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Friday 2 May 2025
New York Man Charged with Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on March 13, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Chad Maurer, 34, of New York, with aggravated identity theft and use of a false passport.
Maurer entered a plea of not guilty to the charges during an arraignment on May 2, 2025 before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle. Maurer had been previously detained at a hearing held in the Middle District of Pennsylvania on April 17, 2025 following his arrest in the Scranton, Pennsylvania-area on April 11, 2025.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Maurer is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Maurer faces up to ten years’ incarceration if convicted for use of a false passport, and a mandatory minimum sentence of two years’ incarceration if convicted for aggravated identity theft. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the Diplomatic Security Service and the United States Marshals Service.
The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Arra. Maurer is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Sara Puls.
More than 350 New Immigration Cases Filed in the Western District of TexasRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – Acting United States Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas announced today, that federal prosecutors in the district filed 352 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from April 25 through May 1.
Among the new cases, David Ysturiz-Villalobos and Yilber Gabriel Caldera-Espinoza were arrested by the San Antonio Police Department during an April 22 traffic stop. Both were identified as Venezuelan nationals unlawfully present in the United States. Ysturiz-Villalobos was observed in possession of a .40 caliber pistol with a loaded magazine and one chambered round. Caldera-Espinoza later admitted the pistol was his. Ysturiz-Villalobos and Caldera-Espinoza are each charged with one count of illegal alien in possession of a firearm and, if convicted, face up to 10 years in federal prison.
Mexican national Rogelio Cruz-Ramirez was federally charged with illegal re-entry in Austin after being encountered at the Hays County Jail, where he was serving a 271-day sentence for possession of a controlled substance. Cruz-Ramirez has three prior removals from the United States and two voluntary returns to Mexico. In 2015 he was convicted of assault causing bodily injury to a family member, adding to an unlawful carry conviction and fraudulent use/possession of identifying information in 2007. Cruz-Ramirez also has three unlawful entry convictions on his record.
Jesus Soto-Reyes, a Mexican national, was encountered at the Bastrop County Jail, where he was being held for an alleged aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and assault causing bodily injury to a family member. Soto-Reyes has five previous removals from the United States in addition to two voluntary returns.
Angel Navarro-Miranda, also of Mexico, was encountered at the Travis County Jail, where he was being held for an alleged DWI and collision involving damage. Navarro-Miranda’s criminal record includes four additional DWI charges dating back to August 2000.
Near Eagle Pass, Honduran national Alicia Lourdes Mendoza-Fuentes was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agents on April 23. Mendoza-Fuentes is charged with illegal re-entry, having been deported three times before. Mendoza-Fuentes was convicted May 15, 2024 for a smuggling of persons offense and was subsequently deported to Honduras May 29, 2024.
USBP agents arrested a Salvadoran national, Daniel Isai Gonzalez-Martinez, near Eagle Pass on April 24. Gonzalez-Martinez also has three prior removals, the most recent being Dec. 13, 2024. Gonzalez-Martinez is a three-time convicted felon with two illegal re-entry convictions and one conviction in 2018 for bringing in and harboring certain aliens.
Mexican national Jose Torres-Galaviz was arrested by USBP agents near Eagle Pass on April 28. Torres-Galaviz has multiple felony convictions that include resisting law enforcement, auto theft and battery by bodily waste in January 2024, along with possession of cocaine and battery by bodily waste convictions in August 2021. He was recently deported through El Paso on Feb. 22 and now faces an illegal re-entry charge.
Jose Luis Padron Arredondo, also a Mexican national, was arrested by USBP agents on April 25 for an illegal re-entry offense. Padron Arredondo has been deported four times, the last one being Oct. 17, 2024 through Del Rio. His criminal record includes a felony conviction for illegal re-entry in 2013 and two convictions for improper entry by an alien in 2009 and 2010.
In El Paso, Eddie Gonzalez Jr., a U.S. citizen, was arrested April 28 and charged with smuggling illegal aliens. USBP agents were responded to reports of three individuals making an illegal entry within five miles of the Tornillo Port of Entry when they noticed a vehicle speed away. Gonzalez Jr. is alleged to have been the driver and fled from USBP agents multiple times at a high rate of speed. A criminal complaint alleges that Gonzalez Jr. eventually exited his vehicle, ran on foot, and boarded a second vehicle driven by a juvenile. Agents were able to pull the second vehicle over and arrest both Gonzalez Jr. and the juvenile. One of the individuals apprehended in the area of the reported illegal entry was also apprehended and allegedly admitted to being a Mexican citizen. The criminal complaint alleges Gonzalez Jr. admitted to entering into an agreement with a smuggler and was expecting to be paid $1,800 for picking up illegal aliens.
USBP agents at Fort Hancock also arrested Yonni Rios-Ibarra, a Mexican national who allegedly served as a foot guide for two other Mexican nationals entering the U.S. illegally. Agents allegedly observed the three aliens attempting to high in the brush alongside a canal. Rios-Ibarra is charged with bringing in and harboring certain aliens.
Mexican national Francisco Reyna-Espinosa was transferred to federal custody in Odessa after being convicted April 25 of driving while intoxicated, for which he was sentenced in the 161st Judicial District Court to 10 years of confinement. Reyna-Espinosa was previously convicted in federal court on Jan. 30, 2014, for illegal re-entry after deportation and sentenced to three years of probation. Reyna-Espinoza has two additional DWI convictions on his criminal record.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Mississippi Man Sentenced to More Than Twelve Years in Federal Prison for Transporting Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Jonathan Patrick Maston (59, Pass Christian, MS) to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison, to be followed by a life term of supervised release, for transporting child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Maston entered a guilty plea on December 19, 2024.
According to the plea agreement, in April 2022, Maston arrived in Port Canaveral, returning from an international cruise. As he was disembarking the ship, Maston was referred for a secondary inspection. A search of his cellphone revealed CSAM images and videos. During an interview with law enforcement, Maston admitted to viewing CSAM over the last 15 years. A search warrant was also executed on Maston’s iCloud account, which revealed additional CSAM. In total, the contents of Maston’s cellphone and iCloud account contained more than 1,000 CSAM images and videos.
“The sentencing of this child predator underscores our dedication to investigating crimes against the most vulnerable in our community,” said Homeland Security Investigations Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “The exploitation of children is a heinous crime that will not be tolerated, and HSI remains steadfast in our commitment to identifying and apprehending those who abuse children.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman.
This is another case 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Minnesota State Trooper Charged with Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL – Minnesota State Trooper Jeremy Francis Plonski was charged by criminal complaint today in U.S. District Court with one count of production of child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. Plonski has been arrested on a federal warrant and remains in custody pending a detention hearing. Plonski faces a mandatory minimum of fifteen years in prison if convicted.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office has zero tolerance for public officials who violate federal laws—particularly those laws that protect vulnerable children from sexual abuse,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. “Plonski took an oath to protect and serve our community. While donning his uniform, Plonski committed one of the most vile and predatory offenses imaginable. This is abhorrent—to Minnesota as a whole and to our law enforcement community in particular. I am proud of the swift and decisive action of law enforcement, who responded immediately and worked cooperatively to take Plonski into custody.”
"The conduct alleged in this case is horrifying and a gross betrayal of public trust,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “Law enforcement officers are sworn to protect the most vulnerable among us — not exploit them. When someone in a position of authority commits such an egregious and despicable crime, the damage extends beyond the victim — it shakes the very foundation of our communities’ trust. The FBI and our partners will not hesitate to investigate and bring to justice anyone who preys on children, no matter their badge or title.”
“The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is committed to working with our federal, state and local partners to identify and hold accountable those who sexually abuse children,” BCA Superintendent Drew Evans said. “We will pursue anyone who wishes to harm children in our communities.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office thanks the FBI for their investigation and hard work, as well as the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Shakopee Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also thanks the Minnesota State Patrol for their work and assistance in safely apprehending the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel W. Bobier is prosecuting the case.
A complaint is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Mexican National Sentenced for Drug Conspiracy and Attempted Possession of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Mexican national was sentenced for drug conspiracy and attempted possession of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Luis Enrique Rios-Soriano, 25, for Drug Conspiracy and Attempted Possession of Methamphetamine. Judge Russell ordered Rios-Soriano to serve 140 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.
In June 2024, Texas Department of Public Safety troopers pulled over a driver for traffic violations. During a search of the vehicle, troopers located a suitcase containing 21 plastic bags containing a white substance that appeared to be methamphetamine. The investigation revealed that the driver was getting paid $4k to deliver the methamphetamine to Tulsa.
Drug Enforcement Administration agents tested the white substance and confirmed that it was methamphetamine. In a coordinated effort, agents replaced the methamphetamine with fake methamphetamine and allowed the driver to complete the transaction.
The driver met with Luis Enrique Rios-Soriano and Morgan Ashley Kirby, 20, to be paid and delivered the fake methamphetamine for further distribution.
Later, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol pulled over the vehicle Rios-Soriano was driving. Kirby was in the passenger side of the vehicle. Upon search of the vehicle, troopers discovered more than 46 pounds of fake methamphetamine and cash sitting on the floorboard of the passenger side of the vehicle.
According to court documents, Rios-Soriano admitted to conspiring with others to make money by distributing and selling methamphetamine.
Rios-Soriano’s co-defendant, Kirby, was convicted by a jury in February for Drug Conspiracy and Attempted Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. She is awaiting sentencing.
Rios-Soriano will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Drug Enforcement Administration – Tulsa and Amarillo Resident Offices, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and Texas Department of Public Safety investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Bailey and Christian Harris prosecuted the case.
Massena Man Sentenced for Alien SmugglingRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Peter Buckshot, age 28, of Massena, New York, was sentenced today to 2 years in federal prison for transporting aliens.
United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Robert N. Garcia, Chief Patrol Agent, United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector made the announcement.
As part of his prior guilty plea, Buckshot admitted that on October 1, 2024, he picked up four aliens and citizens of Vietnam who had just illegally entered the United States from Canada. At approximately 12:00 p.m., the New York State Police attempted to stop Buckshot for speeding in Westville, N.Y. He did not pull over and attempted to evade the State Police. He led the State Police on a high-speed chase, during which he drove 80 miles per hour (mph) in a posted 30 mph zone and 100 mph in a posted 55 mph zone. At one point, Buckshot drove over a sidewalk to avoid police. He also failed to stop at a stop sign, drove on the road shoulders and unsafely passed other vehicles. Buckshot eventually crashed into a tree in Fort Covington, N.Y. No one was injured in the crash. The aliens were able to abscond on foot from the crash site but were caught soon thereafter.
Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also ordered Buckshot to serve a 2-year term of supervised release following his release from prison. Buckshot has been in custody since his arrest on October 1, 2024.
This case was investigated by the United States Border Patrol and the New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Collyer prosecuted the case.
Marshall County Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
OXFORD, MS – James Thomas Arnold, 38, of Potts Camp, was sentenced yesterday to 15 years in prison for possessing child sexual abuse material.
The investigation began when law enforcement discovered Arnold used a peer-to-peer network to download videos and images of children, including minors under the age of 12, that depicted sexual abuse.
U.S. District Court Judge Michael P. Mills sentenced Arnold to 180 months imprisonment followed by a 10-year term of supervised release for the offense. He is required to register as a sex offender pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. The Court ordered that Arnold pay restitution to the victims who were identified in the offense in the amount of $41,500.00.
“Protecting children always has been and always will be a top priority of this office,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “We are proud of the partnership with the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office and the FBI that has yet again produced a lengthy sentence for an individual who views children as sexual objects.”
“My office is committed to holding individuals who exploit children accountable for their crimes. Thanks to the diligent work of our cyber-crime investigators, we successfully stopped a predator from doing more harm,” said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “I am grateful to our partners at the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office for their work to secure this sentence. Together, we are making Mississippi a safer place for everyone.”
“The FBI remains committed to protecting our most vulnerable citizens—our children,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the FBI Jackson Field Office. “Mr. Arnold's sentencing underscores the seriousness of crimes against children and strengthens our dedication to holding offenders accountable. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to ensure these predators are brought to justice."
The case was investigated and conducted by the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office and the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Roberts and Julie Addison prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of the Project Safe Childhood nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Mansfield Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Keevon Carter-Hickmon, a 30-year-old Mansfield man, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for producing child pornography, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.
Carter-Hickmon was indicted and pleaded guilty in January 2025 to production of child pornography. He was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor on May 2, 2025.
According to a factual resume signed by the defendant, Carter-Hickmon drove to a local middle school to pick up a minor after communicating with the minor online for several months. Carter-Hickmon took the minor to a motel in Arlington where they had sexual contact. Carter-Hickmon recorded and then distributed pornographic images of the minor over the internet. While awaiting trial on state charges, Carter-Hickmon solicited another minor online and received additional child pornography from that minor.
Acting United States Attorney Meacham praised the extraordinary efforts of the agencies involved in bringing justice on behalf of the victims. Those agencies included the Arlington Police Department, Stephenville Police Department, Mansfield Police Department, United States Secret Service, and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Allyson Monte prosecuted the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative, which was launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s 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, and identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Man Sentenced to 444 Months for Firing on Law EnforcementRead the Press Release
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – A Forsyth County, North Carolina, man was sentenced yesterday in Greensboro to a total of 37 years in prison after pleading guilty to felon in possession of a firearm, assault on a federal officer by use of a deadly and dangerous weapon, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, announced Acting United States Attorney Randall S. Galyon of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC).
TYREE RAY LONG, age 28, was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment for the felon in possession of a firearm plus 3 years of post-release supervision by the Honorable William L. Osteen, Jr., United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the MDNC. LONG was sentenced to 204 months to run consecutive to that sentence for the assault on a federal officer plus 3 years of post-release supervision. LONG was also sentenced to 120 months to run consecutive to the other two sentences for discharging a firearm during and in relation to the assault on law enforcement plus 5 years of post-release supervision to run concurrent to the other post-release supervision.
According to court records, on the evening of April 21, 2022, officers with the Winston-Salem Police Department (WSPD) were called to a domestic disturbance with a report of shots fired. A woman reported that her boyfriend, TYREE RAY LONG, shot at her and her daughter as they tried to drive away from their residence after an argument. LONG hit the car four times, but no one was injured.
Officers investigated the shooting and obtained arrest warrants for LONG. On April 26, 2022, members of the US Marshal’s Service (USMS) Fugitive Task Force (FTF) received information that LONG was at a hotel on Northpoint Boulevard in Winston-Salem. Members of the USMS FTF and local law enforcement officers from WSPD and the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office responded to the parking lot of the hotel. LONG was identified in the driver’s seat of a Ford Fusion which was backed into a parking space. At least seven law enforcement vehicles entered the parking lot and were positioned to block LONG’s exit. Agents and officers then exited their vehicles and began giving commands to LONG to show his hands. Instead, LONG dropped his hands to the gear shifter.
LONG began to drive forward and wedged the Fusion between two law enforcement vehicles that had been blocking him in. He hit at least two cars, one of which was occupied by a United States Marshal. LONG then sped out of the parking lot and was pursued by officers. LONG entered University Parkway Southbound and led agents and officers on a three-mile car chase through both business and residential areas, including off-campus student housing for Wake Forest University. At times during the chase, Long was driving in the opposing lane of travel. A USMS Agent was operating the lead car in pursuit when LONG began shooting at officers out the window of his car while in the 2800 block of University Parkway. LONG fired at officers approximately ten times.
Shortly thereafter, LONG crashed his car into a line of traffic waiting at the stoplight at University Parkway and 25th Street, which caused a chain reaction of collisions. LONG abandoned the vehicle and ran on foot toward the CVS at that intersection. When LONG exited his car, an agent observed a handgun in LONG’s hand.
LONG hopped the fence behind the CVS and then leveled the gun and fired one round at a pursuing WSPD officer before fleeing toward a detached garage behind a house. He was detained shortly afterwards by pursuing officers.
LONG pleaded guilty on August 5, 2025, to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2); to one count of Assault on a Federal Officer by Use of a Deadly and Dangerous Weapon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111(a)(1), 18 U.S.C. § 111(b); and to one count of Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(iii).
The case was investigated by the Winston-Salem Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the United States Marshal Service Fugitive Task Force, with assistance from the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Martin and Assistant United States Attorney Nicole R. DuPré.
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Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Steal Mail, Possession of a Postal Service Mail Key and Possession of Stolen MailRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that CHAD WOODS (“WOODS”), age 29, of New Orleans, was sentenced on April 24, 2025, after previously pleading guilty on December 19, 2024 to Conspiracy to Steal United States Mail, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371; Possession of a United States Postal Service (USPS) “arrow” key, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1704; and Possession of Stolen Mail that had been deposited into authorized mail receptacles, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1708.
According to the indictment, on June 23, 2022, WOODS and another man stole mail from one location, and attempted to steal mail from another location, in Kenner, Louisiana. The co-conspirator acted as the driver and WOODS used the USPS key to steal mail from the first location. After a police chase, the pair were found in possession of 36 stolen checks, including one forged counterfeit check, six opened pieces of mail, and the USPS “arrow key” used to open the USPS mailboxes to steal the mail.
United States District Court Judge Eldon E. Fallon sentenced WOODS to five years of probation, with the special condition that he serve one year of home detention and pay a mandatory $300 special assessment fee.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Kenner Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jon Maestri of the General Crimes Unit is charge of the prosecution.
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Machete threat leads to federal chargesRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 28-year-old Houston woman has been charged with assaulting a law enforcement officer with a machete, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Authorities have now taken Jennifer Jesselle Perez-Rodriguez into custody. She is expected to make her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Hanovice Palermo at 2 p.m.
According to the now unsealed criminal complaint, on April 17, federal agents were on duty and traveling on Anderson Road in Houston in unmarked vehicles. Perez-Rodriguez allegedly walked into the roadway wielding a machete. She began swinging the weapon and advanced on two of the vehicles, according to the charges.
Authorities allegedly activated a siren in one of those vehicles as Perez-Rodriguez began running towards them with the machete. As she continued to advance, an FBI agent opened the door of his vehicle and verbally commanded Perez-Rodriguez to drop the machete, according to the allegations. Perez-Rodriguez allegedly did not comply.
Details from the criminal complaint indicate the agent then discharged his duty weapon at Perez-Rodriguez until she no longer posed a threat. Perez-Rodriguez was struck by the gunfire and subsequently transported to a hospital for medical attention, according to the charges.
If convicted of assaulting a federal agent, Perez-Rodriguez faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Byron H. Black 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.
Marianna Man Found Guilty of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Lorenzo Heatrice, 70, was found guilty by a federal jury of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one involving five grams of methamphetamine and the other involving 50 grams. The guilty verdict was announced by Michelle Spaven, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
In 2023, Heatrice was identified by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office as a methamphetamine distributor. According to evidence presented at trial and court records, between June 2023 and April 2024, Heatrice conspired with other known drug traffickers in the Marianna, Florida area to distribute large amounts of methamphetamine into the community. On two separate occasions in September 2023, Heatrice also sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant.
The conviction was the result of a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Etherton and Eric Welch.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 11, 2025, at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Chief United States District Judge Mark E. Walker.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Louisiana Nurse Practitioner Convicted of $2M Medicare FraudRead the Press Release
A federal jury convicted a Louisiana nurse practitioner yesterday for her role in an over $2 million health care fraud scheme.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Shanone Chatman-Ashley, 45, of Opelousas, was a nurse practitioner and enrolled provider with Medicare. Chatman-Ashley worked as an independent contractor for companies that purportedly provided telehealth services to Medicare beneficiaries. As part of the scheme, the defendant caused the submission of false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary durable medical equipment (DME). Chatman-Ashley routinely ordered knee braces, suspension sleeves, and other types of DME for patients who had not been examined by her or another medical provider. Chatman-Ashley concealed the scheme by signing documentation falsely certifying that she had consulted with the beneficiaries and personally conducted assessments of them. From 2017 to 2019, the defendant signed more than 1,000 orders for medically unnecessary DME, causing over $2 million in fraudulent Medicare claims and over $1 million in reimbursements. In exchange for the orders, Chatman-Ashley received kickbacks and bribes from the telehealth services companies.
“Today, a Louisiana jury convicted Shanone Chatman-Ashley of health care fraud for brazenly cheating Medicare out of its limited resources,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, the Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Dishonest medical practitioners put significant strain on our health care system and reduce the quality of patient care. The Department of Justice will not tolerate medical professionals who fraudulently enrich themselves at the expense of American taxpayers. I thank the prosecutors and our law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly on this case in the pursuit of justice.”
“This defendant not only defrauded the Medicare Program but went against everything the medical profession stands for, which is a promise to provide ethical and responsible patient care,” said U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook for the Western District of Louisiana. “She took advantage of beneficiaries who were elderly and handicapped to order items for them that were not medically necessary. This office is committed to continuing to work with our federal partners to stop this type of fraud in the Western District of Louisiana.”
“Illegal kickback payments undermine and corrupt the medical decision-making process,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Both the payer and recipient of kickbacks benefit from these schemes, but it’s ultimately the taxpayers who foot the bill. HHS-OIG will continue collaborating with law enforcement and prosecutors to protect the Medicare trust fund that millions of Americans depend on.”
Chatman-Ashley was convicted of five counts of health care fraud. She is scheduled to be sentenced on July 31 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each count. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
HHS-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Kelly Z. Walters of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Danny Siefker for the Western District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of 9 strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Lincoln Man Sentenced to 78 Months’ Imprisonment for Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Matthew R. Molsen announced that Derrick Conley, 23, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on May 1, 2025, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for being a felon in possession of ammunition. United Stated District Court Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Conley to 78 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Conley’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.
On June 11, 2024, officers with the Lincoln Police Department responded to a report of an ongoing disturbance in Lincoln. Derrick Conley was one of the persons involved. Witnesses reported that during the argument, Conley lifted his shirt revealing a handgun tucked into his waistband. Conley then placed the firearm in the car in which he had arrived to the scene. Officers found the firearm in the vehicle. It was a “polymer 80” handgun or “ghost gun,” which is a firearm that is manufactured by the buyer and not required to have a serial number if the person who manufactures the firearm does not transfer it to another person. When the officers examined the gun, they found no serial number on the handgun. The handgun was found with an extended magazine inserted into it, and it was equipped with a machinegun conversion device, which is colloquially known as a “Glock switch.” The firearm was also found loaded with 9mm ammunition.
Conley had been previously convicted of attempted possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person in the District Court of Douglas County, Nebraska on June 22, 2022. He had also been previously convicted of theft by unlawful taking of items valued between $1,500, and $5,000, in the District Court of Douglas County, Nebraska on April 6, 2021. Each of those offenses were punishable by a term of imprisonment of more than a year.
The investigation was conducted by the Lincoln Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. 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.
Lawrence Woman Charged with Passport Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft and Misuse of Social Security NumberRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lawrence woman was charged in federal court in Boston with passport fraud, aggravated identity theft and misuse of a social security number.
Wendy Dume Chavez, 49, was arrested yesterday and charged with passport fraud, aggravated identity theft and misuse of a social security number. She had her initial appearance yesterday afternoon and a detention hearing is scheduled for May 7, 2025.
According to the criminal complaint, in June 2020, Dume Chavez allegedly submitted a renewal passport application using the name, date of birth and Social Security number of the alleged victim. The passport was issued to Dume Chavez. Dume Chavez also allegedly used the victim’s name and social security number to obtain multiple government-issued identification documents, including a Massachusetts driver’s license.
The charge of false statement in a passport application provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The charge of aggravated identity theft calls for a mandatory minimum of two years in prison to be added to the felony committed while using the means of identification of another without lawful authority. The charge of misuse of Social Security number provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the United States Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Matthew O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Millix Bonilla, Acting Chief of Police in Lawrence; and Paul F. Tucker Essex County District Attorney made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of the Major Crimes Unit.
Last Defendant in East Alabama Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Sentenced to 10 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The last defendant charged in a drug trafficking conspiracy has been sentenced, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Court Judge Corey L. Maze sentenced Demarcus Sharon Brown, 39, of Anniston, Alabama, to 120 months in prison. Brown pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, throughout the fall of 2022 to the summer of 2023, the six defendants conspired to distribute over 1,000 grams of methamphetamine in east Alabama.
The following defendants have previously been sentenced:
Jamar Dariunte Clay, 36, of Anniston, was sentenced to 152 months in prison. Clay pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute or possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, multiple counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and multiple counts of use of a communication facility to commit a drug trafficking crime.
Jonathan Tyree McRath, 39, of Anniston, was sentenced to 81 months in prison. McRath pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute or possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, multiple counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and multiple counts of use of a communication facility to commit a drug trafficking crime.
Donarius Quinez Kincaid, 38, of Anniston, was sentenced to 120 months in prison. Kincaid pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute or possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and multiple counts of use of a communication facility to commit a drug trafficking crime.
Brandon Jamal Jernigan, 30, of Anniston, was sentenced to 58 months in prison. Jernigan pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute or possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and multiple counts of use of a communication facility to commit a drug trafficking crime.
Michael Gardner Boone, 33, of Montgomery, Alabama, was sentenced to 121 months in prison. Boone pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute or possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The investigation and prosecution are part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case, along with the Anniston Police Department, Oxford Police Department, 7th Judicial Major Crimes Unit, and West Alabama Narcotics Task Force. The USMS provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany Byrd prosecuted the case.
Las Vegas Man Sentenced to over 13 Years in Prison for Coercion and Enticement of Multiple ChildrenRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man was sentenced Thursday by Chief United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon to 160 months in prison to be followed by 15 years of supervised release. Denzel Renyal Michael Loyd’s sentence follows his conviction for four counts of coercion and enticement after he solicited multiple children to engage in prostitution. The defendant utilized Facebook to contact the minors and solicit them to engage in sexual acts, send him sexually explicit images and videos of themselves, and prostitute themselves on his behalf.
“Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of the offense,” said United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “Over the span of a few months, the defendant, a self-described pimp, solicited numerous minors to send him sexually explicit photographs and videos of themselves, induced them to engage in various sex acts – at least one victim complied to his sex demands in exchange for food, and attempted to convince the victims to engage in prostitution. The U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to work closely with the FBI to protect our youth from predators, and we will seek justice for victims.”
“Denzel Renyal Michael Loyd deserves each and every day of his 13-year prison term,” said Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI. “This sentence delivers a message to anyone intent on harming children. The FBI and our law enforcement partners are committed to protecting children from the clutches of offenders like Loyd. Every time a child predator is brought to justice, potential victims are spared immeasurable harm.”
In addition to imprisonment, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, Loyd must register as a sex offender and keep the registration current.
United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI Las Vegas Division made the announcement.
The FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Jean Ripley and Supriya Prasad prosecuted the case with the assistance of the Department of Justice Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS).
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the 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 www.justice.gov/psc.
Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
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Lakeland Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for $370,000 COVID Relief Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Jeanty Cherilus (54, Lakeland) to one year and six months in federal prison for wire fraud. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $370,000, the proceeds of Cherilus’s criminal conduct. Cherilus pleaded guilty on January 22, 2025.
According to court documents, Cherilus was an owner of Natransusa Corporation (“NATRANS”), a business that advertised to provide automobile salvage and transportation services. Cherilus, through NATRANS, submitted applications to obtain federal Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans and an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) to which Cherilus and NATRANS were not entitled. The loan applications had materially false and fraudulent representations, including an inflated number of employees and average payroll, and certifications that the loan proceeds would be used for business-related purposes. Cherilus also included fraudulent supporting documentation to induce the Small Business Administration and an approved lender to fund the loans. After receiving the PPP and EIDL funds, Cherilus used the money for purposes other than what was approved by the terms of the loan and for his own personal enrichment.
“USAID OIG will continue its aggressive pursuit of accountability for bad actors that exploit and abuse federal assistance programs, domestically or overseas,” said Acting Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Sean Bottary. “As part of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee Task Force, we are proud to partner with the Department of Justice on this and other ongoing cases. As part of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee Task Force, this investigation was conducted by USAID OIG after identifying the fraudulent loan scheme through a USAID-related programming matter.”
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Agency for International Development-Office of Inspector General and the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Greg Pizzo.
Justice Department Addresses Religious Discrimination in Lawsuit for Former Teacher Denied Exemption from Vaccine MandateRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Justice Department today announced that a federal judge has approved a consent decree that settles its lawsuit against the Advanced Science and Technology Education Charter Schools (“ASTEC”) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The lawsuit alleges ASTEC discriminated against Marcus Rethwill, a former teacher at the school, on the basis of religion, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, when it terminated him after denying his request for a religious exemption from ASTEC’s vaccine mandate for employees because he could not provide a clergy letter supporting his request. Title VII is a federal statute that prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin or religion.
“When employees’ religious principles conflict with work rules, they should not be forced to choose between practicing their religion and keeping their jobs if a reasonable accommodation can be made,” said Harmeet K. Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “Employer policies that rigidly restrict how employees can demonstrate the sincerity of their religious beliefs for religious accommodations are inconsistent with the breadth of Title VII’s protection against religious discrimination.”
“No employee should be forced to violate their religious beliefs just to keep their job,” said Robert J. Troester, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma. “Employers must take care not to craft or apply policies that require employees to forfeit their religious beliefs or impose unreasonable conditions that question the sincerity of those beliefs.”
Under the consent decree, ASTEC will pay Rethwill $95,000 in monetary damages, revise its anti-religious discrimination policy, and provide mandatory training on the policy to personnel.
The Oklahoma City Area Office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) investigated and attempted to resolve Rethwill’s charge of discrimination before referring it to the Department of Justice for litigation. More information about the EEOC is available on its website at www.eeoc.gov.
The full and fair enforcement of Title VII is a top priority of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt/.
Civil Division Chief Scott Maule of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Oklahoma and Senior Trial Attorney Louis Whitsett of the Civil Rights Division’s Employment Litigation Section handled this case.
Justice Department Addresses Religious Discrimination in Lawsuit for Former Teacher Denied Exemption from Vaccine MandateRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced that a federal judge has approved a consent decree that settles its lawsuit against the Advanced Science and Technology Education Charter Schools (ASTEC) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The lawsuit alleges ASTEC discriminated against Marcus Rethwill, a former teacher at the school, on the basis of religion, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, when it terminated him after denying his request for a religious exemption from ASTEC’s vaccine mandate for employees because he could not provide a clergy letter supporting his request. Title VII is a federal statute that prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin or religion.
“When employees’ religious principles conflict with work rules, they should not be forced to choose between practicing their religion and keeping their jobs if a reasonable accommodation can be made,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Employer policies that rigidly restrict how employees can demonstrate the sincerity of their religious beliefs for religious accommodations are inconsistent with the breadth of Title VII’s protection against religious discrimination.”
“No employee should be forced to violate their religious beliefs just to keep their job,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma. “Employers must take care not to craft or apply policies that require employees to forfeit their religious beliefs or impose unreasonable conditions that question the sincerity of those beliefs.”
Under the consent decree, ASTEC will pay Rethwill $95,000 in monetary damages, revise its anti-religious discrimination policy, and provide mandatory training on the policy to personnel.
The Oklahoma City Area Office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) investigated and attempted to resolve Rethwill’s charge of discrimination before referring it to the Justice Department for litigation. More information about the EEOC is available on its website at www.eeoc.gov.
The full and fair enforcement of Title VII is a top priority of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available at www.justice.gov/crt/.
Jury Convicts Ohio Men for Conspiring to Distribute More Than Five Kilograms of CocaineRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that a federal jury has found Virgil Cooper (42, Cleveland, OH) and Angelo Jordan (49, Euclid, OH) guilty of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and attempting to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Each faces a minimum penalty 15 years’ imprisonment, due to prior serious drug or violent felonies, and a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. The sentencing hearings have not yet been set.
According to testimony and evidence presented during the four-day trial, Cooper established contact with a former federal prison cellmate who had been deported to his native country of Colombia after serving his sentence. Cooper wanted to purchase multiple kilograms of cocaine directly from Colombia at a discount rate. The former cellmate introduced Cooper to a Drug Enforcement Administration confidential source who helped arrange for a viewing of 10 kilograms of cocaine with undercover officers in Tampa in February 2023. Because Cooper was still serving the remainder of his sentence in a halfway house, he sent his friend, Jordan, to view the cocaine. After repeated communications and Cooper’s release from the halfway house, Cooper and Jordan traveled from Cleveland to Tampa on August 3, 2023, to deliver a down payment of $120,000 for an initial 30 kilograms of cocaine, and they were arrested.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Tampa Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney David Rehfuss and Assistant United States Attorney E. Jackson Boggs, Jr.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. 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 www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Jilted Boyfriend Gets 50 Years for Killing Ex-Girlfriend in 2021Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Idrissa Fall, 37, of the District, was sentenced today to 50 years in prison for the July 2021 murder of his ex-girlfriend outside of her home in Northwest, D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
On Jan. 22, 2025, a Superior Court jury found Fall guilty of first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm. In addition to the prison term, Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt ordered Fall to serve five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, just before 1:30 a.m. on July 18, 2021, the victim, Dara Northern, walked out of her home and headed towards her best friend’s car for a night on the town. When the victim left her home, Fall followed her. Ms. Northern had recently broken up with Fall and kicked him out of her home. As the victim got into the front seat of her friend’s waiting vehicle, Fall started reaching for his waistband. As Ms. Northern closed the door, Fall shot her in the head as she sat next to her best friend and fled the scene. Ms. Northern suffered one gunshot wound to her right eye. She was declared brain dead that same day and died as a result of her injuries.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Martin and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the U.S. Marshals Service. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including; Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin; Victim/Witness Advocate Jennifer Allen and Latrice Washington-Williams; Paralegal Specialists Alyssa Schroeder and Sharon Newman; and Litigation Technology Specialist Sigourney Jackson.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristian L. Hinson and Yasmin Emrani, who prosecuted the case.
Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. Appointed Interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of MichiganRead the Press Release
DETROIT – United States Attorney General Pam Bondi has appointed Assistant United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. to serve as Interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. Today, he was formally sworn in by Chief United States District Court Judge Sean F. Cox.
As U. S. Attorney, Gorgon will serve as the chief federal law enforcement officer representing the United States in all federal criminal and civil litigation in the Eastern District of Michigan, which serves 6.5 million people. He leads a staff of approximately 190 prosecutors, civil litigators, and support personnel.
Gorgon has been a federal prosecutor in Detroit for 15 years, prosecuting terrorism, violent crime, sex trafficking, carjacking, and immigration cases. He was born in southwest Detroit, is a graduate of Southwestern High School, and continues to call Detroit home. After graduating from the University of Michigan, he returned to teach elementary science in the Detroit Public Schools. After Gorgon graduated from the University of Michigan Law School, he clerked for the Honorable Anna Diggs Taylor, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, and the Honorable Damon J. Keith, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. After becoming a partner at Honigman LLP, he returned to public service at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Detroit.
Jefferson County Man Sentenced to More than 17 Years in Prison on Gun and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Jefferson County man has been sentenced for drug trafficking and possessing firearms as a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Court Judge R. David Proctor sentenced Michael Roman Black, 32, of Bessemer, Alabama, to 212 months in prison. In January, Black pleaded guilty to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to the plea agreement, between July 2021 and September 2022, Black committed crimes on three separate occasions:
On July 22, 2021, a Bessemer police officer initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Black after discovering it had a switched tag. As the officer approached the vehicle, Black opened the door. The officer observed several syringes lying in the driver’s side door pocket. After Black exited the vehicle pursuant to the officer’s orders, the officer searched the vehicle and recovered syringes, two vacuum sealed bags containing 892.6 grams of methamphetamine, and 60 rounds of Blackout .300 caliber ammunition. Officers searched Black’s person and recovered $8,254 in cash and a plastic bag containing 12 hydrocodone pills.
On December 22, 2021, Black sold 435 grams of pure methamphetamine to an undercover officer.
On September 7, 2022, an FBI Task Force Officer and FBI agents went to arrest him at a residence in Bessemer, Alabama. During the arrest, agents observed drug paraphernalia, cocaine, rifles, a handgun, and marijuana in plain view. After obtaining a search warrant for the residence, FBI agents and the Bessemer Police Department Special Operations Unit recovered cocaine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, a Blackout .300 caliber rifle loaded with 100 rounds of ammunition, an Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 (assault style) rifle loaded with 100 rounds of ammunition, four magazines that fit the AM-15 rifle, two loaded Glock 9mm pistols, an unloaded Glock 9mm pistol, ammunition, various magazines, and cash totaling $8,438. At the time of the search warrant, Black was a convicted felon prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm or ammunition.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case, along with the Bessemer Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy M. Peoples prosecuted the case.
Jury Convicts Mexican Felon of Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS – Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Andrew Birge today announced that a federal jury convicted Eduardo Lopez-Escarrega of Aggravated Felon Reentry. Lopez-Escarrega is a citizen of Mexico without authorization to be in the United States. He has prior convictions for dealing cocaine in Indiana and for previously re-entering the country without authorization after having been convicted of an aggravated felony. He took this latest case to trial to no avail. Lopez-Escarrega now faces another term in prison, after which he will again be removed from this country. Sentencing is scheduled for July 29 in Lansing.
“Lopez-Escarrega is a clear threat to the safety of our communities, not only through his repeated violation of our immigration laws but also his felony drug conviction for dealing cocaine,” said ICE ERO Detroit Field Office Director Robert Lynch. “I’d like to commend the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office, the ICE Grand Rapids and ICE Chicago officers as well as the prosecutors who all worked tirelessly to secure justice in this case.”
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Donald Daniels and Timothy VerHey.
Jamaican Citizen Arrested for Making a False Claim of Citizenship in Order to Register to Vote in the 2024 United States Presidential Primary ElectionRead the Press Release
PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA – Jacqueline Dianne Wallace, 52, a Jamaican citizen, has been arrested on a federal criminal complaint and charged with unlawfully making a false claim of citizenship in order to register to vote in the 2024 Florida Presidential Primary Election. Michelle Spaven, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charge after Wallace made her initial appearance in federal court in Tallahassee.
According to the criminal complaint, Wallace entered the United States in December 2010 on a six-month B2 tourism visa and did not return to Jamaica as required. In January 2024, Wallace registered to vote in federal elections using an online system that required certification of United States citizenship, which she did not have. Wallace submitted the fraudulent voter registration form via a community college computer network.
In August 2024, still without United States citizenship, Wallace cast a ballot in the federal 2024 Florida Presidential Primary, which included election of a United States President.
Wallace was arrested by agents with the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and investigators of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.
If convicted, Wallace faces up to five years in prison and will be subject to removal from the United States.
HSI Tampa Field Division and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Office of Executive Investigations, Election Crime Unit investigated the case, with the assistance of the Florida Department of State, Office of Election Crimes and Security; the Bay County Sheriff’s Office; the Bay County Supervisor of Elections; and the United States Citizenship Immigration Service. Assistant United States Attorney Eric Welch is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation by a sworn affiant that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to due process, to include a fair trial, during which it is the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Inmate Sentenced to 72 Months’ Imprisonment for Assault with A Dangerous WeaponRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Victor Blanco, age 42, formerly an inmate at United States Penitentiary Canaan, Waymart, Pennsylvania, was sentenced yesterday to 72 months’ imprisonment by Senior United States District Judge Robert D. Mariani for assaulting another inmate with a dangerous weapon.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Blanco was previously found guilty after a bench trial of one count of assault with a dangerous weapon for his role in the stabbing of another inmate using a sharpened piece of metal with a bed sheet handle. The assault occurred at USP-Canaan’s outdoor recreation yard. A co-defendant, Isaac Carreno, was previously sentenced to 31-months’ incarceration after pleading guilty to the same offense.
The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Assistant United States Attorneys James Buchanan and Gerard Donahue prosecuted the case.
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Hawaii Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Elderly Orange County Victim Out of Nearly $2 Million that Cost the Victim His Home and His YachtRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – A Hawaii man has pleaded guilty to a federal criminal charge for defrauding a 78-year-old Orange County victim out of nearly $2 million by false promises of brokering the sale of the victim’s yacht, the Justice Department announced today.
John Tamahere McCabe, 42, of Kailua, Hawaii, pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of wire fraud.
According to his plea agreement, McCabe offered to help the victim sell his yacht. What the victim didn’t know was McCabe used fabricated documents to change the ownership of the yacht to McCabe’s name. Once in his name, McCabe then diverted the proceeds to his own personal bank account and used most of the proceeds for his own personal purposes.
McCabe further convinced him to transfer his million-dollar Irvine residence into a McCabe-controlled limited liability company (LLC), claiming that it would protect the victim’s most-valuable asset and provide tax benefits. Without the victim’s knowledge or consent, McCabe caused himself to be the sole manager of the LLC and caused $1 million in loans to be taken out and secured by the victim’s residence, draining all its equity.
Once McCabe spent the loan proceeds, he defaulted on the loans and the victim’s residence was sold at a foreclosure sale, leaving the victim homeless. Through this scheme, McCabe defrauded the victim out of approximately $1,814,000.
United States District Judge Fred W. Slaughter scheduled an October 16 sentencing hearing, at which time McCabe will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
The FBI investigated this case with the help of the Irvine Police Department.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Waier is prosecuting this case.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. English, Spanish and other languages are available.
Harrisburg Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Firearms and Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Antoine Manning, age 46, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson to 15 years of imprisonment on one count each of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, on February 17, 2020, Harrisburg police officers responded to a report of an armed man at a rooming house. As officers arrived, they saw Manning step onto the porch of the residence and throw an object. The officer who retrieved that object identified it as a loaded Sig Sauer semiautomatic pistol. After taking Manning into custody, police searched him and found 4.22 grams of cocaine, a digital scale dusted with white powder residue, a cellular phone, and $223 in cash.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Harrisburg Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Scalera prosecuted the case.
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Hardin man sentenced to 2 years in prison for placing threatening phone callsRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Hardin man who made threatening and vulgar phone calls to the FBI in 2023 was sentenced today to 24 months in prison to be followed by 1 year of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Glenn Gale Ware, 46, pleaded guilty in March 2024 to placing harassing telephone calls.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that in May 2022, the FBI in Billings began receiving telephone calls, emails, and online messages from Ware, who was falsely reporting misconduct by two special agents. Ware alleged the agents were using satellite technology to transmit their voices to him and threaten his family. He made similar reports to the FBI Field Office in Salt Lake City, to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), to the FBI’s National Threats Operation Center, and to the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office. These reports were false.
Over time, the frequency of Ware’s calls increased. Between June 19 and August 12, 2023, Ware called the FBI Resident Agency Office in Billings and left 29 voicemails. He made the calls from his personal phone number and identified himself by name in most of the voicemails. In the voicemails, Ware addressed a specific FBI Special Agent by name and used vulgar and threatening language toward and about that person to harass them. He also continued making reports about the agent’s actions that were untrue. The FBI received the calls and recorded the voicemails. The agent to whom they were directed heard them as well.
Ware was interviewed by a different FBI agent on August 8, 2023. He admitted making the calls and leaving the voicemails.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Hargrove prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the FBI.
Greenville Man Sentenced for Distributing FentanylRead the Press Release
Greenville, MS – A Greenville man was sentenced yesterday to 33 months in prison for distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents, Frederick Williams, 26, previously plead guilty to distribution of a controlled substance, which included fentanyl. Chief U.S. District Judge Michael P. Mills of the Northern District of Mississippi sentenced Williams to 33 months of incarceration followed by three years of supervised release. Williams was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following sentencing.
On October 24, 2024, Williams’ Codefendant, Dequan Antonio Titus, 27, entered a plea of guilty to one count of distribution of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl. On February 6, 2025, U.S. District Judge Michael P. Mills sentenced Titus to serve 24 months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release.
“Fentanyl is poison, and those who sell it deserve every day of whatever prison sentence is imposed on them,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “We are proud to stand with our partners at the Greenville Police Department in protecting their community from this scourge.”
“First, we would like to thank the Special Operations Division, officers of the Greenville Police Department, and the U. S. Attorney’s Office for a job well done,” said Chief Marcus Turner of the Greenville Police Department. “We will continue to use all available resources to pursue individuals that spread illegal drugs in our community. Moving forward, we will continue to diligently work together to ensure the safety of all citizens.”
This case was investigated by the Greenville Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip M. Levy prosecuted the case.
Greenbrier County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Richard Shawn Owens, 39, of Lewisburg, was sentenced today to one year and three months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a person previously convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 10, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the Lewisburg residence of Owens and seized six firearms: a Glock 19X 9mm handgun, a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield .40-caliber handgun, a Smith & Wesson M&P15 .223-caliber/5.56mm rifle, a RomArm Cugir WASR-10 7.62x39mm rifle, a Winchester Super X Pump 12-gauge shotgun, and a Ruger American 30-06 bolt-action rifle. The firearms were out in the open and readily accessible throughout the residence, where two children also lived. Officers also found hundreds of rounds of ammunition and drug paraphernalia. Owens admitted to possessing the firearms.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior conviction for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Owens knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior conviction for assault and battery of a family member in Chesterfield County, Virginia, Circuit Court on July 16, 2013.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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. 5:23-cr-146.
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Four Romanian Men Sentenced for Odometer FraudRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Matthew R. Molsen announced that four co-defendants convicted of odometer fraud and related charges were sentenced on April 30 and May 1, 2025 by United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher.
Razan Trasca, age 35, of Craiova, Romania, pled guilty to four counts of Odometer Fraud and three counts of Utter and Possess Forged and Counterfeit Securities of a State (vehicle titles). He was sentenced on April 30, 2025 to 30 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $53,260 in restitution.
Daniel Andronache, age 28, of Craiova, Romania, pled guilty to one count of Utter and Possess Forged and Counterfeit Securities of a State (vehicle title). He was sentenced on April 30, 2025 to 38 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $26,690 in restitution.
Ionut Madalin Zamfir, age 25, of Craiova, Romania, pled guilty to two counts of Odometer Fraud and two counts of Utter and Possess Forged and Counterfeit Securities of a State (vehicle titles). He was sentenced on May 1, 2025 to 36 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $38,500 in restitution.
Dudu Musi, age 37, of Craiova, Romania, pled guilty to one count of Utter and Possess Forged and Counterfeit Securities of a State (vehicle title). He was sentenced on May 1, 2025 to 36 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $17,150 in restitution.
Each of the defendants had entered the United States sometime between approximately 2020 to 2022 and had been allowed to remain in the country.
During approximately January 2022 to July 2024, in Nebraska and adjoining states, the defendants acquired high mileage vehicles, rolled back the odometers, re-sold the same vehicles at inflated prices, and provided vehicle titles that falsely stated low mileages consistent with the altered odometer readings. Sometimes a defendant acquired and sold the same vehicle himself, but each of the four defendants conducted overlapping transactions concerning certain vehicles, for example acquiring a vehicle that a co-defendant sold or accompanying a co-defendant during an acquisition or sale.
Collectively, the defendants acquired and sold at least 23 vehicles in this same way. The Court determined that the cumulative loss was $104,400, based on the difference between the price for which each vehicle was acquired and the inflated price for which it was sold after its odometer was rolled back.
Acting United States Attorney Matthew R. Molsen stated, “These defendants defrauded ordinary citizens who were simply trying to stay within their budgets by buying used cars. What makes it even more egregious is that they victimized American citizens after having been allowed to remain in the United States.”
“HSI works closely with our partners to identify and investigate anyone who comes to the U.S. to commit fraud,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Seattle acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Murphy. “In this case, the convictions and restitution ordered will support the victims who were defrauded through the defendants’ scheme."
In a separate case, Andronache and Zamfir had been stopped in November 2023 in Blaine, Washington, near the Canadian border. They were transporting twelve aliens, all of whom were Romanian citizens who had entered the United States illegally. In 2024, Andronache and Zamfir were convicted and sentenced in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington of Conspiracy to Illegally Transport Certain Aliens. At the conclusion of that case, Andronache and Zamfir were transported to Nebraska to face the Odometer Fraud and related charges.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles Fraud Unit.
Four Mexican Nationals Residing Unlawfully in the United States Charged for Their Roles in an International Conspiracy to Smuggle Aliens from Canada into the U.S.Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Four Mexican nationals unlawfully residing in the United States have been charged for their roles in an international human smuggling conspiracy that illegally brought aliens across the Canadian border to the United States for profit.
Edgar Sanchez-Solis, age 23, unlawfully residing in Kansas City, Kansas; Ignacio Diaz-Perez, age 35, unlawfully residing in Oakwood, Georgia; Samuel Diaz-Perez, age 26, unlawfully residing in Dublin, Ohio; and Salvador Diaz-Diaz, age 32, unlawfully residing in Columbus, Ohio, were charged by indictment with conspiracy to bring aliens to the United States and 25 counts of bringing aliens illegally to the United States for profit. The defendants were arrested at multiple locations throughout the United States and are currently detained. Ignacio Diaz-Perez and Salvador Diaz-Diaz had been previously removed from the United States.
“As alleged, these defendants illegally entered this country and then sought to smuggle hundreds of aliens per week to the United States from Mexico, Central America, and South America through the Canadian border,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The defendants instructed smuggled aliens to make testimonial videos touting the enterprise’s services. In reality, the defendants imperiled their human cargo and innocent American lives when they repeatedly engaged in life-threatening conduct, including multiple high-speed getaways from law enforcement.”
“This case demonstrates our relentless efforts to secure our northern border from the criminal organizations profiting from human smuggling and other illegal activities,” said United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III. “We are grateful for our partnership with Joint Task Force Alpha as we work to dismantle these transnational criminal organizations and make our North Country communities safer.”
According to court documents, the four defendants were part of an alien smuggling organization that has been operating for the last two years in Mexico, Canada, and the United States. The four defendants, in exchange for money, conspired with others to smuggle hundreds of aliens per week from Mexico, Central America, and South America through Canada, into northern New York, including Franklin and Clinton Counties, as alleged in court documents. The aliens or their family members paid thousands of dollars to be smuggled into the United States. The defendants and their co-conspirators allegedly facilitated the illegal travel of the aliens from Mexico to Canada and then across the northern border, where they were picked up and driven farther into the United States.
On multiple occasions members of the alien smuggling organization led local and federal law enforcement officers on high-speed vehicle chases along the U.S. northern border, creating a grave public safety risk, according to court documents. For example, in April 2023, smugglers allegedly fled the Burke Border Patrol Station’s sector at a high rate of speed after setting off a border sensor. Border Patrol successfully stopped the vehicle and apprehended the smugglers, who were transporting seven adult aliens and three minors. In another incident, in May 2023, the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office used a tire deflation device to stop a van carrying aliens after it allegedly failed to yield to both federal and state law enforcement. The smugglers and aliens allegedly fled on foot after the vehicle was disabled. As additionally alleged, in August 2023, a vehicle carrying aliens that was fleeing from Border Patrol drove into Plattsburgh, New York, where it drove erratically, passed vehicles in a congested traffic area, ran a red light, and struck a motorist at an intersection. The driver and six illegal aliens fled the accident scene on foot but eventually were apprehended.
“These individuals acted in blatant disregard of our nation’s laws, allegedly smuggling hundreds of aliens into the United States for thousands of dollars each,” said Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Buffalo. “They’re alleged to have repeatedly put the public at risk through dangerous vehicle chases with law enforcement further demonstrating their contempt for the law and safety of others. We work every day with our partners in the U.S. Border Patrol and are proud to support the security of our borders and uphold public safety in our communities.”
“These charges are a testament to the hard work of the men and women of the United States Border Patrol and its partner agencies,” said Chief Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia of the U.S. Border Patrol’s Swanton Sector. “The days of catch-and-release are over, and the reality is clear; if you attempt to enter the United States illegally, if you attempt to smuggle or traffic human beings, you will be apprehended and you will face severe consequences.”
The investigation and arrests of the defendants were coordinated under Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded by the Attorney General with a mandate to target cartels and other transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the border. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, the Office of Enforcement Operations, and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 360 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 330 U.S. convictions; more than 275 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.
Mr. Galeotti expressed his gratitude to Joint Task Force Alpha, which is focused on combatting human smuggling organizations, and its partners in this case, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York and HSI. HSI Rouses Point and U.S. Border Patrol Burke Station led U.S. investigative efforts, with substantial assistance from HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. and CBP’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force.
Trial Attorney Jenna Reed of the Criminal Division’s HRSP and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carling Dunham for the Northern District of New York are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and other 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 Project Safe Neighborhood.
An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Four Mexican Nationals Residing Unlawfully in the United States Charged for Their Roles in an International Conspiracy to Smuggle Aliens from Canada into the U.S.Read the Press Release
Four Mexican nationals unlawfully residing in the United States have been charged for their roles in an international human smuggling conspiracy that illegally brought aliens across the Canadian border to the United States for profit.
Edgar Sanchez-Solis, 23, unlawfully residing in Kansas City, Kansas; Ignacio Diaz-Perez, 35, unlawfully residing in Oakwood, Georgia; Samuel Diaz-Perez, 26, unlawfully residing in Dublin, Ohio; and Salvador Diaz-Diaz, 32, unlawfully residing in Columbus, Ohio, were charged by indictment with conspiracy to bring aliens to the United States and 25 counts of bringing aliens illegally to the United States for profit. The defendants were arrested at multiple locations throughout the United States and are currently detained. Ignacio Diaz-Perez and Salvador Diaz-Diaz had been previously removed from the United States.
“As alleged, these defendants illegally entered this country and then sought to smuggle hundreds of aliens per week to the United States from Mexico, Central America, and South America through the Canadian border,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The defendants instructed smuggled aliens to make testimonial videos touting the enterprise’s services. In reality, the defendants imperiled their human cargo and innocent American lives when they repeatedly engaged in life-threatening conduct, including multiple high-speed getaways from law enforcement.”
“This case demonstrates our relentless efforts to secure our northern border against the criminal organizations profiting from human smuggling and other illegal activities,” said U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III for the Northern District of New York. “We are grateful for our partnership with Joint Task Force Alpha as we work to dismantle these transnational criminal organizations and make our North Country communities safer.”
According to court documents, the four defendants were part of an alien smuggling organization that has been operating for the last two years in Mexico, Canada, and the United States. The four defendants, in exchange for money, conspired with others to smuggle hundreds of aliens per week from Mexico, Central America, and South America through Canada, into northern New York, including Franklin and Clinton Counties, as alleged in court documents. The aliens or their family members paid thousands of dollars to be smuggled into the United States. The defendants and their co-conspirators allegedly facilitated the illegal travel of the aliens from Mexico to Canada and then across the northern border, where they were picked up and driven farther into the United States.
On multiple occasions members of the alien smuggling organization led local and federal law enforcement officers on high-speed vehicle chases along the U.S. northern border, creating a grave public safety risk, according to court documents. For example, in April 2023, smugglers allegedly fled the Burke Border Patrol Station’s sector at a high rate of speed after setting off a border sensor. Border Patrol successfully stopped the vehicle and apprehended the smugglers, who were transporting seven adult aliens and three minors. In another incident, in May 2023, the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office used a tire deflation device to stop a van carrying aliens after it allegedly failed to yield to both federal and state law enforcement. The smugglers and aliens allegedly fled on foot after the vehicle was disabled. As additionally alleged, in August 2023, a vehicle carrying aliens that was fleeing from Border Patrol drove into Plattsburgh, New York, where it drove erratically, passed vehicles in a congested traffic area, ran a red light, and struck a motorist at an intersection. The driver and six illegal aliens fled the accident scene on foot but eventually were apprehended.
“These individuals acted in blatant disregard of our nation’s laws, allegedly smuggling hundreds of aliens into the United States for thousands of dollars each,” said Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Buffalo. “They’re alleged to have repeatedly put the public at risk through dangerous vehicle chases with law enforcement further demonstrating their contempt for the law and safety of others. We work every day with our partners in the U.S. Border Patrol and are proud to support the security of our borders and uphold public safety in our communities.”
“These charges are a testament to the hard work of the men and women of the United States Border Patrol and its partner agencies,” said Chief Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia of the U.S. Border Patrol’s Swanton Sector. “The days of catch-and-release are over, and the reality is clear; if you attempt to enter the United States illegally, if you attempt to smuggle or traffic human beings, you will be apprehended and you will face severe consequences.”
The investigation and arrests of the defendants were coordinated under Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded by the Attorney General with a mandate to target cartels and other transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the border. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, the Office of Enforcement Operations, and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 360 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 330 U.S. convictions; more than 275 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.
Mr. Galeotti expressed his gratitude to Joint Task Force Alpha, which is focused on combatting human smuggling organizations, and its partners in this case, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York and HSI. HSI Rouses Point and U.S. Border Patrol Burke Station led U.S. investigative efforts, with substantial assistance from HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. and CBP’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force.
Trial Attorney Jenna Reed of the Criminal Division’s HRSP and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carling Dunham for the Northern District of New York are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and other 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 Project Safe Neighborhood.
An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former PICC Correctional Officer and Two Co-Conspirators Plead Guilty to Scheme to Smuggle Contraband into the Prison FacilityRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Breyanna Cornish, 30, Jawayne Brown, 40, and Ahmad Nasir, aka Hussain Abdussamad, 44, all of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, entered pleas of guilty before United States District Court Judge Gerald J. Pappert this week in connection with a scheme to smuggle contraband — including drugs, phones, chargers, cigarettes, and knives — into the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center (“PICC”) from April through July of 2021.
The defendants were charged by indictment in August of last year, with Nasir pleading guilty this morning to one count of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery, one count of federal program bribery, one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of buprenorphine, and one count of possession with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of buprenorphine.
Brown pleaded guilty on Monday to one count of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery, one count of federal program bribery, and one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of buprenorphine.
Cornish pleaded guilty on Monday to one count of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery and one count of federal program bribery.
As detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendants, Nasir, who was then detained pre-trial at PICC, worked with Brown, who was not incarcerated, Cornish, who was then a PICC correctional officer (“CO”) employed by the Philadelphia Department of Prisons (“PDP”), and several other associates to purchase and assemble contraband. Cornish then smuggled the contraband into PICC, where Nasir sold the contraband to other inmates for a profit. Nasir then instructed associates to pay Cornish for her role smuggling the contraband into the prison and Brown for his work purchasing and assembling the packages.
On July 10, 2021, PDP conducted a search of the cell Nasir shared with another inmate. In a compartment in the ceiling behind a light fixture, officers recovered 19 cellphones, 20 cellphone chargers, one rapid charger, two super glues, two screwdrivers, one roll of tape, three hunting knives, one Ziploc bag containing the synthetic cannabinoid commonly known as K2, one Ziploc bag of tobacco, one alprazolam pill, and at least 110 packets of Suboxone.
Following the search of the cell, officers conducted a search of Nasir and his cellmate. Officers recovered a cellphone from the person of each of them. Text messages and WhatsApp messages extracted from the cell phone recovered from Nasir’s person revealed that from June 19, 2021, to July 6, 2021, CO Cornish, Nasir, and Brown discussed via text specific contraband items to be acquired, the delivery of contraband packages, and payments for the items and to co-conspirators. Nasir simultaneously sent messages to multiple inmates about the purchase and delivery of contraband.
The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced in August. Cornish faces a maximum possible term of 15 years’ imprisonment, Brown a maximum possible term of 25 years’ imprisonment, and Nasir a maximum possible term of 35 years’ imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the FBI, with significant assistance from the Philadelphia Department of Prisons, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Meghan Claiborne and Ruth Mandelbaum.
Former Massachusetts State Police Sergeant Convicted of Bribery and Extortion ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former Sergeant with the Massachusetts State Police (MSP) was found guilty today by a federal jury in Boston of orchestrating a series of schemes to give false passing scores to certain Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) applicants, including individuals who had failed or did not take the CDL skills test, as part of years-long bribery and extortion conspiracies.
Gary Cederquist, 59, of Stoughton, was convicted of two counts of conspiracy to commit extortion, one count of extortion, six counts of honest services mail fraud, three counts of conspiracy to falsify records, 19 counts of falsification of records and 17 counts of false statements. Cederquist was acquitted of one count of conspiracy to commit extortion, two counts of extortion, three counts of falsification of records and three counts of false statements. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for July 24, 2025.
In January 2024, Cederquist was charged in a 74-count indictment along with three other MSP troopers and two civilians:
- Former Trooper Calvin Butner, 64, of Halifax;
- Former Trooper Perry Mendes, 64, of Wareham;
- Former Trooper Joel Rogers, 56, of Bridgewater;
- Scott Camara, 44, of Rehoboth; and
- Eric Mathison, 48, of Boston.
All of Cederquist’s co-defendants have accepted responsibility for their involvement in the conspiracy. Butner, Mendes, Camara and Mathison have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
“It is never a good day when a member of law enforcement is convicted of a crime, especially when it is a crime that compromises public safety. Gary Cederquist chose bribery and extortion over his oath to protect the community which he was sworn to serve. His greed put the public at risk when he devised a scheme to issue commercial driver’s licenses to applicants who had never taken a real test to operate heavy commercial vehicles on the roads and highways of Massachusetts,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office has the utmost respect for law enforcement, but we will not stand idly by if they violate the law.”
“Today’s verdict confirms that Gary Cederquist abused his authority as a Massachusetts State Trooper to recklessly bypass long-established testing and safety parameters for commercial driver’s license applicants. He did so only to enrich himself, while turning a blind eye to the potential public safety implications of ill-prepared and unqualified commercial truck drivers navigating our streets and our highways,” said Homeland Security Investigations New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol. “Public servants are held to a higher standard and Cederquist not only let the citizens of the Commonwealth down but also disgraced the thousands of state troopers who so proudly and honorably wear the Massachusetts State Police uniform.”“Today’s verdict sends a strong message to those who may be motivated by greed to abuse their positions—that they will be met with the full force of the criminal justice system,” said Elise Chawaga, Principal Assistant Inspector General for Investigations, Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General. “DOT OIG remains committed to working with our Federal law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to uphold motor carrier rules and regulations, which are integral to maintaining safety on our Nation’s roadways.”
Cederquist was in charge of MSP’s CDL Unit, of which former Troopers Butner, Mendes and Rogers were members. Class A CDLs are required to drive combination vehicles (e.g., tractor-trailers). Class B CDLs are required to drive heavy single vehicles (e.g., box trucks, oil tankers, school buses). Test requirements for CDLs are established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Members of MSP’s CDL Unit are responsible for administering CDL skills tests. The CDL skills test is a demanding, in-person test that consists of three segments: Vehicle Inspection; Basic Control Skills; and the Road Test. Test scores reported by members of MSP’s CDL Unit are material to whether applicants meet federal requirements for, and therefore whether the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) is permitted to issue applicants, CDLs. In Massachusetts, the pass rate was 48% in 2019, 44% in 2020, 41% in 2021 and 41% in 2022.
Between in on or about February 2019 and January 2023, Cederquist arranged for him and his co-conspirators to give passing scores to at least three dozen applicants regardless of whether or not they had actually passed or, in some cases, had even taken the CDL skills test, including in some instances in exchange for bribes. Cederquist and his co-conspirators used the code word “golden handshake” or “golden” to identify applicants who received special treatment and were to be given passing scores on their skills tests regardless of performance. In text message conversations, Cederquist and his co-conspirators described a number of “golden” applicants as performing poorly on their skills tests. However, all of the applicants received passing scores.
Among the CDL applicants to whom Cederquist gave preferential treatment were six MSP Troopers who Cederquist falsely reported as having passed a Class A skills test. In reality, however, the Troopers did not take a real CDL skills test. For four of the Trooper applicants, Cederquist conspired with his friend Camara, who worked for a truck-driving school in Brockton, to accomplish this offense.
Cederquist also conspired with his friend Mathison, who worked for a water company that employed drivers who needed CDLs, to give passing scores to certain applicants affiliated with the water company. In exchange for the passing scores, Cederquist accepted bribes – for years – of free inventory from the water company, such as cases of bottled Fiji, VOSS and Essentia water, cases of bottled Arizona Iced Tea, coffee and tea products and boxes of Twizzlers and Swedish Fish, all of which Mathison delivered to an office trailer at the CDL test site in Stoughton. Cederquist sent Mathison a text describing one of these applicants as “an idiot,” who had “no idea what he’s doing,” and “should have failed about 10 times already.” Cederquist then texted Mathison that Mathison’s boss “owes big time.”
In exchange for using his official position to give preferential treatment to certain CDL applicants, Cederquist accepted a variety of bribes including inventory from Mathison’s water company valued in the thousands of dollars; a $750 granite post and mailbox; a new driveway valued at over $10,000; and a snowblower valued at nearly $2,000. Cederquist described one such applicant as “horrible,” and “brain dead,” but gave him a passing score anyway in exchange for the snowblower.
All CDL recipients identified as not qualified during the course of this investigation have been reported to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.
The charges of conspiracy to falsify records each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of conspiracy to commit extortion each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of extortion each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of honest services mail fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of falsification of records each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of false statements each provide 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.
U.S. Attorney Foley; HSI SAC Krol; and DOT PAIG Chawaga made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine J. Wichers and Adam W. Deitch of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit are prosecuting the case.
Former Indiana Congressional Candidate Sentenced to Federal Prison for Falsifying Campaign Finance RecordsRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS— Gabriel Whitley, 27, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to three months in federal prison followed by one year of supervised release after pleading guilty to making materially false statements to the Federal Election Commission.
According to court documents, during the 2024 primary election, Gabriel Whitley was a candidate for United States Congress in Indiana’s 7th Congressional District. Whitley did not win the primary election, which was held on May 7, 2024. As set forth below in more detail, rather than raise funds in the normal course for his campaign, Whitley fabricated contributions that he had received and falsely reported to the Federal Election Commission (“FEC”) that he had in fact received those contributions. Whitley knew the FEC filings were riddled with falsehoods, and in making those fraudulent statements, deceived the American public about his candidacy.
As set forth in Court documents, on October 11, 2023, Whitley, acting as Treasurer for his principal campaign committee, “Honest Gabe for Congress,” filed a report with the FEC covering the period from July 1, 2023, to September 30, 2023. In that report, Whitley lied and falsely documented that 67 people, not including himself, made contributions to his campaign, totaling approximately $222,690. These reports included made-up names, occupations, employers, and addresses for multiple fictitious contributors.
On January 31, 2024, Whitley, again acting as Treasurer for his campaign committee, filed another report with the FEC repeating the same scheme he had engaged in previously, lying and falsely reporting contributions that he knew he had never received.
Finally, on April 15, 2024, Whitley filed yet another false report with the FEC. In that report, he lied again and falsely conveyed that he loaned his campaign $100,000 on March 7, 2024, while knowing that he had not in fact loaned his campaign this money and did not have the funds to do so.
In total, approximately $234,000 of the purported contributions to Honest Gabe for Congress never occurred.
“Gabriel Whitley intentionally created an illusion that he was a legitimate candidate for office with the financial support of the electorate, denying the public of its most powerful tool for casting informed ballots: transparency,” said John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Federal election laws require all federal candidates to make a true, accurate accounting of the contributions they have received, so that citizens can properly choose their own leaders. This sentence should reassure the public of our government’s ability to police and punish conduct that corrupts elections and denies the public the right to cast informed votes.”
“When you are a candidate for public office, you have the same responsibility to follow the law just like the people you seek to represent,” said FBI Indianapolis Acting Special Agent in Charge Dominique Evans. “This wasn’t a mistake by Mr. Whitley - it was a deliberate effort to deceive the public by violating campaign finance laws for his own gain. The FBI remains committed to investigating those who violate public trust and ensure they are held accountable.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney II.
Acting U.S. Attorney Childress thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany J. Preston and Trial Attorney of the Public Integrity of the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice, Nicole Lockhart, who prosecuted this case, with substantial assistance from former PIN Trial Attorney Jacob Steiner
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Former Greensburg Police Chief Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine and CocaineRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The former police chief of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on May 1, 2025, to 15 months in federal prison for narcotics charges, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on Shawn Denning, 44, of Delmont, Pennsylvania. Denning pleaded guilty on April 16, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine and a quantity of cocaine.
According to information presented to the Court, during the time that he was the Greensburg police chief, Denning was involved in a nationwide drug conspiracy and had helped numerous individuals purchase narcotics from suppliers in California. Those narcotics included cocaine and methamphetamine disguised as counterfeit Adderall pills. One of the individuals with whom Denning conspired was former Greensburg police officer Regina McAtee, who also pleaded guilty to the drug conspiracy and will be sentenced later this month.
Despite Denning’s argument during the sentencing hearing that he should not serve any time in prison, Judge Bissoon sentenced Denning to 15 months in federal prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release, and a $2,000 fine. Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Bissoon stated that “When law enforcement becomes the bad guys, our civil society cannot function.”
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Vasquez Schmitt prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, and Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Denning.
This prosecution is a part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Former City Clerk / Treasurer Pleads Guilty to Stealing over $196,000 from the City of New PlymouthRead the Press Release
BOISE – Danielle Painter, 41, of Fruitland, pleaded guilty to wire fraud related to defrauding the City of New Plymouth through unauthorized personal purchases on City credit cards, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced today.
According to court records, Danielle Painter was employed as the City Clerk / Treasurer for the City of New Plymouth from 2012 to 2023. As the City Clerk / Treasurer, Painter was responsible for performing various accounting functions, including recording and coding of credit card charges in the accounting system, issuing electronic credit card payments, and retaining credit card statements.
Between 2017 and 2023, Painter devised a scheme to defraud the City of New Plymouth by using City of New Plymouth credit cards for unauthorized personal expenses. The unauthorized personal expenses included retail purchases, restaurants, clothing, travel, concerts, utility and rent, and medical expenses.
In total, Painter made $196,947.87 in unauthorized charges using City of New Plymouth credit cards between 2017 and 2023. To hide her scheme, Painter entered many of the expenses as professional services in the City of New Plymouth’s internal accounting system.
“The Idaho State Police takes our responsibility seriously to uphold public trust and protect taxpayer dollars.” Investigative Lieutenant Jack Catlin stated. “This case demonstrates the strength of our partnerships with local and federal agencies and our shared commitment to holding individuals accountable when that trust is violated.”
U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford will sentence Painter on August 5, 2025. The charge in this case is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott commended the investigation by the Idaho State Police, which led to the charge. Assistant U.S Attorney Sean Mazorol is prosecuting this case.
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Florida Man Sentenced for Assaulting Gate Agent at DFW AirportRead the Press Release
A Florida man who assaulted a gate agent at DFW Airport was sentenced to four months in federal prison, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.
Keith Charles Owens, 53, was charged via criminal complaint in November 2024 and pleaded guilty to a criminal information charging interference with security screening personnel in January 2025. He was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor, who also ordered Owens to pay nearly $6,000 in restitution.
In plea papers, Mr. Owens admitted that he assaulted an American Airlines gate agent at DFW Airport on Oct. 5, 2024. Security footage showed Mr. Owens repeatedly punched the gate agent in the head.According to court documents, around 4:42 p.m., Mr. Owens approached the gate agent at gate A36, explained he was late, and attempted to scan his boarding pass. When the gate agent informed him he was at the wrong gate, Mr. Owens cursed and walked away. The agent then radioed the correct gate, A35, to inform airline personnel that Mr. Owens was headed their way and appeared to be intoxicated.
Mr. Owens then walked onto the A35 jet bridge without scanning his boarding pass. Airline personnel removed him from the jet bridge.
A few moments later, at 4:48 p.m., Mr. Owens again approached gate A36. He began yelling at the gate agent, grabbed him by the shoulders, and punched him repeatedly in the face and neck. Eventually, airline personnel were able to restrain him.
Both the gate agent and the personnel who assisted in restraining Mr. Owens sustained minor injuries. The flight departing from gate A36 was delayed.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Division conducted the investigation with the DFW Airport Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Beck prosecuted the case.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Louisville Man for Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, and Cocaine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, has indicted a local man with a drug conspiracy involving methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Acting Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the FBI Louisville Field Office, Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department, and Sheriff John Aubrey of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement.
According to the indictment, Jordan Watkins, 34, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine, over 40 grams of fentanyl, and cocaine for an offense occurring between September 24, 2023, and March 9, 2025, in Jefferson County, Kentucky.
On April 25, 2025, Watkins made an initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. A detention hearing is scheduled for May 5, 2025. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and LMPD, with assistance from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Dahl is prosecuting this case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Father Sentenced to Life Plus 10 Years for First Degree Murder and Assault; Sons Sentenced for Their InvolvementRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A father was sentenced after being convicted by a jury of first-degree murder and assault, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced James William Buzzard, 52, to life imprisonment, plus 10 years, after a jury convicted Buzzard of First Degree Murder in Indian Country, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian County, and Carrying, Using, or Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.
Before the trial began, James Buzzard’s co-defendants and sons pleaded guilty to their involvement in the murder of Jerry Tapp.
Cody Dwayne Buzzard, 31, pled guilty to Second Degree Murder in Indian Country, and Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Judge Frizzell ordered Cody Buzzard to serve 300 months' imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.
Dakota Chase Buzzard, 23, pled guilty to Conspiracy to Carry, Use, Brandish, and Discharge a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Judge Frizzell ordered Dakota Buzzard to serve 78 months' imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.
In August 2019, the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call about a shooting. Upon arrival, deputies discovered Jerry Tapp deceased in his front yard with multiple gunshot wounds. Deputies found a second victim alive, who was shot in the arm.
Witness interviews led law enforcement to Dakota Buzzard, who was driving a white, 4-door Altima, matching the description of the vehicle seen leaving. Law enforcement found spent casings in the yard, driveway, and roadway. They also found additional casings in the vehicle and the rifle used in the shooting.
Court documents showed that the defendants waited for Jerry Tapp to return home from work. Once Jerry Tapp exited the vehicle, James Buzzard shot at Jerry, and handed the gun to Cody Buzzard, who continued shooting.
The FBI, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Reagan Reininger and Eric O. Johnston prosecuted the case.
Emmanuel College Assistant Admissions Director Arrested for Allegedly Soliciting a College Applicant to Engage in Commercial SexRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Assistant Admissions Director for Emmanuel College in Boston was arrested this evening and charged with soliciting an underage college applicant to engage in commercial sex with him.
Jacob Henriques, 29, of Boston, is charged in a criminal complaint with one count of Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Minor. He will appear in U.S. District Court in Boston on Monday May 5, 2025.
According to the charging document, Henriques used his position as an Assistant Admissions Director to allegedly gain access to the personal information of various admitted or prospective students, who he later contacted to solicit to engage in commercial sex with him. Specifically, on April 25, 2025, Henriques met with multiple admitted or prospective students. After meeting with at least three such students, Henriques allegedly gained access to their personal information and began contacting them, offering to “pay them for some fun,” offering to provide them with pornography, and, in some instances, sending them pornographic videos or images. It is alleged that Henriques began contacting a fourth victim after she formally committed to attend the college on April 25, 2025. He allegedly offered to pay her for “some fun” and began sending pornographic videos to her.
Henriques is charged with attempting to traffic a 17-year-old victim, who was a prospective student. Henriques allegedly reviewed the victim’s tour registration form, which contained her date of birth, just before giving her a tour of the college on or about April 25, 2025. Henriques asked the victim what grade she was in and the victim told Henriques what local high school she attended. Within hours of finishing the tour, it is alleged that Henriques began texting the victim on her phone number provided on her admissions form. Henriques allegedly offered to pay the victim $400 for “some fun” right now and told her that he had pornographic videos and pictures for her. Henriques continued to contact the minor victim that night, refusing to tell her who he was or how he got her number. He allegedly told the victim that “porn” and “$” was ready for her. Henriques then allegedly sent the minor victim five pornographic videos depicting men and women engaged in sex acts and asked her whether or not she wanted to participate in a “gangbang” and whether or not she wanted to have sex with him. It is further alleged that despite the victim rejecting Henriques’s offer multiple times, Henrique continued to text her telling her to let him know if she changed her mind and that he would buy her anything she wanted. Between April 25, 2025 and April 28, 2025, it is alleged that Henriques accessed the minor’s profile 47 times. After the victim blocked his phone number, Henriques allegedly began soliciting the victim via email.
The charge of attempted sex trafficking of a minor provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, with a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, at least five 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 other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and James Crowley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Emmanuel College Campus Police and the Boston, Ware, Lunenburg, Agawam, Springfield, Ludlow and Easthampton Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig E. Estes of the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit is prosecuting the case.
If you believe that you may be a victim of the alleged crime, please reach out to the Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force by filling out this short short form.
If you have information or questions about this investigation, or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking or child exploitation, please contact [email protected].
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.
Ecuadorian National Charged with Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Ecuadorian national residing in Lawrence, Mass. has been charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.
Carlos Guaico-Bano, 35, was charged with one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Guaico-Bano was arrested this morning and will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston later today.
According to the charging documents on Feb. 4, 2020, Feb. 10, 2020, Feb. 19, 2020 and March 3, 2020, Border Patrol Agents encountered Guaico-Bano in Brackettville, Eagle Pass, and El Paso, Texas. In each of these four instances, Border Patrol Agents determined he had no lawful right to be present in the United States and returned him to Mexican side of the border. During his March 3rd encounter with Border Patrol, Guaico-Bano was served with a Notice to Appear at removal proceedings on March 10th. However, instead of appearing for removal proceedings as directed, Guaico-Bano allegedly attempted, for a fifth time, to enter the U.S. without permission and was caught doing so on March 10th. Guaico-Bano was placed in custody and processed for removal back to Ecuador. On the same day, an immigration judge in San Antonio, Texas ordered Guaico-Bano removed from the United States.
According to court records, Guaico-Bano was caught again in September of 2020 attempting to enter the United States illegally for a sixth time and was removed back to Ecuador. On Nov. 23, 2021, immigration authorities became aware that Guaico-Bano had reentered the United States following his arrest on Nov. 17, 2021 in Lawrence. He was charged and later convicted of one count of Assault and Battery and one count of Assault and Battery, Dangerous Weapon. He received an 18-month suspended sentence and was then released from custody before Immigration and Customs Enforcement could take action.
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 Luke A. Goldworm 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.
District of Arizona Charges 287 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct in Arizona this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During this week of enforcement operations from April 26, 2025, through May 5, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 287 defendants. Specifically, the United States filed 107 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 156 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 21 cases against 24 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Recent matters of interest include:
United States v. Krystal Lopez: On April 29, 2025, BPAs ran a registration check on a vehicle which showed a positive history of alien smuggling. The vehicle pulled into a gas station. The driver exited the vehicle and entered the store. BPAs approached the vehicle and saw a person hiding in the back seat underneath a blanket. A search of the vehicle revealed two additional people in the trunk. All three people were determined to be citizens of Mexico illegally present in the United States. The driver, Krystal Lopez, had been arrested one month prior for alien smuggling and was released pending trial in that case. She was charged by complaint in this case and ordered detained pending trial. [Lopez CR-25-02060 and MJ-25-07625]
United States v. Gloria Lopez Corona: On April 29, 2025, Gloria Lopez Corona crossed into the United States through the San Luis Port of Entry attempting to smuggle a five-year-old child. Corona presented a birth certificate for a two-year-old, which was inconsistent with the child she was presenting for entry. After being referred to secondary, she admitted to smuggling the child. The child had been given melatonin gummies and was sleepy and disoriented. Agents were able to find the child's mother, Reyna Cecilia Hernandez Reyes, a Mexican citizen. Reyes admitted to giving her child to an unknown female to be smuggled into the United States. Both women were charged. [Lopez Corona et al 25-01540MJ]
United States v. Carlos Murillo: On April 30, 2025, Carlos Murillo, a Naturalized United States Citizen, was encountered by Border Patrol after transporting Marcelino Garcia-Alejo, an illegal alien. Murillo had been recruited to smuggle aliens via Facebook. He admitted to previously smuggling aliens, and believed he would be paid $700.00 for smuggling Garcia-Alejo. [Murillo 25-01544MJ]
Criminal complaints and indictments are simply methods 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.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-071_May 2 Immigration Enforcement
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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 X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Dayton Man Sentenced for Fentanyl Analogue DistributionRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Dayton, Ohio, man, Julius Cole, 39, was sentenced on Friday to 132 months in prison, by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for aiding and abetting the intended distribution of 100 grams or more of a mixture containing a fentanyl analogue.
According to Cole’s plea agreement, on January 2, 2024, law enforcement used a confidential informant to arrange a controlled purchase of fentanyl from Earnest Bryson, who agreed to sell a kilogram of fentanyl to the informant. On January 3, 2024, Cole, Bryson, and co-defendant Gerald Young traveled from Dayton, Ohio to Fort Wright, Ky, to deliver the drugs to the informant. Soon after they arrived, law enforcement parked behind their vehicle and forcibly removed them from the vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed that an attempt was made to destroy the drugs by mixing them with Coca-Cola. Some of the mixture was tested, however, and found to contain fentanyl as well as fluorofentanyl, a fentanyl analogue. Further investigation revealed that Germel Hughes, Cole’s second co-defendant, supplied the drugs to Bryson on the condition that Cole travel with Bryson to Kentucky to assist in the drug distribution. Hughes gave instructions to destroy the drugs with soda if they were stopped by law enforcement. Cole admitted that Bryson possessed the fentanyl with the intent to distribute it and that he assisted Bryson in doing the same
Young and Hughes have both pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges and are scheduled to be sentenced on June 5 and July 16, respectively.
Under federal law, Cole must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by ATF and KSP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Winslow is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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D.C. U.S. Attorney Ed Martin Claws Back $1 Million in USAID Overbilling CaseRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Stax Inc., a private consulting based in Boston, Massachusetts, has agreed to pay $1 million to resolve allegations it overbilled the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in claims for salary reimbursement in the implementation of the U.S. Government funded Sri Lanka@100 project.
This matter came to the U.S. Attorney’s Office from the USAID Office of the Inspector General which found that Stax overbilled USAID more than $850,000 by inflating its employee salary costs.
During an administrative audit, it was discovered that Stax put hidden profit in its proposed salary for its employees. This hidden profit violated the terms of the cooperative agreement entered into by USAID, and further was in direct contradiction to expressed statements to Stax informing them that they were not to get any profit from this cooperative agreement.
During the investigation, Stax was bought out by another company that immediately began to cooperate with the investigation and instituted remedial measures. The new company fired the official who directed that the profit be hidden in the salaries, revamped Stax’s compliance procedures, and placed new personnel with extensive compliance experience into leadership positions. As a result of the earned cooperation credit, the parties agreed to settle for 1.2 times the single damages for a settlement total of $1 million.
The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and USAID Office of the Inspector General.
The matter was investigated by Assistant U.S. Attorney Darrell Valdez of the District of Columbia and Special Agents Michael Pak and Kristopher Nordeen of the USAID Office of the Inspector General.
The settlement agreement is not an admission of facts or liability by Stax Inc. but does resolve the disputed overbilling claims.
D.C. Felon Indicted After Officers Find Firearm in VehicleRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jerone D. Robinson, 48, a resident of the District of Columbia, has been indicted on a federal firearms charge as part of the Make D.C. Safe Again initiative. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Make D.C. Safe Again is a public safety initiative led by U.S. Attorney Martin that is surging resources to reduce violent crime in the District of Columbia. The initiative prioritizes federal firearms violations, seeks tougher penalties for offenders, and aims to detain dangerous individuals facing federal firearms charges.
Robinson is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon.
According to court documents, on Jan. 18, 2024, MPD officers were conducting proactive patrols on Benning Road NE when they observed an unattended, running vehicle. Officers noted a sole occupant, later identified as Robinson, sitting in the driver’s seat. Through the windshield, an officer spotted a firearm on the floorboard in front of the driver’s seat.
Robinson was detained without incident. Officers secured the firearm, which was identified as a loaded, Glock-style semi-automatic handgun.
Officers also observed a Styrofoam cup containing a yellow liquid with the odor of alcohol in the center console. When questioned, Robinson admitted it was “a mixed drink.” He was arrested and transported to the Fifth District Station.
A background check confirmed the firearm was not legally registered, that Robinson lacked a license to carry, and that he is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a prior felony conviction.
This case is being investigated by the ATF Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven B. Wasserman is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger has sentenced Malcolm Bellamy (25, Orlando) to five years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Bellamy to forfeit the firearm which was used during the commission of the offense. Bellamy pleaded guilty on June 6, 2024.
According to court documents, on April 21, 2023, an individual called 911 to report that the driver of a vehicle, whom he later identified as Bellamy, had just pulled out a gun and fired it at him. Officers from the Orlando Police Department responded to the scene and observed an individual standing in the street having a verbal confrontation with the occupants of a blue sedan. The vehicle immediately drove away as officers were approaching in their marked cars. The individual in the street pointed at the vehicle and stated, “that’s them”.
Officers pursued the vehicle which pulled into the driveway of Bellamy’s residence in a nearby neighborhood. The front passenger exited the car with a black object in his hand. Officers gave the passenger commands to get on the ground. The passenger, who had gone behind a tree approximately four feet from the car with the black object in his hand, returned to the vehicle without the object and laid on the ground. The driver, who was later identified as Bellamy, got out of the car and was also detained.
Officers searched behind the tree and discovered an open black bag with a chrome 9mm Taurus handgun sticking out. The handgun’s magazine was loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition. Additionally, a shell casing was discovered at the scene in the vicinity of the reported shooting.
DNA swabs collected from the firearm and a comparison sample taken from Bellamy were a match. A shell casing from the handgun was also matched to the shell casing recovered at the scene.
At the time of the incident, Bellamy was a convicted felon, with prior convictions for robbery with a firearm and aggravated assault with a firearm. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Orlando Police Department. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorneys Rachel Lyons and Matthew Del Mastro.
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.