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18 June 2025
Virginia Man Sentenced for Attempted Church ShootingRead the Press Release
A Virginia man was sentenced today in Alexandria for his attempt to carry out a mass shooting at a Haymarket, Virginia church, for carrying a gun during that attempt, and for transmitting threats over the internet. Rui Jiang, 36, of Fairfax, Virginia, was sentenced to 25 years in prison and five years of supervised release. Jiang was previously convicted by a jury in March 2025.
According to evidence presented at trial, Jiang began posting online threats against the Park Valley Church on the evening of Sept. 23, 2023, which made clear his intention to kill congregants. The next morning, police searched for Jiang in response to a concerned citizen’s call. Officers located Jiang at the church while Sunday services were underway. Jiang was armed with a semiautomatic handgun, two magazines of ammunition, and two knives. He had additional ammunition, knives, and a canister of bear spray in his nearby car. During a search of Jiang’s apartment, police discovered copies of a manifesto, signed by Jiang, which read in part, “I am here deny (sic) the love lives blessed by God to these lucky men, by taking out these men . . .To the families of those men about to be slain – I am sorry for what I have done and about to do (sic).”
“This was the closest of calls. But for the determination of a concerned citizen; the exceptional police work by the Anne Arundel, Fairfax, and Prince William County Police Departments; and the steadfast vigilance of the church security team, this would have ended in unimaginable tragedy,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will relentlessly investigate and prosecute attacks on our nation’s houses of worship.”
“The freedom to worship without fear is one of the bedrock principles of our Nation,” said U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Rui Jiang set out to violate that principle by entering a church during a religious service armed with the intent to murder innocent parishioners. This unspeakable act, only thwarted by brave law enforcement officers and civilians, has no place in our Republic and will always be a priority of my office.”
“The church shooting that was thwarted because of the vigilance of concerned citizens is a reminder that when communities and law enforcement agencies work together, we can prevent targeted acts of violence.” said Assistant Director in Charge Steven J. Jensen of the FBI Washington Field Office.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case, with substantial assistance from the Prince William County and Fairfax County Police Departments. The Anne Arundel County Police Department also assisted. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas A. Durham and Troy A. Edwards Jr., for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Kyle Boynton of the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.
Virginia Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Hate Crime and Firearms ViolationRead the Press Release
Douglas Wayne Cornett, 58, of Ruther Glen, Virginia, pleaded guilty in federal court today to two federal hate crimes charges involving attempts to kill and to discharging a firearm during a federal crime of violence.
According to court documents, on the evening of Feb. 28, 2024, Cornett followed a box truck driven by a victim with the initials O.G., an adult Latino male, into the Sheetz gas station along Interstate 95 in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. Cornett then asked a victim with the initials J.M., an adult Latino male and a friend of O.G., how long O.G. had been present in the United States.
Upon learning that O.G. had arrived within the last two years, Cornett drew handgun and fired six rounds, striking O.G. three times and J.M. once. Cornett later confessed to a Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Deputy to shooting the victims because of his perception of their national origin.
“Hate crimes driven by bias against national origin or any other protected characteristic are a direct assault on the principles of equality and justice that define our nation,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division is committed to vigorously prosecuting such acts of violence to secure a just outcome.”
“Crimes like Douglas Cornett’s, acts of hate motivated violence, victimize not just the individual, but harm families, communities, and groups by robbing them of their sense of security,” said U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Every person has a right to live free of the fear of violence and the menace of hate, and my office is committed to eliminating both.”
“Hate crimes not only harm individuals but undermine the fabric of our communities,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Stephen Farina of the FBI Richmond Field Office. “FBI Richmond is steadfast in its dedication to investigating these violations thoroughly and swiftly to ensure justice for the victims and to protect the American people.”
“Violence based on race or nationality will not be tolerated in Spotsylvania County," said G. Ryan Mehaffey, Spotsylvania County Commonwealth’s Attorney. "Douglas Cornett found out there is a heavy price to be paid.”
Cornett faces a mandatory 10-year sentence on the firearms violation and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment for the two hate crimes. His final sentence will be determined by U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a sentencing hearing scheduled for Nov. 13.
The Richmond Field Office of the FBI investigated the case, with substantial assistance from the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Garnett for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Kyle Boynton of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
Note: The press release was updated to accurately reflect the defendant's residence.
United States Files Civil Forfeiture Complaint Against $225M in Funds Involved in Cryptocurrency Investment Fraud Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice filed a civil forfeiture complaint today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against more than $225.3 million in cryptocurrency. According to the complaint, law enforcement used blockchain analysis and other investigative techniques to determine that the cryptocurrency is connected to the theft and laundering of funds from victims of cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes, commonly referred to as “cryptocurrency confidence scams.”
The complaint alleges that the cryptocurrency addresses that held the over $225.3 million in cryptocurrency were part of a sophisticated blockchain-based money laundering network that executed hundreds of thousands of transactions and was used to disperse proceeds of cryptocurrency investment fraud across many cryptocurrency addresses and accounts on the blockchain to conceal the source of the illegally obtained funds.
“Today’s civil forfeiture complaint is the latest action taken by the Department to protect the American public from fraudsters specializing in cryptocurrency-based scams, and it will not be the last,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These schemes harm American victims, costing them billions of dollars every year, and undermine faith in the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Our investigators and prosecutors are relentlessly pursuing these scammers and their ill-gotten gains, and we will relentlessly pursue recovery of victim funds.”
“Under my leadership, with the support of President Trump and Attorney General Bondi, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia is taking a leading role in the fight against crypto-confidence scams, partnering with law enforcement throughout the country to seize and forfeit stolen funds and rip them from the hands of foreign criminals, all with the eye toward making victims whole,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro for the District of Columbia.
"The forfeiture of these illicit funds is a powerful tool in the FBI’s toolbox to stop the fraudsters who are operating online from stealing from the American people," said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI Criminal Division. "The FBI will not standby while these criminals target unsuspecting victims who believe they are making legitimate investments. The hard work of the FBI and our partners continues as we work with victims and potential victims across the country to put an end to these scams and warn others about their devastating effects."
“This seizure of $225.3 million in funds linked to cryptocurrency investment scams marks the largest cryptocurrency seizure in U.S. Secret Service (USSS) history,” said Special Agent in Charge Shawn Bradstreet of the USSS San Francisco Field Office. “These scams prey on trust, often resulting in extreme financial hardship for the victims. The USSS, FBI, and our private partners worked diligently to trace these illicit transactions, identify victims and seize these funds so that they can eventually be returned to their rightful owners.”
As part of the investigation of the laundering network, over 400 suspected victims are believed to have lost funds after being duped into believing that they were making legitimate cryptocurrency investments. The complaint recounts millions of dollars in victim losses. According to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center’s 2024 Internet Crime Report, cryptocurrency investment fraud caused more than $5.8 billion in reported losses in 2024 alone. The USSS San Francisco Field Office and FBI San Francisco Field Offices investigated the case. The Department of Justice thanks Tether for its proactive assistance in this investigation.
Trial Attorneys Stefanie Schwartz and Ethan Cantor of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Rosenberg and Rick Blaylock Jr. for the District of Columbia are handling the matter.
Members of the public who believe they are victims of cryptocurrency investment fraud and other cyber-enabled crime should contact the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov. If you believe you may be a victim of one of the scams alleged in the government’s complaint, add the code “BT06182025” in the narrative of your complaint, and if you have previously filed a related complaint, make note of the prior complaint in the narrative.
U.S. Attorney Ramsdell Recognizes Elder Abuse Awareness MonthRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - Alison J. Ramsdell, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota, joins federal, state, tribal, and local advocates in recognizing June as Elder Abuse Awareness Month to increase awareness of the many forms of elder abuse and promote the resources available to those at risk.
“Millions of seniors are affected by elder abuse each year, which robs them of their finances, their security, and their dignity. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those that target our vulnerable friends, family and neighbors. It is crucial that the public also join the effort by checking on older adults and watching for signs of abuse or unusual financial transactions.” said U.S. Attorney Ramsdell.
Warning signs that your loved one may be experiencing elder fraud include:
- Unexplained charges or withdrawals from a bank account;
- Suspicious signatures on checks or other financial documents;
- Abrupt changes in a will or other financial document; and
- Unpaid bills despite having adequate financial resources.
To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the various tactics used in specific scams or frauds. Common examples may include:
- Calls from someone you don’t know telling you a loved one has been kidnapped or arrested;
- Requests for money from an online romantic partner you’ve never met or have just met; and
- Requests to buy and forward gift cards and information.
To learn more about the Department’s elder justice efforts, visit the Elder Justice Initiative page.
To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
Two Men Who Trafficked Pills Containing Meth and Fentanyl, Fentanyl Powder Mixed with Xylazine, Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that two men were sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven for offenses related to their distribution of counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine and fentanyl, and fentanyl powder laced with xylazine. MARKEYSE KELLY, also known as “Curry” and “Keyse,” 46, of West Haven, was sentenced to 138 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release, and JAQUAN PRICE, also known as “Sub,” 34, of New Haven, was sentenced to 120 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in October 2023, the FBI New Haven Safe Streets Gang Task Force began investigating a drug trafficking organization led by Kelly. The investigation, which included controlled purchases of narcotics in February and March 2024, revealed that Kelly, Price, and their associate Robert Covington sold various controlled substances, including multi-colored pills pressed to look like ecstasy that actually contained methamphetamine, counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, powder fentanyl laced with xylazine, and PCP.
Kelly, Price, and Covington were arrested on May 14, 2024. On that date, investigators executed multiple search warrants and seized more than a kilogram of methamphetamine pills, and an additional quantity of meth powder, more than 100 grams of fentanyl pills and powder, approximately 50 grams of cocaine, three handguns, two loaded gun magazines, ammunition, and more than $11,000 in cash.
On February 21, 2025, Kelly pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl. On March 21, 2025, Price pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Kelly and Price have been detained since their arrests.
In April 2015, Price was sentenced in Bridgeport federal court to 30 months of imprisonment for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
Covington pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.
This matter has been investigated by the FBI New Haven Safe Streets Gang Task Force, the New Haven Police Department, the West Haven Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Task Force includes personnel from the East Haven Police Department, Milford Police Department, Wallingford Police Department, Connecticut State Police, and Connecticut Department of Correction.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie T. Levick and Nathan Guevremont through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Two Anchorage residents charged with conspiring to traffic fentanyl pills and powder to Alaska, laundering the proceedsRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment last week charging an Anchorage man and woman with conspiring to traffic large quantities of fentanyl to and within Alaska and laundering over half a million dollars in drug proceeds.
According to court documents, between August 2024 and February 2025, Corey Clifton, 51, and Elizabeth Cruickshank, 44, conspired together, and with others, to distribute and possess with intent to distribute over 4.5 kilograms of fentanyl in Alaska. Specifically, on Aug. 6, 2024, Clifton allegedly shipped a parcel from Washington to Cruickshank in Alaska. The parcel contained over 4.2 kilograms of fentanyl pills packaged in small baggies with stickers inside drink mix containers.
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of AlaskaCourt documents further detail that between Nov. 7, 2024, and Feb. 19, 2025, Cruickshank allegedly attempted to possess fentanyl with intent to distribute on three separate occasions.
On Aug. 8, 2024, Clifton is also accused of possessing two firearms and ammunition as a felon. On the date of incident, Clifton had two prior serious drug felony convictions from 2015 and 2017 in the Alaska Superior Court in Kenai and U.S. District Court in Anchorage, respectively.
The indictment further alleges that between April 2024 to 2025, Clifton and Cruickshank conspired together to launder over $500,000 in drug proceeds.
Clifton is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition and firearms and one count of money laundering conspiracy. Cruickshank is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, three counts of attempted possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of money laundering conspiracy. The defendants made their initial court appearances yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kyle F. Reardon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, they face a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska, Special Agent in Charge David F. Reames of the Seattle Field Division, Inspector in Charge Anthony Galetti of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Seattle Division and Special Agent in Charge Adam Jobes of the IRS Criminal Investigation’s (IRS CI) Seattle Field Office made the announcement.
The DEA Seattle Field Division and Anchorage District Office, USPIS Anchorage Domicile and IRS CI Seattle Field Office are investigating the case, with assistance from the Alaska State Troopers and Alaska High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Initiative’s Southcentral Area-Wide Narcotics (SCAN) team.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mac Caille Petursson and Cody Tirpak are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of the Alaska Parcel Interdiction Initiative, a statewide partnership between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Alaska State Troopers and other local law enforcement to disrupt the flow of dangerous narcotics into Alaska through the mail. Together, the agencies work tirelessly to interdict suspicious U.S. Postal Service and other carriers’ parcels, with a goal of seizing narcotics before they enter communities and prosecuting those responsible for trafficking drugs to Alaska.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime and drug trafficking. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Twice Convicted Child Sex Offender Sentenced to 180 Months’ ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
ST. GEORGE, Utah –Twice convicted sex offender, Payden Davis, 30, of Santa Clara, Utah, was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment and a lifetime of supervised release after he intended to meet with an 11-year-old boy to sexually abuse him after communicating via a social media platform.
Davis, a registered sex offender, violated his federal supervised release imposed in a prior case in which he was convicted of possession of child pornography in 2018. His sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Ann Marie McIff Allen, comes after Davis pleaded guilty on February 6, 2025.
According to court documents and statements made at Davis’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, between November 6, 2023 and November 7, 2023, Davis used a portable gaming console to communicate via social media with an undercover agent posing as the father of an 11-year-old boy. During the communications, Davis repeatedly confirmed to the undercover agent he wanted to sexually abuse the 11-year-old child stating “I think it would be fun, if he is into it” among other sexually explicit communications. Davis and the undercover agent agreed to meet at a pre-determined location. Meanwhile the undercover agent discovered that Davis was a registered sex offender, having been convicted of possession of child pornography in 2018, and that he was currently on federal supervised release. On November 7, 2025, Davis arrived at the pre-arranged location and was taken into custody without incident. At the time of his arrest, Davis’s social media account geolocated to the location of the arrest. Additionally, Davis was in possession of a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 cellphone, an AYANEO handheld gaming computer, and other evidence of his intent to sexually abuse an 11-year-old boy.
Acting U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, St. George Resident Agency.
Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Burton of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Tucson Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Sergio Herran, 47, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced on June 17, 2025, by Senior United States District Judge Raner C. Collins to a term of 8 years in prison and a term of 5 years in prison, to be served concurrently. Following a four-day trial in March, a jury convicted Herran of Distribution of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography. Herran will be on lifetime supervision upon release from prison and must register as a sex offender. Herran was also ordered to pay restitution to identified victims.
Herran was previously tried and convicted in 2019 before a jury, but the conviction was reversed on appeal by the Ninth Circuit. On retrial, the evidence presented showed that Herran was responsible for downloading, viewing, and sharing images and videos of child pornography. These videos and images were located on Herran’s computer hard drive, phone SD card, and a tablet, which were found in Herran’s bedroom within an arm’s reach from where he slept. In total, there were over 10,000 images and 1,500 videos of child pornography on Herran’s devices, although only a representative sample was charged in the indictment. Herran was found guilty of distribution of two videos of child pornography, possession of 13 images of child pornography, and possession of eight videos of child pornography.
Homeland Security Investigations’ Tucson Human Exploitation and Trafficking Unit conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys, Sandra M. Hansen and Anshul Krishn, District of Arizona, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-01026-TUC-RCC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-096_Herran# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Texas Man Charged Federally for Receipt and Transport of Explosives Intended for Use Against Law EnforcementRead the Press Release
A Texas man is facing federal charges after allegedly purchasing powerful explosives in New Mexico and expressing plans to use them to harm law enforcement officers and government officials during riots in California.
According to court documents, on June 12, 2025, Grzegorz Vandenberg, 48, visited a travel center in Lordsburg, New Mexico, to purchase fireworks. During the transaction, Vandenberg requested assistance in selecting fireworks that could be thrown directly at people to cause harm. He told store employees that he was prior special forces military and claimed he could make pipe bombs. Vandenberg further stated that he was traveling to Los Angeles, California, for the riots, with the intent to kill law enforcement officers or government officials.
“This man allegedly intended to use the chaotic riots in Los Angeles as an opportunity to commit deadly violence against law enforcement officers,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Threats like these strike at the heart of law and order — we will not hesitate to bring federal charges against anyone who seeks to harm law enforcement or endanger the safety of our communities.”
“Our message is clear: If you come after law enforcement officers, the FBI will spare no effort to find you and bring you to justice,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “This defendant allegedly intended to use explosives to attack police officers currently conducting law enforcement operations in Los Angeles and – with the help of a store cashier who took down his license plate information - we were able to put a stop to that plan. Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line to serve the American people and the FBI will always do our part to protect them.”
“Targeting law enforcement with violence is not protest – it’s a crime,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison for the District of New Mexico. “Anyone who attempts to harm officers or undermine public safety will be held accountable. Protecting the safety of our communities and upholding the integrity of lawful demonstrations are priorities, and those who cross the line into violence will be prosecuted swiftly and to the fullest extent of the law.”
Store staff reported that Vandenberg asked for the largest explosives available and invited an employee to join him and his platoon in California. He also claimed to have mortar explosives in his possession and reiterated his plan to use them at the riots to kill officers. Vandenberg purchased six mortars, each containing 60 grams of gunpowder, and 36 large fireworks before leaving the store in a vehicle with Montana license plates, heading west on Interstate 10.
Vandenberg is charged with transporting explosives in interstate commerce with the knowledge and intent that they would be used to kill, injure, or intimidate individuals. He will remain in custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, Vandenberg faces up to 10 years in federal prison.
The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Tucson Resident Agency of the FBI’s Phoenix Field Office, Tucson Police Department, U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joni Stahl and Grant Gardner for the District of New Mexico are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance provided by Trial Attorney Patrick Cashman of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Three Baton Rouge Men Face Federal Charges in Connection with Armed Robbery and Shooting of Federal AgentRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Ellison C. Travis announced that federal criminal complaints and arrest warrants were issued charging three Baton Rouge men with multiple offenses stemming from an undercover firearm-trafficking operation that turned violent on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. Torion Bobbs, age 20, and Cordell Simms, age 19, are each charged with assault on a federal officer and robbery, and Caylup Anderson, age 18, is charged with robbery and aiding and abetting.
The criminal complaints and supporting affidavits allege that on June 17, 2025, agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Task Force arranged two separate purchases of a firearm equipped with a machine-gun conversion device (sometimes called a “Glock switch”) outside the Triple S Food Mart on North Foster Drive. When agents moved to detain the suspects, an exchange of gunfire followed, injuring one ATF agent and Sims. All three suspects fled before Sims was arrested nearby, with Anderson and Bobb being apprehended thereafter.
“Our office has zero tolerance for assaults on law enforcement officers,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Travis. “When criminals raise a gun at those who protect our communities, we will answer with the full force of federal law. Yesterday’s swift federal charges reflect the seamless teamwork of the FBI, ATF, Baton Rouge Police Department, East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Louisiana State Police. Their rapid, coordinated response ensured these defendants were taken off the streets within hours of the crime.”
“ATF’s primary focus is to support public safety and address violent crime with our federal, state, and local partners. This is particularly true when it comes to crimes perpetuated through illegal possession and use of firearms,” said ATF New Orleans SAC Joshua Jackson. “These swift charges represent another example of ATF working with our law enforcement partners to hold those accountable who choose to use firearms to engage in violent crime within our communities.”
“The rapid response of the FBI and our law enforcement partners to the events on North Foster Street proves that we will not tolerate any assault on law enforcement officers nor will we tolerate violent criminals who put the community in danger,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. “With the continued assistance of the public, the FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to get violent criminals off our streets.”
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli Abad.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Tallahassee Brothers Both Receive 10-Years in Prison in Large-Scale Conspiracy to Distribute MarijuanaRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – United States Attorney John P. Heekin announces the last of four co-defendants was sentenced today in a large-scale conspiracy that distributed over 1000 kilograms of marijuana in Tallahassee. Tyquan Watson, 28, of Tallahassee, Florida, received 10 years in prison. His half-brother, Cleveland Blackshear, 26, of Tallahassee also received 10 years in prison. Dezaneil Cosby, 28, of Tallahassee received 5 years in prison. Shambresha Turner, 26, of Tallahassee received time-served and supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I applaud the substantial efforts of our state and federal law enforcement partners to investigate, arrest, and help bring these drug traffickers to justice. These offenses are not victimless crimes; the victims are the members of our community who experience the addiction and violence that too often follows from drug traffickers flooding our streets with this poison. My office will continue to aggressively pursue these cases to keep our communities healthy and safe.”
Trial testimony and evidence demonstrated that Watson was purchasing hundred-pound quantities of marijuana per week from farms and brokers in California and reselling the marijuana in Tallahassee and surrounding areas. Evidence demonstrated that Watson had purchased at least 3169 pounds of marijuana between September 24, 2023, and January 10, 2024, with proceeds of at least $2.4 million during that period.
“With dispensaries and smoke shops becoming more commonplace, people may falsely assume that marijuana is no big deal,” said Deanne L. Reuter, Special Agent in Charge of Drug Enforcement Administration’s Miami Field Division. “I assure you, DEA considers it a big deal. It’s stronger than ever and can pose a serious health risk, especially to children. We will continue to pursue marijuana peddlers with the same verve as any other illicit substance.”
A long-term investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). On August 16, 2022, Shambresha Turner was stopped at the Panama City airport with 40 pounds of marijuana in her suitcases. Turner told officers that she was being paid to transport the suitcases. On October 13, 2022, FDLE conducted a controlled purchase of 28 pounds of marijuana from Cleveland Blackshear. During the surveillance, FDLE agents observed Blackshear obtaining the marijuana from Cosby’s residence immediately prior to the controlled purchase. Both Blackshear and Watson’s fingerprints were identified on packaging material associated with the purchased marijuana. Surveillance of Cosby’s residence between October 12, 2022, and October 28, 2022, revealed multiple people dropping off and picking up suitcases (at least 32 suitcases and 16 garbage bags). On October 28, 2022, DEA executed a federal search warrant at Cosby’s residence and seized 238 pounds of marijuana and a firearm. Watson and Cosby were arrested together on federal arrest warrants on March 11, 2024, at another residence in Tallahassee. During that arrest, law enforcement seized another 183 pounds of marijuana and a firearm.
“This investigation sends a clear message: if you bring drug trafficking and violence into our communities, we’re coming for you,” said FDLE Tallahassee Special Agent in Charge Keith Wilmer. “Our special agents, working side-by-side with the DEA, spent countless hours on covert operations to take down this criminal network. I’m proud of their relentless work to protect Florida’s capital city and hold these offenders accountable.”
Watson and Cosby were convicted at a jury trial on February 14, 2025. Blackshear and Turner had previously pled guilty. As part of his sentence, Watson was also ordered to forfeit $2,424,217 in drug proceeds.
“This case is a clear example of how drug trafficking, even with substances like marijuana, is often linked to greater dangers in our community, including illegal firearms and violent crime,” said Chief Lawrence Revell of the Tallahassee Police Department. “We remain committed to working alongside our federal and state partners to disrupt these criminal networks and protect the safety of our neighborhoods.”
These sentences were the result of a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Tallahassee Police Department, and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys James A. McCain and Harley Ferguson prosecuted 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 United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
St. Tammany Parish Man Charged with Bribery and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that, on June 13, 2025, KENTRELL MAHONEY SCOTT (“SCOTT”), age 39, a resident of St. Tammany Parish, was charged, via bill of information, with one count of bribery of a public official, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 201, and two counts of wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343.
According to the charging document, SCOTT was a public official who, directly or indirectly, accepted something of value in return for being induced to do an act, and omit to do an act in violation of his official duty, and in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 201(b)(2). Specifically, in exchange for a $300 payment that he directly and corruptly sought and accepted from a supervisee under his charge, SCOTT agreed to assist a supervisee in violating the terms of supervision by obscuring the detection of the supervisee’s GPS monitoring.
Additionally, SCOTT was also charged with wire fraud, for advertising and selling unlawful brake tags and temp tags. SCOTT, who was not licensed or approved by the City of New Orleans or the State of Louisiana, advertised the sale of brake tags and temp tags on Facebook and encouraged interested parties to message him. Thereafter, SCOTT met the purchasers in person to complete the transaction.
Finally, SCOTT was charged with a second act of wire fraud, for making false and fraudulent submissions to the Louisiana Workforce Commission for the CARES Act Funded Unemployment Insurance Program. Specifically, in order to both remain eligible for unemployment insurance and to maximize the unemployment insurance benefits he received, SCOTT underreported his wages and later, falsely certified that he was unemployed.
If convicted of the bribery charge, SCOTT faces up to 15 years in prison, up to 3 years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. As to each of the wire fraud counts, SCOTT faces up to 20 years in prison, up to 3 years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andre J. Lagarde of the Public Integrity Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
St. Louis Man Sentenced to 210 Months for Drug Trafficking and Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A St. Louis, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court yesterday for illegally possessing firearms, and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine.
Melvin Navarro Morgan, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven R. Bough to 210 months in federal prison without parole, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.
On Dec. 19, 2024, following a one-day bench trial on Oct. 28, 2024, Morgan was found guilty of one count each of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of firearms.
When Springfield, Mo., Police Department (SPD) officers contacted Morgan on Jan. 5, 2023, he fled on foot. During the foot chase, Morgan threw two baggies containing a total of 24.35 grams of fentanyl. When officers searched Morgan, they found methamphetamine, cocaine, and over $2,000 in cash.
On April 17, 2023, officers with SPD executed a search warrant at Morgan’s residence. Officers seized approximately 117.35 grams of fentanyl, 50.75 grams of cocaine, and 416.87 grams of methamphetamine. During the search, officers found six guns, including an AR-pistol with no serial number or markings (also known as a “ghost gun”), and a pistol with an extended magazine. Officers also seized over $8,200 in cash. At trial, an FBI Special Agent testified that the approximate value of the seized drugs was $43,662.
Morgan fled from officers with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD), when they attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Oct. 9, 2023. When SLMPD apprehended Morgan, he was in possession of 98 pills containing heroin and fentanyl; powders containing cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and tramadol; and off-white chunks containing cocaine base.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Lucas. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
St. Louis County Man Admits Shooting at PoliceRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man on Wednesday admitted shooting at multiple St. Louis County police officers in 2024.
Dylan Farmer, 21, of Breckenridge Hills, Missouri, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to four counts of assaulting a law enforcement officer and two counts of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
Farmer admitted that on Feb. 13, 2024, officers of the St. Louis County Police Department Special Response Unit (SRU) were trying to find someone who was wanted in connection with a double homicide. A vehicle associated with that wanted person was parked in the 4500 block of Virginia Avenue in St. Louis. When Farmer unlocked the vehicle and got in, officers converged to detain him. All wore vests marked “Police,” and three of the vehicles were equipped with blue flashing emergency lights. The officers were also designated as task force officers with the U.S. Marshals Service and the FBI.
As three task force officers pulled up in their SUV, Farmer immediately opened fire with a .45-caliber semiautomatic handgun equipped with a 50-round drum magazine, damaging the SUV. Officers returned fire. Farmer then ran across the street and between some buildings, where he fired one shot at an officer. He then ran down an alley and fired multiple times at a different officer, who ducked behind a dumpster.
Farmer then hid on the front porch of a house in the 4500 block of Alaska Avenue. When officers drove down the street and spotted Farmer, he opened fire again, damaging their vehicle, and officers again returned fire. Farmer eventually surrendered after suffering multiple gunshot wounds. Officers treated his wounds and summoned an ambulance to take him to the hospital.
One officer’ was injured when a bullet ricocheted off a vehicle’s window, causing glass to fly into his eye. Another’s ankle was injured when he jumped out of his car and sought cover.
Farmer admitted firing first at police.
As part of the plea agreement, both sides have agreed to recommend 22 years in prison at Farmer’s sentencing, which is set for September 23. The firearm charges each carry mandatory minimum 10-year sentences.
The St. Louis County Police Department, the FBI, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul D’Agrosa is prosecuting the case.
Southern Ute Tribal Member Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Abusive Sexual Contact with ChildrenRead the Press Release
DURANGO – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announced that Kalin Burton Goodtracks, age 36, of Ignacio, Colorado, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison, followed by 25 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a Justice of Victims of Trafficking Act (JVTA) assessment of $10,000, after pleading guilty to two charges of Abusive Sexual Contact of a Child in Indian Country.
According to the plea agreement, on separate incidents in 2019, Goodtracks sexually abused two minors under the age of 12 who were under his supervision. He committed the offenses at his home on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. Both children were related to Goodtracks.
“Mr. Goodtracks deserves to spend a long time in federal prison because he preyed upon children he was supposed to protect,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “Pursuing justice for the most vulnerable in Colorado—and especially our children—remains one of our top priorities.”
“This case is a clear reminder that those who exploit children — including those on tribal lands—will find no safe haven from justice, no matter where they are,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “These predators pose a serious threat to the safety of our communities and the FBI will aggressively pursue anyone who targets children.”
United States District Court Judge Gordon P. Gallagher sentenced the defendant on June 16, 2025.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Southern Ute Investigations Division within the Southern Ute Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Jeffrey K. Graves and Lisa Franceware handled the prosecution of the case.
Case Number: 1:23-cr-00491-GPG-JMC
Shiprock Woman Sentence for DUI CrashRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock woman was sentenced to 33 months in prison for driving under the influence and causing a multi-passenger collision in 2023.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on April 10, 2023, Jazmyne Deschinny, 22, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, drove a vehicle with eight occupants, including five children, while under the influence of alcohol and drugs. While passing through the intersection of U.S. Highway 491 and U.S. Highway 64 in Shiprock, within the Navajo Nation, Deschinny ran a red light and collided with a flatbed trailer being towed by a truck.
Deschinny's vehicle following the crashLaw enforcement and medical personnel responded quickly to the chaotic scene, providing life-saving care and transporting the injured to local hospitals. The impact caused severe injuries to multiple passengers, including children. One child suffered critical head trauma requiring emergency surgery and extended hospitalization.
The subsequent investigation revealed that most occupants, including children, were not properly restrained in the vehicle. At the hospital, Deschinny’s blood alcohol content was measured at .264 — over three times the legal limit — and she also tested positive for cannabinoids and opiates.
Deschinny admitted to consuming alcohol prior to driving and pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Upon her release from prison, Deschinny will be subject to two years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.
Sixteen Indictments Returned for Previously Deported Illegal Aliens Identified in Recent Immigration Enforcement ActionsRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE & PENSACOLA – United States Attorney John P. Heekin announced today that 16 previously deported aliens have been indicted separately by a federal grand jury for illegal reentry into the United States.
Jose Victor Aguilar-Zelaya, 40, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Fort Walton Beach in March 2025, after previously being deported in 2010.
Oscar Alva-Cabrera, 23, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Gulf Breeze in May 2025, after previously being deported in 2024.
Ofelia Andrea Caal-Chub, 22, of Guatemala, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located Madison County in June 2025, after previously being deported in 2021.
Bernardo Chavez-Chavez, 46, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Tallahassee in May 2025, after previously being deported in 1997.
Joel Coto-Mendoza, 48, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Pensacola in May 2025, after previously being deported in 2023.
Luis Armando Funez-Gomez, 48, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Tallahassee in May 2025, after previously being deported in 2008.
Roberto Gonzales-Coto, 46, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Pensacola in May 2025, after previously being deported in 2004.
Candido Hurtado-Solano, 39, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Tallahassee in May 2025, after previously being deported in 2012.
Juan Hurtado-Solano, 43, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Tallahassee in May 2025, after previously being deported in 2012.
Omar Jimenez-Salinas, 29, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Pensacola in May 2025, after previously being deported in 2014.
Jose Luis Morales-Huerta, 40, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Santa Rosa County in May 2025, after previously being deported in 2018.
Cevero Enrique Ordonez, 29, of Guatemala, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Pensacola in May 2025, after previously being deported in 2014.
Juan Gomez Perez, 22, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Tallahassee in May 2025, after previously being deported in 2022.
Elpidio Abelardo Perez-Perez, 33, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Pensacola in February 2025, after previously being deported in 2010, 2012, and 2013.
Maximo Solis-Xec, 25, of Guatemala, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Santa Rosa County in May 2025, after previously being deported in 2018.
Juan Carlos Hernandez Vallejos, 42, of Nicaragua, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Tallahassee in May 2025, after previously being deported in 2014 and 2015.
The penalty for illegally reentering the United States after deportation is a maximum of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The cases are being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Enforcement and Removal Operations, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshal’s Service, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Etherton, Harley Ferguson, Alicia Forbes, Justin Keen, Walter Narramore, and Eric Welch are prosecuting the cases.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The cases are part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Ruther Glen man pleads guilty to federal hate crime and firearms violationRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Ruther Glen man pled guilty today to two federal hate crimes involving attempts to kill and to discharging a firearm during a federal crime of violence.
According to court documents, on the evening of Feb. 28, 2024, Douglas Wayne Cornett, 58, followed a box truck driven by a victim with the initials O.G., an adult Latino male, into the Sheetz gas station along Interstate 95 in Spotsylvania County. Cornett then asked a victim with the initials J.M., also an adult Latino male and a friend of O.G., how long O.G. had been present in the United States. Upon learning that O.G. had arrived within the last two years, Cornett drew a handgun and fired six rounds, striking O.G. three times and J.M. once.
“Crimes like Douglas Cornett’s, acts of hate motivated violence, victimize not just the individual, but harm families, communities, and groups by robbing them of their sense of security,” said Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Every person has a right to live free of the fear of violence and the menace of hate, and my office is committed to eliminating both.”
“Hate crimes driven by bias against national origin or any other protected characteristic are a direct assault on the principles of equality and justice that define our nation,” said Harmeet K. Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division is committed to vigorously prosecuting such acts of violence to secure a just outcome.”
“Hate crimes not only harm individuals but undermine the fabric of our communities,” said Stephen Farina, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office. “FBI Richmond is steadfast in its dedication to investigating these violations thoroughly and swiftly to ensure justice for the victims and to protect the American people.”
Cornett later confessed to a Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Deputy to shooting the victims because of his perception of the victims’ national origin.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas A. Garnett and Trial Attorney Kyle Boynton of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
The Richmond Field Office of the FBI investigated the case, with substantial assistance from the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-CR-91.
This release was edited on June 18, 2025, to correct the defendant's city of residence.
Riverside County Woman Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Running $1.7 Million COVID-19 Benefits Fraud She Advertised on InstagramRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – An Inland Empire woman was sentenced today to 84 months in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining $1.7 million in COVID-19 pandemic-related jobless benefits, federally-guaranteed small business loans, California Small Business COVID-19 relief grants, and Los Angeles County economic opportunity grants.
Jasmine Unique Mallard-McCarter, 30, a.k.a. “JassyMC,” of Eastvale, was sentenced by United States District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong, who also ordered her to pay $1,765,407 in restitution.
McCarter pleaded guilty on February 28 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
McCarter impersonated others to apply online for government benefits that she used for herself. McCarter also used the personal identifying information provided by her co-conspirators to apply for government benefits on their behalf, knowing those co-conspirators were not eligible for those benefits.
McCarter charged fees to instruct others how to apply for government benefits for which they were not eligible without getting caught. Also, for a fee, McCarter served as a broker for counterfeit documents, such as Social Security cards, driver’s licenses, IRS Forms 1040, W-2s, bank statements, education degrees and transcripts, pay stubs, and doctors’ notes for handicapped placards. In some instances, the McCarter and her co-conspirators used the counterfeit documents to trick the government into paying unjustified benefits.
McCarter advertised her fraud services on Instragram, using handles “JassyMc” and “EliteRealEstateandBusiness.” McCarter referred to herself as the “Jass of All Trades” in social media posts, because she could file fraudulent unemployment insurance applications, file grant applications, and broker counterfeit documents and identification in return for a fee.
According to McCarter’s Instagram posts, she charged a fee for introducing customers to her connection at the California Department of Motor Vehicles, who could help bypass requirements for smog checks, insurance, and registration.
The U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, Employee Development Department Investigations Division, U.S. Small Business Administration – Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and United States Secret Service investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Brown of the Major Frauds Section prosecuted this case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolster efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
On September 15, 2022, the Attorney General selected the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Central and Eastern Districts of California to jointly head one of the three national COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force Teams. The Department of Justice established the Strike Force to enhance existing efforts to combat and prevent COVID-19 related financial fraud. The Strike Force combines law enforcement and prosecutorial resources and focuses on large-scale, multistate pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors, as well as those who committed instances of pandemic relief fraud. The Strike Force uses prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. Additional information regarding the Strike Force may be found at https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-covid-19-fraud-strike-force-teams.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Prolíficos narcotraficantes guatemaltecos extraditados a los Estados Unidos para enfrentar cargos de asociación delictuosa para el tráfico de drogasRead the Press Release
Steven Ovaldino Lorenzana Alvarenga, alias “Chipi”, y Allan Mendoza, alias “Carnes” y “Carnitas”, ambos de Guatemala, comparecieron hoy ante el Tribunal de Distrito de los Estados Unidos para el Distrito de Columbia tras su extradición el 17 de junio desde Guatemala a los Estados Unidos.
Lorenzana Alvarenga, de 30 años, y Mendoza, de 40, están imputados cada uno por un cargo de asociación delictuosa para importar cinco kilogramos o más de cocaína a los Estados Unidos desde Venezuela, Colombia, México, Guatemala y Honduras, y por un cargo de poseer un arma de fuego para promover un delito de tráfico de drogas.
Según los documentos del tribunal, entre 2006 y 2023, Lorenzana Alvarenga y Mendoza fueron miembros clave de la organización de tráfico de drogas (OTD) Lorenzana, con sede en Guatemala, que transporta cantidades del orden de múltiples toneladas de cocaína desde Sudamérica a México y los Estados Unidos en nombre de varios carteles mexicanos, hondureños y venezolanos. La OTD Lorenzana presuntamente controla varios departamentos de Guatemala y utiliza habitualmente la violencia, incluidos el homicidio, la agresión, el secuestro, el asesinato y la tortura para promover sus actividades de tráfico de drogas. Según se alega, Lorenzana Alvarenga y Mendoza formaban parte de un grupo leal de asociados que rodeaba al líder de la OTD Lorenzana, Haroldo Waldemar Lorenzana Terraza.
Si son declarados culpables, Lorenzana Alvarenga y Mendoza enfrentan una pena máxima de cadena perpetua por el cargo de asociación delictuosa y hasta 30 años de prisión por el cargo de posesión de armas de fuego.
Las extradiciones de Lorenzana Alvarenga y Mendoza marcan otro paso significativo en los esfuerzos del Departamento de Justicia para desmantelar la OTD Lorenzana y llevar a sus miembros ante la justicia. Lorenzana Terraza asumió el liderazgo de la OTD Lorenzana a mediados de la década del 2000, tras la acusación formal, extradición y condena de varios miembros de su familia que anteriormente habían sido líderes clave, incluido el abuelo de Lorenzana Terraza, Waldemar Lorenzana Lima, quien se declaró culpable y fue condenado a 23 años de prisión en febrero de 2020; los tíos de Lorenzana Terraza, Eliu y Waldemar Lorenzana Cordón, quienes fueron condenados a cadena perpetua tras un juicio celebrado en 2016; y la tía de Lorenzana Terraza, Marta Julia Lorenzana-Cordón, quien se declaró culpable y fue condenada a 33 años de prisión en marzo de 2024. Lorenzana Terraza fue imputado junto con Lorenzana Alvarenga y Mendoza por unirse en una asociación delictuosa para importar cinco kilogramos o más de cocaína a los Estados Unidos y por poseer un arma de fuego para promover el delito de tráfico de drogas, y también enfrenta dos cargos adicionales por participar en una empresa delictiva continua y por unirse en una asociación delictuosa para importar heroína a los Estados Unidos. Lorenzana Terraza sigue prófugo, y el Departamento de Estado de los Estados Unidos ofrece actualmente una recompensa de hasta $5 millones de dólares estadounidenses por información que conduzca a su detención y/o condena.
Matthew R. Galeotti, jefe de la División Penal del Departamento de Justicia, y Robert J. Murphy, administrador interino de la Administración para el Control de Drogas (DEA, por sus siglas en inglés), hicieron el anuncio.
La Unidad de Investigación Bilateral de la DEA y la Oficina de la DEA en la ciudad de Guatemala investigaron el caso. La Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales del Departamento de Justicia, en colaboración con las autoridades del orden público guatemaltecas, INTERPOL y la DEA, prestaron asistencia fundamental para garantizar la detención y extradición de Lorenzana Alvarenga y Mendoza a los Estados Unidos.
Los fiscales Douglas Meisel y Ligia Markman, de la Sección de Narcóticos y Drogas Peligrosas de la División Penal, están a cargo del procesamiento del caso.
Este caso forma parte de la Operación Take Back America (Recuperar a los Estados Unidos), una iniciativa nacional que dirige todos los recursos del Departamento de Justicia para repeler la invasión de inmigrantes ilegales, lograr la eliminación total de los carteles y las organizaciones delictivas transnacionales y proteger a nuestras comunidades de los autores de delitos violentos. La Operación Take Back America optimiza los esfuerzos y recursos de las Fuerzas Operativas contra el Crimen Organizado y las Drogas del Departamento y el Proyecto Vecindarios Seguros.
Prolific Guatemalan Drug Traffickers Extradited to the United States to Face Drug Trafficking Conspiracy ChargeRead the Press Release
Steven Ovaldino Lorenzana Alvarenga, also known as “Chipi,” and Allan Mendoza, also known as “Carnes” and “Carnitas,” both of Guatemala, made their initial appearances today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia following their June 17 extraditions from Guatemala to the United States.
Lorenzana Alvarenga, 30, and Mendoza, 40, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to import five kilograms or more of cocaine into the United States from Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, from 2006 through 2023, Lorenzana Alvarenga and Mendoza were key members of the Guatemala-based Lorenzana drug trafficking organization (“DTO”), which transports multi-ton quantities of cocaine from South America into Mexico and the United States on behalf of various Mexican, Honduran, and Venezuelan cartels. The Lorenzana DTO allegedly controls multiple departments in Guatemala and regularly uses violence, including murder, assault, kidnapping, assassination, and torture in furtherance of their drug trafficking activities. As alleged, Lorenzana Alvarenga and Mendoza were part of a loyal group of associates surrounding the leader of the Lorenzana DTO, Haroldo Waldemar Lorenzana Terraza.
If convicted, Lorenzana Alvarenga and Mendoza face a maximum penalty of life in prison on the conspiracy charge and up to 30 years in prison on the firearm charge.
The extraditions of Lorenzana Alvarenga and Mendoza mark another significant step in the Justice Department’s efforts to dismantle the Lorenzana DTO and bring its members to justice. Lorenzana Terraza assumed leadership of the Lorenzana DTO in the mid-2000s, after the indictment, extradition, and conviction of multiple family members who previously served as key leaders, including Lorenzana Terraza’s grandfather, Waldemar Lorenzana Lima, who pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 23 years in prison in February 2020; Lorenzana Terraza’s uncles, Eliu and Waldemar Lorenzana Cordon, who received life sentences following a conviction at trial in 2016; and Lorenzana Terraza’s aunt, Marta Julia Lorenzana-Cordon, who pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 33 years in prison in March 2024. Lorenzana Terraza was charged alongside Lorenzana Alvarenga and Mendoza with conspiring to import five kilograms or more of cocaine into the United States and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and he also faces two additional charges of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise and conspiring to import heroin into the United States. Lorenzana Terraza is still a fugitive, and the U.S. Department of State is currently offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to his arrest and/or conviction.
Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Acting Administrator Robert J. Murphy of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) made the announcement.
The DEA Bilateral Investigation Unit and DEA Guatemala City Country Office investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs working with Guatemalan law enforcement authorities, INTERPOL, and the DEA provided critical assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Lorenzana Alvarenga and Mendoza to the United States.
Trial Attorneys Douglas Meisel and Ligia Markman of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Previously Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to 45 Years in Federal Prison for Exploiting Minors via SnapchatRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS— Darren Ringenberg, 30, of Louisville, Kentucky, a registered sex offender, was sentenced to 45 years in federal prison, followed by ten years of supervised release, after being convicted of two counts of sexual exploitation of a child while required to register as a sex offender.
According to court documents, in 2019, Ringenberg was previously convicted in Kentucky of twenty counts of Possession of Matter Portraying a Sexual Performance by a Minor and was required to register as a sex offender for life.
Then, after his release from the Kentucky offense, in June 2023, Ringenberg, using the Snapchat username “devil_hell6969,” communicated with a nine-year old girl living in Monroe County, Indiana and coerced her to send sexually explicit images and videos, threatening to hack into her social media accounts and remove all her friends if she did not comply. Ringenberg directed her as to what images to send, how to take the photos and told her that they could meet in person in the future. He also falsely claimed to be sixteen years old and would screen-record and save many of the images and conversations without the child’s knowledge.
After receiving a tip about his illicit behavior online, law enforcement conducted judicially authorized searches of both Ringenberg’s Snapchat account and his residence in Louisville. Investigators found text messages, many of which were sexual in nature, between Ringenberg and various other unidentified minors, including the nine-year-old girl. Also located on his cell phone camera roll were many Snapchat screen recordings of minor victims engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
“Sex offenders often use manipulation and threats to sexually exploit children with utter disregard for the lasting trauma they inflict. I urge parents and guardians to talk to the children in their lives about what they’re doing online and make sure they have trusted adults they can turn to for help,” said John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “I commend the FBI and the Bloomington Police Department for their work to seek justice for this victim and protect other children from this online predator.”
“This case is a tragic reminder that with today’s technology, predators can reach across state lines with a few clicks. While the distance didn’t help protect this child from harm, it did not stop the offender from being brought to justice,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain committed to protecting children and holding offenders accountable – no matter where they are.”
The FBI and Bloomington Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by Chief U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt.
Acting U.S. Attorney Childress thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney MaryAnn T. Mindrum, who prosecuted this case.
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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
If you are a victim of child sexual exploitation, please contact your local police department. Resources for victims of child exploitation can be found on our website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/project-safe-childhood
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Portland Man Charged with Assaulting a Federal Law Enforcement Officer Near Local ICE OfficeRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.— A Portland man made his first appearance in federal court today after he was charged with assaulting a federal law enforcement officer on Monday near a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in South Portland.
Deni Jungic Wolf, 19, has been charged by criminal complaint with assaulting a federal officer resulting in bodily injury.
According to court documents, on June 16, 2025, approximately 25 people gathered in protest at an ICE office in South Portland where some individuals trespassed onto federal property and erected a make-shift shield wall that blocked vehicle traffic. At approximately 11:00pm the same evening, the crowd was advised that the property was closed and were directed to disperse. Additional federal officers, including Customs and Border Protection Tactical Unit (BORTAC) agents, were dispatched to the location to clear the barricade.
Federal officers approached the barricade holding shields to clear the obstruction. As the officers encountered the barricade, Wolf pushed into the shields with his body. A federal officer grabbed Wolf to prevent him from falling backwards and Wolf punched the officer’s head, knocking the officer’s mask from his face. The officer was exposed to pepper spray and pepper-ball dust that had been deployed to assist in clearing the barrier. Surveillance footage of the incident showed the assailant wearing distinctive red gloves, and Wolf was wearing red gloves when he was arrested.
Wolf made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge and was released on conditions pending future court proceedings.
Assaulting a federal officer resulting in bodily injury is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and Federal Protective Service (FPS). It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Pine Ridge Man and Rapid City Woman Convicted of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man, and a Rapid City, South Dakota, woman, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencings took place on May 29, 2025, and June 6, 2025, respectively.
Tyler Eagle Elk, 38, was sentenced to two years and nine months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Larissa Ross, 39, was sentenced to one year and eight months in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Eagle Elk and Ross were indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in April 2024. Eagle Elk pleaded guilty on March 7, 2024. Ross pleaded guilty on February 7, 2025.
Ross and Eagle Elk worked together to distribute cocaine in the Rapid City area. Investigators became aware of the two when the postal inspector intercepted a package containing approximately a half pound of cocaine addressed to their home. In the course of the conspiracy, Ross and Eagle Elk were involved in the distribution of more than a kilogram of cocaine.
This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Division of Criminal Investigation. UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, the Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Eagle Elk and Ross were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Ozark Timeshare Salesman Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Evade TaxationRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – An Ozark, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to one count of attempting to evade or defeat taxation.
Ryan J. McMillin, 52, admitted during his plea that he did not report income he received while employed as a timeshare salesman with four different companies from 2018 to 2023. Because McMillin claimed exempt status on his W-4s his employers did not withhold taxes from McMillin’s paychecks. McMillin also failed to make an income tax return or pay income taxes to the IRS for those six calendar years. McMillin owes the IRS an estimated $581,981 in unpaid taxes.
Under federal statutes, McMillin is subject to a sentence of up to five years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigations.
Ohio Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine PossessionRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Demarcus R. Brown, 22, of Akron, Ohio, was sentenced today to 100 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Brown was at a residence in Marshall County that was searched by investigators. Officers seized more than 300 grams of methamphetamine and nearly 12 grams of fentanyl. Brown has prior firearms convictions.
Brown will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton Reid prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Marshall County Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Ocala Mental Health Counselor Arrested for Aggravated Identity Theft and Fourteen Counts of Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the arrest of Michelle Forsythe (61, Ocala) on an indictment charging her with 14 counts of wire fraud and 1 count of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, Forsythe faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each wire fraud count. For the aggravated identity theft count, she faces a mandatory federal prison sentence of 2 years that must be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed. The indictment also notifies Forsythe that the United States intends to forfeit $483,511.44, which are alleged to be the proceeds of the offenses.
According to court records, Forsythe is a licensed mental health counselor.
Between January 2016 and December 2022, Forsythe used the names and insurance policy information of 22 individuals without their knowledge or consent to overbill two health insurance companies. Forsythe falsely claimed that she had provided counseling services to these individuals when she had not. As a result of the false billing, the health insurance companies electronically transferred payments to Forsythe for her services. In one instance, Forsythe used the name and health insurance information for an individual whom she had never seen as a patient to fraudulently bill for her counseling services.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson.
Nigerian Citizen Sentenced in Fraud and Money Laundering CaseRead the Press Release
Richard Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on June 17, 2025, Otaniyen Iduozee, a Nigerian citizen who came to the United States on a student visa, was sentenced to 42 months’ imprisonment for his role in laundering the proceeds of an extensive fraud scheme. Iduozee previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h).
According to court records, the case involved a “romance scam,” which is a fraud scheme—typically targeting elderly or vulnerable Americans—in which the fraudster feigns romantic intentions towards a victim. The fraudster, using a fake or stolen identity, typically meets the victim through an online dating website or application. The fraudster spends weeks or months cultivating a romantic relationship with the victim through online messaging, emails, text messaging, or voice calls, to gain his or her affection and trust. Once the fraudster gains the victim’s affection, he begins to tell the victim about urgent financial needs, such as a business opportunity, a tax debt, or a family illness, and pressures the victim to provide financial assistance, often with the promise of repayment. Those “loans” are never repaid, however, and many victims have lost their life savings.
Court records demonstrate that after obtaining the victims’ funds in this case, the defendants laundered them through multiple transactions and moved the funds overseas. Iduozee was a money launderer for the conspiracy who established and controlled numerous fraudulent bank accounts through which millions of dollars of victims’ funds were laundered. He engaged in laundering transactions that were designed to, and did, remit the victims’ funds back to Nigeria.
At the sentencing hearing, Chief United States District Court Judge Pamela Pepper acknowledged the widespread nature of these types of fraud schemes and the devastating impact they have on victims. Upon completion of his 42-month sentence, Iduozee has agreed to removal from the United States.
“Individuals and groups who engage in these types of schemes not only cause financial loss but also shatter the trust of their victims, inflicting multiple layers of trauma and harm,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Frohling. “I commend the courage of the victims in speaking up and commend the hard work of all involved in seeking to hold the conspirators accountable for their actions.”
This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rebecca Taibleson and Carter Stewart.
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New York Man and Chinese National Charged with Running Scams That Took Thousands from Elderly Victims in OhioRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A federal grand jury has returned a 10-count indictment charging two men with defrauding elderly victims in Northeast Ohio out of thousands of dollars. The victims affected reside in Cleveland Heights, Willoughby, Canton, and Warren.
According to a recently unsealed indictment, Jinrong Shi, 28, of New York, New York, and Jiyang Zhong, 27, a Chinese national residing in Little Neck, New York, were part of a criminal network that targeted senior citizens in Ohio, and elsewhere, with either a “grandparent” or “tech support” scam in May and June 2024.
In tech support scams, victims are led to believe that their electronic devices, or online account, has been compromised. Unsuspecting victims are then persuaded to pay for assistance to resolve the fabricated issues. In grandparent scams, perpetrators impersonate law enforcement, or other authority figures, to convince elderly victims that their grandchildren are in trouble with the law. The victims are told that they must provide immediate financial assistance to help their grandchild out of the legal bind.
The indictment further alleges that once the scam victims were persuaded to withdraw cash from their bank accounts, Shi and Zhong collaborated with a network of co-conspirators to collect it. The defendants used “fraud callers” to speak with victims and gather their addresses and other information. These details were then given to “fraud couriers,” who were tasked with meeting victims to pick up cash, or other items of value, at or near their homes. In an effort to further gain victims’ trust, the fraudulent callers would give them a password and told that a courier they would meet would provide this same password to confirm the validity of the transaction. In other instances, victims were instructed to mail cash to locations which the members of the conspiracy controlled. In total, more than $201,000 was taken from victims in Ohio.
The ill-gotten proceeds from these fraudulent activities were allegedly laundered across state lines through various methods. In attempts to conceal the origins of the funds, conspirators also routed proceeds through cryptocurrency account holders based in China.
Shi has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and concealment of money laundering and faces up to 20 years in prison.
Zhong has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering conspiracy and faces up to 20 years in prison.
If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to this case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, their roles in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentences will not exceed the statutory maximum, and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. McDonough for the Northern District of Ohio. The U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the Northern District of Ohio would like to acknowledge and thank the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office and the Cleveland Heights Police Department for their cooperation with this matter.
The investigation and prosecution of this case is in response to the Elder Justice Initiative Program originating from the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act of 2017 (EAPPA). The mission of the EAPPA and Elder Justice Initiative is to support and coordinate the Department of Justice’s enforcement efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect, financial fraud, and scams that target the nation’s elderly population.
To bring awareness to the financial abuse of senior citizens, the USAO recently issued an announcement warning of scams that target the elderly. Click here to read more about Elder Abuse Awareness Month.
To submit a report of suspected elder financial abuse, visit tips.fbi.gov/home or justice.gov/elderjustice/financial-exploitation.
New York Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Bank Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Oliver Tejada, 25, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced by United States District Judge Timothy J. Savage to 60 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and forfeiture of $780,837.11, in connection with a scheme to steal more than $1 million from the bank accounts of at least 23 victims. In some instances, the financial institutions were able to reverse the fraudulent transactions, resulting in an actual loss to the banks of $780,837.11.
Tejada was charged by indictment in May 2024 and pleaded guilty in March of this year to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
To carry out their scheme, Tejada and associates obtained confidential bank account information from their victims, some of whom were elderly or retired. After the account information had been secured, the conspirators made phone calls to the various banks to obtain a current balance on the account and attempted to obtain additional information about the accounts.
Once all the necessary banking documentation was secured, Tejada worked with an imposter to steal the cash from the bank. Tejada obtained a fake identification card with the photo of the imposter but the personal identifying information of the victim, and then transported that imposter to a bank branch location, ten out of eleven of which were located within the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
That imposter sometimes secured a bank debit card using the fake identification documents. More often, the imposter made a large withdrawal or placed a large wire transfer to the account of an individual who had been recruited to receive the money. After receiving the wire transfer, the receiving account was quickly depleted.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. Livermore.
New Orleans Man Guilty of Fentanyl Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced today that DAMERON CARMON (“CARMON”), age 45, of New Orleans, pled guilty on June 12, 2025 to Conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, a quantity of Fentanyl, in violation of Title 21 United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846 before U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier. Judge Barbier scheduled sentencing for September 25, 2025. At sentencing CARMON faces up to twenty years imprisonment, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least three years of supervised release. There is also a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
According to the indictment, CARMON conspired with others to maintain multiple residences on Harmony Street as drug-involved premises where fentanyl and heroin were trafficked. CARMON acted as security, and assisted others in the distribution of fentanyl and heroin from these residences. He was arrested by law enforcement as he attempted to flee one of these residences. Firearms and fentanyl were later located in the residence from which CARMON fled.
This case was part of Operation Big Easy. Operation Big Easy was a National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN) enforcement initiative of collected firearm casings for the time period of August 1, 2023 to January 31, 2023 that produced data points of high-density shootings and homicides in seven areas of New Orleans related to individuals engaged in criminal activity.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, New Orleans Police Department, and Louisiana State Police. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Narcotics Unit.
This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballisticinformation-network-nibin.
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.
New Orleans Man Guilty of Being Felon in Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –NOLAN LONG (“LONG”), age 33, pleaded guilty on June 17, 2025 before U.S. District Judge Darryl J. Papillion to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8), announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson.
According to court documents, on January 10, 2023, New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) detectives observed a group of individuals, including LONG, exhibiting signs that they were carrying concealed firearms. When marked NOPD units arrived in the area to investigate, LONG fled on foot and discarded a loaded Walther P22, .22 caliber pistol before being apprehended. LONG is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his previous felony convictions for simple robbery and for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
LONG faces up to 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
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.
The case was investigated by the New Orleans Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.
New Orleans Man Convicted of Attempted Murder Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –KYLE CONERLY, age 32, a resident of New Orleans, pleaded guilty on June 18, 2025 before U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).
According to court documents, on November 20, 2023, New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) officers were conducting surveillance on a residence in the Hollygrove neighborhood. When officers moved in to make arrests, CONERLY ran to the backyard of the residence and threw a loaded handgun over the fence. CONERLY is prohibited from possessing a handgun because of prior convictions for attempted second degree murder and manslaughter in Orleans Parish.
CONERLY faces up to 15 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
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.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
New Hampshire Couple Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges for 2024 Crime SpreeRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – A New Hampshire couple pleaded guilty in federal court last week to robbery charges stemming from a crime spree in August of 2024.
On June 10, 2025, Christopher Boisvert entered a plea of guilty to the charge of armed bank robbery during a plea hearing before Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss.
On June 12, 2025, Meghan Cox entered a plea of guilty to the charge of conspiring with her accomplice to interfere with commerce by robbery during a plea hearing before Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss.
At sentencing, if the District Court accepts the plea agreements Boisvert and Cox each face up to 20 years’imprisonment. The actual sentence, however, will be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors. Both defendants are scheduled for sentencing in September of this year.
According to court records, on August 26, 2024, around 2:06 PM, the Vermont State Police were notified of an attempted robbery at Rolling Twenties, a Cannabis Dispensary located at 440 Rockingham Road in the Town of Rockingham, Vermont. Investigation revealed that in the minutes before the robbery, exterior surveillance video captured a blue Chevrolet Silverado truck parked in front of the business, with its rear license plate obscured by a dark covering.
Two subjects, a male and a female – later confirmed to be Boisvert and Cox – exited the Silverado truck and approached the business on foot. The male was white, with a medium build, and was wearing a grey long-sleeved “Henley” style shirt, gray sweatpants, brown leather boots, a black ball cap, a black face mask, sunglasses, and was carrying one or two dark colored backpacks or duffel bags.
The female, also white, with a medium build, red hair, was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, tight-fitting blue jeans, brown leather boots, wearing a black ball cap, a black face mask, and dark “aviator” style sunglasses. She was also carrying a dark colored bag. Both subjects were wearing blue colored latex gloves. Once inside the business’s lobby, they attempted to enter the retail floor and demanded money and marijuana. An attendant denied entry and both subjects left the business in the blue Silverado truck, traveling south bound on VT Route 5/Rockingham Road towards Bellows Falls, Vermont.
At approximately 2:47 PM, the Bellows Falls Police Department was called to a bank robbery at the TD Bank, 2 Church Street, Bellows Falls, Vermont. Officers determined the bank robbery suspect fit the description of the male subject from the Rolling Twenties attempted robbery minutes earlier. TD Bank surveillance video showed the male wearing the same clothing and disguise as described in the Rolling Twenties attempted robbery and was carrying a black and gray backpack. The male approached an employee and produced a note indicating he wanted 100s (one-hundred-dollar bills) and other large denominations placed into the bag. The male lifted his shirt revealing what appeared to be a wooden handle/grip of an object tucked into his pants. The teller placed money onto the counter and the male subject retrieved the money, placing it into his backpack. An image of the male, who turned out to be Christopher Boisvert, displaying the weapon in his waist band is below:
TD Bank PhotographBoisvert told the employees he had done research, and he knew where their families live – if they try anything, he was going to come back and hurt or kill them. He also said he had a gun inside his backpack and that his girlfriend or wife was waiting in the vehicle outside with a “45[.]” As he was leaving, Boisvert told the employees to wait two minutes before calling the police. In total, Boisvert received approximately $2,500 of U.S. Currency from TD Bank.
About an hour after the Bellows Falls bank robbery, around 3:45 PM, the Brattleboro Police were called to a robbery of the Brattleboro Savings and Loan, located at 972 Putney Road, Brattleboro, Vermont (“Brattleboro Savings and Loan”). Law enforcement investigation revealed a blue Chevrolet Silverado truck with New Hampshire registration plates parked on Black Mountain Road, next to the Putney Road Plaza where the bank is located. Boisvert was wearing the same clothing, hat, mask, footwear, blue gloves, and was carrying a black and gray backpack.
Inside the bank, he approached a teller and told her to put money into the bag. He stated to the teller that he knew the employee’s families and their addresses, and to give him all the money. He also said he had a gun. The teller observed that he possessed an orange handled knife. Several tellers provided him with U.S. Currency; in total the amount was approximately $5,000. Surveillance video showed Boisvert return to the blue Silverado truck. Using a cellular phone, a teller captured photographs of the Silverado fleeing the area. The photographs revealed the rear license plate number of the truck. Law enforcement then confirmed the vehicle was registered to Christopher Boisvert of New Hampshire.
At approximately 4:00 PM, the Cheshire County, New Hampshire Sheriff’s Department located the blue Silverado on Route 9 near the Chesterfield/Keene, New Hampshire town line. Deputies attempted to stop the truck, but it fled, and a pursuit began. Sheriff Deputies and New Hampshire State Police, among other agencies, pursued the truck, ultimately ending the pursuit when the truck entered Massachusetts. The truck was later located abandoned in the parking lot of Athol Memorial Hospital in Athol, Massachusetts.
Law enforcement examined a social media account associated with Boisvert and Cox, and compared known photos of the defendants to the surveillance footage obtained during the investigation. Investigators saw Boisvert was wearing an identical shirt to the one he wore during the robberies. In addition, Meghan Cox had a distinctive tattoo on her neck. A close-up review of the surveillance footage from the Rolling Twenties dispensary shows an object covering the tattoo that appeared to be peeling off her neck.
When they searched the Silverado truck, investigators recovered a 14-inch bowie knife with a wooden handle consistent in appearance with the weapon displayed in the TD Bank surveillance footage, black KN95-style facemasks consistent in appearance with what the defendants were wearing, a small spiral bound notebook containing a handwritten note that matched the same threats articulated to the various robbery victims, a grey “Henley” style shirt, and blue medical gloves. These clothing and disguise items were subsequently tested for DNA that matched Boisvert and Cox.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Vermont State Police, Brattleboro Police Department, Bellows Falls Police Department, Keene, New Hampshire Police Department, Swanzey, New Hampshire Police Department, Cheshire County, New Hampshire Sheriff’s Department, New Hampshire State Police, Athol, Massachusetts Police Department, and the Winchendon, Massachusetts Police Department.
The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Thomas J. Aliberti. Federal Defender Michael Desautels represents Christopher Boisvert and Meghan Cox is represented by Richard C. Bothfeld, Esq.
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).
Nearly 2 dozen charged in large drug and money laundering operation spanning multiple jurisdictionsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A total of 23 people are now in custody for various drug trafficking, firearms and money laundering charges following major law enforcement operations in Houston/Galveston and Rio Grande Valley areas of Texas this week, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Some of those arrested have already begun to make their appearances U.S. Magistrate Judges Christina Bryan in Houston, Andrew Edison in Galveston and Nadia Medrano in McAllen. Others are in state custody on related charges and expected in federal court in the near future.
Grand juries in Houston and McAllen returned the five separate, but related indictments in May. The charges allege crimes that occurred as early as January 2023 for some and between May 2024 and December 2024 for others and involve cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine trafficking, firearms-related offenses and money laundering.
The charges allege some of the individuals were truck drivers delivering drugs north. According to information presented to the court, 10 kilograms of cocaine had been taken to Georgia and money returned to pay drivers and other expenses.
The arrests are the culmination of multiple months-long Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigations dubbed Operation Red Ranger, Borrowed Time and Resurrection. During the investigation and operations, law enforcement also seized over 170 kilograms of cocaine and heroin, over two thousand kilograms methamphetamine, more than 100 firearms and nearly $3 million as well as four properties valued at $1.2 million.
If convicted, many charged with drug trafficking offenses face up to life in federal prison and could pay millions in fines. Those charged with money laundering offenses face up to 20 years, while the firearms convictions carry up to 10 or 15 years in federal prison.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the OCDETF operations with the assistance of U.S. Marshals Service; Texas Department of Public Safety; sheriff’s offices in Fort Bend, Galveston, Chambers, Hidalgo, Harris and Kleberg counties; Texas Attorney General’s Office - Money Laundering Unit; West Tennessee Drug Task Force and police departments in Houston, Katy and Galveston as well as Houston and South Texas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area programs.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leo J. Leo III, Patricia Cook Profit, Michael Day and Roberto Lopez are prosecuting the cases.
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 and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s OCDETF and Project Safe Neighborhood.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Multiple Mexican Prison Gang Members Sentenced to Decades in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – Seven members of the Partido Revolucionario Mexicano (PRM) prison gang were sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to a combined 137 years in prison for their roles in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy.
According to court documents, Victor Hinojosa aka Zuko, 35; Martha Gonzalez Ritchie, 64; Jesus Espinoza, 33; and Francisco Espinoza, 29; Ernesto Magdaleno, 56; Armando Ramirez aka Mando, 36; and Danny Suarez, 41, all from Eagle Pass, trafficked cocaine in and around Eagle Pass and Del Rio daily between March 1, 2019, and June 1, 2021. Hinojosa, identified as a sergeant of the PRM, conspired with others by communicating with them through Facebook messenger or cell phone to discuss cocaine distribution activities. Jesus and Francisco Espinoza, Suarez, and another co-defendant would regularly supply Hinojosa with the cocaine. Drug Enforcement Administration agents conducted multiple controlled purchases from Hinojosa throughout their investigation.
All seven defendants were arrested on June 11, 2021. Hinojosa, Jesus Espinoza and Francisco Espinoza each pleaded guilty in 2022 to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Ritchie also pleaded guilty in 2022 to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin.
On June 5, Chief U.S. District Judge Alia Moses sentenced Hinojosa and Ritchie each to 30 years in prison, Jesus Espinoza to 17 ½ years in prison, and Francisco Espinoza to 19 ½ years in prison. The following week, on June 13, Chief Judge Moses sentenced Magdaleno and Ramirez each to 14 years in prison, and Suarez to 12 years.
“This criminal conspiracy extends way beyond the bounds of narcotics distribution,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “PRM is a violent prison gang that operates on both sides the U.S.-Mexico border. These PRM members who have been convicted and sentenced should reemphasize to other narcoterrorists the level of our resolve when it comes to the eradication of transnational criminal organizations and providing safer border communities.”
Other co-defendants in this case who continue to await their sentence hearings include Rodolfo Jimenez Jr., Eduardo Gloria, Saul Sanchez-Rosas, Yvonne Rodriguez-Torres, Luis Alberto Torres-Marquez, Paulino Ramirez, Louis Iglesias, Martha Perez, and Randy Crioyos.
Co-defendant Carlos Eduardo Saldana Jr. was sentenced in August 2023 to 10 years in federal prison; Kevin Ritchie was sentenced in October 2023 to 35 years imprisonment; Clinton Ritchie was sentenced in July 2024 to 19 ½ years in federal prison; and Carlos Daniel Rodriguez-Urrabazo was also sentenced in July 2024 to 7 years in prison.
The DEA and FBI led the investigation, known as Operation Tequila Sunset. Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Border Patrol, Texas Department of Public Safety, the Eagle Pass Police Department, and the Sheriff’s Offices from Maverick, Dimmitt and Val Verde counties assisted.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Miner prosecuted the case.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Mitchell, South Dakota, Man Sentenced to 23 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in Rapid City AreaRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Mitchell, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on May 30, 2025.
Cory Linderman, 43, was sentenced to 23 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Linderman was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in July 2023. He pleaded guilty on March 5, 2025.
Linderman was part of a group of people who worked together to traffic approximately 100 pounds of methamphetamine throughout the Rapid City area from 2021-2023. Julian Fuentes was a leader of the group and coordinated shipments of methamphetamine by car from California to Rapid City. From there, the methamphetamine was distributed to sub-distributors of the group, including Linderman, Daniel Bradshaw, and Travis Orr. During his involvement in the conspiracy, Linderman was responsible for distributing approximately 40-50 pounds of methamphetamine.
Julian Fuentes, 37, was sentenced on April 25, 2024, to 20 years in federal prison; Daniel Bradshaw, 31, was sentenced on August 12, 2024, to 14 years in federal prison; Travis Orr, 36, was sentenced on December 6, 2024, to 19 years and seven months in federal prison; Alisa See, 40, was sentenced on January 6, 2025, to 22 years and six months in federal prison; and Reynaldo Garcia-Gonzalez, 43, was sentenced on March 7, 2025, to 22 years and six months in federal prison
This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET). UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, the Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Linderman was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Missouri Woman Admits Stealing Imprisoned Brother’s Disability BenefitsRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A Missouri woman on Wednesday admitted stealing her brother’s Social Security disability payments during the decade he spent in prison.
Lora Houck, 57, of Kahoka, in Clark County, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of theft of government money. She admitted as part of her plea that she was power of attorney for her brother and had control of his bank accounts. During his time in prison, she was aware that he was not entitled to the benefits but used her status as his power of attorney to access his bank accounts and his disability benefits, her plea says. Her brother was in prison from May 2013 to June 2023, but the benefits stopped in September 2021. During that time, Houck stole a total of $157,323.
At Houck’s September 23 sentencing, she faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both prison and a fine.
The Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwendolyn Carroll is prosecuting the case.
Millbourne Borough Official and Former Official Sentenced to Prison for Election Fraud OffensesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that MD Nurul Hasan, 48, and MD Rafikul Islam, 52, both of Millbourne, Pennsylvania, were sentenced at separate hearings today by United States District Judge Harvey Bartle III for election fraud offenses.
In February of this year, the defendants, along with co-conspirator MD Munsur Ali, 48, also of Millbourne, were charged in a 33-count indictment with conspiracy to commit voter fraud, giving false information in registering to vote, and fraudulent voter registration, arising from their scheme, ultimately unsuccessful, to steal Millbourne Borough’s 2021 mayoral election for Hasan.
Hasan, the vice president of the Millbourne Borough Council, pleaded guilty in April to all 33 charges against him — one count of conspiracy, 16 counts of giving false information in registering to vote, and 16 counts of fraudulent voter registration. He was sentenced to 36 months in prison, one year of supervised release, and a $3,300 special assessment.
Islam, a former member of the Millbourne Borough Council, pleaded guilty in April to all seven charges against him — one count of conspiracy, three counts of giving false information in registering to vote, and three counts of fraudulent voter registration. He was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison, one year of supervised release, $1,000 fine, and a $700 special assessment.
Ali, a member of the Millbourne Borough Council, pleaded guilty in April to all 25 charges against him — one count of conspiracy, 12 counts of giving false information in registering to vote, and 12 counts of fraudulent voter registration. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 26.
As set forth in court filings, in 2021, Millbourne held elections for mayor, three seats on its borough council, and tax collector. Defendant Hasan entered the majority party’s primary election for mayor.
The primary election was held on May 20, 2021, and Hasan was defeated in the primary by a vote count of approximately 138 to 120. In the same primary, Ali was one of three majority party candidates for borough council to advance to the general election, while Islam lost his bid for reelection to the council.
After the primary, Hasan decided that he would run as a write-in candidate for mayor in the general election, which was scheduled for November 2, 2021. Ali and Islam agreed to support Hasan in his write-in campaign.
As detailed in court documents and admitted by the defendants, in or about 2021, defendants Hasan, Ali, and Islam conspired and agreed with one another, and other persons known and unknown to the U.S. Attorney, to steal the 2021 general election for Mayor of Millbourne for defendant Hasan through a multi-step process, which included:
(a) obtaining personal identification information of non-Millbourne residents, such as their names, addresses, and dates of birth;
(b) using the personal identifying information to access the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s online voter registration (PAOVR) website and change the voter registration addresses for those non-Millbourne residents to locations within Millbourne;
(c) using the PAOVR website to request that mail-in or absentee ballots for those non-Millbourne residents be sent to addresses accessible by one or more of the defendants;
(d) retrieving the ballots from the Millbourne mailboxes;
(e) impersonating the voters and fraudulently casting write-in votes for defendant Hasan to be mayor;
(f) enclosing the fraudulently completed ballots in envelopes and forging the voters' signatures on the envelopes; and
(g) submitting the ballots in their envelopes to the Delaware County Board of Elections.
The defendants admitted that, to further this conspiracy, they contacted friends and acquaintances whom Hasan and Ali knew did not live in Millbourne, told these non-Millbourne residents that Hasan was running for mayor in Millbourne, asked if they could register the non-Millbourne residents to vote in Millbourne, and then cast mail-in ballots for Hasan to be mayor.
Hasan and Ali persuaded many of their non-Millbourne friends and acquaintances to provide them with personal identification information so that defendants Hasan and Ali could register them to vote in Millbourne. During many of these conversations, Hasan and Ali told their non-Millbourne friends and acquaintances that they would not get in trouble, as long as they did not vote in another election in November 2021.
Hasan and Ali also conspired and agreed to use personal identifying information for other non-Millbourne residents, which the two defendants had obtained from other sources, such as Hasan’s business, to register those nonresidents as Millbourne voters without the knowledge of those non-residents.
Hasan personally did almost all of the fraudulent voter registrations himself, using a computer at his place of business to access the PAOVR website and change the voting addresses for non-Millbourne residents to locations within Millbourne. Every time that Hasan accessed the PAOVR website to change a voter registration address, he provided an email address for the voter. Many times, Hasan provided one of four email addresses that he used and accessed.
To divert suspicion from himself, however, Hasan sometimes provided email addresses belonging to other people, who knowingly and willfully permitted Hasan to use their email addresses to cover up Hasan’s actions. One of those people was Islam, who allowed Hasan to use two of Islam’s email addresses when Hasan fraudulently changed the voter registration addresses for six individuals. Islam also permitted Hasan to use two of Islam’s email addresses when requesting mail-in ballots for five non-Millbourne residents.
In total, the defendants conspired to falsely register nearly three dozen non-Millbourne residents as Millbourne voters and cast ballots for those non-Millbourne residents in the 2021 general election for mayor of Millbourne Borough. Hasan went on to lose the election by a vote of approximately 165 to 138.
“These defendants sabotaged the democratic will of their fellow citizens in deciding Millbourne’s next mayor,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “Public trust in the electoral process is critical, and my office is committed to ensuring that our elections remain free and fair. As this case shows, should we find instances of fraud, we won’t hesitate to prosecute those responsible.”
“The electoral process is a pillar of our democracy, so when public officials undermine this system through fraud, they don't only break the law — they compromise the trust built between this process and the American people,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “The FBI remains unwavering in our commitment to protecting the integrity of elections and ensuring those who break these laws are held accountable.”
“Free and fair elections are the bedrock principle that defines American democracy. I appreciate the partnership between my office, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring these criminals to justice,” said Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark B. Dubnoff.
Mexican national who had previously assaulted public servant imprisoned for illegal reentryRead the Press Release
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 26-year-old convicted felon who is a Mexican national has been sentenced for unlawfully reentering the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Abelino Hernandez-Torres pleaded guilty Nov. 26, 2024.
U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera has now ordered Hernandez-Torres to serve 60 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.
Hernandez-Torres has prior convictions for illegal reentry as well as evading arrest with a motor vehicle and assault on a public servant. He was first ordered removed from the United States in 2015 and again in 2019 and May 2, 2020, and returned illegally. He was found in Olmito following his arrest for evading arrest with a motor vehicle Jan. 20, 2021.
Hernandez-Torres will remain in custody transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ana C. Cano prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Mexican national sentenced to six years for coordinating drug shipments into U.S.Read the Press Release
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 55-year-old Mexican national illegally residing in Raymondville has been ordered to prison for trafficking methamphetamine and heroin, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Reynaldo Galvan-Rico pleaded guilty April 4, 2024.
U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera has now ordered him to serve 72 months in federal prison. Galvan-Rico is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.
Beginning in March 2019, authorities identified Galvan-Rico as a coordinator in Mexico. The investigation revealed he acted as the point of contact for the drug supplier in Mexico and the drivers transporting narcotics in the United States.
Galvan-Rico was allowed to remain on bond and surrender at a later date.
“A major component of Operation Take Back America is the pursuit and punishment of drug traffickers,” said Ganjei. “Those that seek a quick buck by poisoning our communities through the drug trade should be looking over their shoulder because we are coming for them.”
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection.
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 on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lance Watt prosecuted the case.
Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican national has pleaded guilty in federal court today for illegal possession of firearms.
Jose Montero-Barradas, 34, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to one count of Alien in Possession of Firearms.
According to court documents, Montero-Barradas knew he was present in the United States illegally and unlawfully, when he knowingly possessed two firearms on March 23, 2025. Specifically, on the evening of March 23, 2025, members of the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department were dispatched to a residential area in Kansas City following a report of shots fired. Officers arriving on the scene observed Montero-Barradas walking into a residence with two firearms, which were later recovered.
Under federal law it is illegal for an alien to possess a firearm or ammunition.
Montero-Barradas faces up to 15 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentence of the defendant will be determined by the court based upon the advisory sentencing guidelines and other factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Foley. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department.
Operation Take Back America
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Memphis Man Sentenced to 150 Months for Gun and Drug-Related OffensesRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Quantrese Brazzell, 48, of Memphis has been sentenced to 150 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Interim U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy, Jr. for the Western District of Tennessee announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on December 31, 2022, officers with the Memphis Police Department responded to a suspicious vehicle report at the intersection of East Georgia Avenue and Walnut Street. When officers arrived, Defendant Brazzell was found to be the driver and sole occupant. A search of the vehicle was conducted, and the Defendant was found to be in possession of approximately 500 pressed pills, which were later confirmed to be fentanyl. Additionally, officers recovered a Springfield Arms Saint 5.56 caliber rifle loaded with approximately 31 live rounds.
A federal grand jury for the Western District of Tennessee returned a two-count indictment on December 12, 2023, alleging violations of 21 U.S.C. § 841 (unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute) and 18 U.S.C. §922(g) (a convicted felon in possession of a firearm).
After a four-day trial, a jury found the Defendant guilty as to counts 1 and 2 of the indictment. On June 17, 2025, U.S. District Court Judge Samuel H. Mays sentenced the Defendant to 150 months' imprisonment and three years supervised release consecutive to 18 months' imprisonment in case number 2:16-cr-20153. The Defendant was on federal supervised release for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846 at the time of the offense. This is the Defendant’s fourth federal conviction.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Memphis Police Department, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle Kimbril-Parks and Greg Allen prosecuted this case on the government’s behalf.
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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Members of Drug Conspiracy Distributing Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Are Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Two members of a drug conspiracy that distributed fentanyl and methamphetamine were sentenced to prison yesterday, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Ashton Durrell Farley, 32, of Hickory, N.C., was sentenced to 235 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Thomas Eugene Ikard, 46, of Lenoir, N.C., was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release. Farley and Ikard pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney Ferguson is joined in making the announcement by Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, Sheriff Donald G. Brown II of the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, and Chief Reed Baer of the Hickory Police Department.
Two other members of the drug conspiracy were previously sentenced after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. Dustin Eric Wilson, 35, of Charlotte was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Harold Marquis Wilfong, 37, of Hickory, was sentenced to 84 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
According to court documents and court proceedings, federal charges were filed against the defendants following a 10-month investigation led by the ATF and the Hickory Police Department (HPD), aimed at reducing drug distribution and drug-induced criminal activity in Catawba County and surrounding areas. The drug trafficking ring operated out of Hickory and distributed large quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the area. To identify the drug conspirators and their operations, ATF agents and HPD officers utilized controlled drug purchases, conducted physical surveillance, and executed search warrants. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement determined that members of the drug ring used several residences either as “stash houses” to store drugs and/or guns, or to conduct drug sales and other drug trafficking activities. One of the alleged stash houses was located two blocks from the federal courthouse in Charlotte.
According to court records, during the investigation, law enforcement seized multiple kilograms of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana. Law enforcement also seized multiple firearms used by some of the traffickers to support their drug distribution, including an AR-15 rifle and a privately made firearm or “ghost gun,” and ammunition.
In making the announcement U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended the ATF, HPD, and the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office investigation of this case and thanked the U.S. Marshals Service for their invaluable assistance.
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).
Mason City Pharmacist Sentenced to Federal Prison for Diverting Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
Megan Elsbury, age 43, from Mason City, Iowa, was sentenced June 17, 2025, to 1 month in federal prison, after a February 7, 2025, guilty plea to one count of Acquiring a Controlled Substance by Means of Misrepresentation, Fraud, Deception, and Subterfuge.
In a plea agreement, Elsbury admitted to being employed and working at, at least three difference pharmacies located in Mason City, Iowa from 2008 to 2023. During her employment, Elsbury admitted she diverted controlled substances such as codeine, phentermine, alprazolam, clonazepam, lorazepam, pregabalin, and tramadol, for her own personal use. She created unauthorized prescriptions, and falsified prescription records/inventory, in the names of existing patients, primarily when the pharmacy was closed, filled the prescriptions, paid for the prescriptions, and took the prescriptions for her own personal use.
Elsbury was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 1 month imprisonment. She must also serve a 1-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Elsbury was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the United States Marshals on July 14, 2025.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Diversion Control Division and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-03007.
Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Maryland Man Sentenced to 168 Months in Federal Prison for Coercion and Enticement of a ChildRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Jason Hanif Rehman, 40, of Rockville, Md., was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 168 months federal in prison in connection with coercing a minor victim to send him sexually explicit images of herself over the internet.
The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, Assistant Director in Charge Steven J. Jensen of the FBI Washington Field Office, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Rehman pleaded guilty on Nov. 21, 2024, to one count of coercion and enticement of a minor. In addition to the 14-year prison term, Judge Carl J. Nichols ordered Rehman to serve 10 years of supervised release and to register as a sex offender.
According to court documents, in October and November of 2018, Rehman communicated with a 15-year-old girl on Snapchat. Rehman directed her to produce and send him child sexual abuse material. He also sent her explicit photographs of himself. Over the course of five weeks, Rehman continued to coerce the victim into sending him child sexual abuse material and, on at least two separate dates, traveled from Maryland and Washington, D.C. to Virginia where he had sex with her.
A fellow student notified school officials of the minor victim’s communication with an adult male. Investigators identified the male as Rehman. Subsequently, other minors at the school disclosed that Rehman had sent them similarly sexually explicit messages and requests over Snapchat. When investigators located Rehman, he admitted that he had used his Snapchat account to contact the victim and knew she was 15 years old. He also admitted to convincing her to send him explicit photos and admitted to having sexual intercourse with her.
This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force in conjunction with the Fairfax County Police Department. The task force is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Burrell for the District of Columbia. and Trial Attorney Angelica Carrasco of the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Maryland Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting a Minor on SnapchatRead the Press Release
Jason Hanif Rehman, 40, of Rockville, MD, was sentenced today to 14 years in prison on one count of coercion and enticement after he used the Snapchat application to coerce a minor victim into sending him sexually explicit images of herself over the internet.
Rehman previously pleaded guilty to the charge on Nov. 21, 2024 in the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia.
According to court documents, in October and November of 2018, Rehman communicated with a 15-year-old victim on Snapchat. In Snapchat messages, Rehman directed the victim to produce and send him child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and sent her explicit photographs of himself. This conduct continued over the course of five weeks, during which Rehman coerced the victim into sending him CSAM and, on at least two separate occasions, traveled from Maryland and Washington, D.C. to Virginia to engage in sexual intercourse with her.
Law enforcement was notified by a student from the victim’s school about the minor victim’s communication with an adult male whom they subsequently identified as Rehman. During the course of the investigation, other minors disclosed being contacted by Rehman over Snapchat. Rehman was located and admitted to contacting the victim through Snapchat, convincing her to send him explicit photos, and having sexual intercourse with her.
Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Interim U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia made the announcement.
The Metropolitan Police Department-Federal Bureau of Investigation (MPD-FBI) Child Exploitation Task Force investigated the case, with substantial assistance from the Fairfax County Police Department.
Trial Attorney Angelica Carrasco of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Burrell for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Operating Drone over Venue Hosting NFL Wild Card GameRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Today, Alexis Perez Suarez, 43, of Baltimore, Maryland, pled guilty to knowingly and willfully violating national defense airspace. After accepting the guilty plea, Magistrate Judge Charles D. Austin sentenced Suarez to one year of supervised probation, 100 hours of community service, and a $500 fine for flying a drone over M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2025, during the National Football League’s Wild Card game in Baltimore.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Acting Special Agent in Charge Amanda M. Koldjeski, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Greg Thompson of the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT OIG), Mid-Atlantic Regional Office; and Colonel Roland L. Butler, Jr., Superintendent of the Maryland State Police (MSP).
According to the guilty plea, the Federal Aviation Administration put a temporary flight restriction (TFR) in place for M&T Bank Stadium during the January 11, NFL playoff game, making it a No Drone Zone. The restriction precluded flying any Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), including an UAS under the Exception for Recreational Flyers. A TFR temporarily restricts certain aircraft, including an UAS, from operating within a three nautical mile radius of the stadium.
“Public safety is a top priority, so we’re committed to protecting our airways above mass gatherings. Suarez knew that M&T Bank Stadium was under a temporary flight restriction, yet he flew his drone into the airspace anyway, which is unacceptable,” Hayes said. “There is a zero-tolerance policy for operating Unmanned Aircraft Systems in No Drone Zones. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, along with our partners, will hold those accountable who ignore the rules and regulations surrounding restricted airspace.”
“It is not just irresponsible and reckless, but illegal to fly a drone over a major sporting event such as a Ravens playoff game. Capturing a photo is not worth the risk of hurting any spectators, players, or employees. As shown by this investigation, the FBI and our partners will hold those caught violating the law fully accountable," Koldjeski said.
“Federal laws regulating the use of drones exist for a reason: to protect people and keep our skies safe,” Thompson said. “Flying drones illegally— especially overcrowded sporting events — is reckless and dangerous. Today’s guilty plea underscores our commitment to working with our partners to hold violators accountable and prevent potential disasters.”
Instituting a TFR is standard practice for stadiums or sporting venues hosting regular or postseason contests for the NFL, Major League Baseball, NCAA Division I, NASCAR Cup, Indy Car, and Champ Series Race. The TFR goes into effect one hour before the scheduled start time and lasts until one hour after the end of a qualifying event.
During the wild-card game, NFL Security temporarily suspended the game due to the serious threat posed by the incursion of an unidentified and unapproved drone. MSP Troopers and FBI Special Agents tracked the movement of the drone over the stadium and deployed to the area where the drone landed. Although Suarez had left the scene, law enforcement identified him and traced him to his residence.
Suarez admitted that the drone was not registered, and that he lacked the required training and licensing, including a remote pilot certificate, to operate a UAS. Suarez also admitted in his plea that he flew the drone directly over the stadium despite knowing about the flight restrictions. According to the complaint’s affidavit, Suarez captured approximately seven photos of the Stadium while flying over the game with thousands of people below his flight path.
There is a zero-tolerance policy regarding UAS/drone use anywhere within the FAA’s No Drone Zone. Anyone who attempts to fly a UAS/drone in any prohibited manner is subject to arrest, prosecution, fines, and/or imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, DOT OIG, and MSP for their work in the investigation, and the FAA Office of Security & Hazardous Materials Safety and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection for their substantial assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert I. Goldaris who is prosecuting the federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Marshall County Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Child Pornography ChargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Ryan Bobby Schnettler, 34, of Benwood, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 120 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Schnettler was on supervised release for a prior child pornography charge. U.S. Probation conducted home inspections and found three undocumented phones. A search of the phones uncovered hundreds of images of child pornography and evidence of chats with underage females. Schnettler admitted that he portrayed himself as a 17-year-old within teen chat and kid chat room websites. Schnettler has prior convictions of second-degree sexual assault, failure to register as a sex offender, and possession of child pornography
Schnettler will serve 10 years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Conklin prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Probation Office investigated.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Man from Dominican Republic sentenced for transporting illegal aliensRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Silvestre German Andujar, 53, a citizen of the Dominican Republic living in Hamilton, Ontario, who was convicted of alien smuggling for commercial advantage and private financial gain, was sentenced to serve 36 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maeve E. Huggins and Paul E. Bonanno, who handled the case, stated that on January 3, 2024, Andujar, an alien, and three other individuals who were not citizens or nationals of the United States, traveled on a motorized raft vessel on the Niagara River from Niagara on the Lake, Ontario, Canada. Andujar piloted the vessel across the United States-Canada border. U.S. Border Patrol Agents responded to the area as Andujar and the others got off the vessel, prompting them to flee. Simultaneously, law enforcement observed co-defendant Luis Davis German Soriano, who had driven from New Jersey to an agreed upon location in Youngstown, NY, to pick-up Andujar and the others, driving in the area near the vessel’s landing spot on the shoreline. Officers conducted a traffic stop. Soriano provided conflicting information as to the purpose of his travel but was released by officers. He then drove back to the pick-up location and picked up Andujar and the others inside the van.
On January 4, 2024, U.S. Border Patrol Agents, parked on the Niagara Scenic Parkway near Blairville Road in Youngstown, observed Soriano operating the van that contained Andujar and the three passengers. Agents stopped the van on Youngstown-Lockport Road in Ransomville, NY. All four occupants in the van were arrested and official immigration records checks conducted.
Luis Davis German Soriano was previously convicted and sentenced.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent in Charge Martin B. Coombs, and the Lewiston Police Department, under the direction of Chief Frank Previte.
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