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Tuesday 6 May 2025
District Man Pleads Guilty to Fatal October Southeast ShootingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Andre Clark, 34, of the District, pleaded guilty yesterday to second-degree murder while armed for the October 2024 shooting of Leonard Taylor, Jr., announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Clark’s guilty plea, which is contingent upon the Court’s approval at sentencing, calls for a range of 15-to-20 years in prison, to be followed by supervised release. Superior Court Judge Todd E. Edelman accepted the factual basis for the plea and scheduled sentencing for July 11, 2025.
According to a proffer of facts submitted at the plea hearing, on the morning of Oct. 20, 2024, the defendant walked out of a building on the 1500 block of 19th St., SE and towards the victim, who was sitting in the driver’s seat of a gray sedan parked on that street. Clark walked up to the driver’s side of the car, leaned down towards the driver’s side window, and used his right hand to point a firearm at the victim. As the victim started to drive away, the defendant fired his gun at him, striking the victim in the back and killing him.
The defendant was located and arrested in Baltimore, Maryland, Dec. 19, 2024, and has been in custody since his arrest.
This case was investigated by officers, detectives, and other personnel of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Bromwich.
Crew of Fentanyl Dealers Indicted in ColoradoRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that a grand jury has returned an indictment charging Exor Omar Villanueva Raudales, a/k/a “Brian,” age 36, Alex Yubini Canaca Calix, age 32, Luis Fernando Banega Moncada, age 21, Alejandro Torres Ochoa, age 38, and Juan Carlos Sosa Villanueva, age 34, with possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl on different occasions between June 2024 and April 2025.
The indictment alleges a series of distinct episodes in which one or more of the defendants distributed fentanyl pills. Four involved Raudales, who worked with Calix, Moncada, and Villaneuva to execute fentanyl deals. Two involved Ochoa, who executed a deal by himself on one day and with Raudales and Villanueva on another. The deals involved substantial amounts of fentanyl, a dangerous Schedule II controlled substance.
Defendants Moncada, Ochoa, and Villanueva – all Honduran nationals without authorization to be in the United States – had initial appearances in federal court on April 29, 2025. All have since been detained pending trial after detention hearings in U.S. District Court. Raudales remains at large. Calix was unlawfully present and has previously been deported.
The investigation is being conducted by the Denver Field Office of the FBI, the Denver Field Office of the DEA, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, and IRS Criminal Investigation. The prosecution is being handled by the Transnational Organized Crime and Money Laundering Section of the United States Attorney’s Office.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Case Number: 25-cr-00131-CNS
Credit Suisse Services AG admits to conspiring with U.S. Taxpayers to hide assets and income in offshore accounts and admits that Credit Suisse breached its prior plea agreementRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Credit Suisse Services AG pled guilty and was sentenced for conspiring to hide more than $4 billion from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in at least 475 offshore accounts. The guilty plea by the Swiss corporation is the result of a years-long investigation by U.S. law enforcement to uncover financial fraud and abuse.
In addition to the plea, Credit Suisse Services AG entered into a non-prosecution agreement (NPA) with the Department of Justice, Tax Division, and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia in connection with U.S. Accounts booked at Credit Suisse AG Singapore. Under the NPA, Credit Suisse Services AG agreed to cooperate with the Department of Justice in ongoing investigations and to pay significant monetary penalties for maintaining accounts in Singapore on behalf of U.S. taxpayers who were using offshore accounts to evade U.S. taxes and reporting requirements.
According to the Plea Agreement, NPA, and documents filed in court, from Jan. 1, 2010, and continuing until at least July 2021, Credit Suisse AG, which has ultra-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individual clients around the globe, conspired with employees, U.S. customers, and others to willfully aid U.S. customers in concealing their ownership and control of assets and funds held at the bank. This enabled those U.S. customers to evade their U.S. tax obligations in several ways, including by opening and maintaining undeclared offshore accounts for U.S. taxpayers at Credit Suisse AG, and providing a variety of offshore private banking services that assisted U.S. taxpayers in the concealment of their assets and income from the IRS and allowed for their continued failure to file Reports of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts. Among other fraudulent acts, bankers at Credit Suisse falsified records, processed fictitious donation paperwork, and serviced more than $1 billion in accounts without documentation of tax compliance. In doing so, Credit Suisse AG committed new crimes and breached its May 2014 plea agreement with the United States.
Between 2014 and June 2023, Credit Suisse AG Singapore held undeclared accounts for U.S. persons, which Credit Suisse AG Singapore knew or should have known were U.S., with total assets valued at over $2 billion. Credit Suisse AG Singapore failed to adequately identify the true beneficial owners of accounts and failed to conduct adequate inquiries about U.S. indicia in the accounts. In 2023, during the post-merger of UBS AG Singapore and Credit Suisse AG Singapore, UBS became aware of accounts held at Credit Suisse AG Singapore that appeared to be undeclared U.S. accounts. UBS froze some of the accounts, voluntarily disclosed information about those identified accounts to DOJ, and cooperated by undertaking an investigation into the identified accounts.
Under today’s resolutions, Credit Suisse Services AG and, by extension, UBS AG, is required to cooperate fully with ongoing investigations and affirmatively disclose any information it may later uncover regarding U.S.-related accounts. The agreements provide no protections for any individuals. Pursuant to the guilty plea and the NPA, Credit Suisse Services AG will pay a total of $510,608,909 in penalties, restitution, forfeiture, and fines.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Karen E. Kelly, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Criminal Matters for the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and Guy Ficco, Chief of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) made the announcement.
Special Agents from IRS-CI’s International Tax & Financial Crimes specialty group, a team based out of Washington, D.C. that is dedicated to uncovering international tax crimes, is investigating the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided critical assistance in obtaining important evidence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly M. Shartar for the Eastern District of Virginia and Senior Litigation Counsels Nanette L. Davis and Mark F. Daly and Trial Attorney Marissa R. Brodney of the Tax Division, are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Court Orders Florida Tax Return Preparer to Shut Down Tax Preparation BusinessRead the Press Release
Note: View permanent injunction here.
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida issued a permanent injunction today against Cooper City, Florida, tax return preparer Sunil Ramchandani and his business, SR Chandra Inc. doing business as AHS Income Tax Services. The court ordered the closure of AHS Income Tax Services and barred Ramchandani from preparing or assisting in preparing federal income tax returns for others or transferring his customer lists. Ramchandani agreed to the injunction against him and his business. AHS Income Tax Services had already agreed to entry of a preliminary injunction before the start of filing season.
The complaint alleged that Ramchandani prepared customers’ returns that fraudulently claimed false or inflated residential energy credits, false fuel tax credits, fictious business losses, and other false or inflated deductions and credits, including false education credits and fictitious child and dependent credits.
According to the complaint, the IRS estimated a tax loss of more than $10 million in 2022 and 2023 alone from returns prepared by Ramchandani and AHS Income Tax Services.
The Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
Taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant against unscrupulous tax preparers. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers. The IRS warns taxpayers to avoid “ghost preparers” and lists other improper acts that tax preparers engage in to take advantage of their unsuspecting customers.
In the past decade, the Justice Department’s Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details.
California Resident Pleads Guilty to Cocaine ViolationsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Coachella, California, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal narcotics laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Freddy Felix, 32, pleaded guilty to two counts before Senior United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from July 25, 2023, to August 30, 2023, Felix conspired to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance. Additionally, on August 30, 2023, Felix possessed with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.
Judge Fischer scheduled sentencing for August 6, 2025. The law provides for a total maximum sentence of not less than 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the Court ordered that the defendant remain detained.
Assistant United States Attorney Katherine C. Jordan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Felix.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
California Man Sentenced to 12 Years’ Imprisonment in Connection with $17M Medicare Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
A California man was sentenced yesterday to 12 years in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in a years-long scheme to defraud Medicare of more than $17 million through sham hospice companies and his home health care company.
According to court documents, Petros Fichidzhyan, 44, of Granada Hills, schemed with others to bill Medicare for hospice services that were not medically necessary and never provided. Fichidzhyan and his co-schemers controlled hospice entities and used foreign nationals’ personal identifying information (PII) to conceal the scheme, using the PII to, among other things, open bank accounts, submit information to Medicare, and sign property leases. The defendant and his co-schemers also misappropriated the names and PII of several doctors, two of whom were deceased, to fraudulently bill Medicare for purported hospice services. Medicare paid the sham hospices nearly $16 million, of which Fichidzhyan received nearly $7 million, with more than $5.3 million laundered through a dozen shell and third-party bank accounts. Fichidzhyan also obtained more than $1 million in false claims paid to his home health care agency, which fraudulently used a doctor’s name and identifying information as having certified Medicare beneficiaries for home health care. When the doctor confronted Fichidzhyan about the fraud, Fichidzhyan attempted to cover up the scheme by paying the doctor $11,000.
Fichidzhyan pleaded guilty to health care fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering in February 2025. At sentencing, he was also ordered to pay $17,129,060 in restitution, and the court preliminarily ordered the forfeiture of a home bought with fraudulent proceeds. The government has seized $2,920,383 from bank accounts associated with the fraud. The sentence imposed today is the most recent step in the Justice Department’s ongoing effort to combat hospice fraud in the greater Los Angeles area.
“For years, the defendant, working with others, ran multiple sham hospice and home health care schemes, fraudulently billing Medicare over $17 million,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The defendant’s egregious scheme relied on layers of deception and sophisticated money laundering, and wasted millions in taxpayer money. With the help of our law enforcement partners, the Department of Justice is fully committed to stopping these criminal networks and protecting the public fisc.”
“Health care fraud is not a victimless crime. Defrauding the Medicare program not only wastes valuable taxpayer dollars, it causes significant harm to enrollees,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Omar Pérez Aybar at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Los Angeles Regional Office. “HHS-OIG, in collaboration with our law enforcement partners, will continue to investigate and hold accountable those who defraud federal health care programs.”
"Mr. Fichidzhyan lined his pockets at the expense of the American taxpayer," said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office. "The level of fraud and exploitation committed by the defendant is astounding and I'm proud of our investigators and prosecutors who were able to detect his schemes and hold him accountable."
The FBI and HHS-OIG are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Eric C. Schmale and Sarah E. Edwards of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Broken Bow Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jerry Wayne Shomo, aka Jerry Wayne Shomo, Jr., age 47, of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm, punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment and a $250,000.00 fine.
The Indictment charged Shomo with knowingly possessing one DSP Armory Model DSP-15, multi-caliber, semi-automatic rifle on December 9, 2024, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Shomo will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia P. Staubus represented the United States.
Bradenton Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Receiving and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge James S. Moody has sentenced Christopher Clark (53, Bradenton) to 10 years in federal prison for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material. Clark entered a guilty plea on January 22, 2025.
According to court documents, the FBI executed a search warrant at Clark’s home in September 2024. During the search, the FBI seized approximately 45 electronic devices. A review of several of those devices showed that Clark had received and possessed thousands of photos and videos of child sexual abuse material.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, the Bradenton Police Department, and the Sarasota Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ross Roberts.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Boston Man Pleads Guilty to Managing Large-Scale Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONCORD –A Boston man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Concord in connection with a large-scale drug trafficking operation that was distributing fentanyl and cocaine in the Manchester-area, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.
Flemin Soto Baez, age 50, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, namely, fentanyl and cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliott scheduled sentencing for August 13, 2025. The defendant was originally charged with conspiracy on April 26, 2023, along with 20 other defendants, in the matter United States v. Juan Ramon Soto Baez, et al. He is the 15th defendant in the conspiracy to plead guilty.
According to the plea agreement and statements made in court, the defendant was the leader of a Massachusetts-based drug trafficking organization that distributed large quantities of fentanyl and cocaine in New Hampshire, particularly Manchester, between September 2019 and April 2023. The organization was run like a business, operating “dispatch” telephone lines where customers could call in to order drugs. The defendant operated the dispatch line and coordinated purchases. He sent runners to meet customers to conduct hand-to-hand exchanges of drugs for money, usually in the runner’s vehicle. On 14 separate occasions between July 14, 2022 and March 2, 2023, the defendant sent a runner to deliver crack cocaine to drug customers in Manchester.
The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, at least three (3) years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $1,000,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Gingrande is 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 (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). Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Bethlehem Man Who Burglarized Firearms Dealers and Stole More Than 150 Guns Sentenced to 40 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Ismael Terrero-Terrero, 22, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Timothy J. Savage to 40 months’ imprisonment and $26,798 in restitution for multiple burglaries in which he stole more than 150 guns from licensed firearms dealers.
The defendant was charged by indictment in January of 2024, and pleaded guilty this January to three counts of theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee and one count of possession of a stolen firearm.
As detailed in court filings, on April 28, 2023, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) was notified of a burglary at a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) in Easton, Pennsylvania. Surveillance video showed that, at approximately 2:40 a.m., the defendant used a pry bar to make entrance into the building and immediately began taking AK-style pistols and AR-style rifles from the wall. He then used the pry bar to break open three glass display cases that contained pistols, placed the guns into a bag, and exited the building with 29 stolen firearms.
In the early morning hours of June 29, 2023, law enforcement officers were dispatched to an FFL in Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, for a report of a security alarm activation. Surveillance video showed that at approximately 1:35 a.m., the defendant and another man forced entry into the building. They broke the firearm display cases with a metal tool, took handguns from the display case and put them into a backpack. The men then exited the business and fled the scene with 44 stolen firearms.
On August 11, 2023, at approximately 4:16 a.m., the Telford Police Department (TPD) in Telford, Pennsylvania, received a notification of a burglar alarm activation at an FFL in the borough. Approximately three minutes later, a TPD officer arrived at the location and observed a male with a duffle bag entering the passenger seat of a nearby vehicle, which immediately started to flee from the officer. The officer’s pursuit of the vehicle was terminated a short time later, consistent with TPD policy. Upon examination of the scene and review of video surveillance footage, investigators determined that the defendant and another man had forced entry into the FFL and smashed multiple display cases containing firearms. The men then loaded numerous firearms into a large bag and a rolling suitcase, leaving the store with 82 stolen firearms.
“This defendant committed three separate burglaries, stealing an astonishing 157 firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “These guns have now found their way into our communities and are being recovered in shootings and other crimes from Connecticut to the Caribbean. Terrero-Terrero was actively putting guns in criminals’ hands and the repercussions will continue, at society’s expense. Public safety demands that we prevent offenders from getting their hands on guns — and punish those providing a steady stream of illegal weapons.”
“Stolen guns are crime guns that endanger our communities,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division. “Ismael Terrero-Terrero burglarized three Pennsylvania gun shops, stealing more than 150 firearms connected to crimes up and down the East Coast and overseas. Working with the Montgomery County Detective Bureau, Pennsylvania State Police, local police departments, and U.S. Attorney’s Office, this far-reaching and dangerous criminal operation was ended, and the perpetrator is going to prison for years.”
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 ATF and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maureen McCartney.
Allen Woman Sentenced to over 11 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in the Pine Ridge Reservation and in Rapid CityRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced an Allen, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
Misty Hornbeck, age 50, was sentenced on May 5, 2025, to 11 years and three months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Hornbeck was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2024, and pleaded guilty on February 27, 2025.
Hornbeck’s conviction stemmed from the large-scale distribution of methamphetamine on the Pine Ridge Reservation and in Rapid City, South Dakota. Hornbeck, who resided in Colorado during the conspiracy, supplied methamphetamine to her codefendants through her sources in Colorado. Hornbeck’s codefendants then transported the methamphetamine into South Dakota. Once the methamphetamine was in South Dakota, it would be further distributed by multiple individuals, including Hornbeck’s co-defendants Nathan Tobacco-Clifford, Milo Shot With Arrow, and others. Between 500 grams and 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine was distributed during the course of this criminal conspiracy.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Badlands Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, which is comprised of agents from the FBI, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement, Martin Police Department, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.
Hornbeck was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following sentencing.
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Monday 5 May 2025
Vermilion County Man Sentenced to Five and a Half Years in Prison for Counterfeiting and Violating Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A Bismarck, Illinois, man, Jacob R. Kirkley, 48, was sentenced on May 2, 2025, to four years in prison for his second federal counterfeiting conviction, as well as an additional 18 months in prison for violating his federal supervised release, which was imposed following his first counterfeiting conviction. When Kirkley completes his combined five-and-a-half year sentence, he will be required to serve three years of federal supervised release.
The sentences followed a trial last December in Urbana where a federal jury convicted Kirkley of manufacturing, selling, and possessing counterfeited United States currency. During two days of trial testimony, the government presented evidence to establish that, on December 7, 2023, Kirkley sold an undercover officer with the Illinois State Police $1000 of counterfeited U.S. currency that he had made for $250. On December 13, 2023, and January 8, 2024, Kirkley sold the same undercover officer another $1000 and $5000 in counterfeit U.S. currency that he had made, respectively. On January 11, 2024, agents of the U.S. States Secret Service and Vermilion County Metropolitan Enforcement Group executed a federal search warrant at Kirkley’s residence in Bismarck and recovered additional counterfeit currency, as well as various items used to counterfeit the currency.
At the time Kirkley committed those offenses, he was on federal supervised release for a previous federal counterfeiting conviction. In 2022, Kirkley was convicted of one count of manufacturing U.S. currency and two counts of passing U.S. currency after a 2020 incident where a Vermilion County Sheriff’s Deputy found over $20,000 of counterfeit U.S. currency in his truck and then learned Kirkley had passed counterfeit currency at Carnaghi’s Towing and McDonald’s in Danville, Illinois, and Dollar General in Tilton, Illinois. At the time, the Deputy also found over $20,000 counterfeit U.S. currency, plus four printers, a paper cutter, and numerous counterfeit-making implements in Kirkley’s hotel room at the Budget Inn in Danville. Kirkley served 27 months in federal prison for those offenses and was serving a three-year term of federal supervised release at the time that he committed his latest counterfeiting offenses. Kirkley was released from federal prison in May 2023, six months before committing these offenses.
At the time of sentencing, the government presented evidence that Kirkley violated his federal supervised release not only by committing a new counterfeiting offense, but also by testing positive for methamphetamine use on eight separate occasions. The government also presented evidence that Kirkley had told the undercover officer during a covertly recorded conversation that “my name’s a red flag for any kind of . . . counterfeit material at all,” that he learned how to use “Bible paper” to counterfeit currency when he was in federal prison the first time, and that he believed he would “be screwed” and would have “the book” thrown at him if he were caught counterfeiting again.
Also at the hearing, U.S. District Judge Colin S. Bruce found that Kirkley had not accepted responsibility for his criminal conduct. Judge Bruce followed the government’s recommendation to impose a sentence above the range recommended by the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines because Judge Bruce was troubled by Kirkley committing his offense while on federal supervised release for the same crime and so soon after being released from federal prison.
The maximum statutory penalties for each of Kirkley’s five counts of conviction are up to twenty years of imprisonment and up to a $250,000 fine. The maximum statutory penalty for Kirkley’s violation of his conditions of supervised release is up to two years of imprisonment.
“Counterfeiting offenses undermine the integrity and stability of our financial system and leave hardworking business owners who receive these false payments in the lurch,” said Acting U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois Gregory M. Gilmore. “Repeat offenses are particularly problematic. We are grateful to our federal and local law enforcement partners for their dedicated investigative work.”
“Protecting the nation’s currency and financial infrastructure have long been key missions for the U.S. Secret Service, along with safeguarding our country’s leaders,” said Resident Agent in Charge Michael Kurzeja, of the U.S. Secret Service Springfield Resident Office. “The Secret Service goes to extraordinary lengths to detect, investigate, and stop those who manufacture and try to profit from counterfeit currency, and attempt to weaken the nation’s financial infrastructure. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Central District of Illinois, as well as all our local partners who helped in this case.”
“The impact of counterfeiting can be widespread with the potential of hurting both businesses and individuals as false currency circulates,” said Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly. “ISP will continue to work with our law enforcement partners at all levels to help protect the integrity of our U.S. currency and hold those who break the law accountable.”
The case investigation was conducted by the Springfield Division of the United States Secret Service, Vermilion County Metropolitan Enforcement Group, and Illinois State Police. Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney Eugene L. Miller represented the government at trial.
Utah County Man Sentenced to Prison for Affinity Fraud Scheme that Scammed over $5M from Alpha Influence InvestorsRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Kole Glen Brimhall, 27, of Orem, Utah, was sentenced today to 12 months’ and one day imprisonment after he defrauded approximately 135 investors through the sale of a fraudulent investment offered through Alpha Influence, LLC, a registered Utah company. Brimhall was also sentenced to three years’ supervised release, and ordered to pay a forfeiture money judgement in the amount of $1,097,709.82 and $5,003,400 in restitution to the victims.
The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge David Sam, comes after Brimhall pleaded guilty on November 18, 2024, to fraud in the offer and sale of securities. See prior press release: Utah Sales Agent Admits to Defrauding Clients of More than $4.9M.
According to court documents and statements made at the defendant’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, from March 2020 to June 2022, Brimhall sold fraudulent investment security contracts for Alpha Influence. As part of the scheme, Brimhall and others aggressively promoted, primarily through social media, that purchasing the Alpha Influence investment would generate life-changing passive income for investors in a very short amount of time exclusively through the efforts of the “Alpha Influence Team.”As team lead within the Alpha Influence sales structure, Brimhall was responsible for the sale of approximately 135 Alpha investments to individual investors and received $1,097,709.82 in verified commissions for those fraudulent sales.
“Brimhall’s participation in defrauding investors not only left investors in financial devastation, but with a loss of trust that can have a lifelong impact in their personal and professional life,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah. “It is our hope that by prosecuting these crimes, we will deter others from participating in affinity fraud schemes in our communities.”
"This $20 million fraud, driven by bold displays and false promises shared on social media, caused significant harm to over 500 Utahns," says Executive Director of the Utah Department of Commerce, Margaret Busse. "Today’s sentence sends a clear message: such predatory actions will not be tolerated, and we stand firmly committed to protecting Utah investors. Fraudulent activities like this erode public trust in legitimate investments and undermine the very foundations of our financial system. I'm proud of the hard work and collaboration between our Utah Division of Securities, the U.S. Attorney General's Office, and the FBI that went into bringing these individuals to justice."
"Many of the victims in this case are members of the working class who have the least margin for loss. Yet the defendant shamelessly used their hard-earned money on fancy cars and extravagant vacations," said Special Agent in Charge Mehtab Syed of the Salt Lake City FBI. "While fraud schemes are not violent in nature, they can be financially and emotionally devastating. The FBI is dedicated to holding accountable those who profit through deception."
The case was investigated jointly by the Utah Division of Securities and the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office.
Assistant United States Attorneys Mark E. Woolf, Jennifer E. Gully, and Brian Williams of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
U.S. Department of Justice Announces Civil Rights Investigation into the Consideration of Race in Prosecutorial Decision making by Minnesota’s Hennepin CountyRead the Press Release
Under our Constitution, no government may distribute different burdens or benefits on the basis of race without facing strict judicial scrutiny. This is especially true in the criminal justice system. Any attempt to subject Americans to different punishments or penalties based on race violates the Constitution and a number of federal civil rights laws.
Today, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division announced an investigation into the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, led by County Attorney Mary Moriarty, to determine whether the Office is depriving its residents of their federal rights to be free from race-based prosecutorial decision making. According to public reporting, the Hennepin County Attorney recently adopted a policy requiring her prosecutors to consider “racial identity” during prosecutorial decision making, including when negotiating plea agreements that influence the burdens that criminal defendants face, and the benefits that they receive, in criminal prosecutions. The investigation announced today will involve a comprehensive review of all relevant Hennepin County Attorney’s Offices policies and practices that may involve illegal consideration of race.
“As a longtime prosecutor, I firmly believe in the paramount importance of a colorblind criminal justice system,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This Department of Justice will avail itself of every tool at its disposal to protect all Americans from illegal DEI discrimination.”
“It is unconstitutional and morally abhorrent to make different prosecutorial decisions based on a person’s race,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division will not tolerate any attempt to do so.”
Two Midlands Men Plead Guilty to Child Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Antonio Marquis Nicholson, 33, of West Columbia, and Terrell Counts, 33, of Columbia, have pleaded guilty to human trafficking conspiracy and aiding and abetting the coercion and enticement of a minor.
According to evidence presented in court, from at least December 2022 through August 2023, Nicholson and Counts worked together with co-defendants Monesha Gary and Rebecca Perry to exploit three minor victims to engage in the commercial sex trade, despite several members of the conspiracy knowing they were minors.
The investigation revealed that Nicholson was the leader of this operation. Nicholson targeted and exploited minor victims to engage in commercial sex. Nicholson recruited one minor victim who was a runaway, drove her across state lines, and introduced her to commercial sex work. Nicholson and Counts recruited two additional minor victims near a local high school and exploited the minors on days they were not in school. Nicholson provided the minor victims with lingerie, took photographs of them, posted advertisements online for commercial sex on the internet, instructed them to lie about their age, and confiscated between 50% and 100% of proceeds from commercial sex acts. The advertisements were posted advertising commercial sex in the Midlands, the Upstate, Myrtle Beach and Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Evidence presented in court revealed that Nicholson used force, violence and weapons to maintain control and keep the minor victims involved. Nicholson pointed a firearm at one of the exploited victims, directed assaults, and threatened to harm the minor victims if they left.
Counts facilitated the conspiracy and assisted Nicholson, including running the operation when Nicholson was not around. Counts knew how photographs were taken, and advertisements were posted, how money was transferred from customers to the conspiracy, how proceeds were divided, and how the conspiracy responded to customers. Counts was present during commercial sex acts, present when the minor victims were photographed, and collected proceeds from commercial sex acts. He provided the minor victims with condoms, transportation to and from hotels, and watched for law enforcement at hotels during commercial sex acts.
Nicholson, and Counts face a penalty of up to life in prison. They also face a fine of up to $250,000 and lifetime supervision to follow a term of imprisonment and mandatory sex offender registry requirements. Pursuant to plea agreements, Nicholson and Counts agreed to pay victims restitution.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon accepted the guilty pleas and will sentence the Nicholson and Counts after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. Gary and Perry pleaded guilty previously and are awaiting sentencing.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, with assistance from the Columbia Police Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, West Columbia Police Department, Darlington County Sheriff’s Office, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, Horry County Sheriff’s Office, Myrtle Beach Police Department, and Jefferson County, Alabama Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott B. Daniels and Ariyana N. Gore are prosecuting the case.
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Two Men Sentenced for Roles in Straw Purchase of a FirearmRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Joshua Paul Stewart Turner, 25, of Summerville, and Noah Olen Fowler, 26, of Moncks Corner, have each been sentenced for their roles in a conspiracy to straw-purchase a firearm.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Fowler, knowing Turner was prohibited from possessing and/or purchasing a firearm, purchased a firearm for Turner. During the purchase of the firearm, Fowler false certified on the ATF Form 4473 that he was purchasing the firearm for himself. Evidence also revealed that Turner sent Fowler information on which firearm to purchase and, further, paid him for the firearm via CashApp. When Fowler purchased the firearm for Turner he was employed as a correctional officer at the Berkeley County Detention Center.
“Straw purchases undermine our efforts to keep firearms out of the hands of those legally prohibited from possessing them,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “We’ll continue to work with our law enforcement partners to prosecute individuals who attempt to circumnavigate the proper procedure to purchase firearms.”
“Straw purchasing is a dangerous tactic that circumvents our laws and puts guns in the hands of prohibited individuals,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. “Whether you are the prohibited individual in possession of a firearm or the individual who lied to supply that firearm, both are considered threats to public safety and both face serious consequences.”
“Weapons in the hands of those prohibited from possessing them are a direct threat to public,” said Reid Davis, acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia field office. “These sentences underscore the serious consequences of violating federal firearms laws and send a clear message: the FBI and our law enforcement partners are committed to ensuring those who violate these laws are held accountable.”
United States District Bruce H. Hendricks sentenced Turner to 20 months' imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. United States District Bruce H. Hendricks sentenced Fowler to a time-served sentence, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI Columbia field office, and the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Bower is prosecuting the case.
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The Justice Department announces First Amendment investigation into Washington State’s new anti-Catholic law, Senate Bill 5375Read the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced it has opened a civil rights investigation into the development and passage of Washington State Senate Bill 5375, signed into law on May 2, 2025, by Governor Bob Ferguson, which appears on its face to violate the First Amendment.
Washington State’s new law adds “members of the clergy” to a list of other professionals who are required to report information received in a confessional setting relating to child abuse or neglect to law enforcement or other state authorities, with no exception for the absolute seal of confidentiality that applies to Catholic Priests.
Furthermore, the State of Washington’s new law singles out “members of the clergy” as the only “supervisors” who may not rely on applicable legal privileges, including religious confessions, as a defense to mandatory reporting.
The Civil Rights Division will investigate the apparent conflict between Washington State’s new law with the free exercise of religion under the First Amendment, a cornerstone of the United States Constitution.
“SB 5375 demands that Catholic Priests violate their deeply held faith in order to obey the law, a violation of the Constitution and a breach of the free exercise of religion cannot stand under our Constitutional system of government,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Worse, the law appears to single out clergy as not entitled to assert applicable privileges, as compared to other reporting professionals. We take this matter very seriously and look forward to Washington State’s cooperation with our investigation.”
Texas Man Sentenced to Serve More Than 17 Years in Federal Prison after Traveling to Oklahoma to Engage in Sexual Acts with a MinorRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – BRYAN DEVIN CRUZ, 25, of Texas, has been sentenced to serve 210 months in federal prison for interstate travel with intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
Public record reflects that, in April 2024, an officer with the Moore Police Department (MPD) was dispatched to a home on reports of a stranger peeking into the window of a 13-year-old girl. MPD then deployed a thermal imaging drone to survey the area and located the suspect, later identified as Cruz, moving away from the property. Cruz was arrested shortly after. The minor’s parents consented to the search of a laptop used by the teenager. Investigators learned the teen and Cruz met online through an online application, and that Cruz told the minor he was a high school student and claimed to be 17 years old. Eventually, Cruz expressed interest in meeting the minor, and traveled from Dallas, Texas, to the minor’s residence on April 5, 2024, with the purpose of engaging in illicit activity.
On May 7, 2024, a federal Grand Jury returned a two-count Indictment against Cruz, charging him with coercion and enticement of a minor and interstate travel with intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor. On September 12, 2024, Cruz pleaded guilty to Count 2 of the Indictment, and admitted he traveled from Dallas, Texas, to Moore, Oklahoma, for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.
At the sentencing hearing on May 1, 2025, U.S. District Judge Patrick R. Wyrick sentenced Cruz to serve 210 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Wyrick noted the need to protect the public from further crime and the nature and circumstances of the offense, indicating that Cruz’s conduct was pervasive, rather than isolated.
This case is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Moore Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Edgmon prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Texas Man Sentenced for Federal Controlled Substances Act ViolationsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – SAUL MACEDO-RODRIGUEZ (“MACEDO-RODRIGUEZ”), age 38, a resident of Texas, was sentenced on April 30, 2025, after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine, and possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. MACEDO-RODRIGUEZ was sentenced to one hundred twenty (120) months imprisonment, three (3) years of supervised release, and a $200 mandatory special assessment fee.
According to court documents, MACEDO-RODRIGUEZ and other co-conspirators distributed multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin within the Eastern District of Louisiana.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration – New Orleans Field Division Office and assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Border Patrol, the Gretna Major Crimes Task Force, the Kenner Police Department, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, the St. John’s Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the New Orleans Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman of the Narcotics Unit.
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St. Louis Chop Shop Operator Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man on Monday admitted running a “chop shop” that aided car thieves connected to a local gang.
Jorge Alberto Luviano-Martinez, 41, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of operating a chop shop. As part of his plea, he admitted running a chop shop in the 2900 block of Cass Avenue in St. Louis. Members of a local gang, “Big 5,” discussed obtaining electronic keys for stolen vehicles from Luviano-Martinez and switching vehicle identification numbers (VINs) on stolen vehicles. Investigators conducted a court-approved search of the shop on June 10, 2024, finding eight stolen vehicles. One vehicle had its VIN replaced with a new VIN and another vehicle had a VIN removed.
Before the search warrant was served, investigators saw Luviano-Martinez leaving the property in a stolen Jeep. He refused to stop for police, instead leading officers on a chase that lasted about 15 minutes. After driving down a dead end street, Luviano-Martinez jumped out of the Jeep and over a fence, but was arrested.
“Our investigation shut down two chop shops, disrupting a scheme in which gang members were able to easily profit from vehicle thefts,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Chris Crocker of the FBI St. Louis Division. “The impact should help stem the flow of rising vehicle thefts across the region.”
Luviano-Martinez, also known as “Charlie Cruz,” is scheduled to be sentenced in August. The charge carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both prison and a fine.
The FBI, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the St. Louis County Police Department, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Finlen is prosecuting the case.
The investigation was conducted by the St. Louis Gateway Strike Force, which is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and includes members of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. The OCDETF strike forces are permanent, multi-agency, prosecutor-led teams that conduct intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations against priority targets and their affiliate illicit financial networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Shooter Who Injured Stranger on a Metro Bus in March 2025 Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Javarry Peaks, 19, of the District, pleaded guilty Friday May 2nd, to the March 2025 shooting of a stranger while inside of a Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority bus that was traveling along the V2 route, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. and Chief Michael Anzallo of the Metro Transit Police Department.
Peaks pleaded guilty in the Superior Court to aggravated assault while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Sentencing is scheduled for July 3, 2025, before the Honorable Rainey Brandt. Peaks faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison.
According to the government’s evidence, on March 8, 2025, Peaks and the victim both boarded a WMATA bus at the Anacostia metro station at approximately 9:30 p.m. Multiple other, unidentified people were also on the bus at the time. While the bus was driving along the V2 route, the victim began talking to Peaks while they were seated across from each other. When the defendant stood up to walk, the victim momentarily blocked him from proceeding. After a few seconds, the victim walked toward the front of the bus where the defendant was standing. Peaks and the victim then continued to move around the bus for the next several minutes. At 9:45 p.m., the victim attempted to push the defendant off the bus, at which point the defendant briefly exited the bus before boarding again and walking past the victim toward the back of the bus. Within approximately a minute, at 9:46 p.m., while the defendant was standing at the front of the bus near the bus operator, and the victim was behind him in the middle of the bus, the defendant asked the bus operator if he could get off. As soon as the bus operator opened the doors, the defendant reached into his left jacket pocket, spun around, and shot the victim, who was approximately two feet away, one time in the chest. The defendant then ran off the bus and away from the area.
Peaks was arrested March 25, 2025, and has been in custody ever since.
This case was investigated by the Metro Transit Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Goldstein.
This enforcement action is part of President Donald J. Trump’s ‘Make DC Safe and Beautiful Again’ initiative
Sequoyah County Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Joseph Charles Riddle, age 35, of Muldrow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Ammunition and one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, each punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment and a $250,000.00 fine.
The indictment alleged that on January 6, 2025, Riddle knowingly possessed one round of .45ACP caliber ammunition, 18 rounds of .380ACP caliber ammunition, and one round of .22 caliber ammunition after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The Indictment further alleged that between January 17, 2024, and August 2024, Riddle knowingly possessed one .22 caliber pump action rifle, one 12-gauge pump action shotgun, one 6.5 Creedmoor caliber bolt action rifle, and 15 rounds of 6.5 Creedmoor caliber ammunition after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Riddle was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
San Jose AI Solutions Company Agrees to Pay $1.5 Million to Resolve Allegations That It Improperly Obtained Federal Grant FundsRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Vimaan Robotics, Inc. (Vimaan), a San Jose-based company that develops computer vision and AI warehouse management solutions, has agreed to pay $1.5 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by improperly accepting and drawing down funds from a grant award that it was ineligible to receive.
The settlement relates to a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II grant that Vimaan obtained from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The terms and conditions of the SBIR grant preclude companies that are majority-owned by one or more venture capital operating companies from applying for or receiving such an award. The settlement resolves allegations by the United States that at the time Vimaan received the award on April 16, 2020, Vimaan failed to disclose that it had become majority-owned by one or more venture capital companies one month earlier, making it ineligible for the award. Between June 2020 and August 2022, the United States contends, Vimaan submitted 14 separate requests to NSF for disbursement of the award funds and falsely certified its eligibility to receive the award funds in each of these payment requests.
“Federal small business research grants awarded by NSF are designed to support and foster innovative research by small businesses, not to provide taxpayer funding for businesses primarily owned by venture capital firms,” said Acting United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins. “When companies evade program restrictions and obtain grants even though they are not eligible, this office will vigorously enforce the False Claims Act to ensure that federal dollars go to proper recipients.”
“The SBIR program is a valuable tool in advancing NSF’s mission to promote the progress of science by increasing opportunities for small businesses to undertake cutting-edge scientific research. Entities that misrepresent their eligibility in order to obtain government funding undermine the integrity and effectiveness of the program. The NSF Office of Inspector General is committed to vigorously pursuing oversight of these taxpayer funds and I commend the U.S. Attorney’s Office for its strong support in this effort,” said Megan E. Wallace, NSF’s Acting Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Savith Iyengar handled this matter for the government. The investigation and settlement resulted from a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California and NSF-OIG.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrate the government’s emphasis on combating fraud in federal grants. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement involving NSF can be reported to NSF’s Office of Inspector General at https://oig.nsf.gov/contact/hotline.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Vimaan Settlement Agreement
Restaurant Chain to Pay $7.8 Million for Misrepresenting Eligibility for Pandemic-Relief FundsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – CoreLife Eatery, LLC, which operates restaurants throughout New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, and Kentucky, will pay $7,809,373 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by falsely certifying its eligibility for a Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) grant when it knew or should have known that it operated too many locations to qualify.
“The Restaurant Revitalization Fund was created to support certain small businesses facing the economic hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III. “By submitting false information about its size to obtain a grant, CoreLife not only diverted funds from eligible recipients but also eroded public trust in critical relief efforts. Our office remains committed to enforcing the False Claims Act and holding accountable those who misrepresent their eligibility for federal funding.”
Congress enacted the American Rescue Plan Act in March 2021, as a continuation of the federal government’s efforts to provide relief to American individuals and businesses suffering the economic and public health effects of the pandemic. The Act allocated $28.6 billion to the RRF, which allowed the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) to award grants to qualifying restaurants and other eligible entities based on pandemic-related revenue losses. Under the program, any restaurant that—together with its affiliated businesses—owned or operated more than 20 locations as of March 13, 2020, was ineligible for RRF funding.
As part of the settlement agreement, CoreLife admittedthat it and its affiliates owned and operated 29 restaurant locations as of March 13, 2020, and therefore it was ineligible for an RRF grant. Nevertheless, in May 2021, CoreLife’s managing member submitted an RRF application on the company’s behalf. The application specifically asked whether the applicant owned or operated more than 20 locations as of the eligibility date, to which CoreLife’s representative falsely responded “no.” That same question warned that applicants answering “yes” would not be eligible. Later in the application, the managing member also initialed next to the statement: “The Applicant, together with its affiliates, does not own or operate more than 20 locations.”
“Those who violate the False Claims Act by fraudulently receiving and retaining SBA program funding will be held accountable,” said SBA Office of Inspector General’s Eastern Region Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite. “This settlement demonstrates that wrongfully obtaining taxpayer dollars will not go unnoticed. Violators will be identified and pursued. I want to thank the Department of Justice for its support and dedication to pursuing justice in this case.”
This matter arose from a qui tam complaint filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York. The False Claims Act allows private individuals to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in any recovery. Under the settlement agreement, the relator will receive $1,171,405.96. The settlement is captioned United States ex rel. Howitt v. CoreLife Eatery, LLC, et al., No. 3:24-cv-0263 (N.D.N.Y.).
The investigation and resolution of this matter were the result of a coordinated effort between the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, SBA Office of Inspector General, and SBA Office of General Counsel. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorneys Adam J. Katz and Christopher R. Moran, and Department of Justice Trial Attorney Samuel Robins.
corelife_settlement_agreement_fully_executed_5.5.2025_0.pdfRepeat Illegal Alien Border Crossers from Honduras Indicted in MiamiRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Two serial illegal border crossers from Honduras have been charged by South Florida federal grand jurors with Illegal Reentry After Removal, in violation of 8 U.S.C. 1326.
According to the indictment in case number 25-cr-20192, this is at least the fifth time Marvin Wilton Max Ayala (Max Ayala), an alien from Honduras, has unlawfully entered the United States. He was encountered in South Florida on April 1, after having entered the country illegally, without inspection, admission, or parole by an immigration officer. It was not Max Ayala’s first brush with immigration: The Honduran national was previously removed from the United States on November 21, 2012, April 6, 2015, May 4, 2020, and August 5, 2021.
According to the indictment in case number 25-cr-20186, this is at least the fourth time Brayan Josue Matute-Lobo (Matute-Lobo), also an alien from Honduras, has unlawfully entered the United States. He was encountered in South Florida on March 8, after having entered the country illegally, without inspection, admission, or parole by an immigration officer. It was not Matute-Lobo’s first brush with immigration: This Honduran national was previously removed from the United States on February 12, 2016, April 21, 2016, and December 22, 2016.
Both defendants will be held at the Federal Detention (FDC) Miami pending resolution of their criminal cases.
U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne of the Southern District of Florida and acting Field Office Director Juan Agudelo of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement Removal Operations (ICE-ERO) Prosecutions Unit Miami announced the charges.
ICE-ERO investigated the cases. Special Assistant United States Attorney Melissa Roca Shaw is prosecuting them
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 25-cr-20186.
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Registered Sex Offender Charged with Sending Obscenity to A Massachusetts MinorRead the Press Release
Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James Crowley, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today the arrest of DAVID FERNANDES III. FERNANDES is charged with sending obscenity to a minor and being a registered sex offender when he sent obscenity to a minor. FERNANDES was arrested Thursday, May 1, and presented Friday, May 2, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy in White Plains federal court and detained.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said: “Allegedly, David Fernandes III, a registered sex offender, was not deterred by his previous involvement with the criminal justice system. This case underlines the urgent need for law enforcement to continue its efforts to protect children. The women and men of the Southern District and the FBI will use every tool available to investigate and prosecute those who sexually exploit children.”
FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge James Crowley said: “Anyone willing to sexually exploit children deserves to feel the full force of the law. The FBI has arrested David Fernandes, a registered sex offender, for sending sexually explicit material to an 11-year-old child in Massachusetts. Each time we’re able to step in and protect a child from further sexual exploitation, it’s a good day.”
As alleged in the Complaint filed on April 29, 2025, in White Plains federal court and statements made in court[1]:
On or about October 8, 2024, FERNANDES knowingly transmitted to an 11-year-old an obscene photo of an adult male hand holding a penis. At the time FERNANDES engaged in this felony offense involving a child, he was required to register as a sex offender.
On March 19, 2019, FERNANDES was convicted in New York state of Disseminating Indecent Material to a Minor, for which he received a sentence of five years’ probation. He completed this sentence on or about September 12, 2024.
On or about October 11, 2024, the mother of an 11-year-old child (“Victim-1”) reported to the Holden Police Department, in Holden, Massachusetts, that she had discovered sexually explicit images and communications on Victim-1’s phone with a phone number ending in 4245 (the “4245-Phone”). She also reported that her daughter had advised her that her daughter’s 12-year-old friend (“Victim-2”) had been in communication with the user of the 4245-Phone.
A forensic review of Victim-1’s phone revealed over 4000 messages exchanged between Victim-1’s phone and the 4245-Phone between October 4, 2024, and October 8, 2024. In the messages, the user of the 4245-Phone identified himself as a 26-year-old man and transmitted sexually explicit videos and photos of an adult man to Victim-1’s phone. At approximately 4:41 a.m. on October 4, 2024, the 4245-Phone transmitted a video to Victim-1’s phone revealing an adult holding an erect penis, masturbating and ejaculating. At approximately 3:58 a.m. on October 8, 2024, the 4245-Phone texted, “I wanna feel u,” “Like genuinely feel inside u” and “I wanna be all the way inside you.” At approximately 4:00 a.m. on October 8, 2024, the 4245-Phone transmitted a photo of a male hand holding an erect penis. Shortly thereafter, the 4245-Phone texted, "Imagine that inside u."
Victim-1 advised law enforcement that she first communicated with the 4245-Phone on or about October 4, 2024. Victim-2 advised law enforcement that she began communicating with the user of the 4245-Phone, who identified himself to her as “David,” in approximately September 2024 and communicated with him on Snapchat, Roblox, and through video chats on Google Meet. Victim-2 advised that “David” requested sexually explicit pictures and videos of Victim-2 and that she transmitted them to him, mostly via Snapchat. Victim-2 provided “David” with Victim-1’s phone number so that she and David could message one another.
Anyone who may have encountered FERNANDES, who used the Snapchat user names “tazjazz,” “diamondboy24k,” “itsmagikyouknow,” and “retrovxrse, or whose child may have had any communications with FERNANDES, is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324).
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FERNANDES, 27, of Lagrangeville, New York, is charged with one count off transferring obscene material to a minor, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and one count of committing the offense while being required to register as a sex offender, which carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of 10 years in prison.
The statutory maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the efforts of the FBI, including the FBI New York Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force and FBI Boston; the Holden Police Department; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts; the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office; and the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department in connection with this investigation.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia S. Cohen is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
u.s._v._fernandes_complaint.pdf
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Prince George’s County Man Faces Federal Indictment for Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal grand jury has indicted Joel Thomas Biermann, 46, of University Park, Maryland, for multiple child exploitation offenses. Biermann is charged with two counts of producing child sexual abuse material, one count of distributing child sexual abuse material, and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office and Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD).
According to the indictment, between approximately October 26, 2012, and October 28, 2024, Biermann employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced one or more victims to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Biermann also produced and possessed visual depictions of the exploitation. Additionally, the indictment alleges that Biermann distributed child sexual abuse material on March 13, 2016.
If convicted, Biermann faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in federal prison for the production of child sexual abuse material; a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years for the distribution of child sexual abuse material; and a maximum of 20 years for possession of child sexual abuse material. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc. Click the “Resources” tab on the left side of the page to learn about Internet safety education.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and PGPD for their work in the investigation. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan S. McKoy and Trial Attorney Gwendelynn Bills, Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, who are 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 www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Pittsburgh Felon Sentenced to Prison for Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to three years of imprisonment on his conviction of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer imposed the sentence on Deon Cortez Dutrieuille, 24, on May 1, 2025.
According to information presented to the Court, on November 25, 2023, the Monroeville Police Department were called to the Monroeville Mall in connection with a retail theft investigation. When they arrived, Dutrieuille was in the driver’s seat of a vehicle wearing a stolen jacket for which he admitted not paying. At that time, Dutrieuille had an outstanding arrest warrant in connection with an unrelated incident. When the officers tried to speak with Dutrieuille, the defendant provided fake names and then fled on foot. After apprehending and taking Dutrieuille into custody, officers conducted a search of the car and seized a stolen Glock handgun. Dutrieuille’s fingerprints were found on the gun by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. Dutrieuille had multiple prior felony convictions, including in a robbery and prior illegal gun possession cases. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Monroeville Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Dutrieuille.
Ohkay Owingeh Man Charged with Multiple Counts of Aggravated Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Ohkay Owingeh man was federally indicted on multiple counts of aggravated sexual abuse for allegedly using force and threats to commit violent sexual acts.
According to court documents, Ashkia Randy Lee Trujillo, 30, an enrolled member of the Ohkay Owingeh Tribe, is accused of unlawfully and knowingly engaging in sexual acts with the victim on August 29, 2019. The indictment alleges that Trujillo used force, threats, and placed the victim in fear of death, serious bodily injury, or kidnapping during the commission of these acts.
Trujillois charged with three counts aggravated sexual abuse and will remain in third party custody pending trial, which has not been set. If convicted of the current charges, Trujillofaces up to life years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case with assistance from the Ohkay Owingeh Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany DuChaussee is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Ohio Man Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison After Admitting to Sexually Abusing and Exploiting MinorsRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – Michael D. Aspinwall, 38, of Toledo, Ohio, was sentenced to 27 years in prison by U.S. District Judge James R. Knepp, after he admitted to creating and distributing child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). Aspinwall pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography. He was also ordered to serve lifetime supervised release after imprisonment and register as a sex offender, per the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act.
According to court documents, from about Oct. 1, 2023 to Feb. 9, 2024, Aspinwall admitted to producing sexual abuse materials of children and sending and receiving the digital files through mobile applications. FBI-Toledo, along with the assistance of Toledo Police officers, executed a search warrant on Feb. 9, 2024, and seized the defendant’s cellphone which was found to contain sexually explicit photos and videos of minors, including infants and toddlers. Additionally, during conversations with an online covert investigator, Aspinwall admitted to sexually abusing children−whom he babysat−while they were sleeping.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Toledo Field Office and the Toledo Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Al-Sorghali for the Northern District of Ohio.
To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
New Orleans Man Sentenced for Firearm ViolationsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DARNELL D. LEE (“LEE”), age 26, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on April 24, 2025 by U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon to thirty (30) months incarceration after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). LEE was also placed on supervised release for three (3) years following release from imprisonment and ordered to pay a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. Further, Judge Fallon ordered that his term of imprisonment run consecutive to the prison terms imposed by the 24th Judicial Court, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana.
According to court records, on November 24, 2023, New Orleans Police Department Officers patrolling the 300 block of Bourbon Street observed LEE with what appeared to be a handgun concealed in the front waistband of his pants. When NOPD Officers approached LEE to investigate , LEE fled but was quickly apprehended. Officers recovered a Smith and Wesson Model SD9VE, nine-millimeter handgun that had fallen from his waistband. LEE was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm due to his prior felony convictions.
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.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigating this matter. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Irene M. Gonzalez of the General Crime Unit.
Monte Vista Drug Dealer Sentenced to 15 Years of Federal Prison for Distribution of Methamphetamine and FentanylRead the Press Release
DURANGO – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Blas Villa, 41, of Monte Vista, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
According to the plea agreement and information presented at sentencing, Villa is a well-known drug dealer in the San Luis Valley. Villa possessed close to a pound of pure methamphetamine and thousands of fentanyl pills over three incidents in 2023. In August 2023, Villa and an associate were found at a home in Monte Vista with significant amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine, a handgun, five cell phones, a scale with drug residue, and $13,400 in cash. A search of Villa’s phone revealed photos of Villa posing with firearms, as well as many photos of fentanyl pills associated with a pill counting app. Villa was originally charged in state court and bonded out of custody. While on bond, Villa was arrested again for possessing heroin and methamphetamine in November 2023. Villa bonded out of state custody again. In December 2023, law enforcement pulled over a car driven by Villa and found over 2,500 fentanyl pills and distribution amounts of methamphetamine. Prior to this case, Villa had fifteen prior convictions, including several felonies.
“Mr. Villa is a serial offender,” said Acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado J. Bishop Grewell. “I thank our law enforcement partners for removing him and his deadly wares from the San Luis Valley.”
“Villa consistently brought harm and poison to Colorado, and with his sentencing the state is that much safer,” said DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen. “The men and women of DEA and our law enforcement partners will continue to take down people and organizations causing harm to Coloradans and those around the country.”
“The removal of these dangerous drugs is a testament to the tireless efforts of the Monte Vista Police Department, specifically the dedicated work of our Detective, in collaboration with key federal partners,” said Interim Monte Vista Police Chief Tyler Harford. “This operation represents a significant step forward in ensuring the safety and well-being of our community. We remain committed to addressing this issue and protecting our residents.”
United States District Judge Gordon P. Gallagher presided over the sentencing in Durango, Colorado. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Monte Vista Police Department handled the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey K. Graves handled the prosecution.
Case Number: 24-cr-00046-GPG-JMC
Mobile Man Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Mobile man was sentenced to 24 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
According to court documents, Derrick C. Busby, 34, was arrested by Mobile Police Department officers following a traffic stop on October 22, 2023. During the stop, officers saw marijuana on Busby’s lap and witnessed Busby chugging from a bottle of prescription-only promethazine syrup and swallowing marijuana. Officers searched Busby’s car, seizing, among other things, a loaded Taurus 9mm pistol, a loaded extended magazine, and a digital scale. The pistol had previously been reported stolen to the Daphne Police Department by its original owner in December 2022.
Busby admitted to police that he possessed the pistol, which he heard was stolen and might have been connected to a homicide. Busby further admitted that he was a convicted felon who was not supposed to be around guns. At the time Busby possessed the pistol, he had prior felony convictions for robbery and burglary. Those felony convictions made Busby’s possession of the pistol illegal under federal law.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit justice.gov/PSN.
Midwest City Woman Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Property Management CompanyRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – SHERRIE BILLINGS, 53, of Midwest City, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and making and subscribing a false tax return, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public record, in January 2017, Billings worked as a regional property manager for Manhattan Management Company, LLC (“MMC”), out of New York. MMC owned four apartment complexes in Oklahoma City. Her duties included maintaining daily upkeep, maintenance, and inspections of the properties, and she had access to an MMC bank account and credit card for such maintenance. Court documents allege that from January 2017 through July 2022, Billings defrauded MMC by issuing unauthorized checks from MMC’s bank account and utilizing the company credit card, both for her own personal use. During this time period, Billings issued approximately 385 unauthorized checks, illegally withdrawing approximately $1,660,238.00 from MMC’s account. To conceal her scheme, Billings manufactured fraudulent payment vouchers to legitimate vendors and emailed the fraudulent vouchers to MMC’s bookkeeper to be added to the company ledger. Billings also used the MMC credit card for personal expenses, which defrauded the company out of approximately $49,798.00. Public record further alleges that on April 14, 2022, Billings filled out a federal income tax return form on which she reported income that was substantially lower than the actual income she received as a result of the criminal behavior described above.
On April 2, 2025, Billings was charged by Information with wire fraud and making and subscribing a false tax return. On May 2, 2025, Billings pleaded guilty to the two-count Information, and admitted she knowingly devised a scheme to defraud MMC, and that she knowingly filed a federal income tax return form on which she reported an income amount she knew was substantially lower than what she received for the year.
At sentencing, Billings faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the wire fraud charge and up to three years in prison for the tax charge, as well as a fine of up to $250,000 per count.
This case is the result of an investigation by the IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Brown is prosecuting the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Middletown Man Indicted for Violent Crime SpreeRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – A federal grand jury in the District of Delaware returned a four-count indictment on April 10, 2025, charging a Middletown man with robbing a restaurant and a gas station and committing a carjacking - all at gunpoint.
According to court documents, on January 25, 2025, Anthony Fields, 48, of Middletown robbed a Middletown restaurant using a distinctive sawed-off shotgun with a duct-taped handle. Five days later, Fields robbed a Middletown gas station brandishing the same distinctive sawed-off shotgun. During these robberies, Fields stole cash, lottery tickets, and a gas station employee’s cell phone. While fleeing the gas station robbery, Fields carjacked an occupied 2016 Hyundai Elantra, pointing the sawed-off shotgun at the victim driver.
Despite Fields’ attempts to evade law enforcement, the Middletown Police Department and the FBI traced Fields’ movements in the days following his crime spree through witness testimony, phone and lottery ticket records, and video surveillance. The investigation revealed that Fields cashed some of the stolen lottery tickets and abandoned the stolen car at a nearby casino before traveling to Philadelphia. Fields turned himself in to authorities on February 2, 2025. He remains in federal custody.
The indictment charges Fields with two counts of Hobbs Act Robbery, one count of carjacking, and one count of brandishing and using a firearm in relation to a Hobbs Act Robbery. If convicted of all counts, Fields faces a mandatory minimum of seven years of incarceration for brandishing and using the firearm, in addition to any penalties for the underlying crimes, and a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Shannon T. Hanson, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, and Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office made the announcement.
This case is being investigated by the Middletown Police Department and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin P. Pierce and Bryan C. Williamson 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 (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Mexican man arrested for illegal re-entryRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Alejandro Mendez Flores, 38, a citizen of Mexico, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with illegal re-entry of a removed alien, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen M. McCarthy, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, Flores was encountered by Customs and Border Protection officers on April 30, 2025, at the Peace Bridge Port of Entry. Flores was driving a vehicle with a State of Kentucky registration and inadvertently entered onto the bridge toward Canada, where he was refused admission. Flores then encountered CBP officers. A records check determined that Flores was previously arrested by U.S. Border Patrol agents in Texas in July 2019 after having illegally entered the United States. He was physically removed from the United States.
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.
Flores made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. and was detained.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Mexican National Sentenced for Illegal Re-entryRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ActingUnited States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that SANTIAGO PUENTE-GARCIA (“PUENTE-GARCIA”), age 26, a native of Mexico, was sentenced on April 30, 2025 after previously pleading guilty to illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
United States District Judge Lance M. Africk sentenced PUENTE-GARCIAto an imprisonment term of time served , followed by one (1) year of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
According to court records, PUENTE-GARCIA was previously removed from the United States on February 4, 2022. He was later found in the Eastern District of Louisiana on October 29, 2024.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jon Maestri of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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Mexican National Guilty of Illegally Using Social Security Number to Obtain Louisiana Driver’s LicenseRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ActingUnited States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that JOSE GUADALUPE MUNOZ-PEREZ (“MUNOZ”), age 46, a native of Mexico, pleaded guilty on April 29, 2025 to illegally using a social security number to obtain a Louisiana driver’s license, in violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 408(a)(7)(B).
MUNOZ faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five (5) years, up to three (3) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. United States District Court Judge Wendy B. Vitter set sentencing for June 5, 2025.
According to court documents, on July 24, 2020, MUNOZ applied for the renewal of a Louisiana driver’s license using the name of a real person, and that person’s Social Security number at a Public Tag Agency in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. A Public Tag Agency is an authorized entity that handles various vehicle-related transactions of behalf of the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles.
The Social Security Administration confirmed that Social Security number was legitimately issued to an individual in Puerto Rico. MUNOZ admitted that by applying for the renewal, he knowingly intended to deceive others, including employers, by falsely representing that the name and Social Security number had been assigned to him by the Commissioner of Social Security.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jon Maestri of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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Massachusetts Man Sentenced to 72 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing Methamphetamine and Fentanyl with the Intent to Distribute in New HampshireRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Massachusetts man was sentenced today in federal court for possessing methamphetamine and fentanyl with the intent to distribute in New Hampshire, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.
Jose Toledo, age 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Paul Barbadoro to 72 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release. In January 2025, Toledo pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
“Those who choose to traffic drugs and arm themselves while doing so, like the defendant, are putting our communities in danger,” said Acting United States Attorney McCormack. “Today’s sentence reflects not only the severity of drug trafficking crimes involving dangerous weapons, but the continued threat that such activity poses to the community.”
“DEA is committed to investigating and dismantling drug trafficking organizations and individuals like Mr. Toledo who are responsible for distributing lethal drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine to the citizens of New Hampshire,” said Acting DEA Special Agent in Charge Stephen Belleau, New England Field Division. “Today’s sentence not only holds Mr. Toldeo accountable for his crimes but serves as a warning to those traffickers who are fueling the opioid epidemic with deadly drugs to profit and destroy people’s lives. DEA’s top priority is combatting the opioid epidemic by working with our local, county, state and federal partners to bring to justice anyone who distributes this poison.”
In December 2023, a confidential witness working on behalf of law enforcement ordered methamphetamine and fentanyl from Toledo. Toledo drove from Massachusetts into New Hampshire with the intention of delivering nearly a pound of methamphetamine and almost 300 grams of fentanyl to the confidential witness. Instead, law enforcement stopped Toledo in New Hampshire and seized the drugs from him. When locating the drugs, investigators found them in a hidden compartment in Toledo’s vehicle, with a loaded firearm.
The DEA Manchester District Office led the investigation. The DEA Boston Strike Force from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, the New Hampshire State Police Mobile Enforcement Team, the Strafford County Sheriff’s Office, and the Newington Police Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather A. Cherniske prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Man Charged with Multiple Counts of Involuntary Manslaughter Following Fatal High-Speed Rollover CrashRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An Arizona man has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and assault resulting in serious bodily injury following a fatal rollover crash that killed two people and injured two others.
According to court documents, on the afternoon of November 14, 2024, emergency responders were dispatched to mile marker five on Navajo Route 54 after reports of a single-vehicle rollover. Investigators determined that Marvin Wauneka, 40, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was driving at excessive speeds of up to 95 MPH-while consuming alcohol. The crash resulted in the deaths of two occupants and left three others, including Wauneka, hospitalized with serious injuries.
A witness at the scene reported seeing Wauneka exit the vehicle after the crash, and a bottle of vodka was recovered near one of the victims. Surviving passengers confirmed Wauneka was driving and drinking at the time of the crash. Wauneka’s blood alcohol content was measured at .298 upon arrival at the hospital. He has a prior record of multiple DWI offenses and failures to appear in state court.
Wauneka is charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury and will remain in custody trial. If convicted of the current charges, Wauneka faces up to 26 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today.
The Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations are investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark A. Probasco is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Level One Sex Offender Charged with Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Holyoke man, who is a registered sex offender, has been charged with possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Justin Ouimette, 34, was charged with possession of child pornography. Ouimette will make an initial appearance in federal court in Springfield at a later date.
In October 2022, Ouimette was convicted of possession of child pornography in Massachusetts Superior Court. According to the charging documents, in July 2024, during a search of Ouimette’s residence and person, over 200 files that appeared to depict CSAM, including children as young as three years old, were allegedly located on Ouimette’s electronic devices. A search of Ouimette’s Dropbox resulted in the discovery of an additional 200 files allegedly depicting CSAM.
On July 25, 2024, Ouimette was issued a probation violation, and he was subsequently sentenced to one year incarceration, which he is currently serving.
The charge of possession of child pornography as a registered sex offender provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, five years to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and James Crowley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Soto of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Jury Finds Maryland Man Guilty of First-Degree Murder in Killing of Man in GeorgetownRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Ranje Reynolds, 28, of Beltsville, Maryland, was found guilty today by a jury of first-degree murder while armed and other charges related to a shooting that took place on a January evening on M Street in Georgetown, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Superior Court Judge Jason Park scheduled sentencing for July 25, 2025.
According to the government’s evidence, as of Jan. 31, 2022, the defendant and Mr. Tarek Boothe were friends who had worked together for two years at the marijuana dispensary located at 1204 Eton Court. Despite their friendship, at some point earlier that evening, the defendant and Mr. Boothe got into a fight at the dispensary. Around 6:00 p.m., Mr. Boothe left the dispensary and went to the corner of 33rd and M Street N.W., where he was waiting for his ride home. The defendant followed Mr. Boothe and sat next to Mr. Boothe as Mr. Boothe was waiting for his ride. The defendant then left briefly and returned seconds later to shoot Mr. Boothe in the eye, killing him. The defendant fled to Jamaica on Feb. 3, 2022. He was returned to the United States to face criminal charges on Sept. 15, 2022.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natalie Hynum and Jessica Keefer.
Joseph Nocella, Jr. Appointed Interim United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New YorkRead the Press Release
Joseph Nocella, Jr. has begun serving as Interim United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York as per the authority of United States Attorney Pamela Bondi. Judge Nocella was sworn in on Monday, May 5, 2025 by United States Chief District Judge Margo K. Brodie. He will serve as Interim United States Attorney for a period of 120 days or until a Presidential nominee has been confirmed by the Senate.
Judge Nocella stated: “I am deeply honored that President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pamela Bondi have appointed me United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. It is especially gratifying to return to the very District where I began my prosecutorial career. Together with the exemplary staff that has made the Eastern District renown for its excellence, and the dedicated law enforcement agencies that work with the District, I look forward to prosecuting zealously the narcotics-traffickers, gang members, terrorists, human-traffickers and other criminals who have plagued the people of Nassau, Suffolk, Kings, Queens and Richmond Counties. I would also like to thank Acting United States Attorney John J. Durham for his service and leadership.”
Immediately before his appointment, Judge Nocella, 60, was serving as a Nassau County Family Court Judge, following several years of service as a Nassau County District Judge. Judge Nocella began his career in public service as the first law clerk to the Honorable Lawrence M. McKenna, United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York. Judge Nocella continued his career in public service as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division of the Eastern District of New York, where he served from 1991 to 1995, prosecuting cases involving narcotics-trafficking, organized crime, money laundering and fraud, among others. Judge Nocella was in private practice in New York and Los Angeles from 1989 to 1990, and from 1995 to 2010. He also held various public service roles in government on Long Island, including Hempstead Town Attorney, Oyster Bay Town Attorney, Managing Attorney of the Nassau County Attorney’s Office and Counsel to the Nassau County Executive and Legislative Offices. Judge Nocella graduated from Chaminade High School in 1982, received his bachelor’s degree from Fordham University in 1986 and graduated from Columbia University School of Law in 1989.
Illegal alien caught attempting to export stolen vehicles for cartelRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 19-year-old Mexican national has been arrested for his alleged role in attempting to export a stolen vehicle, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Angel David Salas-Herrera is set to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nadia S. Medrano at 10 a.m.
The criminal complaint alleges that on May 2, law enforcement observed a Jeep Gladiator in Cameron County that had been reported stolen from Edinburg. They attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the driver refused to yield, and a chase ensued, according to the charges. It ended as the vehicle allegedly collided near a residence in Brownsville.
Salas-Herrera was the passenger, according to the allegations. During a search of the Gladiator, law enforcement allegedly found multiple key fobs and a device utilized to program them.
The charges allege the Gladiator was intended to be exported to Mexico for the Gulf Cartel. Law enforcement was also able to recover two additional stolen vehicles that were allegedly intended for the same purpose.
Salas-Herrera is charged with export of stolen motor vehicles. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison. He could also be ordered to pay up to a $250,000 fine.
This case is part of Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Operation Cocina de Caldo. The FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations are conducting the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol, Texas Department of Public Safety, sheriff’s offices in Hidalgo and Cameron Counties and police departments in McAllen, Mission, Pharr, Brownsville, Edinburg and Rancho Viejo. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Roberto Lopez Jr. and Sarina DiPiazza are prosecuting the case.
The OCDETF operation 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 Neighborhoods.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Illegal Alien and Mexican National Convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute Kilograms of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Illegal Alien and Mexican National Convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute Kilograms of Methamphetamine
Defendant possessed over four pounds of 100% pure Methamphetamine
BRUNSWICK, GA: A jury convicted a Mexican national illegally living in Hazlehurst, Georgia at trial for receiving a package from Jalisco, Mexico containing over two kilograms of 100% pure methamphetamine.
Ismael Delgado-Celis, 37, of Mexico, was convicted of Possession and Attempt to Possess with Intent to Distribute 500 grams or more of Methamphetamine following a jury trial in the Southern District of Georgia, said Tara M. Lyons, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The Defendant is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of at least ten years and up to life imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
During testimony and evidence produced during the trial the Government established that on September 12, 2024, the Defendant attempted to receive a package directly from Mexico containing what was described as a horse saddle. Before the package was delivered, law enforcement agents removed the saddle and discovered over two kilograms of pure methamphetamine that had been hidden inside. The package was then delivered to the Defendant by law enforcement under the guise of a United States Postal delivery. The Defendant accepted the package from law enforcement and brought it inside his residence.
“This case represents the continued commitment of the DEA to identify and hold accountable those who engage in the distribution of dangerous drugs,” said Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “Keeping our communities safe is our highest priority.”
“This conviction sends a strong message to those who attempt to smuggle dangerous narcotics into our communities,” said Steven N. Schrank, the Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “Thanks to the dedicated collaboration between HSI and our law enforcement partners at the federal, state, and local levels, we were able to disrupt a major methamphetamine trafficking operation and hold the perpetrator accountable.”
“This conviction highlights the critical role Customs and Border Protection plays in disrupting the transnational flow of deadly narcotics,” said Zachary Thomas, Acting Director of Field Operations for CBP Atlanta. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to working with our law enforcement partners at every level to safeguard our communities from the scourge of illicit drugs.”
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigation, Customs and Border Protection, and the Jeff Davis Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Bondura and Deputy Criminal Chief Greg Gilluly.
Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Beecher Lee Shuler, 43, of Huntington, was sentenced today to six years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of a quantity of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 21, 2023, Shuler sold approximately 3.48 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant for $275. Shuler admitted that he conducted the transaction at his Huntington residence and arranged the transaction beforehand with the confidential informant.
On July 1, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Shuler’s residence and seized cocaine, oxycodone, at least 3,787 tablets containing protonitazene, six firearms and approximately $1,111. Protonitazene is a synthetic opioid potentially more dangerous and deadly than fentanyl, and the seized tablets weighed approximately 813 grams.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cabell County Sheriff's Office.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-151.
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Hopkinsville, Kentucky Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine and Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
Paducah, KY – A Hopkinsville man was sentenced today to 15 years in federal prison for his role in a methamphetamine and fentanyl trafficking and money laundering conspiracy.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of the Homeland Security Investigations Nashville, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Lesley Allison of the Pittsburgh Division, and Chief Jason Newby of the Hopkinsville Police Department made the announcement.
According to court documents, Jay Brown, 55, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by a 5-year term of supervised release, for one count of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute and distribution of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and more than 400 grams of a fentanyl mixture, one count of distributing methamphetamine, two counts of attempting to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl, and one count of engaging in a money laundering conspiracy. The events related to his convictions spanned from January 25, 2021, through September 20, 2023, in Christian County, Kentucky. Brown was on supervised release for a previous federal conviction at the time he committed these offenses.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the DEA Paducah Post of Duty, the Hopkinsville Police Department Special Investigations Unit, the ATF Bowling Green Field Office, Homeland Security Investigations Paducah, the United States Postal Investigations Service Bowling Green, with assistance from the Kentucky State Police, the Calloway County Sheriff’s Office, and the Madisonville Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, prosecuted the case.
This case was sentenced under 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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Honduran man arrested for illegal re-entryRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Marvin Jose Espana, 46, a citizen of Honduras, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with illegal re-entry of a removed alien, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen M. McCarthy, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on April 15, 2025, Buffalo Border Patrol Station agents responded to a request for assistance from Amherst Police officers, who had detained two individuals following a traffic stop. A records check determined that one of the two individuals, Espana, was a citizen and national of Honduras, illegally present in the United States after having been previously removed. Espana was taken into custody. He was removed from the United States in June 2007, and again in August 2014.
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.
Espana made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was detained.
The complaint is a result of an investigation by U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent in Charge Juan Ramirez.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Honduran National Guilty of Illegal Re-Entry of a Removed AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced today that DARWIN XAVIER GONZALEZ-MUNOZ (“GONZALEZ-MUNOZ”), age 30, pled guilty on April 30, 2025 to illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
According to the bill of information filed against him, GONZALEZ-MUNOZ reentered the United States after being previously deported on or about June 24, 2024.
At sentencing, GONZALEZ-MUNOZ faces up to two years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to one year of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The case was investigated by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Enforcement Removal Operations. Assistant United States Attorney Mary Katherine Kaufman of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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Guatemalan National Indicted for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Guatemalan national was indicted in federal court in Boston for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.
William Noel Mazariegos Lopez, 43, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Mazariegos Lopez was charged by criminal complaint on March 14, 2025 and is currently being detained.
According to the charging documents, at an unknown place and time, Mazariegos Lopez entered the United States without being inspected by an immigration officer. On Oct. 24, 2012, in the Lynn District Court, Mazariegos Lopez was convicted of operating under the influence of liquor and compulsory insurance violation. On Oct. 30, 2017, after determining Mazariegos Lopez illegally entered the United States, immigration authorities initiated deportation proceedings. On Nov. 29, 2017, Mazariegos Lopez was removed from the United States to Guatemala.
Thereafter, on an unknown date and at an unknown location, Mazariegos Lopez reentered the United States. On April 28, 2018, he was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol. On May 7, 2018, Mazariegos Lopez was removed from the United States to Guatemala for a second time.
Thereafter, on an unknown date and at an unknown location, Mazariegos Lopez reentered the United States without authority. On Aug. 15, 2021, immigration authorities became aware that Mazariegos Lopez was present in the United States following an arrest by the Essex County Sheriff’s Department. On June 9, 2022, in the Lynn District Court, Mazariegos was convicted of operating under the influence of liquor – 2nd offense, operating under the influence of liquor and operating after suspended license. He was sentenced to 2.5 years (suspended, 90 days to serve) for operating under the influence of liquor-2nd offense and two years (suspended, 90 days to serve) for operating under the influence of liquor. On Dec. 22, 2023, the court issued a violation of probation.
The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.