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24 June 2025
Florida Man Convicted in Multimillion-Dollar Medicare Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today the conviction of TED ALBIN for his role in orchestrating a multimillion-dollar Medicare fraud scheme. ALBIN was convicted following a 12-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl.
“Ted Albin brazenly defrauded our Medicare system using fake and fraudulent prescriptions,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “He cheated Medicare out of millions meant for real patients with every taxpayer footing the bill. Today’s verdict makes clear: if you cheat Medicare, you will be prosecuted.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial:
From approximately 2016 through April 2021, ALBIN operated Grapevine Professional Services (“Grapevine”), a medical billing company, which he used to submit fraudulent reimbursement claims for durable medical equipment (“DME”), including back braces, knee braces, wrist braces, and shoulder braces. ALBIN submitted thousands of fraudulent claims on behalf of DME supply companies that had engaged Grapevine for its billing services, including at least three DME supply companies owned and controlled by ALBIN and his sister, Erin Foley—Liberty Bell Medical, Skye Medical, and Priority Medical. ALBIN’s fraudulent claims were based on prescriptions for DME which he knew had been illegally bought with kickbacks paid by the DME supply companies. At least some of the kickback-tainted prescriptions billed by ALBIN were generated with forged doctor’s signatures and without regard to the medical need of the patients for whom braces had been prescribed. ALBIN knew of the fraudulent nature of the claims he submitted to Medicare and nonetheless continued to submit such claims, over and over, for years. In total, the DME companies that ALBIN submitted claims for billed Medicare for over $38 million, on which Medicare paid out over $12 million.
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ALBIN, 48, of Stuart, Florida, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years; one count of health care fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years; one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years; and one count of conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute, which carries a maximum sentence of five years. ALBIN is scheduled to be sentenced on December 10, 2025.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Kinder, Jackie Delligatti, Brandon Thompson, and Ryan Finkel are in charge of the prosecution.
Federal Inmate Sentenced to an Additional Five Years for Fatal Stabbing of Fellow InmateRead the Press Release
TERRE HAUTE— Otha Don Watkins III, 43, of Cairo, Illinois has been sentenced to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter and possessing contraband in prison.
According to court documents, in April of 2023, Otha Watkins was an inmate at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana, serving a 23-year sentence for aiding and abetting armed bank robbery, possession of a stolen firearm, and conspiracy to commit robbery. While in prison, Watkins obtained a piece of metal, sharpened to a point on one end and wrapped with white cloth on the other. This object, commonly known as a “prison shank” is classified as prohibited because it is a weapon or designed or intended to be used as a weapon.
On April 14, 2023, Watkins was assigned to Unit D-2 of the USP. Inmate Carlos Shelton (“Shelton”) was assigned to the same unit. That day, Watkins and Shelton met on a tier in the unit and began fighting, both armed with improvised shanks. During the course of the fight, Watkins fatally stabbed Shelton in the chest, damaging arteries associated with the heart and lungs. The stab wound led to a massive hemothorax. Shelton died on April 14, 2023.
“Given Otha Watkins’ history of violent offenses, culminating in the brutal attack he carried out in the Terre Haute prison, it’s evident that he should never be allowed to live outside federal custody again,” said John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “I commend the FBI and our federal prosecutor for their tireless efforts to ensure this defendant faces justice. I hope that the conclusion of this case provides some sense of closure and peace to Mr. Shelton’s family.”
"Today's sentencing marks the conclusion of a senseless act of violence that took place within the walls of our correctional institution,” said a Bureau of Prisons Spokesperson. “Otha Watkins demonstrated an utter disregard for human life and the rule of law. The court's decision affirms that such actions carry severe consequences, and it sends a clear and resounding message: acts of violence in federal prison will be met with the full weight of the law."
“This brutal killing is a reminder that violence can occur anywhere, even within the confines of the most secure environments,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “The FBI and our partners are committed to protecting all individuals, regardless of their incarceration status, and we will continue to work to ensure those who commit violent acts while incarcerated, are held fully accountable.”
The FBI and Bureau of Prisons investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge James R. Sweeney II.
Acting U.S. Attorney Childress thanked Assistant U.S. Jayson W. McGrath, who prosecuted this case.
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Elmwood Man Indicted for Felon in Possession of Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JAEQUAN BAILEY, (“BAILEY”), age 26, of Elmwood, Louisiana was charged on June 20, 2025, in a three-count indictment, announced Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson. Counts 1, 2, and 3 charged him with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).
According to the indictment, BAILEY possessed firearms and ammunition on April 19, 2022, September 26, 2024, and November 26, 2024. BAILEY was prohibited from possessing firearms due to his prior felony conviction.
If convicted, BAILEY faces up to 15 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release for each of Counts 1, 2, and 3. Additionally, BAILEY is required to pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee for each count.
Acting United States Attorney Simpson reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The case was investigated by the New Orleans Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Troy L. Bell of the Violent Crimes Unit.
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Dominican National Arrested for His Role in a Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Dominican Republic national was arrested yesterday, in connection with an enforcement action last week, for his role in a drug trafficking organization operating out of Massachusetts and distributing illegal narcotics in Manchester, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.
Cesar Joel Perez Mejia, age 30, a Dominican Republic national unlawfully residing in Hyde Park, Massachusetts, was arrested on one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. He will appear in federal court today at 4:30pm.
According to the charging documents and statements made in court, on June 23, 2025, the defendant facilitated a drug sale with an undercover officer. When the defendant arrived at the agreed upon location, law enforcement searched the defendant’s vehicle and found small individually wrapped bags containing approximately 57 grams of suspected fentanyl and 43 grams of suspected crack cocaine.
Possession with intent to distribute carries a maximum prison term of 20 years, a maximum fine of $1,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least three years and up to life.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Major Offender Task Force and the Manchester Police Department led the investigation. DEA New England, HSI New England, and the Boston, Attleboro, Methuen, Lynn, and Providence Police Departments provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Shannon and Heather Cherniske are prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Dodson man pleads guilty to strangulation on the Fort Belknap Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS - A Dodson man accused of strangling a woman on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
The defendant, Skychief Chiefstick Lewis, 29, pleaded guilty to strangulation. Lewis faces 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and 3 years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Court Judge Brian M. Morris presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is set for October 29, 2025. Lewis was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that on September 13, 2024, Skychief Chiefstick Lewis was with Jane Doe. Lewis was mad at Doe, who was sick, because she was sleeping. This resulted in an argument. Lewis then strangled Doe, who later described not being able to breathe as Lewis strangled her with his hands. Lewis also strangled her a second time during the same assault.
Law enforcement was contacted and responded. Officers approached and saw a silver car leaving the house at a high rate of speed. Law enforcement stopped the car. Doe was driving and Lewis was in the passenger seat. Officers noted redness around Doe’s face and saw that Doe’s shirt and sweatshirt were torn around the neck area. Red marks and bruising on Doe’s neck were later noted. Doe described the strangulation by putting both of her hands to her throat.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation.
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Department of Defense Employee Charged with Unlawful Retention of Classified DocumentsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — A civilian employee of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) was arrested and made her initial court appearance yesterday to face charges of unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents.
Ewa Maria Ciszak, 64, of Huntsville, Alabama, is charged with knowingly removing and retaining classified documents and materials.
According to court documents unsealed today in the Northern District of Alabama, Ciszak has been employed at the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) since January 2023. As part of her duties, she held a security clearance and had access to classified materials related to the national defense of the United States. Beginning in approximately February 2025, and continuing through June 18, 2025, Ciszak allegedly removed classified documents from MDA facilities without authorization and transported them to her personal residence and vehicle, which were not authorized for classified material storage.
On June 18, 2025, pursuant to a search warrant authorized by the U.S. District Court, federal agents executed a search of Ciszak’s home, person, and vehicle. Agents recovered multiple documents bearing classification markings up to the SECRET level. Some of the documents had been placed in her personal backpack that day and transported directly from MDA to her home.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg, U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona for the Northern District of Alabama, and Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division made the announcement.
The FBI’s Birmingham Field Office and the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations are investigating the case. Valuable assistant was provided by the FBI Atlanta Field Office’s Savannah Resident Agency and the Missile Defense Agency.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Henry Cornelius for the Northern District of Alabama and Trial Attorneys Chantelle Dial and Adam Barry of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Department of Defense Employee Charged with Unlawful Retention of Classified DocumentsRead the Press Release
A civilian employee of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) was arrested and made her initial court appearance yesterday to face charges of unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents.
Ewa Maria Ciszak, 64, of Huntsville, Alabama, is charged with knowingly removing and retaining classified documents and materials.
According to court documents unsealed today in the Northern District of Alabama, Ciszak has been employed at the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) since January 2023. As part of her duties, she held a security clearance and had access to classified materials related to the national defense of the United States. Beginning in approximately February 2025, and continuing through June 18, 2025, Ciszak allegedly removed classified documents from MDA facilities without authorization and transported them to her personal residence and vehicle, which were not authorized for classified material storage.
On June 18, 2025, pursuant to a search warrant authorized by the U.S. District Court, federal agents executed a search of Ciszak’s home, person, and vehicle. Agents recovered multiple documents bearing classification markings up to the SECRET level. Some of the documents had been placed in her personal backpack that day and transported directly from MDA to her home.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg, U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona for the Northern District of Alabama, and Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division made the announcement.
The FBI’s Birmingham Field Office and the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations are investigating the case. Valuable assistant was provided by the FBI Atlanta Field Office’s Savannah Resident Agency and the Missile Defense Agency.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Henry Cornelius for the Northern District of Alabama and Trial Attorneys Chantelle Dial and Adam Barry of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Dallas man with three prior domestic violence convictions sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for firearm possessionRead the Press Release
A Dallas man with three prior domestic violence convictions was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a felon, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson.
Thomas Keithlun Brown, 26, pled guilty to the federal offense of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in September 2024. He was sentenced on June 18, 2025, to 70 months in federal prison by United States District Judge Ed Kinkeade.
At sentencing, prosecutors argued for a 70-month sentence given the defendant’s extensive history assaulting women and domestic violence convictions.
This case is part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas’s Domestic Violence Initiative. This initiative is aimed at keeping firearms out of the hands of domestic abusers by using the tools of federal prosecution. History shows that gun violence and domestic violence are intertwined, and that offenders with domestic violence in their past pose a remarkably high risk of homicide.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Denton Police Department conducted the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys John Boyle and Luis Suarez.
Conehatta Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – On June 17, 2025, a Newton County man pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a minor under the age of sixteen.
According to court documents, in February of 2024, Javeon Deshaun Jefferson, 25, engaged in the sexual abuse of a minor in the Conehatta Community of the Choctaw Indian Reservation.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi, made the announcement. The Choctaw Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Jefferson is scheduled to be sentenced on October 28, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of fifteen years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case.
Columbia Man Sentenced to 127 Months for Trafficking in Fentanyl, Illegal FirearmRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Columbia, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court for possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
James Edward Hughes, 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 67 months for possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute, and five years for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The Court ordered the sentences to run consecutively for a total sentence of 127 months in federal prison without parole. The Court also sentenced Hughes to four years of supervised release following incarceration.
On Feb. 25, 2025, Hughes pleaded guilty to one count of possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute and one count of knowingly possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking offense.
On Sep. 21, 2023, Columbia Police Department officers pulled over a silver Mazda SUV, that had no front license plates. The driver of the vehicle, Hughes was asked to step out of the vehicle, and during a pat down of Hughes, a bag of pills was discovered on his person. Hughes was found to possess 815 pills, which contained fentanyl. During the pat down of Hughes, an officer observed the butt of handgun sticking out from under the driver’s seat. The firearm, a Glock 36, .45 caliber handgun was recovered.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney, Jim Lynn. It was investigated by the Columbia Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
California Man Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
Ammaad Akhtar, 33, of Stockton, was arrested today and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.
According to court documents, since February 2025, Akhtar has been communicating online with a law enforcement-controlled individual, whom Akhtar believed was a member of ISIS. In these conversations, Akhtar voiced his support for ISIS and jihad, expressed a desire to travel overseas to join and fight with ISIS, and stated a desire to send guns and money to ISIS.
In April 2025, during this investigation, Akhtar demonstrated a desire to provide support for ISIS and did so by providing financial funding on multiple occasions. After a few payments, the law enforcement-controlled individual indicated that ISIS had procured several guns with the money Akhtar had sent. In his response, Akhtar said, “may Allah destroy our enemies” and affirmed that he would send more money that same day.
Akhtar also talked about planning acts of violence, including conducting an attack against a specific individual and an attack utilizing homemade explosives. He said he “want[s] to die in the cause of Allah fighting the kuffar [infidels]” and asked for instructions on how to make a homemade explosive device in order “to make a boom” at a populated event.
Then, on June 23, 2025, Akhtar met with an individual he believed was an ISIS associate, but who was actually an undercover employee. Akhtar provided clothing, binoculars, $400 cash, two loaded guns, and six additional magazines. Akhtar then swore bayat (a pledge of loyalty) to ISIS.
If convicted, Akhtar faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith for the Eastern District of California, and Assistant Director Donald M. Holstead of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division made the announcement.
The FBI’s Sacramento Field Office is investigating the case, with valuable assistance provided by the FBI’s New York Field Office and the New York City Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot Wong for the Eastern District of California and Trial Attorney Ryan D. White of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Billings man pleads guilty to illegal possession of firearmRead the Press Release
BILLINGS - A Billings man accused of illegally possessing a firearm admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
The defendant, Damian Andrew Roman, 26, pleaded guilty to prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Roman faces 15 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and 3 years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. U.S. District Court Judge Susan P. Watters will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing will be set at a later time. Roman was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that Damien Andrew Roman was convicted in 2021 of two felony offenses in the United States District Court for the District of Montana. These convictions prohibit his possession of firearms or ammunition.
On December 18, 2024, Damian Roman was driving a car that got into a crash in Billings. Before law enforcement arrived at the crash, an eyewitness saw Roman throw a bag over a nearby fence. Responding officers walked along the fence line and found a brown Louis Vuitton bag. Inside the bag was a Glock, Model 48, 9mm caliber pistol loaded with an extended magazine with eighteen (18) rounds of 9mm caliber ammunition.
ATF subsequently ran a check on the firearm and determined it was originally purchased by Roman’s family member. Law enforcement conducted a fingerprint analysis of the firearm and located a partial print on the magazine that was inserted into the firearm. The print was positively identified as belonging to Roman.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The ATF and Billings Police Department conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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Armed Crips Member Receives Six Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Greenville gang member was sentenced to 72 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Leonard Williams Jr., 36, pled guilty to the charges on February 18, 2025.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, the Greenville Regional Drug Task Force conducted several controlled purchases of cocaine from Williams Jr. during July and August 2024. On August 12, 2024, law enforcement searched a residence associated with Williams Jr. on Ward Street and found more than an ounce of cocaine and a loaded .40 caliber handgun in the bedroom. According to law enforcement, Williams Jr. is a validated member of the 83 set of the Crips street gang. Williams Jr. has a prior conviction from 2016 for conspiracy to commit second degree murder.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Greenville Regional Drug Task Force investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Severo prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-CR-00072.
Armed Career Criminal on Federal Supervision for A Prior Criminal Conviction Is Sentenced to More Than 15 Years for Robbery and Possession of A Firearm by A FelonRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Terry Sherwood Slade, 55, was sentenced to 188 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release today after he was convicted of Hobbs Act robbery and possession of a firearm by a felon, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Slade was also ordered to serve an additional 12 months and a day for violating his supervised release.
According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, on November 20, 2023, while Slade was under federal supervision for a prior robbery conviction, he entered the House of Clouds Smoke Shop located in Charlotte and requested cigarettes from the store’s employee. When the store employee opened the register, Slade demanded money and threatened to shoot her. Slade then put his hand in his jacket pocket and gestured toward the employee. He then walked behind the counter into the employee area and took money from the register along with cigarettes and fled the scene.
According to court records, on December 3, 2023, Slade entered Nick’s Arcade located in Charlotte. Upon entering the store, Slade approached a security guard and grabbed her firearm. Following a brief struggle between Slade, the security guard, and a cashier, Slade grabbed the security guard’s firearm and pointed the weapon at the two employees. While armed, Slade went to the arcade’s private office and stole cash located in a safe before fleeing the scene.
On December 13, 2023, an individual contacted the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) to report he had been shot at by a man with whom he’d previously had an argument. During the investigation, the victim identified Slade as the shooter. CMPD officers arrested Slade. At the time of the arrest, Slade possessed the firearm he’d taken from security guard during the arcade store robbery. CMPD analyzed a cartridge collected at the scene of the reported shooting and determined it matched the security guard’s firearm found on Slade when he was arrested.
In September 2024, Slade pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and possession of a firearm by a felon. Court records indicate that Slade has a prior federal conviction for Hobbs Act robbery, and multiple state felony convictions in North Carolina, including for Assault With a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Kill Inflicting Serious Injury and Common Law Robbery. Slade was sentenced as an armed career criminal.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson credited the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department for the investigation of this case and thanked the U.S. Probation Office for its assistance.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
23 June 2025
Waterbury Drug Trafficker Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DANIEL DIAZ-RIVERA, also known as “Danny,” “Lupin,” “Lupito,” and “L,” 33, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 210 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for heading a Waterbury drug trafficking organization.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI’s Waterbury Safe Streets Gang Task Force and other law enforcement agencies investigated two drug trafficking organizations based in the city of Waterbury. One organization was headed by Angel Quiros, also known as “Papa John,” and operated in the area of William Street, and the other was headed by Diaz-Rivera and operated in the area of Maple Avenue. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps on multiple phones, video surveillance, GPS tracking of vehicles, and numerous controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that the two organizations distributed cocaine, crack, and fentanyl through a network of sellers. The organizations shared sources of supply and worked together to further their operations.
The Diaz-Rivera organization sold crack and fentanyl all hours of the day and night outside of a bodega on Maple Avenue in Waterbury. Diaz-Rivera oversaw several shift bosses who, in turn, oversaw street-level distributors. During the investigation, investigators made two controlled purchases of crack directly from Diaz-Rivera. Diaz-Rivera used violence and threats to control others in connection with his drug distribution network.
Quiros, Diaz-Rivera, and 15 other individuals were charged with federal offenses as a result of the investigation. Diaz-Rivera and several codefendants were arrested on November 29, 2023. In association with the arrests, investigators executed multiple search warrants and seized approximately 700 grams of crack cocaine, more than 900 vials (“caps”) of crack, approximately 200 grams of loose fentanyl, more than 1,600 dose bags of fentanyl/heroin, two stolen firearms, numerous rounds of ammunition, and more than $39,000 in cash, including more than $13,000 that was found in Diaz-Rivera’s vehicle.
On January 24, 2025, Diaz-Rivera pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. He has been detained since his arrest.
Quiros pleaded guilty to the same charge on February 11, 2025, and awaits sentencing.
The FBI’s Waterbury Safe Streets Gang Task includes members from the FBI, the Waterbury Police Department, the Naugatuck Police Department, and the Connecticut Department of Correction. The DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Connecticut State Police, Wolcott Police Department, and Meriden Police Department have assisted the investigation.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Freismuth and Shan Patel through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the Waterbury State Attorney’s Office for its cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this case.
Two Men Sentenced for Multiple Drug Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – An Aberdeen, Ohio, man, Gary Cunningham, Jr., 37, and Frederick Overly, III, 58, of Maysville, Ky., were sentenced to 268 months and 120 months, respectively, by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning for one count of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and eight counts of distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine. Cunningham was also convicted of possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute it.
According to testimony at trial, law enforcement identified Frederick Overly III, as a methamphetamine supplier, and used a confidential informant to make eight controlled purchases from Overly. Each purchase was arranged by the informant calling Overly, who in turn indicated that he would need to get the methamphetamine from his own supplier, Cunningham. Each time, Cunningham sold Overly the methamphetamine that Overly subsequently sold to the informant, totaling more approximately 80 grams.
Cunningham was previously convicted of three counts of first-degree trafficking of a controlled substance in Mason County Circuit Court in 2013, and second-degree robbery in Mason County Circuit Court in 2014. He was on probation for possession of methamphetamine when he committed the federal offenses.
Under federal law, Cunningham and Overly must serve 85 percent of their prison sentences. Upon their release from prison, Cunningham will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years, and Overly will be under supervision for five years.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Olivia Olson, Acting Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; jointly announced the sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Maysville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tony Bracke and Drew Spievack prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Two Guatemalan men charged in separate complaints with illegal re-entryRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Sebastian Tzib Putul, 32, and Mario Salguero Sandoval, 36, both citizens and nationals of Guatemala, were arrested and charged in separate complaints with illegal re-entry, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Smith, who is handling the cases, stated that according to the complaint against Tzib Putul, on June 9, 2025, U.S. Border Patrol Agents stopped a vehicle in Cheektowaga, NY, which included six individuals, including Tzib Putul. When questioned regarding their citizenship and legal status in the United States, it was determined that Tzib Putul is a citizen and national of Guatemala and did not have any documents that would allow him to be or remain in the United States lawfully. Tzib Putul is a native and citizen of Guatemala, who was physically removed from the United States in January 2024.
According to the complaint against Salguero Sandoval, on June 10, 2025, U.S. Border Patrol Agents stopped a vehicle in Buffalo, NY, which included seven individuals, including Salguero Sandoval, who was the driver of the vehicle. When questioned about his citizenship and legal status in the United States, he did not provide any statements and did not provide a valid driver’s license. Salguero Sandoval was taken into custody. It was subsequently determined that he is a citizen and national of Guatemala, who was physically removed from the United States in July 2015.
Both defendants made initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and were detained.
These investigations are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The complaints are the result of an investigation by U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent in Charge Martin B. Coombs.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Twice-deported Mexican national sentenced to 168 months in federal prison in drug trafficking conspiracyRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A twice-deported Mexican national has been sentenced to 168 months in federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Jose Mercedes Saucedo-Guerrero, 34, a Mexican national illegally living in Longview, was sentenced to 168 months by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on June 23, 2025.
According to information presented in court, on May 2, 2024, Saucedo-Guerrero was stopped for a traffic violation in Kilgore. During the stop, officers deployed a K9 to conduct an open-air sniff of the vehicle, resulting in a positive alert for the presence of a controlled substance. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of 2,972 grams of methamphetamine hidden in the vehicle. Further investigation revealed Saucedo-Guerrero was unlawfully present in the United States after having been previously prosecuted and deported on two separate occasions for immigration crimes.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the Gregg County Sheriff's Office, and the Kilgore Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucas Machicek.
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Tripoli Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A man who distributed and possessed child pornography pled guilty on Friday, June 20, 2025, in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
At the plea hearing, Austin Kingsbury, age 23, from Tripoli, Iowa, admitted that between August 2022 and June 2023, he distributed visual depictions of child pornography. Between December 2022 and June 2023, Kingsbury possessed child pornography, including of prepubescent children, on his cellular telephone.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Kingsbury remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Kingsbury faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, a $500,000 fine, $62,200 in special assessments, and a lifetime term of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Devra T. Hake and Dillan Edwards and was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, the Tripoli, Iowa Police Department, the Bremer County, Iowa Sheriff’s Office, the Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department, the Anchorage, Alaska Police Department, and the Alaska State Troopers Technical Crimes Unit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 24-CR-2049. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Three New York Residents Charged with Conspiring to Defraud Bank Customers, Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Fanchao Zeng, 33, Zhongzhou Lin, 26, and Yanping Li, 32, all of Queens, New York, were arrested and charged by indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, five counts of bank fraud, two counts each of aggravated identity theft, and aiding and abetting, arising from a scheme to impersonate and defraud numerous bank customers.
The indictment alleges that the three defendants and their co-conspirators repeatedly used stolen bank account information and fraudulently obtained driver’s licenses to access the home equity line of credit (“HELOC”) of a bank customer, transfer funds from the HELOC to an account that the conspirators controlled, and then withdraw those funds.
As detailed in the indictment, Zeng and Lin, with their co-conspirators, identified bank customers who had HELOCs. Zeng, Lin, and Li then submitted fraudulent change of address requests in the HELOC account holders’ names to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, usually via the department’s website. They proceeded to use the department’s website to request a replacement driver’s license for each HELOC account holder, which was mailed to the new address to which the conspirators had access.
Next, Zeng, Lin, Li, and their co-conspirators took steps to prepare the funds available from the HELOCs for theft. Sometimes, they made an online transfer of HELOC funds to an account linked to the legitimate HELOC account holder. Other times, they created a fake business account in the HELOC account holder’s name and transferred HELOC funds to this business account. On other occasions, the defendants and their conspirators caused the transfer of HELOC funds to linked accounts via phone-initiated transfer requests or in-person visits to bank branches.
After these steps, the indictment alleges, the defendants and their co-conspirators traveled to branches of the defrauded banks to steal the HELOC funds. They had individuals of the same ethnicity as the HELOC account holders (“runners”) enter these banks, and, using the fraudulently obtained replacement driver’s licenses, withdraw funds belonging to the HELOC account holders. The runners, who included Li on multiple occasions, did so either by making large cash withdrawals or by purchasing official checks in large amounts.The defendants and their co-conspirators often cashed these official checks at casinos and gambled with the proceeds, in order to hide their fraud.
If convicted, Zeng faces a maximum possible sentence of 131 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $5,000,000 fine. If Lin is convicted, he faces a maximum possible sentence of 159 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $5,750,000 fine. If Li is convicted, she faces a maximum possible sentence of 101 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $4,250,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric D. Gill.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.Thirteen People Charged in Takedown of a Major Drug Trafficking NetworkRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Thirteen people have been charged and arrested for their roles in a New York City-based drug trafficking ring, with federal agents seizing nearly 500 kilos of cocaine.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III; Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge, New York Division, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Craig A. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge, Albany Field Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Steven G. James, Superintendent, New York State Police (NYSP).
On June 12, law enforcement officers, including from the NYSP, DEA and FBI, conducted searches at 24 locations in New York and New Jersey as part of an operation to break up a drug trafficking network that shipped drugs from California to New York City and then Upstate New York. The searches resulted in the seizure of almost 250 kilos of cocaine, fentanyl pills, other drugs and paraphernalia, a firearm and more than $1 million in cash. Law enforcement also made arrests in Georgia and Pennsylvania.
The searches and arrests on June 12 followed an 18-month-long investigation in which law enforcement seized more than 240 kilos of cocaine, 185 pounds of methamphetamine, and almost 700 pounds of marijuana.
United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said: “Using an all-hands-on-deck approach, we have smashed a sophisticated, New York City-based drug trafficking organization that was pumping poison into our Upstate New York communities. This case demonstrates the federal government’s commitment to taking back our communities from the criminal organizations that have proliferated in recent years thanks to weak state laws and even weaker state legislators from New York City.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino said: “Over the past year and a half, our DEA team, working alongside our dedicated law enforcement partners, have successfully targeted the Abdelhak drug trafficking organization which has plagued and poisoned our communities here in New York and across the Northeastern corridor with illicit narcotics. While these operations have made a significant impact dismantling this drug trafficking network’s criminal enterprise, the DEA’s mission is far from over. The DEA remains steadfast in our commitment to saving lives, and we will continue to pursue the drug cartels and those individuals responsible for flooding our neighborhoods with these poisonous drugs.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig A. Tremaroli said: “This network’s reach was expansive – moving drugs from California to sell in communities within the Capital Region, North Country, Central New York, Western New York, and New York City. But the reach of our federal task forces is deeper, and these 13 individuals learned the hard way that the FBI, together with our law enforcement partners, will not stand idly by while criminals pedal drugs on our streets.”
NYSP Superintendent Steven G. James said: “This investigation and the arrests that followed reflect our unwavering commitment to protecting the public from the violence and devastation drug trafficking brings to our communities. These individuals were responsible for flooding our streets with lethal narcotics, putting countless lives at risk. By taking down this network, we have removed a serious threat to the safety of neighborhoods across New York. I thank our Troopers and all of our law enforcement partners for their tireless work to safeguard our state.”
According to a criminal complaint, the following people are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances:
- Samer Abdelhak, aka “Semi,” age 35, of Fresh Meadows, New York;
- Leon Chen, aka “Don Eladio,” 29, of Long Island City, New York;
- Michael Harper, aka “Miz,” 38, of Corning, New York;
- Anthony Medina, aka “Tank” and “Fatboy,” 28, of Painted Post, New York;
- Broslloyd Campbell, 42, of Hewlett, New York;
- Anthony Dixon Jr., 41, of Jackson, New Jersey;
- Chaquill Foster, aka “Lo” and “Gucci,” 31, of Schenectady, New York;
- Christopher Smith, aka “Boot,” 39, of Fresh Meadows, New York;
- Jason Hogue, aka “Whispers,” 44, of Lake Placid, New York;
- Christopher Christman, aka “Free,” “Fremont,” and “Puffy,” 42, of Fresh Meadows, New York;
- Cesar Ariel Castro-Sanchez, aka “Dom R,” 31, of Palisades Park, New Jersey;
- Jocelyn Foster, aka “Jozzy,” 29, of Amsterdam, New York; and
- Mikell Butler, 34, of Schenectady, New York.
Nearly all of the defendants have been charged with offenses that carry a minimum term of 10 years and up to life in prison. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. Each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The NYSP, the DEA’s Capital District Drug Enforcement Task Force, and the FBI’s Capital District Safe Streets Gang Task Force are investigating this case, with assistance from Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office, the Sheriff’s Offices in Fulton and Montgomery Counties, and the Police Departments in Colonie, Elmira, Gloversville, Johnstown, Niskayuna, Schenectady, and Amsterdam. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cyrus P.W. Rieck, Katherine Kopita and Nicholas Walter are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
St. Louis Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Shootings and CarjackingRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Tuesday sentenced a convicted felon who committed an armed 2018 carjacking, a 2021 shooting and two other crimes involving guns to 25 years in prison.
Darnell L. Clemons left a string of victims terrified and traumatized, according to testimony at Monday’s sentencing hearing.
On May 16, 2018, Darnell L. Clemons and a nephew robbed and carjacked the manager of a University City, Missouri restaurant. Clemons stole the victim’s 2015 Toyota Corolla, cash and her phone after placing the muzzle of a handgun to her forehead and stomach.
On July 29, 2021, Clemons’ nephew spotted a gun in a bag belonging to a customer at a Florissant, Missouri gas station and convenience store. The nephew tried to steal the gun, triggering a struggle. Clemons spotted the struggle, ran into the store and shot the victim in the back, resulting in permanent injury. He fired another shot from outside of the store.
On Aug. 4, 2021, following a shootout with unknown individuals in a car, Clemons jumped through a stranger’s window in the O’Fallon neighborhood in St. Louis. Police found a stolen 9mm pistol with the slide locked back and no ammunition, indicating that Clemons had fired it recently. Clemons initially gave his brother’s name to police and claimed that officers planted the gun they found. A witness saw Clemons with the gun and his fingerprint was on the pistol’s magazine, however.
On Dec. 8, 2021, Clemons was arrested on outstanding warrants by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s Fugitive Unit with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations. After a foot chase through the Delmar Loop, officers found a 9mm Glock loaded with a large capacity drum magazine. Clemons again gave his brother’s name and falsely claimed that police had planted the gun. He later told police he “should have shot it out with you all” rather than surrendering, and threatened to kill an officer that he recognized, and that officer’s mother.
Clemons was a “one-man crime wave” for 20 years before that arrest, placing him in the highest criminal history category, according to a sentencing memo. That crime wave included a carjacking committed by Clemons and his nephew at a church and resisting-arrest convictions dating back to age 16. Clemons also “capped off months of domestic abuse by throwing his pregnant girlfriend through a table, causing her to miscarry his own child,” the memo says. He also shot her, the memo says. In a letter to Judge Autrey, Clemons’ former girlfriend said Clemons’ gun went off while he was pistol-whipping her on Mother’s Day. “Hurting people made you laugh, and that's where you found your joy in life,” she wrote in her letter. “To this day, I still deal with not feeling safe, not even when the police would come, because you have successfully broken into my house countless times. Not only are you my worst nightmare, but also the mother of a child's worst nightmare as well.”
“This was a career criminal with no regard for human life and demonstrated a willingness to terrorize communities with violence,” said Mark Zito, Special Agent in Charge of ICE Homeland Security Investigations Kansas City. “This is exactly the kind of dangerous offender HSI targets: armed, repeat violent criminals who think they can operate without consequence. Let this sentencing serve as a clear warning – if you prey on the public with guns and fear, we will find you, we will build the case, and we will make sure you face the full weight of the justice system.”
Clemons, 38, of St. Louis, pleaded guilty in January in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of carjacking, two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the University City Police Department, the Florissant Police Department and the St. Louis County Crime Lab investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Bluestone and Matthew Martin prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
St. Albans, Vermont Man Sentenced to 42 Months for Unlawful Possession of Stolen FirearmsRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on June 20, 2025, Shane Hardy, 46, originally of Bedford-Stuyvesant, New York, but more recently residing in St. Albans, Vermont, was sentenced by United States District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford to a term of 42 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 2-year term of supervised release.
According to court records, Hardy has a serious criminal history that includes a conviction for manslaughter in New York State for which he was incarcerated for over a decade. Despite knowing that he was prohibited from possessing firearms, Hardy expressed interest in firearms and then accepted four stolen firearms as payment for a drug debt and a quantity of cocaine in October 2023. After receiving the stolen firearms, Hardy then facilitated transportation of the guns by carrying them into an SUV that had New Jersey license plates.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Arra. Hardy was represented by Emily Kenyon and Barclay Johnson of the Office of the Federal Public Defender.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Six Members of Interstate Burglary Crew Charged in Connection with Commercial Burglaries in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and DelawareRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Six people have been charged for conspiring to transport stolen property derived from burglarized consignment shops across multiple states, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.
Marco Honesty, 28, Richard Francis, 35, Dominique Hayes, 29, Deandre Dudley, 32, Ilon Coles-Melson, 21, and Marcus Gallmon, 21, residents of Washington, D.C. and Maryland, are each charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to sell and receive stolen property that had crossed state lines.
Honesty appeared on June 13, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jessica S. Allen in Newark federal court and was detained. Hayes appeared on May 22, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacey D. Adams in Newark federal court and was detained. Coles-Melson appeared on April 11, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacey D. Adams in Newark federal court and was detained. Gallmon appeared on February 26, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge José R. Almonte in Newark federal court and was later released on a $100,000 unsecured bond. Dudley appeared on February 20, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court and was released on a $100,000 unsecured bond. Francis appeared on February 5, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jessica S. Allen in Newark federal court and was released on a $100,000 unsecured bond.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
The defendants are part of a commercial burglary ring that committed at least 18 burglaries in multiple states between March and November of 2024, including in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware. On several dates, the defendants broke into the consignment shops in the middle of the night using sledgehammers and other objects, stole dozens of designer handbags and other items from each shop, and transported the stolen goods across state lines.
The charge of conspiracy to sell or receive stolen property carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a maximum potential penalty of up to a $250,000 fine, or twice the amount of money involved in the offense, whichever is greater.
U.S. Attorney Habba credited officers of Homeland Security Investigations under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel, with the investigation leading to the charges. She also thanked the New Jersey State Police, Delaware State Police, Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Philadelphia Police Department, Prince George’s County Police Department, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, Cape May Police Department, Cherry Hill Police Department, Colts Neck Police Department, Englewood Police Department, Guilderland Police Department, Haddonfield Police Department, Livingston Police Department, Manalapan Police Department, Margate Police Department, Millburn Police Department, Montclair Police Department, North Castle Police Department, Roxbury Police Department, Saratoga Springs Police Department, Springfield Police Department, Tenafly Police Department, Warren Police Department, and Watchung Police Department for their assistance.
Anyone who believes they may be a victim, or has information about the theft group or burglaries, is asked to call 1-866-DHS-2-ICE, or call a local field office.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly M. Lyons of the OCDETF/Narcotics Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Defense counsel:
Marco Honesty: Adrien Moncur, Esq., Paramus, New Jersey
Richard Francis: Timothy Donahue, Esq., Newark, New Jersey
Dominique Hayes: Bruce S. Rosen, Esq., Hackensack, New Jersey
Deandre Dudley: Charles McKenna, Esq., Morristown, New Jersey
Ilon Coles-Melson: Paul Condon, Esq., Jersey City, New Jersey
Marcus Gallmon: Charles Alvarez, Esq., Bloomfield, New Jersey
honesty.complaint.pdfShippensburg Man Indicted for Threatening Former Presidential CandidateRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Steven Hartford, age 37, a resident of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, was indicted on June 18, 2025, by a federal grand jury for threatening a former presidential candidate.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that, at relevant times, Hartford accessed, controlled, and used TikTok social-media account “thealex13one13.” The Indictment further alleges that on or about July 21, 2024, a media outlet published a 17 second video on its own TikTok account. The video showed the Presidential Candidate with a caption, “Will [the Candidate] be the next Democratic nominee?” At approximately 7:32 p.m., “thealex13one13” commented, “I will assassinate her if she runs for pres.”
The Indictment alleges that, on or about the same date, the same media outlet published a 12 second video on its TikTok account. The video showed the Presidential Candidate with a caption, “could [the Candidate] replace Joe Biden?” At approximately 7:56 p.m., “thealex13one13” commented, “I will assassinate her.” Thereafter, on or about July 22, 2024, “thealex13one13” allegedly made other comments on TikTok about and directed toward the Presidential Candidate, including: “22 250 coming her way”; “5.56 for her”; and “5.56 waiting for her.”
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorney K. Wesley Mishoe is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, a fine, and the imposition of a special assessment. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by a court after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Serial Fraudster Sentenced to 84 Months in Prison for Defrauding a California Electronics ManufacturerRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Thomas Thanh Pham has been sentenced to 84 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for defrauding an electronics manufacturing business, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. The defendant was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,943,840.
“Fraudsters have flocked to Minnesota for far too long,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “Pham is no exception. He is a serial fraudster who has demonstrated that he will not stop until he is stopped. Thanks to the hard work of law enforcement, for the next 84 months, Pham will be where he belongs—in prison.”
“Bad actors like Pham take advantage of hardworking Americans in order to enrich themselves by defrauding others,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “With this sentence, Pham has been held accountable for his crimes. The FBI and our partners will continue working to stop schemes like this one and protect the public from being exploited.”
Between 2019 and 2020, Thomas Thanh Pham, 53, of Burnsville, devised a scheme to defraud a California based company of approximately $1.2 million. Pham, who was the CEO of Enterprise Products, LLC, purported to provide consulting and financial services to commercial clients involved in engineering and manufacturing. Pham held himself out as a broker with supposed business relationships with large, well-known companies. As a supposed broker, Pham claimed he could arrange service agreements between an electronic manufacturing services company based in San Jose, California (identified as Victim A), and his ostensible business affiliates in the electronics and technology sectors.
Pham began a series of discussions with Victim A, in which Pham pitched that Enterprise Products could facilitate multi-million-dollar manufacturing and repair contracts between Victim A and large electronics companies. None of that was true. To give the appearance of legitimacy, Pham arranged for a friend of his to pose as a corporate executive with Pham and Victim A in supposed contract negotiations. Unbeknownst to Victim A, Pham’s associate was not a business executive. In fact, Pham’s “business executive associate” was a fellow ex-convict whom Pham met while serving a prior federal prison sentence for fraud.
Pham supplied Victim A with bogus documents, including fabricated contracts, correspondence, and business proposals. As part of the scheme, Pham first required Victim A to pay a “deposit bond” in the amount of $1,278,000. Pham’s fraudulent tactics resulted in Victim A agreeing to enter into a contract in September 2019, through which Victim A ostensibly would receive millions of dollars in exchange for repair services. Pham unsuccessfully pitched other phony deals to Victim A that purportedly involved even larger financial contracts deals with other companies.
As part of the scheme and to give the impression that he was fulfilling the fraudulent contract, Pham caused the initial delivery to Victim A in California of approximately 20 samples of electronic devices that supposedly required repairs by Victim A. However, Pham failed to disclose to Victim A that these 20 “sample” devices were, in fact, stolen property. Pham then lulled Victim A into a false sense of security by offering a series of excuses and promises when Victim A either inquired about its money or demanded a refund. Rather than maintain the money securely in a refundable escrow as promised, Pham fraudulently misappropriated Victim A’s funds for a series of unauthorized uses and transactions.
Pham received his first criminal conviction 32 years ago. Since that time, he has been convicted of numerous fraud offenses, as follows:
- Felony Theft of Property, in which Pham unlawfully took a victim’s identifiers in order to fraudulently purchase a $49,000 car.
- Felony False Statements for Property, in which Pham knowingly false statement to fraudulently purchase a vehicle valued at more than $20,000.
- Felony Unlawful Possession of Fraudulent Identification, in which Pham knowingly possessed identification documents of a victim without permission for purposes of defrauding the victim.
- Securing Execution of Document by Deception (Felony), in which Pham attempted to pass a forged check.
- Multiple felony check forgeries.
- Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, a federal fraud conviction out of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, which Pham used the identities of victim companies to defraud victims out of $1.9 million by deceiving them into shipping high-dollar electronics and computers.
In handing down the sentence today, Judge Ericksen commented that Pham has “proven [himself] to be an efficient and effective perpetrator of fraud” whose crime was “part of a skilled execution of a scheme that he has refined over decades.” At the conclusion of today’s hearing, Judge Ericksen immediately remanded Pham into custody at the government’s request, noting it “was too dangerous and too risky” to the public for Pham “to remain at liberty.”
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew S. Ebert and Rebecca E. Kline prosecuted the case.
Second Sentencing in the Burglary of Dozens of Firearms from a Maryland Pawn ShopRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Niquan Odumn, 23, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 48 months in federal prison for his role in the December 2023 burglary of a Maryland pawn shop that netted dozens of firearms.
The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department
Odumn, aka “Stickz,” pleaded guilty on March 6 to conspiracy to commit theft from a firearms licensee and to possession of stolen firearms. In addition to the sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson ordered three years of supervised release.
According to the court documents, on Dec. 13, 2023, Odumn and at least four co-conspirators drove in two vehicles from the District to the A&D Pawn Shop, a Federal Firearms Licensee, in Glen Burnie, Maryland.
At the pawn shop, Odumn used a portable saw to cut the locks on a pull-down security gate. Another co-conspirator then used a crowbar-type tool to pry open the main door. Once inside, the quintet grabbed an array of rifles, shotguns, and pistols from the shelves and display racks. They fled with at least 34 firearms.
Odumn was arrested on March 25, 2024, and has been detained since.
Juwon Markel Anderson, 22, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced June 20 to 84 months in prison for his role in the burglary and for his subsequent attempt to sell several of the stolen guns.
Co-defendant Tyjuan McNeal, 27, is scheduled to be sentenced July 1 for conspiracy to commit firearms trafficking. Co-defendant Vincent Lee Alston, 23, pleaded guilty March 6, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to commit firearms trafficking. And co-defendant Cy'juan Hemsley, who pleaded guilty on May 7, 2025, to conspiracy to commit theft from a firearms licensee and to possession of stolen firearms.
This case is being investigated by the ATF Washington Field Division and the Metropolitan Police Department, with assistance from the ATF Baltimore Field Division. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shehzad Akhtar with valuable assistance from former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Lipes.
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Sacramento Woman Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
Sadie Bramlette, 28, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.
According to court documents, between January 2023, and January 2025, Bramlette and her drug trafficking partner, Dejian Johl, 27, of Merced, posted drugs for sale on public forums hosted through social media platforms and on dark web marketplaces. These drugs included fentanyl, methamphetamine, Ecstasy, LSD, ketamine, heroin, crack cocaine, cocaine, Adderall, Xanax, promethazine, Soma, and OxyContin. As part of their drug conspiracy, Johl would process customer orders and payments and then coordinate with Bramlette to fulfill the orders via the United States Postal Service.
As part of her guilty plea, Bramlette agreed to forfeit more than $100,000 in cash, jewelry, and luxury items purchased with drug money during the conspiracy. Over the course of the conspiracy, Johl made at least 1,350 transfers to Bramlette’s Cash App account, the majority of which were drug proceeds and/or money to facilitate their drug trafficking operation.
Bramlette is the second defendant to plead guilty to involvement in drug dealing over the dark web and social media sites. Bramlette’s co-conspirator, Johl, pleaded guilty last week to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hitt is prosecuting the case.
Johl is set for sentencing before U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb on Sept. 22, 2025, while Bramlette will be sentenced on Sept. 29, 2025. Bramlette and Johl each face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Russellville Man Sentenced to 22 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Larry Douglas Cossey, a multi-convicted felon, will spend the next 22 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the 264-month sentence, which was handed down today by United States District Judge James M. Moody, Jr. Judge Moody also sentenced Cossey to five years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
Cossey was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 4, 2024, on one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On February 3, 2025, Cossey, 59, of Russellville, Arkansas, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
During an investigation into drug trafficking in the Russellville area, Cossey sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant on January 10, 2023, and January 26, 2023. On April 10, 2023, a Russellville Police Department officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Cossey. While speaking with the officer Cossey acknowledged that there was marijuana inside the vehicle. Officers searched the vehicle and located $13,108 in currency, marijuana wrapped inside rolling paper, a vacuum-sealed bag containing marijuana, a bag containing three jars of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) wax, a baggie containing 33 suspected ecstasy pills, a smoking device with residue inside, two packs of rolling papers, two digital scales, and a safe. Officers also located a key on Cossey’s key ring which opened the safe. Inside the safe, officers located more money and a bag containing 399 grams of methamphetamine.
On June 16, 2023, a Russellville Police Department officer conducted another traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Cossey. After Cossey consented to a search of his vehicle, officers located a baggie containing approximately four grams of methamphetamine; a backpack containing an Arcadia Machine and Tool (AMT), model Backup, .380 caliber firearm with a loaded magazine containing six rounds and one round chambered; a smoking pipe with residue; two digital scales with residue; a baggie containing 200 grams of methamphetamine; another baggie containing approximately five grams of methamphetamine; a bag containing approximately 24 grams of marijuana; three syringes; two THC vape pens; a rubber THC pen; a spoon with residue; empty baggies; and $3,124 in currency.
Cossey’s sentence was enhanced due to his status as a career offender as a result of his criminal history that includes several serious drug convictions, including drug-trafficking convictions, and a felon in possession of firearm conviction.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Pope County Sheriff’s Office, Russellville Police Department, and the 5th Judicial Drug Task Force.
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Additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
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Riverside County Man Sentenced to over 11 Years in Prison for Trafficking Cocaine and HeroinRead the Press Release
Jose Miguel Perez, 42, of Corona, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff to 11 years and three months in prison for possessing more than 5 kilograms of cocaine and more than 1 kilogram heroin with intent to distribute, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.
According to court documents, Perez was pulled over by law enforcement officers while driving north on Interstate 5 in Fresno County. Deputies seized 56 kilograms of various narcotics in the car’s two hidden compartments. Seven kilograms of cocaine were hidden in the ceiling of the car, while an additional 37 kilograms of cocaine, 10 kilograms of heroin, and 2 kilograms of ketamine were seized from a hidden compartment in the car’s roof.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody S. Chapple prosecuted the case.Raleigh Basketball Scout and Life Coach Sentenced to Prison for Obtaining Nearly $300,000 in Fraudulent COVID-19 Relief Loans in Nationwide SchemeRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – Earl Lamont Taylor, 52, was sentenced to six years in prison Monday and will be ordered to pay over half a million dollars in restitution to the Small Business Administration. Taylor went to trial in November and ultimately pled guilty to one count each of bank fraud and wire fraud while the jury was deliberating. He received almost $300,000 in fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) COVID-19 loans. This fraud was part of a multimillion-dollar national scheme, and, to date, more than 30 defendants have pled guilty and 29 have been sentenced.
“The Paycheck Protection Program required a degree of trust in American businesspeople,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar. “Thankfully, most were worthy of that trust, but Earl Taylor and his co-defendants were not. This sentence sends a message that those who take advantage of programs like PPP will receive serious consequences for their crimes.”
“The defendant conspired to take advantage of critical aid programs intended to provide relief for businesses affected during the pandemic by fraudulently applying for and obtaining COVID-19 program funds,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins, Charlotte Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “Our special agents will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to pursue individuals who try to exploit federal relief programs for their personal gain.”
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Taylor worked with Quentin Jackson and Edward Whitaker to obtain fraudulent PPP loans. Taylor was referred to Whitaker by Jackson, and, with Whitaker’s assistance, Taylor applied for and received loans for two businesses, Get Me Recruited, LLC (a basketball scouting and tournament staging business) and Changing the Game Life Coach (purportedly a life coaching service for young athletes). The total received for both loans was $291,665.50, and Taylor paid Whitaker $72,917.24 for his assistance. In addition to the fraudulent loans, the trial evidence showed that Taylor also cashed alleged “payroll” checks for Jackson on Jackson’s PPP loans.
Information presented at the trial showed that Get Me Recruited, LLC did have business in 2019 and 2020, but employees listed on the loan application testified that they never made more than $2,000 per year and were not regularly salaried employees. The loan application submitted by Taylor listed their annual salaries as being between $110,145 and $128,416. In contrast, Changing the Game Life Coach did not appear to have any meaningful business during the relevant period and employees testified that they had never done any work for the company, and the bank account associated with the business was only open to receive the loan disbursement.
Jackson pled guilty in November 2022 and Whitaker pled guilty in January 2023. Jackson was sentenced to seven years in prison in December.
Other defendants that have been sentenced in the broader “Loanstarters” PPP scheme include:
- Albert Eugene Miller, Jr. [Case No. 5-22-CR-00290-D]
- Jonathan Fleming [Case No. 5-22-CR-00337-D]
- Nekita Hooks [Case No. 5-23-CR-00025-D]
- Denise Coit Alston [Case No. 5-23-CR-00077-D]
- Monica Faye Barnes [Case No. 5:23-CR-00094-D]
- Dontrell Barnes [Case No. 5-23-CR-00094-D]
- Isaac Lamont Dawson [Case No. 5:23-CR-0097-D]
- Irene Edwards [Case No. 5-23-CR-00098-D]
- Natosia Jerome Jenkins [Case No. 5:23-CR-00167-D]
- Ronald L. Jones [Case No. 5:23-CR-00339-D]
- Delvin Dashavone Felder [Case No. 5:23-CR-00198]
- Shun Lamont Gibbs [Case No. 5:23-CR-00346-D]
- Teresa Ann McRae [Case No. 5:23-CR-00313-D]
- Dontae Antonio Murphy [Case No. 5:24-CR-00072]
- Jackson Ndoyo [Case No. 5-23-CR-00118-D]
- Terron Cortez Parker [Case No. 5-23-CR-00081-D]
- Ayyub Abdur Rasheed [Case No. 5:23-CR-00314-D]
- Karim Aziz Razzak [Case No. 5:23-CR-00324]
- Toni A. Smith [Case No. 5:23-CR-00312-D]
- Darian Casteele Tyler [Case No. 5:23-CR-00338-D]
- Shakeerah Kaneisha Yvette Vinson [Case No. 5-23-CR-00027-D]
- Anthony S. Whitaker [Case No. 5:23-CR-00311-D]
- James Elton Watson Case No. 5:23-CR-00323-D]
- Shara Monique Wells [Case No. 5:23-CR-00323-D]
- Kami D. Woodard [Case No. 5-23-CR-00095-D]
- Lenille Woodard [Case No. 5-23-CR-00138-D]
- Quentin Jackson [Case No. 5-22-CR-180-D]
- Everett M. McBride [Case No. 5:24-CR-00036-D]
- Hanif Abdul-Hakim [Case No. 5:24-CR-00109-D]
- Schunda Coleman [Case No. 5-22-CR-00257-D]
- Edward Whitaker [Case No. 5-22-CR-00257-D]
Defendants awaiting sentencing include:
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who were economically suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act and additional appropriations authorized up to $649 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Financial institutions issued the PPP loans, which were guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA).
Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III accepted the plea. Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys William M. Gilmore and David Beraka prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-CR-00335-D.
Previously deported Mexican national sentenced to 262 months for methamphetamine distribution, second Mexican national sentenced to 168 monthsRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – Two Mexican nationals were sentenced to lengthy federal prison sentences for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Leopoldo Alonso-Palacios, 38, and Juan Luis Salinas-Leon, 37, both Mexican nationals illegally living in Center, were sentenced to 168 months and 262 months, respectively, by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on June 23, 2025.
According to information presented in court, on March 4, 2025, Alonso-Palacios and Salinas-Leon were stopped while driving on Interstate-20 in Wills Point for speeding. During the stop, they consented to a search of the vehicle, which resulted in the discovery of 937.7 grams of methamphetamine. During his arrest, officers found Salinas-Leon in possession of a firearm. The two men then confessed to having additional methamphetamine at their homes in Center. Federal agents searched the residences, where they discovered large plastic tubs containing chicken lard that tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine, along with paraphernalia such as metal pots and mesh screens, materials commonly used in a methamphetamine conversion lab. At such clandestine labs, methamphetamine concealed in other substances is extracted by applying chemical processes and reconstituted into distributable drugs. In total, agents recovered more than six kilograms of methamphetamine ready for distribution as well as 22 kilograms of liquids in various stages of the conversion process, which also tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine.
Immigration records reveal that both men were unlawfully present in the United States and that Salinas-Leon has been previously prosecuted for illegally entering the country.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive; Gregg County Sheriff's Office; and Wills Point Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucas Machicek.
Previously convicted felon sentenced to 95 months for firearm possession and cocaine traffickingRead the Press Release
A man with multiple prior felony convictions was sentenced to 95 months in federal prison for trafficking cocaine while armed, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson.
On June 18, 2025, Eric Dwayne Ned was sentenced by United States District Judge Ada Brown to 95 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
Court documents reflect that Ned was arrested in June 2021 for evading arrest, unlawful possession of body armor, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, delivery of a controlled substance, and possession of a controlled substance by state and local authorities. He bonded out of state custody and was arrested again in September 2021 for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and resisting arrest. After bonding out of state custody again, he was arrested a third time in March 2022 for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and delivery of a controlled substance.
Special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives reviewed his March 2022 conduct and initiated federal charges. In addition to Ned’s prior felony convictions for drug offenses and several domestic violence assaults, court records reveal that Ned continued committing violent acts while incarcerated, including engaging in fights with other inmates and jail staff.
ATF conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Boyle prosecuted the case.
Pittsburgh Man Indicted for Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Tieriq Pinnix, age 32, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was indicted on June 18, 2025, by a federal grand jury of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that Pinnix possessed an FNH, 9-millimeter handgun and ammunition in York County, on March 6, 2025, as a convicted felon prohibited from possessing a firearm.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Northern York Regional Police Department, and the York Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Ford is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Pinnix faces a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Philadelphia Tax Preparer Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Filing False ReturnsRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that James Jean, 57, of Yeadon, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to three years in prison, a one-year term of supervised release, a $10,000 fine, and restitution of $12,717 by United States District Judge John F. Murphy for knowingly and willfully including false energy credits in tax forms that he prepared for paying customers.
During tax years 2018, 2019, and 2020, the defendant prepared at least 146 returns for his clients that falsely offset tax liabilities or claimed reimbursable credits for money allegedly spent on wind turbines, solar panels, or other energy improvements. Jean inserted the claims for false credits because he wanted to increase client refunds and client satisfaction. His actions caused his clients to understate their tax liabilities by more than $700,000.
In September 2024, the defendant pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return, and admitted to filing the other 145 false returns, along with his own false returns for the same three tax years.
The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Abrams.
Peever Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years in Federal Prison for Assaulting His Spouse and Causing Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Peever, South Dakota, man for Assault with a Deadly Weapon.
On June 16, 2025, Terry Wayne Sterling Heminger, age 27, was sentenced to five years and ten months in federal prison with three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Heminger was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2024. He pleaded guilty on September 30, 2024. His conviction stemmed from an incident on December 23, 2022, when Heminger assaulted his spouse with a hammer. The victim sustained serious bodily injuries to her skull resulting in complete vision loss in one eye and 54% loss in the other. The victim also had to undergo the placement of several metal plates to treat the injuries.
This matter is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribal Law Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.
Heminger was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Ohio Men Who Robbed Postal Employee Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – Three Lima, Ohio, men who robbed a federal worker while serving on official duty as a postal carrier have been sentenced to prison by U.S. District Court Judge James R. Knepp.
According to the indictment, the robbery occurred on Nov. 30, 2023, while a United States Postal Service letter carrier was on a routine delivery route in Lima. Specially suited keys which unlock postal service bags, drawers, and other authorized receptacles for the deposit of mail were stolen under threat of force and violence to the postal carrier. As a result of this robbery, U.S. mail was stolen on several occasions.
The following sentences were imposed June 20, 2025:
- Ahmir Curtis, 24, was sentenced to 24 months in prison after pleading guilty to robbery of mail, money, or other property of the United States, stealing keys adopted by the post office, and theft of mail. He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release, and pay $650 in restitution for damage to federal property.
- Zenesto Martin, Jr., 26, was sentenced to 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to robbery of mail, money, or other property of the United States, stealing keys adopted by the post office, and theft of mail. He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release.
- Christian Proby, 26, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison after pleading guilty to robbery of mail, money, or other property of the United States and stealing keys adopted by the post office. He was also ordered to serve two years of supervised release.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Safe Streets Task Force, and the Lima Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank H. Spryszak for the Northern District of Ohio.
The USPIS is the federal agency with jurisdiction for investigating crimes against postal carriers and crimes involving the U.S. Mail. Anyone having information about blue collection box thefts, or thefts or attempted thefts of mail carriers or mail, should contact USPIS at 1-877-876-2455. All information will be kept confidential.
Ohio Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting 14-Year-Old Girl in New YorkRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – David P. Greulich, 61, of Cleveland, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison by U.S. District Judge David A. Ruiz, after pleading guilty in March to driving more than 400 miles across state lines to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, to child exploitation, to transporting visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and to possession of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), also referred to as child pornography. Greulich was also ordered to serve lifetime supervised release after imprisonment and to pay special assessments totaling $35,000. Restitution is to be determined at a later date.
According to court documents, in February 2024, Greulich started communicating with a 14-year old girl residing in Jefferson County, New York, through the Snapchat cellphone application. After chatting with her for several weeks through the app, the defendant drove from his home in Ohio to her home in New York to pick her up on April 20, 2024. He then took her to a hotel where he kept her for two days while he violently and sexually abused her which he recorded on a digital device. Greulich drove across state lines from Ohio to New York a second time on May 11, 2024, to again engage in illicit sexual conduct with the same minor victim. He took video and photographs of the victim which he later emailed to himself.
During a federal search warrant execution of Greulich’s home in Cleveland, investigators seized several electronic devices which were found to contain CSAM, including a cellphone with more than 100 images of the victim by herself as well as with the defendant. Investigators also discovered 14 sexually explicit video files of the victim in his personal cloud storage account.
The investigation was led by the Homeland Security Investigations Cleveland Office, with assistance from the Jefferson County (New York) Sheriff’s Office, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Margaret A. Kane and Segev Phillips.
To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
North Louisiana Man Receives Life in Prison for the Sexual Exploitation, Trafficking and Production of Child Pornography Involving Children in the PhilippinesRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Richard Dean Hicks, 68, of Pioneer, Louisiana, has been sentenced to life in prison for his involvement in the sexual exploitation and trafficking of children and production of child pornography. United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty sentenced Hicks to life in prison for attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, life in prison for sex trafficking of a minor, 20 years in prison for promotion and solicitation of child pornography, and 30 years on each of the five counts of attempted production of child pornography. He was also ordered to serve a lifetime of supervised release if ever released from prison.
Hicks was convicted by a jury in Monroe in January following a three-day trial. The charges in this case were the result of a nationwide investigation that began in 2012 into individuals who were soliciting child sex traffickers in the Philippines to share child sexual abusive material (CSAM) via live stream video. The individuals under investigation paid money for the child sex traffickers in the Philippines to sexually abuse children, while they watched and directed the sex trafficker’s sexual abuse of the children.
Through this investigation, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) executed a search warrant at a residence in Philadelphia. As a result of evidence obtained, agents were able to identify an individual in the Philippines who was selling the sexually explicit live webcam shows of female adults engaging in the sexual abuse of underage children. Further investigation led to the identification of an individual in Louisiana, later identified as Hicks, who had been communicating with multiple females in the Philippines. From December 2017 through July 2020, Hicks and the females in the Philippines shared approximately 500 text messages and live video Skype calls wherein Hicks would pay the Philippine females to sexually abuse children as young as 5 years of age while he watched and told the women the type of sexual abuse he wanted them to perform on the children.
Evidence introduced at trial proved that Hicks communicated with these females in the Philippines via text messages and Skype video calls and paid money through Western Union on numerous occasions to view these individuals performing sexually explicit acts with underage children. The payments ranged from $25 to $120.
Agents obtained a federal search warrant for Hicks’ residence in Pioneer, Louisiana, in May 2023 and seized all of his computers and other electronic equipment used to participate in watching these sex shows in exchange for money.
“The fact that this defendant preyed upon not only underage children, but ones from another country who were being sexually abused by others is appalling,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. “For those who do not believe that sex trafficking could be happening near you, this is proof that it can be. Were it not for the diligent efforts of these law enforcement agents whose investigation spread nationwide and even internationally, this defendant would not have been stopped. We applaud their dedication to this case and will continue seeking out those who commit these horrendous acts against children.”
“Sometimes a life sentence doesn’t seem like enough, but we hope this brings some relief to this predator’s victims and their families,” said HSI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune. “HSI special agents used our unique investigative authorities to ensure International borders were not able to protect this criminal from being held accountable.”
"The sentencing of Richard Dean Hicks to life in prison is a significant victory in our ongoing battle against child exploitation and trafficking. This case highlights the critical importance of international cooperation and the tireless efforts of our agents to dismantle networks that prey on innocent children,” said Special Agent in Charge of HSI New England Michael J. Krol. “HSI New England remains steadfast in our mission to protect children and bring perpetrators of such despicable crimes to justice. We will continue to work with our partners to ensure that those who exploit and abuse children are held accountable, no matter where they operate.”
The defendant who was arrested in Philadelphia was sentenced to 228 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release. The female subjects in the Philippines are still the subject of a joint ongoing investigation with the Philippines and U.S. law enforcement. Numerous other females have been arrested. Pursuant to this investigation, there have been over 300 children rescued to date.
This case was investigated by HSI New Orleans with assistance from HSI New England, divisions of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Louisiana ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children) Task Force, and the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, Bureau of Investigations, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Casey N. Stelly and J. Luke Walker.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678.
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New Hampshire Man Sentenced to 78 Months in Kidnapping CaseRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on June 20, 2025, Barry Perez of Lebanon, New Hampshire, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 78 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 5-year term of supervised release. The Court also ordered Perez to pay restitution in the amount of $44,626 and recommended that the Bureau of Prisons not give Perez credit for time Perez has been detained pending the sentencing date. Perez previously pleaded guilty to kidnapping an interstate trucker on January 13, 2023.
According to court records, Perez stole a box truck in Lebanon, New Hampshire, in the early morning hours of January 13, 2023. He drove the stolen truck into Vermont along Interstate 89. He was under the influence of various illegal drugs. After crashing the box truck near Exit 1 on I-89, a tractor trailer driver with an interstate shipment stopped to assist Perez. Perez displayed what appeared to be handgun, but was in fact a pellet gun, to force the trucker to drive Perez further north on I-89. When Perez dozed off, the trucker was able to stop the truck and escape. After a standoff, Perez was arrested in Berlin, Vermont, and taken into custody.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Vermont State Police, and the Berlin Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Van de Graaf. Perez was represented by Federal Public Defender Michael Desautels.
Minnesota Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Minnesota man for Production of Child Pornography. Jason Honetschlager, age 45, was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2023. He pleaded guilty on September 30, 2024.
On June 16, 2025, Honetschlager was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison. He must register as a sex offender upon release.
The investigation discovered that throughout 2023, Honetschlager targeted teenagers in the Milbank, South Dakota, area for sexually explicit images and acts. He enticed minor children via Snapchat and bought them tobacco and marijuana products in exchange for the images and acts. His behavior came to law enforcement’s attention when a video surfaced of him forcing a young teenage girl to perform oral sex on him. The investigation discovered 8 minor victims.
“Honetschlager’s actions are almost unspeakable,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell, “but unfortunately, this type of conduct is becoming more commonplace on social media platforms. We are fortunate to have sophisticated and dedicated law enforcement agents and prosecutors working to hold these offenders responsible, but it is imperative we all join the fight against child exploitation. Talk frequently and openly with your children about their use of social media and be on the lookout for behavior indicative of exploitation, such as abruptly deleting social media accounts or frequently creating new accounts; turning off or hiding devices in the presence of a parent or other adult; clearing web browser histories; and unexplained money or gift cards.”
This case was investigated by the Milbank Police Department, the Division of Criminal Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Ebert-Webb 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Honetschlager was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mexican man arrested, charged with illegal re-entryRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Jose Antonio Barcena-Ruiz, 41, a citizen and national of Mexico, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with illegal re-entry, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Smith, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on May 31, 2025, Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel encountered Barcena-Ruiz and three others in a vehicle in Clarence, NY. When questioned about his citizenship, Barcena-Ruiz stated that he was from Mexico. When asked for documentation, Barcena-Ruiz provided a Mexican passport and a New Mexico driver’s license but had no additional documentation that allowed him to be present or remain in the United States legally. A records check determined that Barcena-Ruiz was physically removed from the United States in 2008, two times in 2009, and in 2010.
Barcena-Ruiz made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy this morning and was detained.
These investigations are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, under the direction of Acting Field Office Director Steven Kurzdorfer.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Mexican National sentenced to prison for role as drug ring courierRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 33-year-old citizen of Mexico, who was illegally residing in Kent, Washington, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 22 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Martin Alonzo Peinado Torres said in court that he was lured to the U.S. by a Facebook post promising work in construction, but once he had filled out the forms for the “employer” he was told the job was to transport drugs. Peinado Torres claimed the drug ring now had all his family information and threatened family members if he did not comply. U.S. District Judge Kymberly Evanson noted Peinado Torres had no previous criminal history in Mexico or the U.S. saying, “You were lured to the U.S. under false pretenses.”
According to records filed in the case, Peinado Torres became involved with a drug ring already under investigation. Peinado Torres arrived in the U.S. in mid-May and by mid-June investigators had identified him as someone involved with the drug trafficking organization. When search warrants were served on August 2, 2024, at Peinado Torres Kent home, he had more than three kilos of methamphetamine, nearly a kilo of fentanyl pills and a small amount of fentanyl powder and cocaine. He had more than $12,000 in drug proceeds in cash.
In asking for a four-year sentence, prosecutors noted the latest deadly stats on fentanyl overdoses. “In King County, alone, there have been 453 overdose deaths as of June 16, 2025, with 380 of those deaths involving fentanyl. Mr. Peinado’s actions pushed highly dangerous, deadly, and addictive substances into the community, and contributed to the addiction of an unknown number of individuals,” prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memo.
Peinado Torres will likely be deported following his prison term.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations and Puyallup Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Casey Conzatti.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Mexican National Charged with Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Gregorio Perez-Canceco, age 42, a Mexican National residing in York, Pennsylvania, was indicted on June 18, 2025, by a federal grand jury on one count of illegal reentry into the United States.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that Perez-Canceco was previously removed from the United States on October 4, 2017, through Hildalgo, Texas, and it is alleged that he was subsequently found in the United States without having first obtained legal permission to reenter the country. The indictment also alleges that on May 23, 2025, Perez-Canceco was encountered in York County, Pennsylvania.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is up to ten years of imprisonment, plus a fine and a term of supervised release. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera is prosecuting the case.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Mexican National Charged with Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Hilario Dorantes-Ortiz, age 40, a Mexican National residing in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, was indicted on June 18, 2025, by a federal grand jury on one count of illegal reentry into the United States.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that Dorantes-Ortiz was previously removed from the United States on July 20, 2022, via Brownsville, Texas. The indictment also alleges that on March 7, 2025, Dorantes-Ortiz was encountered in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania without having first obtained legal permission to reenter the country.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This matter was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is up to two years of imprisonment, plus a fine and a term of supervised release. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Menachem Lieberman Sentenced to 52 Months for Fraud on Federal Childcare ProgramsRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that MENACHEM “MAX” LIEBERMAN was sentenced today to 52 months in prison for two fraudulent schemes involving federally funded childcare companies. LIEBERMAN previously pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Jennifer H. Rearden, who imposed today’s sentence.
“Max Lieberman defrauded federal childcare programs that provide vital services to our most innocent and vulnerable,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “New Yorkers believe in opportunity, particularly for our children, and by defrauding our Head Start and childcare voucher programs, Max Lieberman exploited our collective belief in opportunity for his own financial gain. The women and men of the Southern District of New York are committed to pursuing those who breach the public trust for illicit, personal financial gain.”
According to the Indictment, public court filings, and statements made in court proceedings:
LIEBERMAN participated in two schemes involving federal grant programs meant to provide assistance for childcare to low-income families.
First, between 2019 and January 2023, LIEBERMAN secretly “owned” and exercised control over a non-profit entity, Project Social Care Head Start Inc. (“PSCHS”), that operated in the New York City area (and which, as a non-profit entity, could not legally be privately owned). The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”), which administers the Head Start program, annually granted to PSCHS millions of dollars that were to be used exclusively on the Head Start program and from which earning a profit is prohibited by law. Between 2019 and 2021, LIEBERMAN paid co-defendant Martin Handler $4.7 million to obtain “ownership” over PSCHS, and used his control over PSCHS to impermissibly direct PSCHS’s Head Start funding to his own for-profit companies. In order to protect his control over PSCHS’s funding, LIEBERMAN conspired with others to impair HHS’s ability to provide effective oversight of PSCHS by, among other things:
- Misrepresenting to HHS that PSCHS had an independent board of directors that was monitoring PSCHS,
- Submitting a letter to HHS when it began investigating LIEBERMAN’s involvement that falsely stated there were no conflicts of interest or less-than-arms’-length dealings with LIEBERMAN,
- And coordinating false testimony to HHS investigators.
Second, between July 2020 and January 2023, LIEBERMAN perpetrated a separate fraud that caused harm of nearly $2 million to the New York City Administration for Children’s Services (“ACS”), which administers a federally funded childcare voucher program for low-income families. In July 2020, LIEBERMAN submitted an application to ACS on behalf of PSCHS that contained a false signature of the nominal executive director and included fake receipts for six children that purported to show those children were already attending the program, when in fact the program did not exist and no children attended. When questioned by ACS whether the executive director’s signature was legitimate, LIEBERMAN created and submitted a fraudulently notarized document supposedly from the executive director that falsely affirmed that the signature was accurate. From July 2020 through his arrest in January 2023, LIEBERMAN applied for and received over $1.8 million in ACS reimbursements, even though the program did not actually exist and no children attended the program except for a brief period from September 2022 to October 2022.
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In addition to today’s prison sentence, LIEBERMAN, 48, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a fine of $200,000, restitution of $1,854,543.35 to ACS, and forfeit $1,774,543.35.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and HHS, Office of the Inspector General. Mr. Clayton also thanked U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Inspector General, and the New York City Department of Investigation for their assistance with this investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel H. Wolf, Catherine Ghosh, Jacob R. Fiddelman, and Stephanie Simon are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Nandita Vasantha.
Man at Center of Alien Kidnapping and Smuggling Conspiracy Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A Texas man, who conspired to kidnap and transport aliens and held multiple victims for ransom before instigating a deadly shootout in a quiet, Charlottesville neighborhood, pled guilty recently to federal charges as part of Operation Take Back America.
Ricardo Franco Ordaz, 26, of Cedar Creek, Texas, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to kidnap and one count of transporting an alien resulting in death. At sentencing, Ordaz faces a maximum possible penalty of life in prison.
“Human trafficking and human smuggling generate violence and are real threats to our community and the Justice Department will take all appropriate steps to hold accountable those who attempt to profit off of others trying to enter the country illegally,” Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee said today. “This case serves as an example of the deadly consequences that can occur when individuals use human beings as currency. I am grateful to the Department of Homeland Security and our state and local partners for their work to bring this case to justice.”
According to court documents, in early January of 2023, Ordaz, his co-defendant Jordan Perez, and other co-conspirators, kidnapped multiple victims and held them for ransom, knowing these individuals had entered the United States illegally.
As part of the scheme, Ordaz arranged to pick up two victims from an area near the United States-Mexico border and bring them to a house near Austin, Texas. Once there, Ordaz, and others, held both victims against their will and under armed guard, then called and messaged the victims’ families and friends demanding cash ransom in exchange for their release.
Ordaz exchanged one of the victims in Texas for $5,000 cash, and on January 8, 2023, Perez and a co-conspirator transported another victim to Charlottesville, Virginia, where they arranged to exchange that victim for $10,000 in cash.
During the exchange, when it was revealed that the full $10,000 ransom was not available, an argument and shootout ensued, during which Perez, and another coconspirator, brandished firearms that resulted in the death of one of the kidnappers.
Perez is scheduled to go to trial in December 2025.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Homeland Security Investigations in Harrisonburg investigated the case with assistance from the Charlottesville Police Department, Albemarle County Police Department, and HSI Austin, Texas.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sally J. Sullivan is prosecuting the case.
Man Brandishing Firearm at "No Kings" Protesters Charged with Federal Firearms ViolationRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – Elijah Millar, 19, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, was federally charged on Friday, June 20, with the unlawful possession of a firearm, announced Robert E. McGuire, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee.
According to court documents, Millar went to a “No Kings” protest near Bicentennial Mall in downtown Nashville on June 14, 2025. Millar was dressed in all black, wearing a mask, and was, according to witnesses, carrying a firearm. Witnesses reported to law enforcement that Millar told the protestors that he had a firearm, spat at them, yelled at them, and brandished the firearm. Officers with the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD) then approached Millar, disarmed him, and arrested him. According to court documents, MNPD seized a Sig Sauer 9mm pistol from Millar at the time. Days later, officers of the Murfreesboro Police Department encountered Millar and recovered another loaded 9mm firearm from his waistband.
According to the federal criminal complaint, in 2023, the Chancery Court in Rutherford County, Tennessee entered an Order appointing an emergency conservator for Millar finding that he was “at risk of substantial harm to his health, safety, and welfare” and prohibiting him from receiving or possessing a firearm. In September 2024, a Chancery Court Judge in Rutherford County issued an “Agreed Order of Limited Conservatorship” for Millar finding him to be a “disabled person needing care” and significantly restricting his access to firearms.
“The right to peaceably protest government action is guaranteed by the First Amendment and cannot be infringed upon by armed individuals whose actions put people in danger,” said Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire. “Our efforts to hold firearm offenders accountable are designed to keep all members of the public safe from potential violence.”
If convicted, Millar faces a maximum of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nashville Field Office, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, and the Murfreesboro Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua A. Kurtzman and Kathryn Risinger are prosecuting the case.
A complaint is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Las Vegas Jury Convicts Woman for Threats Against Two Federal Judges and Her Probation Officer; San Diego Trial Team Prosecuted the Case in the District of NevadaRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A federal jury has convicted Latonia Smith of cyberstalking and threatening two district court judges and a probation officer, all of whom were involved in her previous federal conviction for death threats she made against lawyers in yet another case.
In the current case, after a six-day trial and less than one day of deliberation, a jury found that Smith threatened U.S. District Judge Richard Franklin Boulware, who presided over Smith’s 2021 trial and sentenced her to 36 months in prison for that offense. The jury also found that Smith targeted U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey, who presided over the defendant’s supervised release, and Shawn Mummey, her probation officer.
At the time of the grand jury’s indictment in the current matter, Smith was on supervised release from that previous federal 2021 conviction. In that case, Smith targeted corporate lawyers involved in defending the 2017 firing of her mother from her job as a guest room attendant at the Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas after she allegedly took a small amount of money from a guest’s room.
“All of these victims felt threatened and emotionally distressed. They then took steps to protect themselves and their families,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon for the Southern District of California. “Threats directed at members of the judiciary are not only criminal acts, but direct attacks on the rule of law. Intimidation of judges and court personnel erodes public trust and threatens the fair administration of justice for all.”
“The FBI takes threats of violence very seriously and works diligently to protect the communities we serve,” said Rafik Mattar, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Las Vegas, “We will not tolerate threats of violence to any member of our community, particularly those dedicated to safeguarding our democratic process. The defendant’s actions were dangerous and unacceptable. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to disrupt and investigate those who engage in violent rhetoric—ensuring accountability for anyone who threatens to harass, intimidate, or harm others.”
When Smith was released from federal prison in the first case against her, she was sent to Washoe County jail to face allegations related to an October 31, 2019, armed home-invasion in Reno she allegedly committed against another lawyer involved in the Planet Hollywood case.
Smith was granted bail in early June 2022. Upon her return to Las Vegas, Smith immediately began searching Google for information about Judge Boulware along with his wife, Las Vegas City Councilwoman Nancy Brune, and their family. At the same time, she googled “judges should die.”
Over the next several weeks, the defendant became increasingly frustrated with judges and anyone involved with her prior federal case. On June 23, 2022, the defendant emailed her probation officer and explained, “Some good advice: Life is short, society should be careful who they piss off.” Below the warning, the defendant sent a link to a YouTube video showing a six-minute compilation of cell phone videos from the October 1 mass shooting at the Mandalay Bay Hotel.
Over the next few days, Smith sent a series of emails. Some threatened a mass casualty event: “LET THE SHOW BEGIN. NEVADA IS GOING TO LOVE THIS!!!!” Some were designed to let victims know their loved ones were in jeopardy: “LETS KEEP [YOUR KIDS] IN FOCUS”.
Throughout many of the emails, the defendant made it clear that she had deeply researched the recipients of her threats, accurately identifying where they could be found, either during hobby activities, or in their actual homes. For example, to Judge Jennifer Dorsey the defendant wrote: “Tell Jennifer, Henderson is nice I see why she chose that area. Lots of shops nearby. Smart.” At trial, Judge Dorsey testified that the defendant’s identification of her personal residence inspired her to immediately sell her home and move.
The victims of Smith’s threats testified at trial they were frightened and believed Smith was capable of violently acting on her threats as she had allegedly done in the pending case regarding the armed home invasion targeting the lawyer in Reno.
U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro reported Smith’s threats to U.S. Marshals, who protect the federal judiciary. Judge Navarro testified at the trial, telling the jury that she recognized the danger posed by the defendant and immediately took action. “I emailed the chief of probation; anybody I could get a hold of to prevent a tragedy…I didn’t want to die. I didn’t want my family to die. I didn’t want my coworkers to die.” The Marshals then contacted the FBI.
After two special agents from the FBI interviewed the Smith on June 27, 2022, she was immediately taken into custody, where she has remained. During the interview, when asked what she was thinking about when she was researching mass shooters, Smith responded: “I think what they were thinking.”
The investigation found that Smith, who has a biochemistry degree from the University of Nevada Las Vegas, Googled phrases like “judges die,” “how to become a bomb maker,” “how to be a mass shooter,” “buying a gun,” and “ar 15 for sale.” She also watched the compilation of videos from the October 1 mass shooting 13 times over a three-week period. At the same time, the defendant repeatedly searched the names of her targets, some of their children, and some of their home addresses. The jury deliberated for less than a day before returning a guilty verdict on three counts of cyberstalking for the emails sent to Judges Dorsey and Boulware, along with her probation officer. The jury acquitted the defendant on the other two counts of cyberstalking.
The defendant will remain in custody pending sentencing, on a date yet to be determined.
The trial took place in the federal courthouse in Las Vegas. The presiding judge was Senior District Court Judge Michael W. Mosman, from the District of Oregon. Judge Mosman was appointed to preside over the case by special designation of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Smith’s prosecution was initiated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada, out of their office in Reno. In March 2024, the Department of Justice recused the entire U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada and had the prosecution reassigned.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Haden and Francisco Nagel for the Southern District of California, both of whom were named Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys in Las Vegas after the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada was recused.
DEFENDANT Case Number 22CR051-MWM
Latonia Dyshawna Smith Age: 31 Las Vegas, NV
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Three Counts of Cyberstalking – Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 2261A
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison, as to each count of conviction
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Laconia Man Sentenced to 87 Months in Federal Prison for the Unlawful Possession of Firearms and the Unlawful Possession of Unregistered FirearmsRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Laconia man was sentenced today in federal court for firearms offenses, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.
Joshua McLean, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante to 87 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release. In March 2025, McLean pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of firearms and ammunitions by a prohibited person and two counts of possession of an unregistered firearm.
“As a convicted felon, the defendant was prohibited from owning any firearms, yet he chose to surround himself with unregistered and illegal deadly weapons,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack. “His drug trafficking activity only deepened the threat he posed. This case underscores our commitment to removing armed, prohibited individuals from our communities before they can do greater harm.”
“The sentence imposed reflects the seriousness of the offense,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Scott Riordan of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive’s Boston Division. “The defendant’s possession of firearms while trafficking drugs jeopardizes public safety and is compounded by the trafficking of firearms with obliterated serial numbers which only serve illicit purposes.”
According to the court documents and statements made in court, McLean sold six firearms to an undercover officer knowing that some had obliterated serial numbers, and one was a sawed-off shotgun. When law enforcement searched his home, they found another gun, ammunition, and distribution quantities of illegal drugs. McLean was legally prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition based on a previous felony drug conviction.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Violent Crime Task Force led the investigation. The Laconia, Manchester, and Tilton Police Departments provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski prosecuted the case.
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