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13 June 2025
Bradenton Men Plead Guilty in Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL - United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Colin Zirpoli (44, Bradenton) and Tony Marsh (25, Bradenton) have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. In addition, Zirpoli pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and Marsh pleaded guilty to two counts of the same offense. They each face a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. The sentencing dates have not yet been set.
According to court records, in February 2024, Zirpoli sold methamphetamine to an undercover officer. Law enforcement determined Zirpoli’s source of supply was Elizabeth Poff, a co-defendant who previously pleaded guilty. Law enforcement then later determined that Poff’s source of supply was Marsh. Law enforcement continued to investigate the case, leading to four additional arrests in connection with the methamphetamine distribution.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman.
Billings woman sentenced to 10 years in prison on drug chargesRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Billings woman who facilitated drug trafficking in Billings was sentenced today to 120 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Tashauna Lee Goss, 33, pleaded guilty in December 2024 to one count of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Chief U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that in 2023, agents with the DEA investigated a drug trafficking organization based in Billings, Montana that was operating out of Tashauna Goss’ house. Goss was identified as working with Hispanic males trafficking drugs from Washington state.
Agents obtained information from a number of individuals throughout the investigation that Goss allowed these Hispanic males from Washington to use her house as a “stash house.” It was reported these individuals brought to Montana pounds of methamphetamine. Goss sold methamphetamine from these individuals to lower-level dealers in Billings.
Agents conducted a series of controlled buys from various individuals. On November 23, 2023, a controlled source purchased 52 grams of actual methamphetamine from Anthony Enemyhunter, one of Goss’s co-defendants who previously was sentenced to 128 months in prison for his involvement in drug trafficking. Enemyhunter received the meth he sold during the controlled buy from Goss and another co-defendant, Anita Ballesteros, who received a sentence of 96 months in prison in December 2024.
On January 19, 2024, agents executed a search warrant at Goss’ residence. They seized several firearms, a large amount of cash, and some methamphetamine. Two baggies of meth were located in Goss’s bedroom and weighed 2.65 grams and 7.7 grams, respectively.
Text messages retrieved from Ballesteros’s phone indicated Goss was selling methamphetamine in ounce quantities. On December 23, 2023, Goss texted Ballesteros, “I’m taking a break to get the heat off me just not gonna be moving like I was.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Patten prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the DEA, ATF, State of Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Montana Highway Patrol.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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Baxter Springs man charged with child pornography possessionRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man has been charged through criminal complaint in Wichita, Kansas, on allegations related to child sexual abuse materials.
According to court documents, Kenneth Norman Baker, 41, of Baxter Springs is charged with one count of receipt of child pornography, one count of distribution of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart is prosecuting the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###Assault and threat to federal agents among 331 cases filed in SDTX in support of Operation Take Back AmericaRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A total of 332 individuals have been charged in cases filed from June 6-12 in border-security related matters, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
The cases include 10 that involve human smuggling. A total of 205 people are charged with illegally entering the country, while another 109 face charges of felony reentry after prior removal. Most of those individuals have prior felonies such as narcotics, violent crime, immigration crimes and more. Other relevant cases include those involving other immigration crimes as well as an assault and threat to federal officers.
One of those is Maria Isabel Cruz-Salas, a Mexican national who lives in San Benito. The criminal complaint alleges that while authorities were conducting a lawful immigration enforcement action at a local establishment, they encountered Cruz-Salas. When they attempted to detain Cruz-Salas, she allegedly kicked a federal agent in the face. If convicted, she faces up to eight years in prison.
Another woman facing charges this week is Michelle Lee Varela, who allegedly threatened to shoot a federal agent in the course of his duties. Law enforcement had been requesting information regarding the status of her husband in the United States. She used profanity and threatened to shoot if they tried to take him into custody. The charges allege law enforcement advised her to consider her remarks as she had just threatened a federal agent, but she continued in an elevated voice and a threatening tone.
“The Southern District of Texas takes allegations of threatened violence against law enforcement very seriously,” said Ganjei. “Immigration authorities must be able to carry out their lawful duties free from violence or threats, and those that attempt to obstruct or harm such agents will be held accountable.”
Among those also charged this week are Paulina Lopez-Bello and Juan Eliud Calva-Lopez, both Mexican nationals. According to court documents, authorities discovered fraudulent lawful permanent resident cards and Social Security documents at their residence in South Texas. According to the charges, both individuals used the counterfeit materials to secure employment in the United States. They allegedly paid $300 for the fake identification. If convicted of fraud and misuse of visas, permits and other documents, they face up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
Roberto Carlos Moncada-Pena, a Mexican national living in Mission, faces charges of human smuggling. The criminal complaint alleges authorities encountered Moncada-Pena during a traffic stop where they discovered three illegal aliens in the vehicle. Upon searching his apartment, law enforcement discovered 10 additional illegal aliens. If convicted, Moncada-Pena faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a maximum $250,000 possible fine.
In addition to the new cases, also announced this week was the sentencing of four Mexican nationals, all of whom have been previously convicted of illegal reentry into the United States, among other crimes. Josue Rodriguez-Rodriguez has been removed 10 times. He now faces another 69-month federal prison sentence.
Jose Manuel Cruz-Diaz, Adrian Villa-Morales and Jose De Jesus Soto-Gonzalez have been removed at least twice before and have various felony convictions such as evading arrest with a motor vehicle, methamphetamine distribution, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and aggravated assault family violence. Sentences in federal court this week ranged from 21-57 months.
Also of note was the sentencing of a Nigerian man who had illegally resided in Houston. Omokehinde Muyiwa Oyegoke-Tewogbade and co-conspirators schemed to steal U.S. mail containing new credit cards and bank statements intended for account holders. They contacted financial institutions to activate the stolen cards, increased credit limits and altered account information. They then used the cards to purchase goods, services, gift cards, cash and merchandise at retail stores. In total, they fraudulently activated at least 120 stolen credit cards, causing an estimated $1 million in losses to Chase Bank. He is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.
An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Asheville Company Agrees to Pay over $2.1 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Relating to COVID Pandemic Relief LoanRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson announced today that d&b audiotechnik Corporation (D&B) has agreed to pay $2,130,185.14 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by certifying in an application for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan that it had fewer than 300 employees, when it was a U.S. subsidiary of a German corporation with well over 300 employees. As a result of the misrepresentation, d&b audiotechnik obtained a loan that was forgiven by the United States. d&b audiotechnik has agreed to repay the original loan amount, plus a penalty—ultimately paying twice what was originally borrowed.
Congress created the PPP in March 2020 under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The PPP was administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and provided forgivable loans to small businesses struggling to pay employees and other expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic. In December 2020, Congress approved funding for a second round of forgivable PPP loans. When applying for PPP loans, borrowers were required to certify that they were eligible for the requested loans and that the information they provided was true and accurate.
This matter arose from a lawsuit filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel GNGH2 Inc. v. D&B Audiotechnik Corporation, W.D.N.C. Case No. 1:24-cv-246.
The government’s investigation was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Johnson.
Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
Arrest Made in D.C. Jail HomicideRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Marquise Jones, 26, of the District of Columbia, was arrested Tuesday on charges of second-degree murder while armed with a knife, for the jailhouse death of 29-year-old Carlos Shelley on May 12, 2025. The arrest was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Jones was presented today before Superior Court Judge Robert Hildum, who ordered Jones held without bond until a July 2, 2025 preliminary hearing before Judge Todd Edelman.
On Monday, May 12, 2025, at approximately 2:30 p.m., First District officers responded to the Central Detention Facility in the 1900 block of D Street, Southeast, for the report of a stabbing. Upon arrival, officers located an adult male, unconscious and not breathing, suffering from life-threatening stab wounds. DC Fire and EMS responded to the scene and after finding no signs consistent with life, the victim was pronounced deceased.
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Molly K. Smith.
A criminal charge is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing A Loaded FirearmRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber today sentenced Mickey Colangelo, Jr. (44, Fort Myers) to 15 years in federal prison for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. The court also ordered Colangelo to forfeit the firearm and ammunition possessed during the commission of the offense. Colangelo pled guilty on February 26, 2025.
According to the plea agreement, on October 30, 2024, Colangelo was stopped by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office as a wanted suspect for a felony offense. In his backpack, deputies located a loaded pistol. Court records confirm that Colangelo had previously been convicted of a felony, which prohibits him from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. Colangelo has at least three prior felony convictions that qualify as “violent felonies” under federal law, thus subjecting him to enhanced punishment as an Armed Career Criminal. Colangelo also agreed to forfeit the firearm used in the offense.
This case was investigated by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan.
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.
Alameda Man Indicted on Charges Stemming from Theft of $800,000 from Prepaid Debit CardsRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – A federal grand jury has indicted Nathan Wu-Falkenborg on 15 counts of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with the alleged theft of funds from prepaid debit cards. Wu-Falkenborg made an initial appearance in federal district court today.
According to the indictment filed June 4, 2025, and unsealed today, Wu-Falkenborg, 49, of Alameda, worked in fraud prevention at a company that administered a prepaid debit card program. Known as Direct Express, the program allowed recipients of federal benefits to access their benefits through a prepaid debit card account. Between September 2021 and March 2022, Wu-Falkenborg allegedly used his access to confidential account information to activate and use numerous Direct Express accounts that had been funded but did not appear to be in use. The indictment describes that Wu-Falkenborg fraudulently obtained approximately $800,000 from these Direct Express accounts by way of several hundred ATM withdrawals around the Bay Area and online transactions.
Wu-Falkenborg is also charged with the unauthorized use of a Direct Express customer’s identity to open various accounts that he used to execute the scheme and unlawfully using debit cards associated with two victim customers.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement.
Wu-Falkenborg was released on bond. He is scheduled to appear in district court on July 9, 2025, for a status conference before U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer.
Wu-Falkenborg is charged with 12 counts of bank fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344(1), (2) and three counts of aggravated identity theft in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A(a)(1). An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a fine of $1 million for each bank fraud charge, and a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each aggravated identity theft charge. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared Buszin and Charles Bisesto are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Tina Rosenbaum. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.
Afghan National Pleads Guilty to Plotting Election Day Terror Attack in the United StatesRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY — NASIR AHMAD TAWHEDI, 27, a native and citizen of Afghanistan, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Oklahoma City to two terrorism-related offenses: conspiring and attempting to provide material support and resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization, and receiving, attempting to receive, and conspiring to receive firearms and ammunition in furtherance of a federal crime of terrorism.
“By pledging allegiance to ISIS and plotting an attack against innocent Americans on Election Day, this defendant endangered lives and gravely betrayed the nation that gave him refuge,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Today’s guilty plea guarantees he will be held accountable, stripped of his immigration status, and permanently removed from the United States, and shows the Justice Department has zero tolerance for those who exploit our freedoms to spread violence.”
“The defendant admits he planned and obtained firearms to carry out a violent terror attack on Election Day in 2024, a plot that was detected and disrupted through the good work of the FBI and our partners,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Let this serve as notice to anyone who tries to conduct attacks in our homeland for ISIS or any other terror group: we will find you and you’ll face American justice. I want to commend the FBI teams and our partners for their hard work and success in executing the mission.”
“Through incredible law enforcement effort and coordination, a violent terrorist attack on American soil was thwarted, and those responsible are being held accountable,” said United States Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma. “I commend the outstanding work by the FBI, our law enforcement partners, and prosecutors to diligently discover, thoroughly investigate, and completely foil this terror plot. These guilty pleas serve as an emphatic reminder that the Department of Justice and its law enforcement partners will aggressively pursue those who attempt to harm Americans through terrorist acts.”
“Thanks to outstanding work by the Oklahoma City Joint Terrorism Task Force, the defendant’s plan to kill innocent Americans in a terrorist attack on Election Day was stopped,” said Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. “The FBI is grateful to all who stand beside us in our fight against terrorism. Together, we will continue to safeguard our communities from those who conspire against the United States.”
According to court documents, Tawhedi admitted that between June 2024 and October 2024 he conspired with at least one other individual to purchase two AK-47 rifles, 500 rounds of ammunition, and 10 magazines, with the intent to carry out a mass-casualty attack on or around Election Day, November 5, 2024, on behalf of ISIS. According to a criminal complaint affidavit filed in the case, Tawhedi communicated with an ISIS facilitator about his plan to purchase firearms for use in the terror plot, including asking the individual whether 500 rounds of ammunition would be sufficient.
Tawhedi and his co-conspirator, ABDULLAH HAJI ZADA, were arrested on October 7, 2024, after purchasing the firearms and ammunition from an undercover FBI employee. Zada, 18, pleaded guilty in April 2025 to the firearms offense in connection with his role in the terror plot and is awaiting sentencing. Zada, who was 17 at the time of his arrest, entered his guilty plea as an adult and will be sentenced as an adult.
At sentencing, Tawhedi faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison for the material support charge and up to 15 years in prison for the firearms charge. Zada faces up to 15 years in federal prison. Upon completion of any sentence, Tawhedi and Zada will be permanently removed from the United States and barred from reentry under stipulated judicial orders of removal to Afghanistan. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Oklahoma City Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Marshals Service, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Oklahoma Counter Terrorism Intelligence Center, the Edmond Police Department, the Moore Police Department, the Oklahoma City Police Department, the Oklahoma City Community College Police Department, and the Oklahoma City University Police Department, is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica L. Perry and Matt Dillon for the Western District of Oklahoma; Assistant U.S. Attorney Everett McMillian, who previously served in the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section; and Trial Attorney Jennifer Levy of the Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case. Trial Attorney Mark Stoneman of the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, who previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma, also assisted with the prosecution.
Afghan National Pleads Guilty to Plotting Election Day Terror Attack in the United StatesRead the Press Release
Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, a native and citizen of Afghanistan, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Oklahoma City to two terrorism-related offenses: conspiring and attempting to provide material support and resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization, and receiving, attempting to receive, and conspiring to receive firearms and ammunition in furtherance of a federal crime of terrorism.
“By pledging allegiance to ISIS and plotting an attack against innocent Americans on Election Day, this defendant endangered lives and gravely betrayed the nation that gave him refuge,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Today’s guilty plea guarantees he will be held accountable, stripped of his immigration status, and permanently removed from the United States, and shows the Justice Department has zero tolerance for those who exploit our freedoms to spread violence.”
“The defendant admits he planned and obtained firearms to carry out a violent terror attack on Election Day in 2024, a plot that was detected and disrupted through the good work of the FBI and our partners,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Let this serve as notice to anyone who tries to conduct attacks in our homeland for ISIS or any other terror group: we will find you and you’ll face American justice. I want to commend the FBI teams and our partners for their hard work and success in executing the mission.”
“Through incredible law enforcement effort and coordination, a violent terrorist attack on American soil was thwarted, and those responsible are being held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma. “I commend the outstanding work by the FBI, our law enforcement partners, and prosecutors to diligently discover, thoroughly investigate, and completely foil this terror plot. These guilty pleas serve as an emphatic reminder that the Department of Justice and its law enforcement partners will aggressively pursue those who attempt to harm Americans through terrorist acts.”
“Thanks to outstanding work by the Oklahoma City Joint Terrorism Task Force, the defendant’s plan to kill innocent Americans in a terrorist attack on Election Day was stopped,” said Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. “The FBI is grateful to all who stand beside us in our fight against terrorism. Together, we will continue to safeguard our communities from those who conspire against the United States.”
According to court documents, Tawhedi admitted that between June 2024 and October 2024 he conspired with at least one other individual to purchase two AK-47 rifles, 500 rounds of ammunition, and 10 magazines, with the intent to carry out a mass-casualty attack on or around Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024, on behalf of ISIS. According to a criminal complaint affidavit filed in the case, Tawhedi communicated with an ISIS facilitator about his plan to purchase firearms for use in the terror plot, including asking the individual whether 500 rounds of ammunition would be sufficient.
Tawhedi and his co-conspirator, Abdullah Haji Zada, were arrested on Oct. 7, 2024, after purchasing the firearms and ammunition from an undercover FBI employee. Zada, 18, pleaded guilty in April 2025 to the firearms offense in connection with his role in the terror plot and is awaiting sentencing. Zada, who was 17 at the time of his arrest, entered his guilty plea as an adult and will be sentenced as an adult.
At sentencing, Tawhedi faces a maximum penalty 20 years in prison for the material support charge and up to 15 years in prison for the firearms charge. Zada faces up to 15 years in federal prison. Upon completion of any sentence, Tawhedi and Zada will be permanently removed from the United States and barred from reentry under stipulated judicial orders of removal to Afghanistan. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Oklahoma City Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Marshals Service, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Edmond Police Department, the Moore Police Department, the Oklahoma City Police Department, the Oklahoma City Community College Police Department, and the Oklahoma City University Police Department, is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica L. Perry and Matt Dillon for the Western District of Oklahoma; Assistant U.S. Attorney Everett McMillian, who previously served in the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section; and Trial Attorney Jennifer Levy of the Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case. Trial Attorney Mark Stoneman of the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, who previously served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma, also assisted with the prosecution.
12 June 2025
Ypsilanti Man Sentenced to over 15 Years in Federal Prison on Child Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
DETROIT – Mubasher Riaz, 41, of Ypsilanti, Michigan, was sentenced today to 188 months in prison after having pleaded guilty to charges of coercion and enticement of a minor, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division.
According to court records, in July 2023, local police in Maumee, Ohio, learned that Riaz was messaging a 13-year-old girl, Minor Victim 1 (MV-1) on Snapchat. Communications between Riaz and MV-1 showed that Riaz had requested and received nude images of the minor and that he attempted to gather information about her home with the intent to meet with her to engage in sexual activity. FBI agents reviewed Riaz’s Snapchat communications and found that Riaz messaged numerous other individuals on Snapchat who identified themselves as minors, some as young as 11 years old. For example, Riaz communicated with Minor Victim 2 (MV-2), who was 13 years old when Riaz contacted her. Riaz drove to MV-2’s foster home and engaged in sexual activity with her in his parked car. Riaz offered MV-1 and MV-2 tobacco and other items in exchange for sex acts. As part of his sentence, Riaz will be required to pay $150,000 in restitution to his minor victims.
“This defendant preyed in the most disgusting ways on vulnerable girls as young as 11 years old. Those are the actions of an evil man. And we will do everything in our power to prosecute fiends who prowl around pursuing our children,” U.S. Attorney Gorgon said.
“The sentencing of Mubasher Riaz sends a powerful and unequivocal message: those who exploit children will be investigated aggressively and held fully accountable under federal law,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office. “I commend the exceptional efforts of our Ann Arbor Resident Agency and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. Their unwavering dedication to justice was instrumental in securing this conviction. The FBI in Michigan is resolute in its mission to protect children and ensure that anyone who seeks to harm them will face justice.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zachary Zurek.
Wolf Point man pleads guilty to assault on Fort Peck Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS - A Wolf Point man accused of stabbing another individual on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
The defendant, Andy Kane Follet, 20, pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. Follet faces 10 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is set for October 22, 2025. Follet was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that on January 27, 2024, the defendant, Andy Kane Follet, and several friends, including co-defendants and the victim, John Doe, were in a yard in Wolf Point, Montana, playing a game of “slap-boxing.” The fighting escalated and the group broke up – Follet and his co-defendants returned to the Follet home. Shortly after they returned to the home, Doe approached the house demanding to get his phone back. Follet and his co-defendants exited the home and confronted Doe in the driveway.
Several people witnessed the assault. One witness described seeing Follet and co-defendants hitting John Doe. The witness described seeing one person hit Doe with a bat, then the other two started hitting Doe as well, with one of them using a hammer. Another witness went outside after hearing a commotion. He saw Follet and his co-defendants approaching Doe while he backed away. The witness described the three then “jumping” Doe.
One co-defendant hit Doe repeatedly in the head with a hammer. As Doe was trying to get up Follet stabbed Doe in the chest. In an interview with law enforcement, Follet said he thought Doe was wearing enough layers of clothes that he could not be injured by the knife. He also said Doe had cut him with a knife and that if didn’t do anything (after he was stabbed), his whole family would make fun of him. None of the independent witnesses reported Doe having a knife. The only knife found at the scene around Doe’s body was located in Doe’s pocket. A large knife with apparent blood was later located hidden in a hole in a wall of Follet’s home.
Doe died at the scene before law enforcement could arrive. According to an autopsy, Doe died from blunt and sharp force injuries to the head and chest. The stab wound to the chest consisted of a 6-inch penetration that perforated Doe’s sternum, heart, and esophagus.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI, Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice, Wolf Point Police Department, and State of Montana Division of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
West Columbia Man Indicted for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Greenville returned a 10-count indictment against Robert John May III, 38, of West Columbia, for distributing child sexual abuse material.*
According to court documents and statements made in court, in April 2024, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a cyber-tip from the social messaging app Kik. Kik flagged several videos from the username “joebidennnn69” as containing child sexual abuse. Investigators connected the account to the home IP address and mobile device of May and identified at least 10 videos depicting child sexual abuse that were shared from the account.
May faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison with a minimum of five years, a fine of $250,000, and a term of at least five years of supervised release to follow any term of imprisonment.
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. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Matthews and Dean Secor are prosecuting the case with Austin M. Berry of the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation & Obscenity Section.
All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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* The term “child pornography” is currently used in federal statutes and is defined as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a person less than 18 years old. While this phrase still appears in federal law, “child sexual abuse material” is preferred, as it better reflects the abuse that is depicted in the images and videos and the resulting trauma to the child. The Associated Press Stylebook also discourages the use of the phrase “child pornography.”
Washington man sentenced to 14 years in prison for possessing meth, fentanyl and heroinRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Tacoma, Washington man who possessed and distributed drugs that impacted Butte and the Blackfeet Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 14 years in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Scott Trent Miller, 42, pleaded guilty in January 2025 to one count of possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on September 11, 2024, law enforcement in Butte was informed by a source that Miller was routinely traveling from Washington to Montana to sell drugs. Law enforcement surveilled Miller at a hotel in Butte. They saw him leave and get into a car with another person. A traffic stop was conducted, and Miller denied a request to search the vehicle. During a pat search of Miller, officers found a marijuana pipe and $1,583 in cash. Drug paraphernalia was also found on the other person in the car.
An officer with a K9 dog was called to the scene and the K9 alerted to the scent of illegal drugs. A search warrant was issued, and officers seized a trash bag containing a large amount of methamphetamine, fentanyl powder, 100 fentanyl pills, and heroin.
Law enforcement reviewed Facebook records for Miller’s account, which showed him messaging individuals for the purpose of distributing drugs.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the DEA, State of Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, and Blackfeet Tribes Department of Law and Justice.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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United States returns over $680,000 in stolen cryptocurrency using civil asset forfeitureRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The United States has recovered and cleared title to over $680,000 worth of stolen cryptocurrency using civil asset forfeiture and is in the process of returning those funds to the victim, a cryptocurrency and blockchain company.
According to court documents, on March 28, 2023, an unidentified person sought to exploit a vulnerability in a cryptocurrency product created by SafeMoon, LLC. SafeMoon used a reserve, called a liquidity pool, to allow trading between different types of cryptocurrency by securing a supply of cryptocurrency assets to ensure sufficient liquidity in the market. This allowed SafeMoon to prevent large fluctuations in the price of SafeMoon’s cryptocurrency. The liquidity pool was secured and managed by a digital program called a “smart contract” that automatically executed when specified conditions occurred. The smart contract was mistakenly programmed, however, so that it could be used by anyone to “burn,” or destroy, tokens from the SafeMoon liquidity pool.
The exploiter’s scheme involved manipulating SafeMoon’s cryptocurrency by initiating a transaction that would burn a large number of SafeMoon tokens simultaneously, resulting in an artificial price spike. Then the exploiter could sell tokens back to the liquidity pool at an artificially inflated price at a loss to SafeMoon.
At the same time, however, an automated cryptocurrency trading program called a “bot” was engaged in “front-running,” which exploits normal delays in the processing of transactions by scanning and simulating pending transactions to determine how profitable they are, then executes profitable trades ahead of the original trader. In this case, the front-running bot caused the exploiter’s transaction to fail and directed the profits from its own trade to an account the bot operator controlled. The cryptocurrency stolen from SafeMoon was worth over $8.5 million on the day it was stolen.
Within a few hours of the attack, the front-running bot operator contacted SafeMoon, claiming to have prevented an attack. While purportedly offering to return the stolen cryptocurrency, the bot operator also threatened to withhold the entirety of the cryptocurrency stolen from SafeMoon if SafeMoon did not allow the operator to keep a percentage. SafeMoon relented and let the bot operator keep 20 percent of the stolen cryptocurrency.
On May 15, 2023, the FBI seized $680,467.92 and 480.996 BNB from accounts at OKX, a cryptocurrency exchange platform, representing approximately half of the 20 percent extorted from SafeMoon. SafeMoon has since filed for bankruptcy, but the funds are being returned to the bankruptcy trustee for SafeMoon.
Neither the original exploiter nor the bot operator has been identified to date and they may be located abroad. Without the possibility of a criminal prosecution, the United States used a civil asset forfeiture action against this stolen cryptocurrency to recover these funds for theft victims. The civil asset forfeiture action afforded all potential claimants an opportunity to contest the forfeiture in court and put the government to its burden of proof.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Emily Odom, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Divisions, made the announcement after the settlement order between the United States and the SafeMoon bankruptcy trustee was issued by U.S. District Judge Patricia T. Giles.
The matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Hudson. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Keim and Former Eastern District of Virginia prosecutor Jay V. Prabhu supported the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cv-1065.
Undocumented Immigrant Charged with Illegally Re-Entering United States After Multiple DeportationsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — An undocumented immigrant residing in northern Illinois has been arrested on a federal immigration charge for allegedly unlawfully re-entering the United States after multiple deportations.
An indictment returned Monday in U.S. District Court in Chicago charges SALVADOR GUERRERO-LOPEZ, also known as “Jovani Hernandez Pina,” 42, with one count of unlawful re-entry after removal. Guerrero-Lopez, a Mexican national residing in Island Lake, Ill., was arrested on May 30, 2025. Arraignment in federal court in Chicago has not yet been scheduled.
Guerrero-Lopez was deported from the United States to Mexico in 2004, 2011, and 2021 after criminal convictions for unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor in California and narcotics distribution in Arkansas, according to the indictment and a criminal complaint previously filed in the case. Most recently, he was taken into federal custody last month after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Eagle Pass, Texas, requested assistance from law enforcement in the Chicago area to locate and apprehend Guerrero-Lopez, who is under investigation in Texas for suspected criminal offenses, the complaint states.
The unlawful re-entry charge is punishable by up to twenty years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Defendants convicted of this offense are subject to deportation.
The indictment and arrest were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent-in-Charge of ICE-HSI in Chicago. Substantial assistance was provided by ICE-HSI in Eagle Pass, Texas. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Havey.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
guerrero-lopez_indictment.pdf guerrero-lopez_complaint.pdfUSAID Official and Three Corporate Executives Plead Guilty to Decade-Long Bribery Scheme Involving over $550 Million in Contracts; Two Companies Admit Criminal Liability for Bribery Scheme and Securities FraudRead the Press Release
Four men, including a government contracting officer for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and three owners and presidents of companies, have pleaded guilty for their roles in a decade-long bribery scheme involving at least 14 prime contracts worth over $550 million in U.S. taxpayer dollars.
- Roderick Watson, 57, of Woodstock, Maryland, who worked as a USAID contracting officer, pleaded guilty to bribery of a public official;
- Walter Barnes, 46, of Potomac, Maryland, who was the owner and president of PM Consulting Group LLC doing business as Vistant (Vistant), a certified small business under the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 8(a) contracting program, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery of a public official and securities fraud;
- Darryl Britt, 64, of Myakka City, Florida, who was the owner and president of Apprio, Inc. (Apprio), a certified small business under the SBA 8(a) contracting program, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery of a public official; and
- Paul Young, 62, of Columbia, Maryland, who was the president of a subcontractor to Vistant and Apprio, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery of a public official.
In addition, Apprio and Vistant, both of which contracted with USAID, have agreed to admit criminal liability and enter into three-year deferred prosecution agreements (DPAs) in connection with criminal informations filed today in the District of Maryland. As part of these resolutions, both Apprio and Vistant admitted to engaging in a conspiracy to commit bribery of a public official and securities fraud. The DPAs entered into with Apprio and Vistant require each company to, among other obligations, provide ongoing cooperation with and disclosures to the Justice Department, implement a compliance and ethics program, and report to Justice Department regarding remediation and implementation of these compliance measures.
“The defendants sought to enrich themselves at the expense of American taxpayers through bribery and fraud,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Their scheme violated the public trust by corrupting the federal government’s procurement process. Anybody who cares about good and effective government should be concerned about the waste, fraud, and abuse in government agencies, including USAID. Those who engage in bribery schemes to exploit the U.S. Small Business Administration’s vital economic programs for small businesses — whether individuals or corporations acting through them — will be held to account.”
“Watson was entrusted to serve the interests of the American people — not his own — and his criminal actions for his own personal gain undermine the integrity of our public institutions,” said U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland. “Public trust is a hallmark of our nation’s values, so corruption within a federal government agency is intolerable. This office, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue and prosecute corruption at every level to ensure accountability and protect public trust.”
“The guilty pleas reflect the FBI’s unwavering commitment to holding accountable all those who abuse the authority and responsibility of public service,” said Assistant Director Joe Perez of the FBI's Criminal Division. “The actions of the defendants in this scheme serve to erode public trust. The FBI is focused on rebuilding this trust and protecting American taxpayers from corruption through investigations such as these.”
“Corruption in government programs will not be tolerated. Watson abused his position of trust for personal gain while federal contractors engaged in a pay-to-play scheme,” said Acting Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Sean Bottary of the USAID Office of Inspector General (USAID-OIG). “USAID-OIG is firmly committed to rooting out fraud and corruption within U.S. foreign assistance programs. Today’s announcement underscores our unwavering focus on exposing criminal activity, including bribery schemes by those entrusted to faithfully award government contracts. We appreciate our longstanding partnership with the Department of Justice in holding accountable those who defraud American taxpayers.”
“Watson exploited his position at USAID to line his pockets with bribes in exchange for more than $550 million in contracts. While he helped three company owners and presidents bypass the fair bidding process, he was showered with cash and lavish gifts,” said Chief Guy Ficco of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). “Through its financial crime investigations, IRS-CI works to protect taxpayer dollars and ensure government funds are awarded based on merit — not corruption. In close coordination with our law enforcement partners, IRS-CI helped put an end to their greed and criminal conduct. Now, Watson and his co-conspirators will face justice.”
Overview of Bribery Scheme
According to court documents, beginning in 2013, Watson, while a USAID contracting officer, agreed with Britt to receive bribes in exchange for using Watson’s influence to award contracts to Apprio. As a certified small business under the SBA 8(a) contracting program, which helps socially and economically disadvantaged businesses, Apprio could access lucrative federal contracting opportunities through set-asides and sole-source contracts exclusively available to eligible contractors without a competitive bid process.
Vistant was a subcontractor to Apprio on one of the contracts awarded through Watson’s influence. After Apprio graduated from the SBA 8(a) program and it was no longer eligible to be a prime contractor for new contracts with USAID under this program, the scheme shifted so that Vistant became the prime contractor and Apprio became the subcontractor on USAID contracts awarded through Watson’s influence between 2018 and 2022.
During the scheme, Britt and Barnes paid bribes to Watson that were often concealed by passing them through Young, who was the president of another subcontractor to Apprio and Vistant. Britt and Barnes also regularly funneled bribes to Watson, including cash, laptops, thousands of dollars in tickets to a suite at an NBA game, a country club wedding, downpayments on two residential mortgages, cellular phones, and jobs for relatives. The bribes were also often concealed through electronic bank transfers falsely listing Watson on payroll, incorporated shell companies, and false invoices. Watson is alleged to have received bribes valued at more than approximately $1 million as part of the scheme.
In exchange for the bribe payments, Watson influenced the award of contracts to Apprio and Vistant by manipulating the procurement process at USAID through various means, including recommending their companies to other USAID decisionmakers for non-competitive contract awards, disclosing sensitive procurement information during the competitive bidding process, providing positive performance evaluations to a government agency, and approving decisions on the contracts, such as increased funding and a security clearance.
Apprio and Vistant also agreed to resolve concurrently with the Justice Department in its separate Civil False Claims Act investigations relating to the bribery scheme.
Overview of Vistant Securities Fraud Scheme
According to court documents, in 2022, Barnes and Watson defrauded a licensed small business investment company (SBIC), in furtherance of the bribery scheme, by inducing it into executing a credit agreement with Vistant. Through the credit agreement, Barnes caused Vistant to issue stock warrants that, if exercised, would result in the SBIC having a 40% equity stake in Vistant. The credit agreement also provided for a $14 million loan to Vistant from which Barnes could pay himself a $10 million dividend. Prior to executing the credit agreement, Watson agreed at Barnes’s request to speak with the SBIC about Vistant’s performance as a government contractor on USAID contracts. When speaking with the SBIC, Watson omitted that Barnes had bribed Watson to obtain USAID contracts for years. Watson’s endorsement of Vistant thereafter induced the SBIC to enter into the credit agreement with Barnes.
Overview of Apprio Securities Fraud Scheme
According to court documents, in 2023, Apprio, acting through Britt, engaged in a scheme in which Apprio fraudulently induced a private equity firm, which had an investment pool that was licensed as a SBIC, to purchase from Apprio’s parent company a 20% equity stake in the company for $4 million and simultaneously extend it a $4 million loan secured by shares of Apprio stock. In addition to making false material representations in the stock purchase and loan agreements, Britt intentionally omitted during his negotiations the material fact that he had bribed Watson for years, which was intended to deceive and induce the private equity company into executing the agreements.
Deferred Prosecution Agreements with Apprio and Vistant
The Justice Department reached its resolution with Apprio based on several factors, including Apprio’s credit for clearly accepting responsibility for its criminal conduct, fully cooperating in the investigation and engaging in timely remedial measures. Based on these factors, the criminal penalty calculated under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines reflects a 10% reduction off the bottom of the applicable Guidelines fine range pursuant to the Criminal Division Corporate Enforcement and Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy (CEP). According to court documents, Apprio agreed that the appropriate criminal penalty based on the law and facts in its case is $51,673,185; however, Apprio also met its burden of establishing an inability to pay the criminal penalty sought. Based on the Justice Department’s independent analysis, it determined that paying a criminal penalty and civil settlement greater than $500,000 would substantially threaten the continued viability of Apprio. Accordingly, the Justice Department determined that the appropriate resolution of this case is a DPA and a payment of $500,000 in a civil settlement.
Similarly, the Justice Department reached its resolution with Vistant based on a number of factors, including Vistant’s credit for clearly accepting responsibility for its criminal conduct and cooperating with the investigation. Although Vistant’s cooperation was initially delayed and limited, Vistant began to fully cooperate thereafter. Vistant also received credit for engaging in timely remedial measures. Based on these factors, the penalty calculated under the Guidelines reflects a 5% reduction off the bottom of the applicable Guidelines fine range pursuant to the CEP. Vistant agreed that the appropriate criminal penalty based on the law and facts in its case is $86,407,740; however, Vistant also met its burden of establishing an inability to pay the criminal penalty sought. Based on the Justice Department’s independent analysis, it determined that paying a criminal penalty and civil settlement greater than $100,000 would substantially threaten the continued viability of Vistant. Accordingly, the Justice Department determined that the appropriate resolution of this case is a DPA and a payment of $100,000 in a civil settlement.
Watson is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 6, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. Young is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 3 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Britt is scheduled to be sentenced on July 28 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Barnes is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 14 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
The FBI, USAID-OIG, and IRS-CI are investigating the cases.
Trial Attorneys Matt Kahn and Brandon Burkart of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick D. Kibbe for the District of Maryland are prosecuting the cases.
USAID Official and Three Corporate Executives Plead Guilty to Decade-Long Bribery Scheme Involving More Than $550 Million in Contracts; Two Companies Admit Criminal Liability for Bribery Scheme and Securities FraudRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Four men, including a government contracting officer for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and three owners and presidents of companies, have pleaded guilty for their roles in a decade-long bribery scheme involving at least 14 prime contracts worth more than $550 million in U.S. taxpayer dollars.
Roderick Watson, 57, of Woodstock, Maryland, who worked as a USAID contracting officer, pled guilty to bribery of a public official; Walter Barnes, 46, of Potomac, Maryland, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery of a public official and securities fraud; Darryl Britt, 64, of Myakka City, Florida, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery of a public official; and Paul Young, 62, of Columbia, Maryland, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery of a public official.
In addition, Apprio and Vistant, both of which contracted with USAID, have agreed to admit criminal liability and enter into three-year deferred prosecution agreements (DPAs) in connection with criminal informations filed today in the District of Maryland. As part of these resolutions, both Apprio and Vistant admitted to engaging in a conspiracy to commit bribery of a public official and securities fraud. The DPAs entered into with Apprio and Vistant require each company to, among other obligations, provide ongoing cooperation with and disclosures to the Justice Department, implement a compliance and ethics program, and report to Justice Department regarding remediation and implementation of these compliance measures.
“Watson was entrusted to serve the interests of the American people – not his own – and his criminal actions for his own personal gain undermines the integrity of our public institutions,” said Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland. “Public trust is a hallmark of our nation’s values, so corruption within a federal government agency is intolerable. This office, along with our law-enforcement partners, will continue to pursue and prosecute corruption at every level to ensure accountability and protect public trust.”
“The defendants sought to enrich themselves at the expense of the American taxpayers,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Their scheme violated the public trust by undermining the integrity of the Federal government’s procurement process. Anybody that cares about good and effective government should be concerned about the waste, fraud, and abuse in government agencies, including USAID. Those who engage in bribery schemes to exploit the U.S. Small Business Administration’s vital economic programs for small businesses—whether individuals or corporations acting through them—will be held to account.”
"The guilty verdicts reflect the FBI’s unwavering commitment to holding accountable all those who abuse the authority and responsibility of public service,” said Assistant Director Joe Perez of the FBI's Criminal Division. "The actions of the defendants in this scheme serve to erode public trust. The FBI is focused on rebuilding this trust and protecting American taxpayers from corruption through investigations such as these.”
“Corruption in government programs will not be tolerated. Watson abused his position of trust for personal gain while federal contractors engaged in a pay-to-play scheme,” said USAID OIG Acting Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Sean Bottary. “USAID OIG is firmly committed to rooting out fraud and corruption within U.S. foreign assistance programs. Today's announcement underscores our unwavering focus on exposing criminal activity, including bribery schemes by those entrusted to faithfully award government contracts. We appreciate our longstanding partnership with the Department of Justice in holding accountable those who defraud American taxpayers.”
“Watson exploited his position at USAID to line his pockets with bribes in exchange for more than $550 million in contracts. While he helped three company owners and presidents bypass the fair bidding process, he was showered with cash and lavish gifts. Through its financial crime investigations, IRS-CI works to protect taxpayer dollars and ensure government funds are awarded based on merit—not corruption. In close coordination with our law enforcement partners, IRS-CI helped put an end to their greed and criminal conduct. Now, Watson and his co-conspirators will face justice,” said Guy Ficco, Chief, IRS Criminal Investigation.
Overview of Bribery Scheme
According to court documents, beginning in 2013, Watson, while a USAID contracting officer, agreed with Britt to receive bribes in exchange for using Watson’s influence to award contracts to Apprio. As a certified small business under the SBA 8(a) contracting program, which helps socially and economically disadvantaged businesses, Apprio could access lucrative federal contracting opportunities through set-asides and sole-source contracts exclusively available to eligible contractors without a competitive bid process.
Vistant was a subcontractor to Apprio on one of the contracts awarded through Watson’s influence. After Apprio graduated from the SBA 8(a) program and it was no longer eligible to be a prime contractor for new contracts with USAID under this program, the scheme shifted so that Vistant became the prime contractor and Apprio became the subcontractor on USAID contracts awarded through Watson’s influence between 2018 and 2022.
During the scheme, Britt and Barnes paid bribes to Watson that were often concealed by passing them through Young, who was the president of another subcontractor to Apprio and Vistant. Britt and Barnes also regularly funneled bribes to Watson, including cash, laptops, thousands of dollars in tickets to a suite at an NBA game, a country club wedding, downpayments on two residential mortgages, cellular phones, and jobs for relatives. The bribes were also often concealed through electronic bank transfers falsely listing Watson on payroll, incorporated shell companies, and false invoices. Watson is alleged to have received bribes valued at more than approximately $1 million as part of the scheme.
In exchange for the bribe payments, Watson influenced the award of contracts to Apprio and Vistant by manipulating the procurement process at USAID through various means, including recommending their companies to other USAID decisionmakers for non-competitive contract awards, disclosing sensitive procurement information during the competitive bidding process, providing positive performance evaluations to a government agency, and approving decisions on the contracts, such as increased funding and a security clearance.
Apprio and Vistant also agreed to resolve concurrently with the Justice Department in its separate Civil False Claims Act investigations relating to the bribery scheme.
Overview of Vistant Securities Fraud Scheme
According to court documents, in 2022, Barnes and Watson defrauded a licensed small business investment company (SBIC), in furtherance of the bribery scheme, by inducing it into executing a credit agreement with Vistant. Through the credit agreement, Barnes caused Vistant to issue stock warrants that, if exercised, would result in the SBIC having a 40% equity stake in Vistant. The credit agreement also provided for a $14 million loan to Vistant from which Barnes could pay himself a $10 million dividend. Prior to executing the credit agreement, Watson agreed at Barnes’s request to speak with the SBIC about Vistant’s performance as a government contractor on USAID contracts. When speaking with the SBIC, Watson omitted that Barnes had bribed Watson to obtain USAID contracts for years. Watson’s endorsement of Vistant thereafter induced the SBIC to enter into the credit agreement with Barnes.
Overview of Apprio Securities Fraud Scheme
According to court documents, in 2023, Apprio, acting through Britt, engaged in a scheme in which Apprio fraudulently induced a private equity firm, which had an investment pool that was licensed as a SBIC, to purchase from Apprio’s parent company a 20% equity stake in the company for $4 million and simultaneously extend it a $4 million loan secured by shares of Apprio stock. In addition to making false material representations in the stock purchase and loan agreements, Britt intentionally omitted during his negotiations the material fact that he had bribed Watson for years, which was intended to deceive and induce the private equity company into executing the agreements.
Deferred Prosecution Agreements with Apprio and Vistant
The Justice Department reached its resolution with Apprio based on several factors, including Apprio’s credit for clearly accepting responsibility for its criminal conduct, fully cooperating in the investigation and engaging in timely remedial measures. Based on these factors, the criminal penalty calculated under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines reflects a 10% reduction off the bottom of the applicable Guidelines fine range pursuant to the Criminal Division Corporate Enforcement and Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy (CEP). According to court documents, Apprio agreed that the appropriate criminal penalty based on the law and facts in its case is $51,673,185; however, Apprio also met its burden of establishing an inability to pay the criminal penalty sought. Based on the Justice Department’s independent analysis, it determined that paying a criminal penalty and civil settlement greater than $500,000 would substantially threaten the continued viability of Apprio. Accordingly, the Justice Department determined that the appropriate resolution of this case is a DPA and a payment of $500,000 in a civil settlement.
Similarly, the Justice Department reached its resolution with Vistant based on a number of factors, including Vistant’s credit for clearly accepting responsibility for its criminal conduct and cooperating with the investigation. Although Vistant’s cooperation was initially delayed and limited, Vistant began to fully cooperate thereafter. Vistant also received credit for engaging in timely remedial measures. Based on these factors, the penalty calculated under the Guidelines reflects a 5% reduction off the bottom of the applicable Guidelines fine range pursuant to the CEP. Vistant agreed that the appropriate criminal penalty based on the law and facts in its case is $86,407,740; however, Vistant also met its burden of establishing an inability to pay the criminal penalty sought. Based on the Justice Department’s independent analysis, it determined that paying a criminal penalty and civil settlement greater than $100,000 would substantially threaten the continued viability of Vistant. Accordingly, the Justice Department determined that the appropriate resolution of this case is a DPA and a payment of $100,000 in a civil settlement.
Watson faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison. His sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 6. Young faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. His sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 3. Britt faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. His sentencing is scheduled for July 28. Barnes faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. His sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 14.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, USAID OIG, and IRS-CI who are investigating this case.
Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick D. Kibbe and Trial Attorneys Matt Kahn and Brandon Burkart, Department of Justice, Criminal Division Fraud Section, who are prosecuting the case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Tucson Residents Charged after Shooting at Undercover Police Officer’s VehicleRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On Wednesday, a four-count federal indictment was unsealed, charging Tucson residents, Hassan Omar Kassim, 19, Alexandra Brooke Wisdom, 19, Daniel Cardenas, 18, and Jaquvon Terell Poe, 20 with crimes related to shooting at a Tucson Police Department (TPD) Officer in April of this year. Cardenas is charged with Use of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence, Kassim and Poe are charged with Aiding and Abetting the crime, and all three are charged with Conspiracy to Commit this offense. Wisdom was charged with Accessory After the Fact.
“Any attack on law enforcement is an attack on the rule of law,” said United States Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “Our office is proud to support Tucson Police officers as they put their lives on the line to keep their communities safe.”
"It's reassuring to know that those responsible for shooting at one of our officers, who was just doing his job, were given the highest priority,” said Tucson Police Department Assistant Chief Diana Duffy. “We are extremely grateful for our continued partnership with the United States Attorney's Office and the FBI here in Tucson.”
"These individuals demonstrated a clear disregard for human life, and we are grateful that no law enforcement personnel or civilians were injured during this dangerous encounter,” said Heith Janke, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Phoenix Field Office. “The FBI will not waiver in our commitment to ensure those who commit acts of violence against members of law enforcement will be held accountable and punished to the fullest extent of the law. We are proud to support and stand-by our Tucson Police Department partners."
On April 20, 2025, a TPD Officer was working as a member of the Operations Division West (ODW) Community Response Team (CRT) around Stone Avenue and Fort Lowell in Tucson, Arizona. The officer was in plain clothes and driving an unmarked City of Tucson vehicle when he observed a dark colored car traveling southbound at a high rate of speed. The officer was able to get behind the vehicle and broadcast its license plate to other members of ODW CRT. The driver of the car then made a turn and an individual, later identified as Daniel Cardenas, leaned out of the rear driver’s side window and shot at the unmarked TPD vehicle. The driver then made another u-turn and Cardenas fired additional shots at the unmarked officer’s vehicle. The officer was unharmed. A marked patrol officer responded to the area and attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver failed to yield and, after a short pursuit, officers lost sight of the car.
Through further investigation, detectives and special agents were able to identify Hassan Omar Kassim as the driver of the car at time of the shooting, and Jaquvon Terell Poe as the rear passenger-side occupant. Officers learned that Alexandra Brooke Wisdom later drove the car to abandon it, removing items from the vehicle in the process, some of which were recovered in her apartment.
A criminal indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Tucson Police Department and the FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson Office, as part of the FBI’s Southern Arizona Violent Crime and Gang Task Force, conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam D. Rossi, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-25-02309-TUC-JCH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-093_Kassim, et. al.# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Truck driver sentenced to life in federal prison for kidnapping leading to deathRead the Press Release
A truck driver who kidnapped a 25-year-old woman and dumped her dead body in the woods in August 2024 was sentenced today to life in federal prison, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson.
Naasson Hazzard, 28, of Austin, was indicted in October 2024 on federal charges of kidnapping resulting in death, which carried a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment. Hazzard’s victim was an army veteran who entered the military immediately after high school. Information shared during the sentencing hearing today revealed that there were full military honors at her funeral.
After an eight-day trial in late January this year, a jury convicted Hazzard. Today, U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay sentenced him to life in federal prison.
“The tremendous, relentless work of multiple law enforcement partners brought the terrible acts of this predator to light, and the jury answered the call for justice by finding him guilty,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy E. Larson. “Now, the life sentence he will serve reflects the value and sanctity of this victim’s life. We hope that this sentence helps her family in the healing process.”
“This defendant has been justly sentenced to prison for his abhorrent actions, ensuring that society will be safe from his predatory behavior for the remainder of his life,” said Travis Pickard, Special Agent in Charge HSI Dallas. “I applaud the unwavering commitment of the North Texas Trafficking Task Force, and all the law enforcement partners whose persistence led to this outcome. May today’s judgment provide some solace to the victim’s family, reassuring them that HSI will never relent in our pursuit of sexual predators who aim to exploit and harm unsuspecting victims.”
According to evidence presented at trial, surveillance video caught Hazzard’s victim, a young woman, entering his semi-truck in Dallas at 9:27 p.m. on Aug. 15, 2024. Eight days later, her decomposing body was found in a wooded area off Texas Highway 11 in Pittsburg, Texas with a black plastic bag tied around her head.
Cell phone records showed that on the evening of Aug. 15, Mr. Hazzard traveled from the pickup location to a nearby parking lot, where he remained for approximately 17 minutes. Evidence at trial reflected that Hazzard picked up the victim with the expectation of engaging in a sex act. He then drove over three hours to a wooded area off Highway 11 in Pittsburg, Texas, where he texted his boss that he would be out sick the following day and remained for almost an hour before completing a load for work.
The next day, he and his wife returned to the scene before going to dinner in Tyler, Texas.
In the days that followed, Mr. Hazzard switched cell phones and deleted his Google and Life360 location sharing accounts. He also cleaned the truck with bleach and searched “how many years for first second and third degree murders.” Meanwhile, his wife searched for “Pittsburg Texas news.”
On Aug. 23, the same day the victim’s body was recovered, agents found the victim’s cell phone shattered on the side of the road along Mr. Hazzard’s route the night she was killed.
“Your Honor, Naasson didn’t just take a life. He destroyed futures. He created a ripple effect of suffering that reaches further than he could ever understand,” the victim’s brother told the Court during his impact statement at today’s sentencing hearing. “I ask you, please don’t see my sister as just a name in a case file. She was a daughter. A sister. A mother. A light in the lives of everyone who knew her. Her life mattered. And her death must mean something.”
The North Texas Trafficking Task Force conducted the investigation with the assistance of the following agencies: the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, the Dallas Police Department, the Midlothian Police Department, the Texas Rangers, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, the Titus County Sheriff’s Office, the Buda Police Department, the Austin Police Department, the Hayes County Sheriff’s Office, and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Homeland Security Investigation’s Dallas Field Office leads the Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandie Wade and Renee Hunter prosecuted the case with the help of appellate liaison AUSA Jonathan Bradshaw.
Three Foreign Nationals Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the United States After DeportationRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that three men convicted separately of illegally reentering the United States after prior deportations were sentenced this week.
Oscar Martinez Olmedo, 44, a Mexican national, was sentenced by United States District Judge Kelley Brisbon Hodge on Tuesday to 18 months in prison for illegal reentry. Upon the completion of his sentence, he again will be removed from the country.
Olmedo had been deported from the United States in December of 2004.
Following his removal, the defendant illegally re-entered the United States and was arrested in February 2020 by the Coatesville (Pa.) Police Department on multiple state charges. He was subsequently convicted in the Chester County Court of Common Pleas of six counts of manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, six counts of conspiracy to possess a controlled substance, and one count of illegal sale or transfer of a firearm. He also pleaded guilty to additional drug and gun charges brought in a separate case.
ICE had received an electronic notification at the time of Olmedo’s arrest in 2020. In December 2024, following the completion of his sentence on the state charges, ICE officers took Olmedo into custody. He was charged by federal indictment with illegal reentry in January of this year and pleaded guilty in February.
Jimy Noe Meza-Hernandez, 37, a Honduran national, was sentenced by United States District Judge John M. Younge on Tuesday to time served, almost four months, for illegal reentry. Having completed his prison sentence, he again will be removed from the country.
Meza-Hernandez had previously been deported in August of 2012, after he was encountered in Texas by the U.S. Border Patrol and arrested for being in the country illegally.
In September of 2024, ICE received an electronic notification that Meza-Hernandez had been arrested by the Plymouth Meeting (Pa.) Police Department. He pleaded guilty in late January to two counts of harassment and was sentenced to probation.
ICE located the defendant and took him into custody in February. In March of this year, he was charged by indictment with illegal reentry and pleaded guilty this week.
Fredy Soriano Palestino, 32, a Mexican national, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Kai N. Scott on Tuesday to time served, almost three months, for illegally reentering the United States. Having completed his prison sentence, he again will be removed from the country.
Soriano Palestino was encountered by the U.S. Border Patrol in Arizona, after illegally crossing the border, and removed back to Mexico in December of 2011. Following his removal, the defendant illegally re-entered the United States and was arrested in March of this year by local authorities in a misdemeanor case that was subsequently dismissed.
ICE received an electronic notification at the time of Soriano Palestino’s arrest, lodged a detainer, and took him into custody. In April, Soriano Palestino was charged by information with illegal reentry and pleaded guilty.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
The cases were investigated by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations and are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Danielle Bateman, Katherine Shulman, and Kevin Jayne.
Texas Woman Sentenced for Fatal Smuggling Attempt After Fleeing New Mexico Border Patrol CheckpointRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Texas woman was sentenced to 10 years in prison following her conviction for transporting undocumented noncitizens resulting in a fatality during a high-speed flight from law enforcement near Las Cruces, New Mexico.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, shortly after midnight on September 20, 2023, U.S. Border Patrol agents were conducting inspections at the westbound Interstate 10 checkpoint when Georgina Ramirez, 44, approached in a SUV. Upon questioning, Ramirez presented her driver’s license but refused to fully lower a rear window, arousing agents’ suspicions. As agents attempted further inspection, Ramirez suddenly accelerated, fleeing the checkpoint at high speed.
Ramirez led agents on a six-mile pursuit, reaching speeds up to 110 miles per hour and turning off her headlights in an attempt to evade detection. She eventually stopped in the median near mile marker 114, where she and five passengers exited the vehicle and fled on foot at her instruction. During the escape, one passenger attempted to cross the interstate and was fatally struck by a passing semi-truck.
Border Patrol agents apprehended Ramirez and five other passengers, four of whom were determined to be undocumented noncitizens without legal status in the United States. The deceased individual was also found to be unlawfully present in the country.
In a post-arrest interview, Ramirez admitted she had agreed to transport the noncitizens from the border area to Deming, New Mexico. A search of Ramirez’s phone revealed messages and recordings coordinating with a scout, who advised her on checkpoint activity, as well as “proof of life” videos of the smuggled individuals.
Ramirez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport an illegal alien and high-speed flight from an immigration checkpoint. Upon her release from prison, Ramirez will be subject to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar of the U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector made the announcement today.
The U.S. Border Patrol investigated this case with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kirk Williams and Randy Castellano prosecuted this case as 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.
Texas Narcotics Trafficker who Burglarized Local Pharmacy Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – Michael Tremayne Smith, a 40-year-old resident of Sugarland, Texas, has been sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for Burglary of a Pharmacy, aiding and abetting, and Possession with Intent to Distribute a quantity of Oxycodone, aiding and abetting. Smith pled guilty on March 11, 2025.
According to the court documents and other information presented in court, Drugco Discount Pharmacy in Littleton, North Carolina, was burglarized on January 28, 2022. Security footage showed two people jump through the drive-thru window into the area behind the pharmacy counter. Both burglars were wearing hooded sweatshirts, gloves, and masks and were carrying large bags. They quickly grabbed numerous bottles of prescription medication, threw them into the bags, and ran out. The stolen drugs were worth $5,786.
Later that morning, a Franklin County Sheriff’s deputy stopped Defendant driving south on I-85. Inside his car were 15 unopened pill bottles labeled Oxycodone, 12 opened pill bottles labeled Oxycodone, and two bottles of liquid labeled promethazine, which matched substances taken during the burglary of Drugco Discount Pharmacy.
Defendant’s passenger, LaCarlton Lee Johnson, Jr., was also charged. He pled guilty and was sentenced to 87 months’ imprisonment.
Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge James C. Dever III. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Nucci prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for case number 4:23-CR-00060-D.
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Terrorgram Member Sentenced to 51 Months in Prison for Possessing an Unregistered FirearmRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced Alexander Lightner (27, Venice) to four years and three months in federal prison for possessing an unregistered firearm. Lightner pleaded guilty on March 11, 2025.
According to court records, Lightner is a member of the Terrorgram Collective—an online organization that promotes the belief that the white race is superior, and that violence and terrorism are necessary to ignite a race war and accelerate the collapse of the government and the rise of a white ethnostate. Inside an exclusive Terrorgram chat, on December 29, 2023, Lightner made several threatening posts conveying his intent to commit violent acts motivated by far-right extremist ideology, including “2024 there shall be saints,” and “Highscore shall be defeated.” The term “saints” refers to a trend within white supremacist online circles where individuals who have committed severe acts of violence motivated by hate are venerated as saints. The phrase “Highscore shall be defeated” refers to a future attack by a white supremacist that will generate a number of casualties surpassing that of previous attacks.
Less than a week later, federal agents executed a search warrant at Lightner’s residence in Venice, Florida where they found a firearm silencer, several firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and a copy of Mein Kampf. Agents also found extremist literature with detailed descriptions of mass shooting events and praising historical white supremacist mass murders.
When Lightner was interviewed by law enforcement, he admitted that the firearm silencer was his and he had made it himself. He also confessed to making the threatening Telegram posts.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, with valuable assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Sarasota Police Department, and the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lindsey Schmidt.
Tennessee Man Sentenced in Kentucky to 25 Years in Prison for Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
A Tennessee man was sentenced yesterday in the Western District of Kentucky for sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion; conspiracy to commit sex trafficking; obstructing a sex trafficking investigation; interstate transportation for prostitution; and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Portier Q. Govan, 37, of Memphis, was sentenced to 25 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release after a jury found Govan guilty in December 2024.
Evidence presented during the trial established that Govan and his co-defendant, Brittany R. Howard, 25, of Bowling Green, Kentucky, recruited and enticed the victim to engage in commercial sex by preying on her young age and financial situation, and by making false promises of easy money. To establish his control over the victim, Govan threatened to kill her by pressing a pistol against her head while she was in the front passenger seat of a car, and then lowered and discharged the gun, firing a bullet across her lap and missing her body by inches. Govan also showed her a video of himself torturing a defenseless man tied to a chair. He sexually assaulted her and compelled her to engage in commercial sex acts for his profit by making her fear for her life.
“The defendant used brazen acts of violence to compel the 18-year-old victim to engage in commercial sex, even holding a gun to the victim’s head,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This significant sentence reflects the severity of the defendant’s conduct and sends a clear message that the DOJ will relentlessly prosecute and hold accountable human traffickers who abuse and exploit others for financial gain.”
The FBI Louisville Field Office, Bowling Green Resident Agency investigated the case, with assistance from the Bowling Green Police Department.
“This sentence is the culmination of a tremendous joint effort between the Bowling Green Police Department and the FBI’s Bowling Green Resident Agency,” said U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky Kyle G. Bumgarner. “Thanks to their efforts, Portier Govan will spend a significant portion of his adult life in federal penitentiary for his depraved conduct. While his sentence is lengthy, there is no sentence that sufficiently remedies the trauma he inflicted on his victim—who will continue to have unwavering support from our office”
“Depriving an innocent victim of their civil rights by violently forcing them to engage in commercial sex is unconscionable,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the FBI Louisville Field Office. “Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of Portier Govan’s criminal activity. The FBI, in collaboration with our state and local law enforcement partners, will never stop working to identify and hold accountable violent criminals and to help victims receive the support needed as they recover from significant trauma.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Madison Sewell for the Western District of Kentucky and Trial Attorney Francisco Zornosa of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit prosecuted the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking
Tenderloin Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Maria Valle-Rodriguez, 47, a Honduran national, was sentenced yesterday to 135 months (11 years and three months) in federal prison for drug trafficking offenses in the Bay Area. Her co-defendants, Emilson Valle-Zuniga, 33, and Jonsan Valle-Rodriguez, 31, both Honduran nationals, were previously sentenced on May 21, 2025, to federal prison terms of 42 months and 24 months, respectively. U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley handed down all three sentences.
A federal grand jury indicted all three defendants in December 2023, and all three pleaded guilty on Aug. 21, 2024. Maria Valle-Rodriguez pleaded guilty to distribution of 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Valle-Zuniga pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Jonsan Valle-Rodriguez pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to their plea agreements, between August and December 2023, Maria Valle-Rodriguez, Valle-Zuniga, and Jonson Valle-Rodriguez engaged in a drug trafficking conspiracy with each other and unindicted co-conspirators to sell fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other controlled substance in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco and in Oakland. Maria Valle-Rodriguez admitted to engaging in multiple sales of fentanyl and/or methamphetamine. For part of this time, Maria Valle-Rodriguez had multiple vehicles registered to her name that she and her codefendants used to drive from Oakland into the Tenderloin District during the nighttime hours to deal drugs.
The defendants, who are related, lived together with several minor children in an apartment in Oakland that was used for drug trafficking. Maria Valle-Rodriguez admitted knowing that there was fentanyl in the apartment where she resided with several minor children.
On Dec. 12, 2023, law enforcement executed search warrants on the defendants’ residence and vehicles connected to and being driven by them. In total, law enforcement recovered approximately eight pounds of fentanyl and fentanyl analogue, two gross pounds of methamphetamine, as well as over $127,000 in cash at the premises and in the vehicles connected to the drug trafficking conspiracy.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and DEA Special Agent in Charge Bob P. Beris made the announcement.
Maria Valle-Rodriguez had been out of custody pending sentencing so she could receive medical care. While out on bond, she was arrested on April 29, 2025, by San Francisco Police Department officers at an apartment where officers were executing a search warrant related to a drug trafficking operation. Large quantities of drugs were found at the apartment where Maria Valle-Rodriguez was residing. A minor child was also living at the residence.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Corley also sentenced Maria Valle-Rodriguez to a four-year period of supervised release. Valle-Zuniga and Jonsan Valle-Rodriguez were each sentenced to a three-year term of supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ivana Djak is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Lance Libatique and Gabriel Flesher. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the DEA.
Take Back America Task Force Operation in South OmahaRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that a federal civil search warrant was executed on June 10, 2025, at an Omaha, Nebraska, business in relation to a Take Back America Task Force worksite enforcement operation. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and with other federal law enforcement partners entered the Glenn Valley Foods facility in search of workers who were not authorized to work in the United States.
HSI performed an audit of Glenn Valley Foods’ employee I-9 Forms to verify the authenticity and validity of employee identity documents. The audit revealed a large number of suspected fraudulent identification documents or documents that did not authorize certain identified employees to legally work in the United States. The audit also revealed that multiple identities of United States citizens were being fraudulently used by workers at that location, and numerous victim complaints were received at HSI in connection with those stolen identities prior to the enforcement operation.
During the operation, HSI encountered approximately 76 unlawfully present aliens at the facility. These workers were using Social Security numbers that had not been issued to them. HSI referred several criminal allegations to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska. Among the criminal allegations referred are allegations of fraudulent use of Social Security numbers, assaults on federal officers and damage to federal property, illegal reentry of previously deported aliens, and other criminal concerns.
Possible charging determinations have not been made at this time as this is an active and ongoing investigation.
This case is part of the Take Back America Task Force, led by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal 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.
Six Defendants Charged in Multimillion-Dollar Check Theft and Bank Fraud RingRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and the Acting Inspector in Charge of the New York Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service, Edward Gallashaw, announced today the unsealing of a Superseding Indictment charging six defendants – MICHAEL EDWARDS, a/k/a “Only1Giela”; SHAKEEMO HILL, a/k/a “Keemo,” a/k/a “LBA Menace,” a/k/a “Lex”; WILLIAM HILL, a/k/a “Eway,” a/k/a “Skinny”; ALIXANDRIA LAUTURE, a/k/a “A$”; SHURON MALONE, a/k/a “First Name Last Name”; and CARLOS MERCADO, a/k/a “Kiz,” a/k/a “Kizzle” – with participating in a scheme to steal millions of dollars in checks from the mail. EDWARDS and MERCADO were previously taken into custody on related charges, and SHAKEEMO HILL, WILLIAM HILL, LAUTURE, and MALONE were arrested earlier today. SHAKEEMO HILL, WILLIAM HILL, and LAUTURE are expected to be presented before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn, and MALONE is expected to be presented in the Middle District of Florida. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl.
“As alleged, the six defendants charged today lined their pockets by stealing checks destined for hard working New Yorkers and others,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Together with our partners at the Postal Inspection Service, we will fight to protect the integrity of the U.S. mail system—a public service upon which millions of Americans rely every day to send items of financial, professional, and personal importance.”
“The arrests today should send a very clear message that those who engage in mail theft and bank fraud will be held accountable,” said USPIS Acting Inspector in Charge Edward Gallashaw. “These charges highlight the commitment of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to bring individuals to justice who steal from USPS customers. Thank you to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our investigative partners for working tirelessly on this case, and helping to maintain the public’s trust of the U.S. Postal Service.”
As alleged in the Superseding Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court, as well as statements made in public court proceedings:[1]
From at least in or about January 2022 through at least in or about July 2024, the defendants perpetrated a massive scheme to steal millions of dollars in checks from Postal Service collection boxes in New York and elsewhere. As part of their scheme, the defendants conspired to buy or otherwise obtain keys that would allow them to unlock the Postal collection boxes and steal mail, bank cards, and other bank account information.
After stealing checks from the mail, the defendants and their coconspirators fraudulently altered the information on those checks either by digitally altering the checks and printing them on check stock, or by chemically “washing” the checks to remove the ink. To avoid getting caught, the defendants also conspired to obtain and exchange information for bank accounts held in the names of third parties for the purpose of depositing the fraudulently altered checks.
In total, the fraud ring posted millions of dollars in checks for sale on a third-party messaging application, and also deposited millions of dollars in fraudulently altered checks in bank accounts at national banks along the East Coast.
The members of the conspiracy played different roles. EDWARDS served as the leader of the organization, coordinating the purchase of postal keys with others, such as WILLIAM HILL, and the use of those keys to steal mail from postal boxes with other coconspirators, such as WILLIAM HILL, SHAKEEMO HILL, and MERCADO. The organization’s activities were lucrative: in the early morning hours of July 10, 2023, EDWARDS and MERCADO used a postal key to steal approximately $176,000 in checks from the mail. Other members of the conspiracy, such as EDWARDS, WILLIAM HILL, SHAKEEMO HILL, LAUTURE, and MALONE recruited people they knew to supply their bank account information, including account balances and log-in information. And because the stolen checks were not made out to the names on the third-party bank accounts, the members of the fraud ring—including EDWARDS and SHAKEEMO HILL—altered the checks to match the names on those bank accounts. After the checks were altered, the members of the conspiracy, including EDWARDS, WILLIAM HILL, SHAKEEMO HILL, LAUTURE, and MALONE, deposited or recruited others to deposit them into third-party bank accounts.
* * *
A chart containing the defendants’ names, ages, charges, and maximum penalties is set forth below.
The statutory maximum and minimum sentences are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the USPIS and Homeland Security Investigations. Mr. Clayton also thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut for their assistance.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jerry J. Fang and William K. Stone are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Superseding Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
COUNT
CHARGE
DEFENDANTS
MAX. PENALTIES
1
Conspiracy to commit bank fraud
18 U.S.C. § 1349
MICHAEL EDWARDS, a/k/a “Only1Giela,” 30;[2]
SHAKEEMO HILL, a/k/a “Keemo,” a/k/a “LBA Menace,” a/k/a “Lex,” 22;
WILLIAM HILL, a/k/a “Eway,” a/k/a “Skinny,” 29;
ALIXANDRIA LAUTURE, a/k/a “A$,” 27;
SHURON MALONE, a/k/a “First Name Last Name,” 29
30 years in prison2
Conspiracy to commit theft of a postal key
18 U.S.C. § 371
MICHAEL EDWARDS, a/k/a “Only1Giela,” 30;
WILLIAM HILL, a/k/a “Eway,” a/k/a “Skinny,” 29;
CARLOS MERCADO, a/k/a “Kiz,” a/k/a “Kizzle,” 22
Five years in prison3
Conspiracy to commit theft of mail and receipt of stolen mail, and sale and receipt of stolen money
18 U.S.C. § 371
MICHAEL EDWARDS, a/k/a “Only1Giela,” 30;
SHAKEEMO HILL, a/k/a “Keemo,” a/k/a “LBA Menace,” a/k/a “Lex,” 22;
WILLIAM HILL, a/k/a “Eway,” a/k/a “Skinny,” 29;
CARLOS MERCADO, a/k/a “Kiz,” a/k/a “Kizzle,” 22
Five years in prison4
Theft of a postal key
18 U.S.C. §§ 1704 and 2
MICHAEL EDWARDS, a/k/a “Only1Giela,” 30;
CARLOS MERCADO, a/k/a “Kiz,” a/k/a “Kizzle,” 22
10 years in prison5
Theft of mail and receipt of stolen mail
18 U.S.C. §§ 1708 and 2
MICHAEL EDWARDS, a/k/a “Only1Giela,” 30;
CARLOS MERCADO, a/k/a “Kiz,” a/k/a “Kizzle,” 22
Five years in prison6
Aggravated identity theft
18 U.S.C. §§ 1028A(a)(1), 1028A(b), and 2
MICHAEL EDWARDS, a/k/a “Only1Giela,” 30;
SHAKEEMO HILL, a/k/a “Keemo,” a/k/a “LBA Menace,” a/k/a “Lex,” 22;
WILLIAM HILL, a/k/a “Eway,” a/k/a “Skinny,” 29;
ALIXANDRIA LAUTURE, a/k/a “A$,” 27;
SHURON MALONE, a/k/a “First Name Last Name, 29”
Mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison to run consecutive to any other prison term edwards_et_al_indictment_pr.pdf[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Superseding Indictment and the descriptions of the Superseding Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
[2] Counts One, Three, and Six charge EDWARDS with committing those offenses while on pretrial release, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 3147, which subjects him to an additional maximum sentence of 10 years in prison consecutive to any other prison term imposed.
Sioux Falls Man Found Guilty of Possession of Ammunition by a Felon Following Federal Jury TrialRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted Lamont Victor Garrett, age 52, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, of Possession of Ammunition by a Prohibited Person following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on June 11, 2025.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Garrett was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2024.
On August 21, 2024, law enforcement searched a residence in Sioux Falls where Garrett was residing. In his bedroom, a black Sig Sauer magazine with 9mm ammunition and .22 caliber ammunition were found. Garrett is a felon and thus prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Police Department Violent Crimes Unit and Homeland Security Investigations. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Connie Larson prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date will be set. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Meth ConvictionsRead the Press Release
Phillip Plummer, age 42, from Sioux City, Iowa, was sentenced today in federal court in Sioux City to 120 months’ imprisonment. Plummer pled guilty February 10, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of distribution of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school, and another count of distributing methamphetamine.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that between 2022 and May 2023, Plummer and others conspired to distribute more than 5 kilograms of methamphetamine in the Sioux City area. Plummer admitted to distributing methamphetamine on seven separate occasions to an individual cooperating with law enforcement, four of which occurred within 1,000 feet of schools, namely, Mater Dei Elementary School and Hunt Elementary School in Sioux City. During the search of Plummer’s residence in May 2023, law enforcement officers seized 271.7 grams of pure methamphetamine, 155.6 grams of cocaine, 31.6 grams of suspected MDMA, 55.1 grams of suspected marijuana, 37.9 grams of suspected cocaine, two bags of medicated Jolly Rancher Gummies 600mg THC (109.9 grams) and two vape pens (73.2 grams). Plummer intended to sell the majority of these controlled substances to persons in the Sioux City area.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Plummer was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment and must serve ten years of supervised release following the imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Plumer remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and the Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-4069. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Senior Leaders of Own Every Dollar Gang Plead GuiltyRead the Press Release
Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the guilty pleas today of JESUS ZAPATA, a/k/a “Jeezy,” a/k/a “Hendrix,” and BRAYAN LLORET, a/k/a “E.T.,” in connection with their leadership of the violent gang Own Every Dollar (“OED”). ZAPATA and LLORET pled guilty today to several charges, including racketeering conspiracy, before U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken.
“Jesus Zapata and Brayan Lloret were two of the top leaders of the deadly Manhattan-based Own Every Dollar gang,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Today’s convictions highlight the commitment of our Office to taking down the street gangs that terrorize New Yorkers, and to ensuring that all gang members —from foot soldiers to bosses—face justice.”
As alleged in the Indictment and statements made in public filings and public court proceedings:
ZAPATA and LLORET are senior leaders of the violent OED gang, a subset of the Trinitarios gang based in and around the Washington Heights area of Manhattan. ZAPATA is the former “Duarte,” or top leader, of the gang. ZAPATA and LLORET are being held responsible for committing or ordering a number of violent acts on Rikers Island, including three slashings in 2021.
ZAPATA and LLORET are the 21st and 22nd members or associates of OED to be convicted in this case. The defendants in the case have been convicted for their roles in five murders and more than 10 attempted murders, which occurred in Manhattan, the Bronx, and state and federal prisons.
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ZAPATA, 35, of New York, New York, pled guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of narcotics conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
LLORET, 27, of New York, New York, pled guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of narcotics conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the New York City Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah L. Kushner, Kevin Mead, Alexandra S. Messiter, and Ashley C. Nicolas are in charge of the prosecution.
San Antonio woman charged with threatening to shoot federal agentRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 42-year-old Texas woman has been taken into custody for threatening an Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) agent in the performance of his duties, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
The criminal complaint has now been unsealed as Michelle Lee Varela made her initial appearance before a U.S. magistrate judge in San Antonio. She is expected to be in Corpus Christi federal court in the near future.
The charges allege that on June 4, Verela influenced, impeded or retaliated against a federal officer by threat and used interstate communications to transmit a threat to injure another. Specifically, Verela allegedly made threats via cell phone to an agent with ICE-HSI.
According to the complaint, authorities were conducting a lawful immigration action and had requested information from Varela regarding her husband’s status in the United States. She allegedly used profanity and said if her husband was taken into custody, she would shoot them. The charges allege law enforcement advised her to consider her remarks as she had just threatened a federal agent, but she continued in an elevated voice and a threatening tone. She eventually hung up the phone, according to the complaint.
If convicted, she faces up to 10 and five years in federal prison for the threat and interstate communications allegations, respectively. Both charges also carry a possible $250,000 fine, upon conviction.
“The Southern District of Texas takes allegations of threatened violence against law enforcement very seriously,” said Ganjei. “Immigration authorities must be able to carry out their lawful duties free from violence or threats, and those that attempt to obstruct or harm such agents will be held accountable.”
ICE-HSI conducted the investigation with the assistance of Goliad County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patti Hubert Booth is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Salvadoran National Charged with Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Salvadoran national residing in Chelsea, Mass. has been indicted by a federal grand jury for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.
Rigoberto Hernandez Mancia, 34, was charged with one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Hernandez Mancia was arrested by immigration authorities on May 12, 2025.
According to the charging document, Hernandez Mancia was deported from the United States on July 31, 2024. It is alleged that sometime after his July 2024 removal, Hernandez Mancia illegally reentered the United States without permission.
The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to two years in prison, one year 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 Allegra Flamm 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.
Romanian National Illegally in the United States Sentenced for Bank Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Romanian national present in the United States illegally has been sentenced to more than two years in federal prison and will subsequently face deportation proceedings for his role in an elaborate, methodical scheme across at least five states to defraud banks and banking customers, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
For more than two years beginning as early as May 2022, Dumitru Bogdan Pancu, a/k/a Stefano Garioli, a/k/a Leon Vutkus, 40, and others, surreptitiously installed skimming devices on ATMs in multiple states, allowing them to intercept hundreds of ATM customers’ debit card information. Pancu and others used that information to create hundreds of counterfeit debit cards which were used to make unauthorized cash withdrawals, attempted withdrawals, and retail purchases.
Pancu admitted that between May 2022 and July 2024, he and others installed skimming devices on ATMs and stole banking information from unsuspecting banking customers in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey.
Pancu pleaded guilty on December 11, 2024, to a charge of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. He was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to a term of incarceration of 27 months to be followed by two years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution totaling $16,562.06.
The defendant faces deportation proceedings upon completion of his term of incarceration.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Taylor Dean and Ly Chin.
The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with valuable assistance from the Warwick, RI, Police Department, Cranston, RI, Police Department, East Greenwich, RI, Police Department, North Kingstown, RI, Police Department, East Providence, RI, Police Department, Boston, MA, Police Department, New York City Police Department, and the Stratford, CT, Police Department.
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Raleigh County Woman Sentenced for Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Melanie E. Hussain, 25, of Crab Orchard, was sentenced today to five years of federal probation, including six months on home detention, for distribution of a quantity of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 2, 2022, Hussain sold approximately 4.2 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant in exchange for $300. Hussain admitted to the transaction and to selling 2.3 grams of methamphetamine to the confidential informant in exchange for $300 on November 3, 2022. Hussain conducted both transactions at her Crab Orchard residence.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department, and the Beckley Police Department.
Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons 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. 5:24-cr-137.
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Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced to 69 Months in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jovan James, 45, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced yesterday to 69 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition on November 25, 2024.
The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, , Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian of the Drug Enforcement Administration Washington Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
James pleaded guilty on March 5, 2025, to one count of illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Leon ordered James to serve three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on Nov. 25, 2024, at about 4:55 p.m., MPD officers were patrolling the 5000 block of H Street SE, when they noticed James smoking marijuana in a public space. Officers placed James under arrest. During a search incident to arrest, officers recovered a loaded black Glock 23 .40 caliber pistol with an obliterated serial number from James’s waistband. The handgun was loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition.
James was previously convicted of first degree murder while armed in February 1998 in the District of Columbia and sentenced to a 30-year prison term. James was resentenced in August 2019 to a 22-year prison term and placed on supervised probation for five years under the Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act (IRAA).
This case was investigated by the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sabena Auyeung.
24cr541
Paducah Woman Sentenced to over 2 Years in Federal Prison and Ordered to Pay $400,000 in Restitution for Defrauding EmployerRead the Press Release
Paducah, KY – A Paducah woman was sentenced on June 11, 2025, to 2 years and 4 months in federal prison for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky and Acting Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the FBI Louisville Field Office made the announcement.
Nichole M. Lawrence, 35, was sentenced to 2 years and 4 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for six counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. According to court documents, between December 2019 and February 2023, Lawrence was employed as an office manager for a business in Western Kentucky and used her position to embezzle approximately $400,000 from the business. Lawrence used the stolen money to pay personal expenses.
Lawrence was also ordered to pay $400,000 in restitution.
“Ms. Lawrence’s conduct was fueled by pure greed to the detriment of her employer—who provides many solid jobs to Western Kentuckians,” said U.S. Attorney Kyle Bumgarner. “This sentence appropriately reflects the abuse of trust her employer bestowed on her.”
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the FBI Paducah Satellite Office and the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Raymond McGee, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, prosecuted the case.
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Oklahoma Man Sentenced for Attempting to Destroy Satanic Temple in Salem with a Pipe BombRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Oklahoma man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for throwing a pipe bomb at The Satanic Temple (TST) in Salem, Mass. on April 8, 2024.
Sean Patrick Palmer, 49, of Perkins, Okla., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to five years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In March 2025, Palmer pleaded guilty to one count of using an explosive device to damage and attempt to damage a building used in interstate or foreign commerce. He was charged by criminal complaint and arrested on April 17, 2024, in Perkins, Okla.
TST is a non-theistic religious organization headquartered in Salem, Mass. According to the charging documents, at approximately 4:14 a.m. on April 8, 2024, surveillance cameras captured a man, subsequently identified as Palmer, walking towards TST wearing a black face covering, a tan-colored tactical vest and gloves. As Palmer approached TST, he ignited a pipe bomb – a type of improvised explosive device or “IED” – threw it at TST’s main entrance, and then ran away. The IED did not fully detonate and therefore caused only minor damage to TST’s exterior.
The pipe bomb was constructed from a roughly two-foot section of plastic pipe covered with metal nails attached to the pipe with duct tape. The inside of the pipe was filled with smokeless gunpowder. During the investigation, Palmer’s DNA was found on the outside of the IED.A six-page handwritten note was found in a flower bed adjacent to TST, near the area where Palmer threw the IED. Among other things, the letter stated:
DEAR SATANIST
ELOHIM SEND ME 7 MONTHS AGO TO GIVE YOU
PEACEFUL MESSAGE TO HOPE YOU REPENT. YOU SAY
NO, ELOHIM NOW SEND ME TO SMITE SATAN AND I
HAPPY TO OBEY. AND ELOHIM WANT ME TO CONTACT
YOU TO TELL YOU REPENT. TURN FROM SIN. ELOHIM
NO LIKE THIS PLACE AND PLAN TO DESTROY IT. MAYBE
SALEM TOO? ELOHIM SEND ME TO FIGHT CRYBABY
SATAN, BUT WANT ME TO MAKE HARD EFFORT SO NO
ONE DIES. I OBEY.United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Lucas J. Miller, Chief of the Salem Police Department made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Massachusetts State Police; Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Oklahoma City Field Office; Payne County Sherriff’s Office; Oklahoma Highway Patrol; the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Oklahoma; and Stillwater (Okla.) Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason A. Casey of the National Security Unit is prosecuting the case.
Ocala Man Indicted for Wire Fraud and Price Gouging Related to the Sale of COVID-19 FacemasksRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Frank Adriel Romero Leandro (34, Ocala) with wire fraud and price gouging. If convicted, Romero faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the wire fraud offense and up to 1 year in federal prison for the price gouging offense. The indictment also notifies Romero that the United States intends to forfeit $1,234,360.46, which are funds that are alleged to be traceable as proceeds of the offenses.
According to the indictment, between March 16, 2020, and February 10, 2021, Romero was the sole creator and editor of a website, trendeploy.com, through which he sold goods under the business name “Trend Deploy.” Romero made false representations on his website that he sold N95 facemasks. When customers ordered N95 facemasks from Romero over the internet, he would instead purchase cheaper alternatives (not N95 facemasks) to fulfill the orders. He also sold the facemasks at prices more than the prevailing market prices.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Trade Commission. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by visiting the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
North Tonawanda man arrested, facing multiple drug and gun chargesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.–U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Tre Smitherman, 31, North Tonawanda, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey E. Intravatola, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on November 6, 2024, the Niagara County Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at Smitherman’s Oliver Street residence and on his vehicle. During the searches, investigators recovered a loaded pistol, quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and $3,789.00 in cash. In 2014, Smitherman was convicted of a felony in New York State Court and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Niagara County Drug Task Force, under the direction of Sheriff Michael Filicetti, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan Miller, New York Field Division.
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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North Carolina Narcotics Trafficker Sentenced to 22 YearsRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – Shaborn Amar Nesbitt, a 37-year-old resident of Smithfield, North Carolina, has been sentenced to 22 years in federal prison for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine. Nesbitt pled guilty on April 26, 2023.
According to the court documents and other information presented in court, the investigation began in October 2019, when law enforcement learned that Nesbitt was distributing large quantities of methamphetamine in the Eastern District of North Carolina. On October 14, 2019, Nesbitt traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, to get more methamphetamine to distribute in Eastern North Carolina. Law enforcement stopped his car, and a K9 unit alerted on it. Inside, they found almost two kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, small amounts of marijuana and mushrooms, $10,920 cash, and two cell phones. Nesbitt admitted to driving to Atlanta to pick up the methamphetamine.
Ultimately, Nesbitt was found responsible for approximately 11.98 kilograms of methamphetamine, 4.53 kilograms of marijuana, 10 kilograms of heroin, 56.7 grams of cocaine, and 3.8 grams of mushrooms.
Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge James C. Dever III. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Goldsboro Police Department, Selma Police Department, Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, and Johnston County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Nucci prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for case number 5:21-CR-00056-D.
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Niagara Falls man going to prison on cocaine chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.–U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Jason P. Hoy, 46, Niagara Falls, NY, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, was sentenced to serve 33 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey E. Intravatola, who handled the case, stated that on May 5, 2023, investigators executed a search warrant at Hoy’s residence seizing bags containing a crystal rock-like substance, a bag containing a grey powdery substance, three bags containing a white powdery substance, three bags containing various colored pills, and a bag containing green plant matter. In addition, they recovered a pair of brass knuckles, a collapsible baton, a digital scale, and a police scanner.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Michael Filicetti, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarentino, New York Field Division.
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New Orleans Woman Guilty of Fentanyl and Heroin DistributionRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that, LOREALL GORDEN (“GORDEN”), age 38, of New Orleans, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Sarah M. Vance on May 28, 2025, to two counts of distribution of fentanyl and heroin. Judge Vance scheduled sentencing for September 24, 2025. At sentencing, on both counts, GORDENfaces up to 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and at least three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, as well as a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
According to court documents, on two occasions in August of 2023, a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigation revealed GORDEN worked with other individuals to distribute fentanyl and heroin from a residence in New Orleans. As a result of the investigation, 6.93 grams of fentanyl and a mixture of heroin and fentanyl weighing approximately 27.84 grams were recovered by ATF agents .
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Narcotics Unit.
New Orleans Man Guilty of Being Felon in Possession of Firearms Stemming from New Orleans East ShootingRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced today that DANTRELL MCZEAL (“MCZEAL”), age 34, a resident of New Orleans, pleaded guilty on May 27, 2025 to being a felon in possession of firearms, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). MCZEAL faces a maximum term of imprisonment of fifteen (15) years, a fine of up to $250,000.00, a period of supervised release of up to 3 years, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
The Honorable District Judge Darrel James Papillion will sentence MCZEAL on September 9, 2025.
According to court documents, in July 2022, MCZEAL and an unknown individual, were involved in a shootout with each other in the parking lot of a gas station located on the corner of Downman Road and Morrison Road in New Orleans. MCZEAL was shot in the leg during the gunfire exchange and the unknown individual fled in his vehicle. MCZEAL also fled, but lost control of his vehicle, and struck a light pole. MCZEAL was observed limping away from his vehicle while in possession of a firearm.
New Orleans Police Department officers later recovered a Glock Model 30GEN4, .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol from inside MCZEAL’s vehicle. While on the scene, officers also observed a trail of blood outside of the vehicle leading to a nearby residence. Later, officers received a call from a nearby resident stating that an unknown male, later identified as MCZEAL, had entered her residence. The resident reported that MCZEAL had a firearm, later determined to be a Palmetto State Armory Model PA-15, .223 REM/5.56 x 45 milli-meter semi-automatic rifle. Federal law prohibits convicted felons, such as MCZEAL , from possessing firearms.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brittany Reed of the Violent Crime Unit.
New Hampshire Man Arrested for Unlawful Delivery of a FirearmRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New Hampshire man was arrested today in connection with an ongoing firearm trafficking investigation.
Isaiah Johnson, 24, of Merrimack, N.H., was charged with firearm trafficking by unlawful delivery. Johnson was arrested today and will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston at 2:00 PM today.
According to the charging documents, a co-conspirator from Brockton, who was ineligible for a license to carry firearms, paid Johnson to purchase a particular firearm from a gun store in New Hampshire. It is alleged that on Feb. 3, 2024, Johnson went to the gun store, texted photographs of a tan-colored Glock 19X and an extended magazine to the co-conspirator, before purchasing the firearm. The following week, Johnson allegedly texted another photograph of the firearm to the co-conspirator, before ultimately delivering it to the co-conspirator on or about Feb. 11, 2024.
In December 2024, the co-conspirator was arrested at his Brockton residence on state charges in connection with an investigation into a high-end car theft enterprise. During a search of the residence, the tan-colored Glock 19X that Johnson had allegedly purchased was located, as well as two large-capacity magazines. It is further alleged that videos posted online showed the co-conspirator firing what appeared to be the same firearm while it was equipped with a “selector switch,” rendering it a fully-automatic weapon. The video was allegedly filmed nearby a public school in Brockton, where approximately 43 9-millimeter shell casings and 10 .40 caliber shell casings were later located.
The charge of firearm trafficking by unlawful delivery provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Scott Riordan, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office; Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and the Brockton (Mass.), Merrimack (N.H.) and Manchester (N.H.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Cutshall of the Organized Crime & Gang 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.
Muhlenberg County, Kentucky Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Child Exploitation OffenseRead the Press Release
Owensboro, KY – A Muhlenberg County, Kentucky man was sentenced on June 10, 2025, to 5 years in federal prison for distribution of child pornography.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky and Acting Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the FBI Louisville Field Office made the announcement.
According to court documents, James Matthew Rosenkranz, 41, was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for one count of distribution of child pornography.
There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the FBI Owensboro Resident Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Nicholas Rabold, of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office, prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
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Money Launderer for Mexico Based Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A Chicago‑area man who acted as a money launderer for a Mexico‑based drug trafficking organization was sentenced June 11, 2025 to nearly five years in federal prison.
Jose Eladio Medina Valenzuela, age 45, from Cicero, Illinois, received the prison term after a January 6, 2025 guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
n a plea agreement, Medina Valenzuela admitted that, from May 2020 to October 2020, he worked with others to obtain proceeds from the sale of methamphetamine in Iowa and transfer those proceeds to individuals in Mexico to promote and facilitate the drug trafficking organization and operation. Two drug traffickers obtained and distributed over 100 pounds of methamphetamine in Iowa, and they took a portion of those methamphetamine proceeds—over $335,000—to Medina Valenzuela in Cicero. Medina Valenzuela then worked with others to get the methamphetamine proceeds to sources of supply in Mexico.
Medina Valenzuela was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Medina Valenzuela was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a two‑year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Medina Valenzuela is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force consisting of the Waterloo Police Department, Cedar Falls Police Department, Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Department, Evansdale Police Department, Waverly Police Department, Hudson Police Department, La Porte City Police Department, and the Bremer County Sheriff’s Department; the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the United States Postal Inspection Service; and Homeland Security Investigations. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR-02041-LTS.
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Mexican national sentenced to federal prison for trafficking illegal immigrantsRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas –A Mexican national living in Plano has been sentenced for immigration violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Ana Maria Villa-Flores, 42, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport aliens into the United States and conspiracy to conceal or harbor aliens. Villa-Flores was sentenced to the maximum term of 120 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III, on June 12, 2025.
According to information presented in court, in January of 2022, twenty-four illegal aliens were located at one of Villa-Flores’ homes. During the investigation, it was determined that Villa-Flores was responsible for recruiting drivers as well as coordinating the smuggling of the undocumented individuals from Mexico to the United States, bringing them to Plano to stay until they could be transported along other routes throughout the United States. The male individuals were instructed to remove their pants to keep them from escaping. Federal agents determined that Villa-Flores was responsible for smuggling approximately 254 illegal aliens.
In 2023, Villa-Flores was prosecuted in the Western District of Texas in connection with her alien smuggling activities. She was sentenced to four years in federal prison for smuggling approximately 124 illegal aliens.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This case was investigated by the Dallas and El Paso Homeland Security Investigations and the Plano Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Batson.
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Methamphetamine Trafficker Sentenced to 10 YearsRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Luther Trovian Jones, 52, from Sebring, Florida, was sentenced yesterday by a South Florida federal district judge to 121 months for distribution of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Jones was the subject of a joint investigation between the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office that uncovered Jones’s methamphetamine distribution scheme. The investigation revealed that Jones, on multiple occasions, either sold, or was found in possession of distribution quantities of methamphetamine.
In total, Jones was responsible for 265.79 grams of methamphetamine that was 80 percent pure or higher, along with 29.8 grams of fentanyl.
Hayden P. O’Byrne, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Deanne L. Reuter of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division; and Paul Blackman, Highlands County Sheriff, made the announcement.
DEA Miami Field Division and Highlands County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Hudock is prosecuting it.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.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 24-cr-14003.
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Methamphetamine and Gun Trafficker Is Sentenced to 15 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Jamal Marqui McDaniel, 46, was sentenced today to 180 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for trafficking methamphetamine and firearms offenses, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
According to court documents and evidence presented during court proceedings, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Asheville Police Department (APD) launched a joint investigation after receiving information that McDaniel was engaged in the illegal sale of narcotics and firearms in the Asheville area. Over the course of the investigation, McDaniel sold methamphetamine, firearms, and ammunition on multiple occasions to individuals who were cooperating with law enforcement. Court records show that, in total, McDaniel is accountable for distributing nearly half a kilogram of methamphetamine, and illegally selling eight firearms.
McDaniel pleaded guilty February 21, 2025, to distribution of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a felon. He remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending placement by the federal Bureau of Prisons.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the ATF, the DEA, the APD, and the Buncombe Country Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher S. Hess of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville handled the prosecution.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).