuse and exploitation stop here,” said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. “We know that the production, advertisement, and distribution of child sexual abuse material causes serious and lasting harm to child victims and their loved ones. Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of that harm and ensures that children everywhere will be protected from Mitchell Williams for decades to come.”
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Mankato Department of Public Safety.
Assistant United States Attorney Kristian Weir prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Note: Previous press release on the indictment here.
Manchester Man Pleads Guilty to 2025 Robbery at TD BankRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Manchester man Michael Cote, 44, pleaded guilty today in federal court to a bank robbery that took place at the TD Bank located at 300 Franklin Street in Manchester on December 11, 2025, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. U.S. District Court Judge Steven McAuliffe has scheduled Cote’s sentencing for December 8, 2026.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Cote entered the TD Bank on Franklin Street shortly before 9:00 a.m. wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt and a gray hat, stating words to the teller to the effect that this was a robbery and he was armed. He also demanded the teller put money in an envelope and give it to him. Unbeknownst to Cote, the teller handed him an envelope of $600 cash that also contained a GPS tracker. Within minutes, law enforcement tracked him to Bunny’s Convenience store on Elm Street where he had just bought cigarettes with proceeds from the robbery. Cote stated to Manchester Police officers that he had committed the robbery.
The charging statute provides a sentence of up to twenty years. 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.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation with valuable assistance provided by the Manchester Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Anderson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Rombeau.
Malden Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing CocaineRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Malden man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Worcester to conspiring to distribute cocaine.
Christhian Castillo, 33, pleaded guilty on Aug. 27, 2026 to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 or more grams of cocaine and distribution of 500 or more grams of cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for Dec. 1, 2026. Castillo was indicted in May 2025, along with his alleged co-conspirator Erick Sandoval-Perez.
Castillo and allegedly Sandoval-Perez, worked together to sell cocaine on several occasions to an undercover law enforcement officer. On Feb. 12, 2025, Sandoval-Perez allegedly arranged to sell a kilogram of cocaine to an undercover. Castillo was arrested when he allegedly handed the kilogram of cocaine to the undercover.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 or more grams of cocaine, and the charge of distribution of 500 or more grams of cocaine, both carry a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Sandoval-Perez is scheduled to plead guilty on Oct. 14, 2026.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jarod A. Forget Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Chief Ryan Malatos of the Leominster Police Department; and Chief Brian W. Coyne of the Clinton Police Department made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Malden Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Last suspect pleads guilty to his role in stabbing death during Billings carjackingRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A man who stabbed and killed the driver of a pickup during a carjacking on Billings’ South Side admitted to charges today, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Brian Dale Contreraz, 31, pleaded guilty to a carjacking that resulted in death. Contreraz faces up to life in prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided and will determine a sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Jan. 7, 2027. Contreraz remained in custody pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that Contreraz, along with Violet Jean Littlelight, 23, and Shyanna Jo Whitewolf, 21, met up with Keith Breckenridge, 51, at South Park in Billings to rob him and steal his pickup truck.
Littlelight was sentenced earlier this summer to 24 years in prison for her role in the attack; Whitewolf was sentenced to 20 years.
The incident happened on May 16, 2025. Littlelight was spending time with Whitewolf and Contreraz in Billings and had been texting that evening with Breckenridge asking if he would come pick her up. When Littlelight told Whitewolf and Contreraz that she’d asked Breckenridge for a ride, the three made plans to steal his truck and take it to a drug dealer they knew in Hardin to exchange for drugs or money.
Littlelight told Breckenridge to meet her at South Park; Whitewolf and Contreraz came along under the pretense of needing a ride. When Breckinridge arrived and saw the two additional people, he grew suspicious and kept the doors locked, asking to know who Whitewolf and Contreraz were. Littlelight vouched for them and told Breckenridge they just wanted a ride. With Littlelight’s assurances, Breckenridge opened the doors and the three climbed into his pickup.
Contreraz told Breckenridge to drive to the alleyway behind Adams Street on Billings’s South Side while Whitewolf chatted with Breckenridge to keep him calm. Once there, Breckenridge stopped the truck and Contreraz leaned over and stabbed him approximately 20 times in the face, neck and chest. Littlelight, Whitewolf, and Contreraz then pulled Breckenridge from the truck and drove away. Breckenridge died in the alley from the stab wounds.
The three drove the pickup to a house in Hardin where they changed their blood-stained clothes and placed them in the truck. From there they drove to a house on the Crow Reservation, where Littlelight and Contreraz decided they would clean the interior of the pickup and burn their bloody clothes along with other evidence from the truck. As they were cleaning the pickup, BIA officers pulled up. Littlelight and Contreraz ran off; Whitewolf stayed. By the end of the month, law enforcement had all three in custody.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colin Rubich and Zeno Baucus are prosecuting the case. The Billings Police Department conducted the investigation. The FBI adopted the case to help expedite laboratory testing and for federal prosecution purposes.
Las Vegas Man Sentenced to Prison for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, Selling Firearms, Unlawfully Manufacturing and Selling Machine GunsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man was sentenced today by United States District Chief Judge Andrew P. Gordon to 24 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release for unlawfully manufacturing and selling firearms and machinegun conversion devices and possession with the intent to sell methamphetamine. The government requested 57 months’ imprisonment.
“The combination of illegal narcotics and automated firearms poses a severe threat to our neighborhoods,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “By manufacturing and distributing 3D-printed conversion devices, the defendant actively weaponized our streets. This sentence sends a clear message that those who flood our communities with drugs and guns will be held fully accountable under federal law."
According to court documents, from May 1, 2024, to May 24, 2024, Anthony George Hollis, also known as “Ant,” unlawfully sold a 5.45x39mm AK-74-pattern style semiautomatic rifle; a 9x19mm semiautomatic pistol; a privately manufactured 9x19mm semiautomatic pistol; a privately manufactured AR-15-pattern 5.56x45mm semiautomatic rifle; and machinegun conversion devices for Glock pistols and AR-15 pattern rifles. A machinegun conversion device converts a semiautomatic firearm to a fully automatic machinegun. He did not have a Federal Firearms License. Furthermore, Hollis possessed methamphetamine with the intent to distribute to others.
Hollis pleaded guilty to one count of manufacturing and dealing in firearms without a license, three counts of illegal possession and transfer of a machine gun, and one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah and Special Agent in Charge John Wester of the San Francisco Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
This case was investigated by ATF. Assistant United States Attorney Dan Cowhig prosecuted the case.
Anyone with information about unlawful firearms activity should call ATF at 1-888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477), email [email protected] or submit an anonymous tip at www.reportit.com/.
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Kansas City Childcare Operator Indicted for Defrauding State ProgramRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for defrauding a state program to obtain federal funds.
Yolanda Dale, 52, was charged in a four-count sealed indictment on Aug. 27, 2026, by a federal grand jury sitting in Kansas City, Mo. The indictment was unsealed today upon Dale’s initial court appearance. Dale is charged with two counts of theft of government funds and two counts of aggravated identity theft. This is one of many federal fraud cases pursued under the leadership of President Donald Trump and through the establishment of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.
As provided in the indictment, in 2023, the State of Missouri implemented a program that provided federal funding to childcare providers based on the number of individuals the provider employed during specific periods of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is alleged that, in March 2023 and July 2023, Dale prepared and filed, or caused to be filed, applications for the federal funding on behalf of the childcare center Dale operated. The indictment further alleges that Dale fraudulently inflated the number of individuals employed during the relevant periods on the applications, and, as a result, the childcare center received at least $75,000 in federal funding to which it was not entitled.
The federal funding involved was appropriated through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), which appropriated funds for use by state governments in responding to challenges faced by childcare providers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Once appropriated, the ARPA funding was sent to the State of Missouri who developed and implemented programs to disperse the federal funding to childcare providers.
The charges contained in the 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.
This case is being prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsel Nicholas P. Heberle. This case is being investigated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
National Fraud Enforcement Division
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Kailua Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison Following Jury Conviction for Attempting to Entice Minors and Receive Child PornographyRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Ross Andrew Brown, 45, of Kailua, was sentenced on August 19, 2026, by Senior United States District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi to 240 months in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for attempting to sexually entice and exploit minors, and for attempting to receive child pornography. Brown was also required to pay over $115,000 in fines and assessments. Brown was previously convicted by a federal jury in February 2026.
Evidence at trial showed that Brown repeatedly engaged in sexualized online communications with individuals who identified themselves as being between 14 and 17 years old. Despite knowing their stated ages, Brown continued the conversations, escalated them into sexual discussions, and arranged meetings to attempt to engage in unlawful sexual activity. When Brown arrived at one such agreed-upon meeting location, federal agents arrested him as part of a sting operation.
At sentencing, additional evidence showed that Brown also engaged in similar communications with several other purported minors over a period of approximately two years. Investigators recovered conversations in which Brown attempted to initiate sexual activity, requested images of individuals he believed to be minors, and directed explicit, sexual behavior.
Brown is a lawyer serving as Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps stationed in Hawaii. The court determined that Brown’s conduct was aggravated by his legal training, including a Juris Doctor degree and a Master of Laws degree, as well as his professional experience prosecuting similar child-sex offenses. Brown’s background gave him a heightened understanding of the criminal nature of his actions and the harm caused by offenses involving the sexual exploitation of minors. The District Judge further determined that Brown provided false testimony at trial and did not accept responsibility. When imposing the sentence, District Judge Kobayashi agreed with the government that Brown exhibited a pattern of predatory behavior targeting some of the most vulnerable persons in our community.
The Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division and Air Force Office of Special Investigations investigated the case with assistance from Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Nolan and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Slack prosecuted the case.
Justice Department to Conduct Election Monitoring for Massachusetts Primary ElectionRead the Press Release
Today, the Civil Rights Division is monitoring polling sites in Massachusetts for the Commonwealth’s primary election to ensure transparency, ballot security, and compliance with federal law.
“Monitoring is an essential duty for the Civil Rights Division during election season,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Nonpartisan, nondiscriminatory monitoring efforts promote transparency, accountability, and most importantly trust in our federal elections.”
The DOJ, through the Civil Rights Division, enforces federal voting laws which protect the voting rights of all eligible citizens. The DOJ regularly deploys staff from the Civil Rights Division and other Department offices to monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in communities across the country. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is providing personnel to assist in the effort.
The DOJ is monitoring polls in Boston, New Bedford, and Lowell with 12 monitors. Thus far the DOJ has deployed over 80 monitors across eight states and over 200 polling locations this primary season. By comparison, during the 2022 midterms the DOJ sent monitors to nine states during the primary season.
The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces various federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Civil Rights Acts.
From now through the general election on Nov. 3, Civil Rights Division personnel will be available to receive questions and complaints from the public related to federal voting rights laws. If you have a question or complaint or would like to request election monitoring in a particular jurisdiction, please contact the Voting Section at [email protected].
Justice Department Sues Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools to Stop Secret Gender TransitionsRead the Press Release
Today, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, joined by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas, filed a first-of-its-kind lawsuit against Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools (KCKPS) to stop the district from facilitating secret “gender transitions” for children at school without their parents’ knowledge or consent.
KCKPS’s conduct violates the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) — laws designed to safeguard parental rights, including the rights to access and oversee information collected and maintained about their children in public schools. The lawsuit follows extensive efforts by the Department of Education to secure KCKPS’s compliance with federal law.
“Parental rights are paramount in the operation of America’s public schools, and Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools does not know children better than their own parents,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department will not tolerate school districts playing fast and loose with federal law in the service of radical gender ideology.”
“For decades, schools operated with little accountability as federal parental rights laws like FERPA and PPRA went unenforced, allowing some districts to cut parents out of deeply personal matters involving their own children,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “That era is over. The Trump Administration is enforcing these laws at an unprecedented scale and making clear that schools cannot hide sensitive information from parents and expect to operate with impunity. We are grateful to the Department of Justice for taking this next step and for its continued partnership with the Department of Education to enforce federal law and protect the fundamental rights of parents.”
“This lawsuit should not come as a surprise,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser for the District of Kansas. “Public education functions effectively only when schools and parents engage in a genuine partnership. When schools withhold information from parents, they undermine trust and disrupt the essential balance between families and public educators.”
As detailed in the Department’s complaint, KCKPS’s Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Students Internal Guidance Document (Transgender Guideline) directs staff to develop and implement “transitioning” plans for children’s so-called “gender identity” without informing or obtaining consent from their parents. KCKPS implements its Transgender Guideline without the knowledge of many in the KCKPS community, including parents.
FERPA prohibits a school district from maintaining any policy that denies or effectively prevents a parent from exercising the right to inspect and review his or her child’s education records. PPRA separately requires prior written parental consent before a school may require children to submit to any survey, analysis, or evaluation that reveals sensitive information about the student or the student’s family. Because KCKPS’s policies and practices violate core parental rights secured by FERPA and PPRA, the lawsuit seeks an injunction to halt the Transgender Guideline’s enforcement, among other relief.
Note: Read the Department’s Complaint here.
Justice Department Reaches Agreement with Kansas in Lawsuit Alleging Discrimination Against ServicememberRead the Press Release
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division has reached a settlement agreement with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) to resolve allegations that KDHE violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) when it stopped funding Army National Guard Staff Sergeant Stacy Gonzales’s civilian job due to her upcoming military deployment. This settlement agreement resolves the suit filed by the United States against KDHE on behalf of SSG Gonzales in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas on June 27, 2022.
“No servicemember should lose her civilian job because of her service in the National Guard,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department is proud to vindicate servicemembers’ rights under USERRA and will continue to ensure that they can serve our country without fear of losing their civilian jobs because of their service.”
“National Guard members are called citizen-soldiers because they must strike a balance between fulfilling obligations to civilian careers with those of military service. As a reservist myself, I know this is no easy task” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser for the District of Kansas. “When guard members deploy, they shouldn’t have to worry that their livelihoods will be stripped away while they are off serving our country. Our government put laws in place to protect the employment rights of servicemembers. The Department of Justice will continue to be a defender and champion of those rights.”
The settlement agreement resolves SSG Gonzales’s claim that KDHE violated USERRA when it eliminated grant funding for her position as a Disease Intervention Specialist (DIS) with the Finney County, Kansas, Department of Health, a position under the direct control and supervision of KDHE, when SSG Gonzales told them she would be deploying. As part of the settlement agreement, KDHE will pay SSG Gonzales $35,000. The settlement agreement also requires KDHE to update its USERRA policies and procedures and to train all KDHE employees, including those through grant funding, on those updated policies and procedures.
USERRA protects the right of uniformed servicemembers to reemployment in their civilian jobs following absences due to military service obligations and provides that servicemembers shall not be discriminated against because of their military obligations. The Justice Department prioritizes the enforcement of servicemembers’ rights under USERRA. Additional information about USERRA can be found on the Justice Department’s website at www.justice.gov/servicemembers as well as on the Department of Labor’s website at www.dol.gov/vets/programs/userra.
Justice Department Continues to Disrupt Hamas Terrorist Financing Schemes Through Seizures of Cryptocurrency and Internet InfrastructureRead the Press Release
Note: Please see seizure affidavits below.
March 25, 2025 link
June 25, 2025 link
Oct. 10, 2025 link
July 29, 2026 link
August 18, 2026 link
WASHINGTON — Today the Justice Department announced the disruption of an ongoing scheme by Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya (Hamas) –— a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization — to raise funds for terrorist operations and recruit supporters. As part of the Department’s efforts, over $560,000 in cryptocurrency donations destined for Hamas were seized and its fundraising and recruitment communication platforms and websites were disrupted. Hamas originally controlled the seized infrastructure and cryptocurrency addresses on behalf of its military wing, the Al Qassam Brigades.
“These seizures deprive Hamas of resources it relies on to recruit and radicalize individuals online and finance barbaric attacks like the one on October 7, 2023,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “We will continue to tighten the vise on Hamas’s capacity for terror by infiltrating its online networks, confiscating its cryptocurrency, and shutting down its websites.”
“A message to Hamas: We will stop your fundraising for terror,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia. “Your networks are not secure, your crypto is vulnerable, and we will not stop until your ability to wage war is defeated.”
“Hamas relied on cryptocurrency and online platforms to solicit funds from donors around the world and move that money outside the formal financial system,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI's Cyber Division. “The FBI seized online infrastructure and $560,000 in cryptocurrency, capturing donations intended for the organization. The FBI will continue to use its authorities to intercept illicit funds and prevent terrorist organizations from exploiting digital networks to finance their operations.”
“Reducing the capabilities of foreign terrorist organization's ability to receive donations and creating distrust in communications to their donors was the primary focus of this latest operation,” said Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office. “This continued success demonstrates the unwavering commitment and determination of the FBI in fighting terrorism. We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to shut off the flow of funds to this group and protect the American people.”
As alleged in court documents, a group chat claiming association with Hamas on an encrypted communications platform directed supporters to a fundraising website and provided donors with a rotating set of cryptocurrency donation addresses. As described in the three unsealed cryptocurrency seizure warrants, on March 25, 2025, June 25, 2025, and Oct. 10, 2025, investigators used information from multiple human sources to identify, trace, and seize approximately $560,000 in cryptocurrency intended to support Hamas’ Al Qassam Brigades.
In conjunction with these seizures, the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office worked with human sources to identify and seize domains and servers the Al Qassam Brigades that controlled its main website, AlQassam.ps. The FBI’s capture of these domains and servers enabled it to intercept cryptocurrency donations intended for Hamas. Using related sources and methods, the FBI also obtained information regarding thousands of individuals who contacted Hamas online in an effort to donate or attempt to donate to the terrorist organization using cryptocurrency and other traditional means. Such information will be used in the FBI’s future counterterrorism efforts.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office is investigating the case, in coordination with the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, Cyber Division, and New York Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tejpal Chawla for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Jacques Singer-Emery for the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section are prosecuting the case. Trial Attorney Robert MacDonald of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and the October 7th Task Force is providing substantial assistance in the case.
Justice Department Continues to Disrupt Hamas Terrorist Financing Schemes Through Seizures of Cryptocurrency and Internet InfrastructureRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON —The Department of Justice today announced the disruption of an ongoing scheme by Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya (Hamas) — a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization — to raise funds for terrorist operations and recruit supporters, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
“A message to Hamas: We will stop your fundraising for terror,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Your networks are not secure, your crypto is vulnerable, and we will not stop until your ability to wage war is defeated.”
As part of the Department’s efforts, more than $560,000 in cryptocurrency donations destined for Hamas were seized and its fundraising and recruitment communication platforms and websites were disrupted. Hamas originally controlled the seized infrastructure and cryptocurrency addresses on behalf of its military wing, the Al Qassam Brigades.
“These seizures deprive Hamas of resources it relies on to recruit and radicalize individuals online and finance barbaric attacks like the one on October 7, 2023,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “We will continue to tighten the vise on Hamas’s capacity for terror by infiltrating its online networks, confiscating its cryptocurrency, and shutting down its websites.”
“Hamas relied on cryptocurrency and online platforms to solicit funds from donors around the world and move that money outside the formal financial system,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI's Cyber Division. “The FBI seized online infrastructure and $560,000 in cryptocurrency, capturing donations intended for the organization. The FBI will continue to use its authorities to intercept illicit funds and prevent terrorist organizations from exploiting digital networks to finance their operations.”
“Reducing the capabilities of foreign terrorist organization's ability to receive donations and creating distrust in communications to their donors was the primary focus of this latest operation,” said Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office. “This continued success demonstrates the unwavering commitment and determination of the FBI in fighting terrorism. We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to shut off the flow of funds to this group and protect the American people.”
As alleged in court documents, a group chat claiming association with Hamas on an encrypted communications platform directed supporters to a fundraising website and provided donors with a rotating set of cryptocurrency donation addresses. As described in the three unsealed cryptocurrency seizure warrants, on March 25, 2025, June 25, 2025, and Oct. 10, 2025, investigators used information from multiple human sources to identify, trace, and seize approximately $560,000 in cryptocurrency intended to support Hamas’ Al Qassam Brigades.
In conjunction with these seizures, the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office worked with human sources to identify and seize domains and servers the Al Qassam Brigades that controlled its main website, AlQassam.ps. The FBI’s capture of these domains and servers enabled it to intercept cryptocurrency donations intended for Hamas. Using related sources and methods, the FBI also obtained information regarding thousands of individuals who contacted Hamas online in an effort to donate or attempt to donate to the terrorist organization using cryptocurrency and other traditional means. Such information will be used in the FBI’s future counterterrorism efforts.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office is investigating the case, in coordination with the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, Cyber Division, and New York Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tejpal Chawla for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Jacques Singer-Emery for the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section are prosecuting the case. Trial Attorney Robert MacDonald of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and the October 7th Task Force is providing substantial assistance in the case.
25-sz-20_03-25.pdf link 25-sz-34_06-25.pdf link25-sz-42_10-10.pdf link26-sz-45_07-29.pdf link26-sz-49_seizure_warrant_package_08-18.pdf linkInternational Parental Kidnapper SentencedRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – An Oregon woman was sentenced to time served in prison for international parental kidnapping.
Haley Harris, 24, was found guilty after a bench trial on May 18, 2026. Harris, who was living in Mexico, traveled to Baldwin County on September 21, 2025, to regain physical custody of her minor child from the child’s father, who was residing in Orange Beach. Harris represented to the child’s father that she would be staying in Baldwin County and only wanted to visit with the child for a few days. Instead, Harris flew to California and entered Mexico with the minor child. Harris continued to mislead the child’s father by telling him she was still in Baldwin County.
Agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Marshals Service, the Department of State, the Orange Beach Police Department, and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s office worked together to locate the child in Mexico. The child was ultimately reunited with her father in the United States.
Harris was arrested in Mexico and deported to the United States on September 29, 2025, where she was formally charged. She remained incarcerated until after her bench trial.
Harris is subject to a one-year term of supervised release with the United States Probation Office. As conditions of her supervised release, Harris is prohibited from having contact with the minor victim or the victim’s family and must participate in mental health treatment.
“A parent with lawful custody should never have to endure the fear and devastation of having a child secretly taken to another country,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Steven N. Schrank. “When this child was brought into Mexico, the risks increased and the need for immediate action became clear. HSI and our partners moved with urgency to help locate the child and bring her home. Harris’ conviction and time behind bars reinforce the serious consequences of disregarding the law.”
“The investigative response was immediate and aggressive, driven by exceptional coordination among local, state, federal, and international law enforcement partners,” said Christopher R. Flowers, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Mobile Division. “That unified effort was critical to locating the child swiftly and ensuring her safe return. Actions like those of Ms. Harris will always be met with a relentless pursuit of justice by our law enforcement and prosecutorial team.”
U.S. Attorney Sean Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement, stating: “This case demonstrates the importance of acting quickly when a child is unlawfully taken across international borders. The successful recovery of this child was made possible by the determination and cooperation of our federal, state, local, and international law enforcement partners. Our office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who violate federal law and endanger the safety and well-being of children.”
The Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, the Orange Beach Police Department and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tandice Blackwood and Elizabeth Stepan prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Illinois Man Receives 33 Year Sentence for Burger King Armed Robbery that Sparked Multi-County Vehicle ChaseRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Cameron Love, 28, of Rockford, Illinois, has been sentenced to 33 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release for the armed robbery of a Burger King restaurant. In February 2026, a federal jury convicted Love of interference with commerce by robbery, brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, on January 16, 2025, Love entered the Burger King located at 7620 North Shadeland Avenue armed with a 9mm Smith & Wesson handgun. After pacing in front of the counter, he drew the firearm from his coat pocket, pointed it at an employee, and threatened “You b*****s better open these registers or I’ll kill you, I’ll shoot you in the face.”
Love then vaulted over the counter, pointing the gun at additional employees, threatening to kill anyone who resisted and demanding money. He stole $459 and fled the scene in a Chevy Cruze driven by Michael Scott.
The employee immediately called 911 and gave a description of Love and his vehicle. IMPD officers attempted a traffic stop on the Cruze near 86th Street and Keystone Avenue, but the vehicle fled, initiating a high‑speed pursuit across multiple counties and striking another vehicle in the process. Dash camera footage captured Love throwing both the stolen cash and the handgun from the vehicle during the chase. The pursuit ended in Carmel. Four days later, IMPD officers recovered the loaded firearm—frozen in ice and protruding from snow—near a bike path on 106th Street.
When employees were later asked to confirm Love’s identity as the robber, Love threatened the victims while standing beside an officer, stating, “You better not say anything, I’ll f*****g kill you.” Despite his repeated threats, both victims testified at trial and spoke bravely about their experience.
Love is prohibited from possessing firearms due to multiple prior felony convictions, including aggravated robbery of a gas station—during which he held a clerk at gunpoint and assaulted him—along with a separate armed robbery in Illinois. He committed the Burger King robbery only three months after being released on parole following a fifteen-year sentence for the aggravated robbery and six-year sentence for the armed robbery.
“Mr. Love committed this armed robbery just months after being released for a previous violent offense. His repeated resort to guns and threats makes clear that he poses a serious danger to the public. Thanks to the swift actions of our law enforcement partners—from the initial response to the recovery of critical evidence—and the bravery of the victims, this violent offender has been removed from our streets for decades,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana.
“Love didn’t just rob a Burger King - he terrorized employees, threatened their lives, and then put even more people in danger when he fled from police,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “This was a violent, repeat offender who had already served a lengthy sentence for an armed robbery and still chose to put a gun in someone’s face. The victims showed tremendous courage in standing up to him, and this sentence ensures he will spend decades behind bars and unable to threaten another community with a gun.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge James P. Hanlon. Love’s co-defendant, Michael Scott, was sentenced in October 2025 to four years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to acting as an accessory after the fact.
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Pamela Domash, who prosecuted this case.
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Illegal Alien from Mexico Sentenced to Federal Prison for Immigration ViolationRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican national, illegally living in the Kansas City, Mo. area, has been sentenced to federal prison for an immigration violation.
A jury convicted Jaime Cruz-Hernandez, 37, of illegally reentering the United States after being deported. On September 1, 2026, U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark sentenced him to 24 months in federal prison.
According to information presented in court, Cruz-Hernandez was stopped and arrested on Jan. 6, 2026, by the Grandview, Missouri Police Department for driving while intoxicated. Immigration authorities then determined that Cruz-Hernandez is a citizen of Mexico and in the United States illegally after having been previously deported to Mexico in 2019. At that time, Cruz-Hernandez had already been arrested on four prior occasions for driving under the influence.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes IV, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Viet Le. It was investigated by Grandview, Missouri Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, and Homeland Security Investigations.
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.
Illegal Alien from Mexico Sentenced for Immigration ViolationsRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.— A Mexican National, illegally inside the United States, was sentenced to federal prison today for illegal re-entry.
Javier Osorio-Altamira, 50, was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in federal prison and 3 year’ supervised release announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon.
According to court documents, Osorio-Altamira had been removed from the United States on three prior occasions. During Osorio-Altamira’s first illegal stay in the United States, he attempted to force his way into an apartment and threatened to kill a woman while holding a 12-inch knife. He was convicted of unlawful use of a weapon and removed from the country.
After the most recent illegal stay, he was charged in Marion County for allegedly sexually touching a child on multiple occasions. After his arrest, the state released him into the community. On April 16, 2016, Osorio-Altamira was arrested by immigration authorities for immigration crimes, made his initial appearance in federal court, and was detained.
Records show that Osorio-Altamira was previously deported from the United States on June 10, 2015, May 20, 2016, and June 4, 2016. He has never applied for or received permission from the Attorney General of the United States or the Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security to reenter the United States.
On April 16, 2016, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned an indictment charging Osorio-Altamira with illegal re-entry. On June 3, 2026, he pled guilty to this charge.
This case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JOSE ISRAEL TENESACA MEJIA, 22, a citizen of Ecuador unlawfully present in the U.S. and last residing in West Haven, pleaded guilty yesterday in Hartford federal court to child exploitation offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 29, 2025, the Stamford Police Department secured an arrest warrant charging Tenesaca Mejia with felony risk of injury and interfering with an officer. Tenesaca Mejia subsequently fled Connecticut with a 14-year-old girl (the “minor victim”). On October 28, 2025, the FBI in New Haven contacted the FBI in Minneapolis and relayed information about Tenesaca Mejia’s active arrest warrant, and that his iPhone had been tracked to a specific location in Minneapolis. Investigators surveilled the vicinity of the location, identified both Tenesaca Mejia and the minor victim, and arrested Tenesaca Mejia.
Analysis of Tenesaca Mejia’s iPhone revealed videos and images of Tenesaca Mejia engaged in sexual conduct with the minor victim. Investigators also identified numerous images and videos of suspected child pornography that Tenesaca Mejia had downloaded using the Telegram app.
Tenesaca Mejia pleaded guilty to production of child pornography, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years, and to possession of child pornography, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
Tenesaca Mejia has been detained since his arrest. A sentencing date is not scheduled.
This investigation has been conducted by FBI New Haven, FBI Minneapolis, the Stamford Police Department, the West Haven Police Department, and the Hennepin County (Minn.) Sheriff's Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the District of Minnesota and the State’s Attorney’s Office for the Judicial District of Stamford/Norwalk for its cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this case.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
Illegal Alien Charged with Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national unlawfully residing in Lawrence, Mass. has been charged with illegally reentering the United States after deportation. The defendant was previously deported after completing a state prison sentence for fentanyl distribution.
Diego De Los Santos Vizcaino, 35, was charged with one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. De Los Santos will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the charging document, De Los Santos, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, was first encountered by authorities in February 2020, after unlawfully entering the United States from Mexico by swimming across the Rio Grande River. He was subsequently released to Mexico and ordered to appear for removal proceedings in Texas, for which he failed to appear. The hearing was held in his absence, and he was ordered removed by an immigration judge. In October 2020, De Los Santos was found in Lawrence, Mass., in connection with a state residential search warrant, where he was arrested and charged with drug trafficking offenses. De Los Santos later pleaded guilty to six counts of distribution of fentanyl and was sentenced to three years in state prison. He was removed from the United States in July 2023, after completing his state prison sentence.
It is alleged that, at some point thereafter, De Los Santos unlawfully reentered the United States. In September 2025, De Los Santos was again arrested by state authorities in connection with a residential search warrant execution in Lawrence. De Los Santos was subsequently charged in Essex Superior Court with 11 counts of drug trafficking arising from multiple incidents allegedly occurring in Methuen and Andover between June and September 2025. De Los Santos is currently held in state custody on $75,000 bail in connection with the pending state charges.
The charge of illegal reentry provides for a sentence of up to two years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $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 David T. Wesling, Acting Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney John L. Potapchuk 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.
Husband and wife sentenced in fraud conspiracy involving more than $4 million in unfinished custom home projectsRead the Press Release
FORT WORTH, Texas — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a Fort Worth couple was sentenced today for their roles in a yearslong fraud scheme involving dozens of victims and millions of dollars in losses.
Christopher Judge, 35, and Raquelle Judge, 36, pled guilty in December 2025 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Senior U.S. District Judge Terry R. Means sentenced Christopher Judge to 78 months in federal prison to be followed by two years of supervised release. Raquelle Judge was sentenced to one month in prison. Both defendants were ordered to pay $2,794,680.73 in restitution.
“Fraudsters who exploit hard working families in the Northern District of Texas will face serious consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “The Judges didn’t just abandon construction sites; their entire business model was built on lies and deceit. This kind of brazen fraud strikes at the heart of consumer trust, and our office will ensure that those who engage in such criminal conduct face justice.”
According to court documents, the Judges were managing members of Judge DFW LLC, a Texas-based company they used to falsely market themselves as providers of custom architecture, construction and interior design services. From approximately August 2020 through January 2023, the defendants offered below‑market bids to consumers across six counties in North Texas, inducing them to enter into design‑and‑build contracts for custom home projects.
Although victims paid multiple installment payments for their projects, the Judges failed to complete most of the work and often abandoned projects entirely, leaving victims without finished homes. The defendants also admitted to falsely representing that Christopher Judge was a licensed architect.
Court records reflect that the couple defrauded more than 40 victims across at least 24 construction projects. The defendants commingled victims’ installment payments in the primary Judge DFW operating account, frequently using individual victim installment payments for unrelated construction projects. The total loss amount is estimated at approximately $4.2 million.
The FBI’s Fort Worth Resident Agency and the Euless Police Department investigated the case, with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark McDonald and Laura Montes from the Fort Worth Division prosecuted the case.
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Honeywell Aerospace, Inc. Agrees to Pay over $2M to Settle False Claims Act Allegations of Failing to Comply with Cybersecurity Requirements in a U.S. Department of Defense ContractRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Justice Department announced today that Honeywell Aerospace Inc. has agreed to pay $2,042,518 to resolve allegations that it is liable under the False Claims Act for failing to comply with cybersecurity requirements in a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense. Honeywell Aerospace, a corporation headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, provides aerospace products and solutions to government and commercial customers. Prior to June 29, 2026, when Honeywell Aerospace became a standalone public company, it was a business segment of Honeywell International Inc., of Charlotte, North Carolina.
“Government contractors that obtain defense information in administering their contracts must follow required cybersecurity standards,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department will continue to investigate potential violations of these cybersecurity requirements to protect this critical information.”
“Cybersecurity requirements and standards for federal contractors are in place for a reason: to protect government systems and prevent unauthorized access to government data,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson for the Western District of North Carolina. “Companies that seek and profit off of government contracts have an obligation to ensure sensitive data is protected.”
The settlement resolves allegations that from April 2020 through December 2023, a business unit of Honeywell International Inc. submitted false claims for payment by failing to comply with cybersecurity requirements specified in National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication (SP) 800-171, with respect to one of Honeywell’s networks, as required by the contract and regulation.
The allegations resolved by this settlement arose from a whistleblower lawsuit filed under the False Claims Act under which private citizens can sue on behalf of the government and share in any recovery. The settlement in this case provides for the whistleblower, Rachel Tenney, a former employee of Honeywell, to receive $375,823 as her share of the settlement.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Department of Justice Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service.
The matter was handled by Senior Trial Counsel Greg Pearson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Holly Snow for the Western District of North Carolina.
The lawsuit is captioned United States ex rel. Rachel Tenney v. Honeywell International Inc., Civil Action No. 3:22-cv-129 (W.D.N.C.).
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Honeywell Aerospace Inc. Agrees to Pay over $2M to Settle False Claims Act Allegations of Failing to Comply with Cybersecurity Requirements in a U.S. Department of Defense ContractRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that Honeywell Aerospace Inc. has agreed to pay $2,042,518 to resolve allegations that it is liable under the False Claims Act for failing to comply with cybersecurity requirements in a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense. Honeywell Aerospace, a corporation headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, provides aerospace products and solutions to government and commercial customers. Prior to June 29, when Honeywell Aerospace became a standalone public company, it was a business segment of Honeywell International Inc., of Charlotte, North Carolina.
“Government contractors that obtain defense information in administering their contracts must follow required cybersecurity standards,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department will continue to investigate potential violations of these cybersecurity requirements to protect this critical information.”
“Cybersecurity requirements and standards for federal contractors are in place for a reason: to protect government systems and prevent unauthorized access to government data,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson for the Western District of North Carolina. “Companies that seek and profit off of government contracts have an obligation to ensure sensitive data is protected.”
The settlement resolves allegations that from April 2020 through December 2023, a business unit of Honeywell International Inc. submitted false claims for payment by failing to comply with cybersecurity requirements specified in National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication (SP) 800-171, with respect to one of Honeywell’s networks, as required by the contract and regulation.
The allegations resolved by this settlement arose from a whistleblower lawsuit filed under the False Claims Act under which private citizens can sue on behalf of the government and share in any recovery. The settlement in this case provides for the whistleblower, Rachel Tenney, a former employee of Honeywell, to receive $375,823 as her share of the settlement.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Department of Justice Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service.
The matter was handled by Senior Trial Counsel Greg Pearson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Holly Snow for the Western District of North Carolina.
The lawsuit is captioned United States ex rel. Rachel Tenney v. Honeywell International Inc., Civil Action No. 3:22-cv-129 (W.D.N.C.).
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Honduran Illegal Alien Charged with Reentry of a Removed AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – HECTOR ESPINOZA-CRUZ, age 41, a native of Honduras, was charged on August 21, 2026, via bill of information, for reentry of removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, immigration officials learned of ESPINOZA‑CRUZ’s presence in the United States after he was arrested in Orleans Parish for an obscenity violation that occurred in 2025. Following that notification, ESPINOZA‑CRUZ was arrested by immigration authorities in Orleans Parish on August 12, 2026, for illegal reentry. Immigration records indicate that ESPINOZA‑CRUZ is an illegal alien from Honduras and had previously been removed by federal authorities on February 24, 2010.
If convicted, ESPINOZA-CRUZ faces a maximum penalty of two years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security and Immigration Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit is overseeing 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.
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Honduran Illegal Alien Charged with Reentry of a Removed AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – CARLOS NAUN COREA-SUAZO (“COREA-SUAZO”), age 34, a Honduran national, was charged on August 28, 2026, via bill of information, for reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Sections 1326(a) and (b)(1), announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, COREA-SUAZO was arrested on August 2, 2026, by the Slidell Police Department for driving while intoxicated. After being notified of his arrest, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) confirmed that COREA-SUAZO had a final order of removal and was issued an immigration detainer and warrant of removal to the Slidell Police Department. On August 19, 2026, ICE took COREA-SUAZO into federal immigration custody and transported him to the ICE New Orleans Field Office in Saint Rose, Louisiana for processing. Records checks revealed that COREA-SUAZO is an alien and has previously been removed from the United States four (4) times.
According to the bill of information, on or about August 2, 2026, COREA-SUAZO, an alien, was found in the United States after having been deported and removed therefrom on or about October 28, 2020, without the approval of the Attorney General of the United States or his designated successor, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, having expressly consented to the defendant’s reapplication for admission into the United States.
If convicted, COREA-SUAZO faces a maximum penalty of up to ten (10) years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three (3) years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Department of Homeland Security, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, United States Homeland Security Investigations, and the Slidell Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Spiro G. Latsis and Lorcan L. Connick of the General Crimes Unit are handling 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.
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Hannibal Man’s Threats Led to Discovery of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from Hannibal, Missouri on Tuesday admitted possessing child sexual abuse material that was discovered after he threatened a former paramour.
Joseph E. Courtney, 38, admitted in his guilty plea that he threatened the woman on Sept. 10, 2024. Among other messages, Courtney wrote, “I sleep and wake up with thoughts of killing you.” After his arrest for threatening behavior, investigators conducted a court-approved search of his phone and spotted possible child sexual abuse material (CSAM). A second search warrant then uncovered 62 videos containing CSAM, including the sexual assault of crying children.
Courtney pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of possession of child pornography. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 2. The charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
The Hannibal Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Hampden Man Pleads Guilty to Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Hampden man pleaded guilty on August 31, 2026, in U.S. District Court in Portland to one count of tax evasion.
According to court records, Brandon Wilson, 55, owed substantial back taxes based on his tax returns for 2010 through 2017. After the IRS levied Wilson’s bank accounts as part of its collection efforts, Wilson began conducting his debt collection business without holding bank accounts in his own name. He did this by having accounts opened under the names of individuals running businesses in Massachusetts and Virginia. While these entities were ostensibly conducting debt collection services for Wilson, they were also holding money and conducting personal and business transactions on his behalf. Wilson directed specific payments out of the accounts, and received a series of smaller payments through Cash App, PayPal, and other means. This arrangement allowed Wilson to continue to control his money while frustrating the IRS’s ability to collect the taxes owed.
Wilson faces up to a year and a day in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) investigated the case.
IRS-CI is the law enforcement arm of the IRS, responsible for conducting financial crime investigations, including tax fraud, narcotics trafficking, money laundering, public corruption, healthcare fraud, identity theft and more. It is the only federal law enforcement agency with investigative jurisdiction over violations of the Internal Revenue Code. IRS-CI has 16 field offices located across the U.S. and maintains an international presence through attaché posts abroad.
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Grove Man Sentenced for Discharging Firearm During ArgumentRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Grove man was sentenced today after he discharged a firearm while intoxicated and arguing with family, announced U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar.
U.S. District Judge Sara E Hill sentenced Colton Lee Crane, 33, for Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm
During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Crane was ordered to serve 120 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.In July 2025, deputies with the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call in Grove, Oklahoma. The caller reported that Crane had a gun and dispatchers could hear him screaming in the background. When deputies arrived, Crane was walking down the road with a baby, unsteady on his feet, with bloodshot eyes, smelling of alcohol, and slurred speech. Crane admitted that he started drinking once he got home from work and was arguing with family members.
Court documents show that Crane admitted to kicking in a door, pointing a firearm at the victim, and when it discharged, the bullet went through the wall. The bullet was approximately one foot from the victim. Crane eventually lowered the firearm, pushed past family members, grabbed the 10-month-old baby, and walked out of the home.
Court documents show that Crane was previously convicted of pointing a firearm at his former spouse and discharging it while children were present. He is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, and he will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Wright prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
Grand Prairie attorney arrested for Ponzi scheme and obstructing SEC investigationRead the Press Release
DALLAS — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a Grand Prairie attorney was arrested Aug. 31 on federal charges alleging he defrauded investors for years, used forged notary documents to mislead the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, falsely placed an innocent woman he barely knew at the center of that fictional operation and pressured the woman and her husband to “take a vacation” to Mexico to prevent authorities from learning the truth.
David Thomas Gilchrist, 70, is charged by criminal complaint with wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and witness tampering. He is expected to make his initial appearance before a U.S. magistrate judge on Wednesday, Sep. 2.
“Mr. Gilchrist’s alleged conduct strikes at the heart of investor trust and the integrity of our financial system,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “He didn’t just defraud innocent people out of their savings, he allegedly forged documents, lied to federal regulators, and tried to intimidate witnesses to cover his tracks. We will not hesitate to pursue anyone who attempts to deceive investors or undermine federal investigations, and we remain committed to working with our great partners at the SEC to hold offenders accountable.”
“Attorneys play a vital role in the SEC’s investor protection mission,” said SEC Inspector General Kevin Muhlendorf. “Where any individual, but especially an attorney, seeks to obstruct SEC Enforcement investigations through lies, fake documents, or witness tampering, SEC OIG will use our law enforcement authority to pursue them with our partners at the Department of Justice.”
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, Gilchrist entered partnerships and promissory notes with roughly twenty victims for the purpose of purchasing property tax liens in Texas counties as an investment vehicle. As alleged in the complaint, bank records show Gilchrist did not use his victims’ funds to purchase tax liens but instead commingled the money with other funds, which he used to make personal expenditures and repay earlier investors—classic features of a Ponzi scheme. Investigators estimate that between April 2023 and January 2026, Gilchrist received approximately $1.45 million from investors and returned only about $789,000.
The complaint alleges that when the SEC initiated an investigation and requested documentation, Gilchrist provided a set of purported quitclaim deeds that later proved to be forgeries. The deeds allegedly contained notary stamps and signatures belonging to real Texas notaries, none of whom authorized Gilchrist to use their credentials.
According to the complaint, during sworn testimony before the SEC in April and May 2026, Gilchrist stated that he had redacted the homeowners’ names on the fraudulent quitclaim deeds because “they’re illegal,” and claimed that he used a woman — also “illegal”—as an intermediary to identify the homeowners and deliver cash to them in Bexar County, Texas. The complaint further alleges that days before testifying before the SEC, Gilchrist appeared unannounced at the woman’s home, told her husband that the FBI was looking for him and advised them to “take a vacation" for a couple of years, potentially in Mexico.
Gilchrist allegedly provided his victims with sporadic payments, misleading updates and implausible excuses such as a government shutdown, an arson investigation, and a hurricane‑relief deployment, that Gilchrist allegedly used to delay repayment. In at least one instance, while claiming to be hospitalized in Tennessee after a colectomy, Gilchrist was recorded as checking into a local gym in Mansfield, Texas.
If convicted of the charges alleged in the complaint, Gilchrist faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each of the wire fraud and witness tampering charges and a mandatory two-year consecutive sentence for aggravated identity theft.
In a separate case, the SEC’s Chicago Regional Office has also filed a civil complaint charging Gilchrist with securities fraud.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Office of Inspector General is investigating this matter with substantial assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander Schwab and Douglas Brasher of the Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Getaway Driver in Multiple Memphis Bank Robberies Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison after TrialRead the Press Release
A federal judge in Memphis, Tennessee, today sentenced Courtney Trenell, 34, of Memphis, to 15 years in prison for aiding and abetting two bank robberies and joining a conspiracy to rob six banks. Eight men were indicted in this case, with Trenell and three co-defendants being convicted in jury trials and the others pleading guilty.
“This defendant took part in two separate bank robberies as part of a violent robbery crew,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The series of bank robberies committed by these eight defendants threatened the lives of hardworking Americans and terrorized bank employees and customers. Those who commit these dangerous robberies will be prosecuted, regardless of their role.”
“This is precisely the type of violent offender that threatens lives and public safety in Memphis,” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee. “Armed bank robberies are brazen and disturbing acts of violence that terrorize our community and must be met with significant sentences such as this one. Trenell is a dangerous offender who has sown violence and greed and will now reap the full measure of consequences for his criminal conduct.”
“This sentence demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to working with our partners to bring to justice those who resort to bank robbery for criminal profit,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “We will continue to dedicate the necessary resources to pursue those who terrorize our communities and will not rest until offenders are held accountable for their actions.”
Evidence at trial proved that between April 2023 and December 2023, Trenell joined a conspiracy to rob banks throughout Memphis. Trenell drove a getaway car to aid co-defendants in orchestrating and escaping the robberies of Bank of Bartlett and First Horizon Bank branches, which are located across the street from one another, on Oct. 20, 2023. The defendants robbed each bank at the same time to confuse and evade law enforcement.
A jury convicted Trenell of two counts of aiding and abetting a bank robbery and one count of joining a conspiracy to rob banks after an eight-day trial in July 2025. Trenell’s trial co-defendants, Devins Hinds, 36, and Joshua Cribbs, 33, both of Memphis, were also found guilty of joining a conspiracy to rob banks in Memphis and robbing specific banks. Hinds was found guilty of additional firearm offenses as well. In a January 2026 trial, a separate jury found defendant Mario Patterson, 45, of Memphis, guilty of robbing three banks in the same conspiracy as Trenell and other defendants.
Last year, Hinds and Cribbs were sentenced to 194 months and 144 months in prison, respectively. Another co-defendant, Robert Haley, 45, pleaded guilty before trial and was sentenced to 204 months in prison in December 2025. Three additional defendants, Monterrio Trenell, Travis Drain, and Mario Patterson, await sentencing later this year.
The FBI and the Memphis Police Department investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Ashleigh Atasoy of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory A. Wagner and Tony Arvin for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Safe Streets Task Force’s efforts to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee, and surrounding areas. This case is also part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee, and surrounding areas. The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee have partnered, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, to confront violent crimes committed by gang members and associates through the enforcement of federal laws and use of federal resources to prosecute the violent offenders and prevent further violence.
Getaway Driver in Multiple Memphis Bank Robberies Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison after TrialRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A federal judge in Memphis, Tennessee, today sentenced Courtney Trenell, 34, of Memphis, to 15 years in prison for aiding and abetting two bank robberies and joining a conspiracy to rob six banks. Eight men were indicted in this case, with Trenell and three co-defendants being convicted in jury trials and the others pleading guilty.
“This defendant took part in two separate bank robberies as part of a violent robbery crew,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The series of bank robberies committed by these eight defendants threatened the lives of hardworking Americans and terrorized bank employees and customers. Those who commit these dangerous robberies will be prosecuted, regardless of their role.”
“This is precisely the type of violent offender that threatens lives and public safety in Memphis,” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee. “Armed bank robberies are brazen and disturbing acts of violence that terrorize our community and must be met with significant sentences such as this one. Trenell is a dangerous offender who has sown violence and greed and will now reap the full measure of consequences for his criminal conduct.”
“This sentence demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to working with our partners to bring to justice those who resort to bank robbery for criminal profit,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “We will continue to dedicate the necessary resources to pursue those who terrorize our communities and will not rest until offenders are held accountable for their actions.”
Evidence at trial proved that between April 2023 and December 2023, Trenell joined a conspiracy to rob banks throughout Memphis. Trenell drove a getaway car to aid co-defendants in orchestrating and escaping the robberies of Bank of Bartlett and First Horizon Bank branches, which are located across the street from one another, on Oct. 20, 2023. The defendants robbed each bank at the same time to confuse and evade law enforcement.
A jury convicted Trenell of two counts of aiding and abetting a bank robbery and one count of joining a conspiracy to rob banks after an eight-day trial in July 2025. Trenell’s trial co-defendants, Devin Hinds, 36, and Joshua Cribbs, 33, both of Memphis, were also found guilty of joining a conspiracy to rob banks in Memphis and robbing specific banks. Hinds was found guilty of additional firearm offenses as well. In a January 2026 trial, a separate jury found defendant Mario Patterson, 45, of Memphis, guilty of robbing three banks in the same conspiracy as Trenell and other defendants.
Last year, Hinds and Cribbs were sentenced to 194 months and 144 months in prison, respectively. Another co-defendant, Robert Haley, 45, pleaded guilty before trial and was sentenced to 204 months in prison in December 2025. Three additional defendants, Monterrio Trenell, Travis Drain, and Mario Patterson, await sentencing later this year.
The FBI and the Memphis Police Department investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Ashleigh Atasoy of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory A. Wagner and Tony Arvin for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Safe Streets Task Force’s efforts to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee, and surrounding areas. This case is also part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee, and surrounding areas. The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee have partnered, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, to confront violent crimes committed by gang members and associates through the enforcement of federal laws and use of federal resources to prosecute the violent offenders and prevent further violence.
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