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Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Friday 18 April 2025
Convicted Felon Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Federal Prison for Possessing A Loaded FirearmRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL - United States District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Darrius Lovett (28, St. Petersburg) to 5 years and 10 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Lovett pleaded guilty on January 14, 2025.
According to court documents, on November 2, 2023, the St. Petersburg Police Department Surveillance Unit located Lovett to arrest him on a felony warrant. A police officer who located Lovett told him to get on the ground, and Lovett refused and ran away from the officer. During the short pursuit, the officer observed Lovett toss a firearm from his right hand. The firearm was located in the area of Lovett’s arrest. A second witness, who was working construction in the area, also observed Lovett toss the firearm. Lovett has numerous felony convictions, including a prior felony conviction for felonious possession of a firearm. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
California Man Sentenced to 38 Months in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Commit Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces Juan Demetrio Villalpando Dominguez, 65, of California, was sentenced to 38 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to the plea agreement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) conducted long-term, overlapping investigations of Villalpando Dominguez’s son, Juan Demetrio Villalpando, Jr. a/k/a “Junior,” and others. Two confidential sources made controlled purchases of narcotics in furtherance of the investigations. These controlled purchases were often negotiated with Mexico-based sources of supply and carried out by the suppliers’ associates in the Denver metropolitan area.
Drug proceeds collected from Juan Demetrio Villalpando Jr.’s customers by one confidential informant were aggregated and then sent in packages addressed to an uncharged person. The true recipient of the money, however, was Villalpando Dominguez. Villalpando Dominguez would then arrange for his son, Juan Demetrio Villalpando Jr., to receive the money in Mexico.
“Money laundering is a serious offense that enables drug traffickers to peddle their deadly wares,” said Acting U.S. Attorney J. Bishop Grewell. “We will hold offenders accountable.”
“Facilitating drug trafficking by funneling illegal proceeds back to Mexico perpetuates the scourge of the drug epidemic in our communities,” said Amanda Prestegard, IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge, Denver Field Office. “Removing these money launderers from the streets and putting them in prison is a result of the hard work of CI special agents, who proudly provide financial expertise as we work alongside our law enforcement partners to bring criminals to justice and keep our communities safe.”
“Dismantling cartels requires more than seizing drugs – it includes cutting off the flow of illicit money that fuels their operations. That’s why targeting the money laundering component of these networks is a key priority,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “With our partners at IRS-CI and ICE, the FBI continues to take a strategic, coordinated approach to bring these complex criminal enterprises to justice and safeguard all Americans from the devastating impact of illegal drugs.”
United States District Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney presided over the sentencing.
The FBI, IRS-CI, and DHS conducted the investigation in this case. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander Duncan and Michael Houlihan, as well as by former Assistant United States Attorney Cyrus Y. Chung.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Case No.: 23-cr-00106-CNS
Caldwell Couple Sentenced to 133 and 96 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
BOISE – Michael Paul Lacasse, 48, and Venetia Dawn Trischan, 47, of Caldwell, were sentenced to 133 months and 96 months, respectively, in federal prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced today.
According to court records, in December 2023, law enforcement learned that Lacasse and Trischan were involved in distributing drugs. Lacasse provided his “customers” a 3x5 card, which contained different types and amounts of illicit controlled substances, and the “customers” could order from this “menu.” Lacasse traveled to California and Washington to purchase fentanyl and concealed the drugs in the engine of his truck. Trischan weighed and packaged drugs and maintained a ledger of the transactions.
On January 11, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Lacasse and Trischan’s shared residence and storage unit. In the residence, law enforcement found five firearms, a homemade suppressor attachment, ammunition, a detailed drug ledger, and approximately $21,000 cash. A search of the storage unit revealed six firearms, ammunition, and pounds of illegal narcotics, including methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, ketamine, MDMA, and mushrooms. In total, Lacasse and Trischan intended to distribute 2,919.88 grams of methamphetamine, 1,054.76 grams of heroin, and 2,499.48 grams of cocaine.
Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott commended the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Meridian Police Department, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Morse and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kane Venecia prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Ada County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office with funds provided by the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program. HIDTA is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives, including the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney position.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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Boone County Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of a MachinegunRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Burlington, Ky., man, Juan Velazquez-Rodriguez, 48, was sentenced on Thursday to 85 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for illegal possession of a machine gun.
According to his plea agreement, in January 2024, a law enforcement source reported that Rodriguez offered to sell the source, who was a convicted felon, a machinegun conversion device (MCD). Law enforcement searched Rodriguez’ residence and found a MCD in his dresser. The MCD was not marked with a serial number, and Rodriguez admitted he knew it was designed to convert a firearm into a machinegun.
A search of Rodriguez’ social media and cell phone revealed messages between Rodriguez and another individual about 3D printing firearm parts. Rodriguez later messaged this same associate from jail, and instructed him to remove everything that had to do with the 3D printer from the associate’s apartment. Rodriguez also offered to sell MCDs to multiple other individuals, explaining that the “switch,” or MCD, would convert a Glock handgun or AR-15 rifle to fully automatic.
Under federal law, Rodriguez 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 three years.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Rana Saoud, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Sheriff Les Hill, Boone County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by HSI and Boone County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel King is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Belcourt, ND, Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Abusive Sexual Contact of a Minor ChildRead the Press Release
Fargo – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl announced that Cole Jeanotte age 41, formerly from Belcourt, ND, appeared in federal court on April 17, 2025, before District Court Judge Peter Welte and was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for the offenses of Abusive Sexual Contact of a Minor Under 12 Years of Age. In addition, Judge Welte ordered Jeanotte to pay $100 in special assessment fees.
As reflected in court documents, Jane Doe disclosed to her mother in May 2020 that Jeanotte had sexually abused her. Jane Doe reported that Jeanotte began sexually abusing her in 2012 continuing until 2013 when Jane Doe was approximately 7 years of age. Following the incidents, Jeanotte threatened to hurt Jane Doe’s mother if Jane Doe told her mother about him sexually abusing her.
“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to prosecuting those who sexually abuse children, regardless of when the disclosure is made,” Puhl said. “This sentence reflects the egregious nature of Jeanotte’s conduct, and it will ensure the protection of other children.”
“Jeanotte committed a heinous crime against a defenseless child, and today’s sentence reflect the gravity of that offense,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “Protecting the most vulnerable members of our society — especially children — is one of the FBI’s highest priorities. We remain steadfast in our commitment to working with our partners to bring predators to justice and protect children from harm.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, District of North Dakota.
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Aliquippa Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to five years of imprisonment on his conviction for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentence on James Louis Peronis, 61, on April 15, 2025.
According to information presented to the Court, beginning in May 2021, Peronis was the subject of a joint investigation by local, state, and federal law enforcement related to cocaine trafficking. During the investigation, law enforcement determined that Peronis would obtain kilogram quantities of cocaine in Ohio and then distribute the cocaine in Pennsylvania. On July 1, 2021, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of Peronis as he entered the Western District of Pennsylvania from Ohio. During the traffic stop, law enforcement conducted a consensual search of the vehicle, which resulted in the seizure of nearly two kilograms of cocaine.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program of Beaver County for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Peronis.
Activity in the U.S. Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Tax Fraud
Adriana Terrazas-Pacheco, 25, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to one month in federal prison, five months of home confinement, and one year of supervised release for the Willful Failure to File a Tax Return. She was also ordered to pay $48,039 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service, $4,387 for the costs of prosecution, and a $4,000 fine. According to court documents, Terrazas-Pacheco failed to file tax returns for tax years 2017-2022. When she learned she was being investigated, she filed delinquent tax returns, two of which were false because she underreported her true income. IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the federal tax investigation. The defendant waived indictment and pleaded guilty on Jan. 14. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on April 17 in Cheyenne. Case No. 24-CR-00003
Drug Trafficking
Curtis Wesley Rogers, 48, of Douglas, Wyoming, was sentenced in two separate criminal cases to 240 months’ imprisonment with 5 years of supervised release. In one criminal case, Rogers was charged with the distribution of fentanyl that resulted in the death of a Wyoming resident. In the second criminal case, the defendant was charged in the Eastern District of Texas with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. The court ordered the defendant to pay $9,219.78 to the Wyoming victim’s family. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Douglas Police Department, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the crimes. Chief U.S. District Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence in Casper on April 15, 2025.
Drug Trafficking & Firearms
Dustin Trosper, 22, a transient on the Wind River Reservation, was sentenced to 60 months with three years of supervised release to follow for carrying a firearm during in relation to a drug trafficking crime. According to court documents, on Aug. 14, 2024, the defendant met several people in the parking lot of a convenience store with the intent to sell them fentanyl. According to witness testimony, the victim attempted to attack Trosper by placing him in a chokehold from the backseat. Trosper dragged the victim out of the car and fired a pistol three to four times, hitting the victim. All parties took off, but the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) was able to locate the victim and take him to the hospital. The BIA and FBI investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore prosecuted the case. Trosper was indicted on Sept. 18, 2024, and pleaded guilty on Jan. 27. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence in Cheyenne on April 17. Case No. 24-00151
Benjamin Cisneros, 65, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to 120 months with five years of supervised release to follow for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, Cisneros was identified as a source of supply for drugs in Southeast Wyoming. On Nov. 12, 2024, officers witnessed Cisneros park at the Horse Palace at Swan Ranch outside of Cheyenne. Officers received permission to run a drug detection dog through the parking lot, and the dog positively alerted to Mr. Cisneros’ vehicle. Officers seized approximately 111.6 grams of cocaine. A search warrant was executed at Mr. Cisneros’ residence where officers seized another 27.3 grams of cocaine, over 500 grams of suspected methamphetamine, digital scales and packaging, all associated with distribution. A Heritage Rough Rider .22 caliber revolver, with an obliterated serial number, was also located in Mr. Cisneros’ bedroom. He is a convicted felon and not allowed to possess firearms. The Cheyenne Police Department Community Action Team investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer prosecuted the case. On Jan. 14, Cisneros waived indictment and pleaded guilty to an Information. U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence in Cheyenne on April 15. Case No. 25-00004
Illegal Re-Entry of a Previously Deported Alien
Alfredo Carlos Chong-Licea, 51, of Mexico, was sentenced to time served and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, on Jan. 27, Chong-Licea was arrested by the Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) in Carbon County for no driver’s license, failure to maintain a single lane, and fleeing/eluding the police. The defendant’s fingerprints were examined against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) database, and a match was found. ICE was contacted. They determined that Chong-Licea had previously been removed from the U.S. and had not applied for permission to reenter after being formally removed in October 2016. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie Morrison prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence in Cheyenne on April 18, 2025. Case No. 25-CR-00034Julio Lopez-Vazquez, 37, of Zacatecas, Mexico, was sentenced to time served and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, on Oct. 26, 2024, Lopez-Vazquez was arrested by the Teton County Sheriff’s Office for driving under the influence of alcohol and not having a driver’s license. The defendant’s fingerprints were examined against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) database, and a match was found. ICE was contacted. They determined that Lopez-Vazquez had previously been removed from the U.S. and had not applied for permission to reenter after being formally removed in December 2019. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore investigated the case. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence in Cheyenne on April 15. Case No. 25-CR-00032
Miguel Ramos-Perez, 33, of Chiapas, Mexico, was sentenced to time served and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, on Feb. 24, Ramos-Perez was arrested in Campbell County for failure to appear. ICE was contacted when he admitted to being a citizen of Mexico. They determined that Ramos-Perez had previously been removed from the U.S. and had not applied for permission to reenter after being formally removed in July 2022. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore investigated the case. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence in Cheyenne on April 15. Case No. 25-CR-00038
About the United States Attorney’s Office
The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include:
Project Safe Childhood
Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.
Operation Take Back America
Operation Take Back America is 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. It also streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Victim Witness Program
The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to ensuring victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime
378 Immigration Cases Filed in the Western District of Texas This WeekRead 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 378 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from April 11 through April 17.
Among the new cases, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement Removal Operations (ICE ERO) agents in San Antonio received notification that Mexican national Netsai Moreno-Suarez was arrested for a traffic violation on April 11. Moreno-Suarez was transferred into ICE ERO custody, charged with illegal re-entry. She was previously removed from the United States in August 2023 after being convicted for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens and being sentenced to five years of probation. If convicted, Moreno-Suarez faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
On April 12, Janet Amanda Gonzales, of San Antonio, was arrested in Kinney County for allegedly transporting five illegal aliens further into the United States. A criminal complaint alleges that U.S. Border Patrol agents observed several individuals laying on top of each other on the backseat of Gonzales’s vehicle as she arrived at an immigration checkpoint near Brackettville. Gonzales allegedly admitted that she was conspiring with other subjects to transport the illegal aliens for monetary gain. A convicted felon, Gonzales was sentenced in April 2021 to two years of probation for exploitation of child/elderly/disabled.
The following day, April 13, a USBP agent observed multiple people running away from the brush and enter a pickup truck on the side of Highway 277 near Texas Loop 79. The agent performed an immigration inspection on the individuals, allegedly discovering four illegal aliens and U.S. Citizen Roberto Hernandez. A criminal complaint alleges that Hernandez was contacted by a co-conspirator and asked to pick up a group of illegal aliens to transport them to a residence in Del Rio.
USBP agents arrested Mexican national Arturo Mendoza-Yerbafria near Sanderson on April 15 for illegal re-entry. Mendoza-Yerbafria has been thrice deported, most recently on May 15, 2024 through Laredo Columbia Bridge. He was convicted in March 2018 and sentenced to 366 days in prison for one count of bringing in and harboring aliens.
Honduran national Efrain Antonio Corroto-Herrera was arrested near Eagle Pass after records indicated he had been previously deported twice, the most recent removal being to Honduras on March 12 through Laredo. Corroto-Herrera was convicted in Austin on Feb. 26 for assault causing bodily injury, for which he received a sentence of 180 days confinement.
Mexican national Zacarias Bautista-Emiliano was arrested by USBP agents for being an alien illegally present in the U.S, having been previously deported as recently as October 2024 through San Ysidro, California. The October removal was Bautista-Emiliano’s fifth deportation and his criminal history includes a felony conviction in 2013 for lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14. His criminal record also includes two additional felony convictions: illegal re-entry in New Mexico in 2014 and illegal re-entry in Arizona in 2022. Bautista-Emiliano received sentences of 46 months in prison and 40 months in prison, respectively, for those convictions.
In Austin, Honduran national Elvin Alexis Canelas-Morillo was placed into federal custody April 17. He pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily injury in a 2023 Travis County case and was sentenced to 179 days confinement. Canelas-Morillo has four prior removals, most recently in April 2022, and a lengthy criminal history that includes multiple immigration convictions, burglary of a building, and evading arrest. He now faces a charge of illegal re-entry.
Mexican national Heber Vivero-Martinez was also transferred to federal custody in Austin on April 17. Along with three prior convictions for illegal entry, Vivero-Martinez was convicted in 2019 for assault causing bodily injury. At the time of his transfer, he was serving 20 days in the Travis County Jail for a DWI charge. Vivero-Martinez’s immigration record includes two removals in 2013 and four voluntary returns between 2007 and 2009.
In El Paso, Mexican national Adolfo Martinez-Padron was arrested and charged with illegal re-entry. He has been previously removed six times, most recently March 27 through Del Rio. Martinez-Padron’s extensive criminal history includes two felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance, two DWIs, and assault causing bodily injury to a family member.
Mexican national Santa Cruz Garcia-Morales was arrested in El Paso as well, having been previously removed from the U.S. four times and granted two voluntary removals. In 2023, Garcia-Morales was convicted in Salt Lake, Utah and sentenced to 180 days in jail for domestic violence in the presence of a child. In May 2024, he was sentenced to 18 months of probation in West Jordan, Utah for aggravated assault.
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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36-Year-Old Man Sentenced to 120 Months in Prison for Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria, Illinois man, Paul Graf, 36, of the 1000 block of West Willow Lane, was sentenced in federal court on April 17, 2025, to 120 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by 10 years supervised release, for attempted enticement of a minor.
At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Jonathan E. Hawley, it was established that Graf initiated contact with a purported 13-year-old minor female on multiple occasions, and the two corresponded between April 8 to April 18, 2024. During that time frame, Graf expressed a sexual interest in the alleged child and discussed specific sexual acts.
On April 18, 2024, Graf traveled to a prearranged location to meet with the presumed minor and was subsequently arrested. During his arrest, Graf was in possession of a cell phone, and a bag that contained multiple sex items.
Also at the hearing, the government presented testimony that a minor reported to an officer with the Peoria, Illinois, Police Department allegations of sexual abuse by Graf on multiple occasions and several years. Items removed from Graf’s home during a search following Graf’s arrest corroborated the minor’s statement. This finding resulted in a sentencing enhancement as a repeat and dangerous sex offender against minors.
“Crimes against children are particularly heinous.” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Ortiz. “This case is a reminder of the inherent dangers the children of our community face every day, on the internet and elsewhere. The U. S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois and its law enforcement partners prioritize the protection of children, and we remain committed to fully seeking justice for these most vulnerable of victims.”
"This individual used the internet to prey on the vulnerable, believing anonymity would protect him. It didn’t.” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher J.S. Johnson. “Our agents, in collaboration with our partners, worked tirelessly to bring him to justice. Let this be a message to anyone else who would attempt to harm our children, you will be held accountable."
The statutory penalties for attempted enticement of a minor are not less than ten years and up to life in prison; not less than five years and up to life on supervised release; and up to a $250,000 fine.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Office, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the Peoria Police Department, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Graf was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a 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
205 charged with illegal entry or reentry as part of new cases filed this week in efforts to secure southern borderRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A total of 216 more cases have been filed in immigration and border security-related matters from April 11-17, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
As part of those cases, 86 face allegations of illegally reentering the country with the majority having felony convictions such as narcotics, firearms or sexual offenses, or prior immigration crimes. A total of 119 people face charges of illegally entering the country while 11 cases involve various instances of human smuggling.
Some of those charged with felony reentry include Mexican national Alejandro Contreras-Zapata, who was allegedly found near Roma. The charges allege he had been previously sentenced to 20 years in prison for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon before his removal March 7.
Erika Camacho-Rodriguez is also a convicted felon and illegally returned recently, according to the complaint. Authorities found her near Roma, having been removed March 31 following a conviction for transporting illegal aliens as the charges allege. She is also from Mexico.
Another case charges Cesar Garcia-Rivas, a Mexican male found in the United States near Rio Grande City. He had allegedly been removed Oct. 21, 202o, and had previously received a 70-month sentence for kidnapping.
Three other men were apprehended near Laredo and had just been removed within the last five months, according to their charges. The criminal complaints allege Daniel Fimbres and Jose Alejandro Rodriguez-Panjol had just been removed Feb. 19 and 28, respectively, while Delfino Lopez-Roque was removed Nov. 24, 2024.
All six of these illegal aliens and others charged in some of the cases filed this week face up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted of illegally returning to the United States without authorization.
Other relevant matters this week include the jury conviction of a 25-year-old Laredo woman for conspiracy to transport, attempting to transport and bringing in and attempting to bring a three-year-old minor to the United States. Salma Galilea Veliz planned to have the boy assume the identity of her biological son in an effort to smuggle him into the United States. In exchange, she would be paid $2,500.
In another jury trial resulting in a guilty verdict, a known human smuggler was convicted of possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The jury deliberated for approximately 15 minutes before finding Jose Rodriguez Jr. guilty after a one-day trial. When he was initially arrested in August 2024 for transporting aliens, authorities also discovered 150 images of CSAM on his phone. The evidence included numerous files depicting sexual assaults of prepubescent children.
Also announced this week was the indictment of two illegal aliens and a Laredo man for various firearms offenses. The investigation began March 21 when law enforcement discovered the location of a firearm allegedly used in a crime. Upon searching the residence, authorities allegedly discovered two machine gun conversion devices, a backpack that contained magazines and ammunition as well a .38 special and .22LR ammunition. Also on the property was a grey backpack containing a 9mm S&W handgun, according to the complaint. Erick Lopez Jr., 18, Laredo, is charged with possession of a machine gun, while Erick Lopez-Rivera Sr., 37, and Marcos Lora-Morales, 24, both illegal aliens unlawfully residing in Laredo, are facing charges of alien in possession of ammunition and alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition, respectively. Lopez-Rivera Sr. is also charged with felony reentry of an alien.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the Southern District of Texas (SDTX). Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.
The SDTX remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.
An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Thursday 17 April 2025
Warren County Man Charged for Possession of Videos and Images of Child Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A Warren County man was charged with possessing videos and images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.
Marc Panchenko, 53, of Washington Township, New Jersey, was charged in a one-count complaint with possession of child pornography. He had an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Rukhsanah L. Singh in Trenton federal court and was ordered detained.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Following Panchenko’s release from federal custody in November 2023 for a prior offense, Panchenko was placed on supervised release and a monitoring software was installed on his cellular telephone to detect any images of child sexual abuse materials (“CSAM”). On or about March 3, 2025, the software alerted the authorities to the existence of CSAM on Panchenko’s phone. A further examination of the contents of the phone revealed the presence of over 600 videos of varying length and over 12,000 digital photos, an ongoing review of which has revealed numerous images of CSAM, including images depicting prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct as further outlined in the complaint.
The charge of possession of child pornography carries a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, but due to his prior conviction on a similar charge, Panchenko is also facing a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison. He is also facing a fine of up to $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force—Newark Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly, the Washington Township Police Department, Warren County, under the direction of Chief of Police Christopher M. Jones, and the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Jessica Cardone, with the investigation leading to the charge.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sammi Malek of the Criminal Division in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Defense counsel: Candace Hom, Esq.
panchenko.complaint.pdfViolent Armed Drug Trafficker from Boise's North End Sentenced to 262 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
BOISE – Evan Nickolai Ernstson, 48, of Boise, was sentenced to 262 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced today. Senior U.S. District Court Judge B. Lynn Winmill also sentenced Ernstson to serve five years of supervised release upon completion of his prison sentence and pay a $2000 fine.
According to court records, Ernstson, originally from San Francisco, California, led a drug trafficking organization that distributed methamphetamine and cocaine between October 2023 and March 2024 out of a residence and various other locations in Boise’s North End neighborhood. A lengthy investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which included a wiretap, culminated in the seizure of ten pounds of methamphetamine, a kilogram of cocaine, and four firearms. On March 20, 2024, Ernstson was arrested as he returned to Idaho after picking up a load of methamphetamine and cocaine from the Portland, Oregon area. He was armed with a loaded 9mm handgun.
Law enforcement, while conducting the wiretap, learned that someone stole approximately $65,000 in drug proceeds from Ernstson while he was out of town. DEA Agents intercepted Ernstson’s calls and texts and learned Ernstson planned to kidnap two individuals, zip-tie them and torture them until the money was returned. Agents intervened and prevented the kidnapping and seized approximately $42,000 of the stolen drug proceeds.
Ernstson is the third member of the drug trafficking organization to be sentenced to prison. Co-defendant Eva Spikes pleaded guilty to distributing methamphetamine and was sentenced to five years in prison on November 5, 2024. Co-defendant Leandru Stephens pleaded guilty to distributing methamphetamine and was sentenced to five years in prison on December 11, 2024. The remaining four co-defendants have pleaded guilty to various drug trafficking charges and will be sentenced in May 2025.
The investigation into Ernstson’s drug trafficking organization also resulted in the conviction and sentence of three other individuals involved in drug trafficking. Dustin Wyatt Peymon, 53, of Boise, pleaded guilty to distributing methamphetamine and was sentenced to 33 months in prison on November 6, 2024. Kristine Marie Shern, 28, of Mountain Home, pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony and was sentenced to three years’ probation on February 4, 2025. Brian Earl Polk, 26, of Boise, pleaded guilty to distributing methamphetamine and was sentenced to 77 months in prison and four years of supervised release on April 15, 2025.
“Our federal and state partners work together tirelessly to ensure that drug traffickers, especially those who are violent or armed, find no safe harbor in Idaho,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott.
“Mr. Ernstson led a drug trafficking ring that not only poisoned Idaho with large quantities of methamphetamine and other drugs, but was poised to kidnap and torture to further his criminal enterprise,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle. “This lengthy sentence ensures our community’s safety and demonstrates law enforcement’s steadfast resolve to protect our citizens from people like Mr. Ernstson.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott commended the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Boise Police Department, the Nampa Police Special Investigations Unit, the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, and the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin C. Blackadar and Christian S. Nafzger prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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Union County man sentenced to federal prison for gun offensesRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – A federal district judge sentenced a Wolf Lake man to 150 months’ imprisonment after he admitted to possessing firearms as a felon.
Kyle M. Bond, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of felon in possession of a firearm and one count of receipt or possession of an unregistered firearm. Following imprisonment, Bond will serve three years of supervised release.
“In an effort to protect the public and help keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals, convicted felons lose their right to legally possess firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “As this case demonstrates, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work to remove repeat criminal offenders who threaten the safety of our communities.”
According to court documents, on January 5, 2023, deputies with the Union County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence in Union County in connection to an investigation and located nine firearms on his property—six rifles and three handguns. Four of the nine firearms Bond possessed had obliterated serial numbers.
One of the firearms recovered by law enforcement was a short-barrel semi-automatic rifle, with an approximate barrel length of 12 ½ inches, that Bond did not register in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
Prior to Bond’s indictment in 2023, he had been convicted of a felony offense in Missouri and therefore unable to legally possess firearms.
“Mr. Bond showed blatant disregard of federal laws that have been put in place to assure public safety,” said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge, Bernard Hansen. “As we did in this case, we will continue to work with the Union County Sheriff’s Office to ensure that safety of our communities.”
The Union County Sheriff’s Office and ATF contributed to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. David Sanders prosecuted the case.
USAO Committed to Prosecuting Those Who Sexually Exploit and Abuse ChildrenRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – The U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the Northern District of Ohio is raising awareness of Child Abuse Prevention Month in April by bringing attention to the some of the youngest victims of crime.
While child abuse can take many forms, the USAO specifically handles online cases where children have been sexually exploited by adults. Federal law prohibits the production, advertisement, transportation, distribution, receipt, sale, access or possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) utilizing a means of interstate commerce. The law further prohibits the online coercion or enticement of a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity. The USAO also prosecutes cases where offenders travel to engage in sexual activity with a minor under 16 or who transport a minor across state lines to engage in unlawful sexual activity.
Although the term “child pornography” is currently used in federal statutes, the term “pornography” can conjure up a false connection to adult pornography that is created by consenting adults 18 years and older. Instead, child pornography consists of videos and images of victims ranging in age from newborn to 17 years old, and who are physically tortured, sexually abused, extorted, manipulated, or simply incapable of comprehending the ramifications of their material posted online. Therefore, organizations who work to combat child exploitation prefer that these actions be referred to as “CSAM” as it reflects the abuse and exploitation depicted in the images and videos that result in prolonged trauma to children.
“Offenders use the easy access of the internet to perpetuate this type of criminal behavior against our most vulnerable. Unbeknownst to parents, they connect with children online through social media, video games and other apps. In other cases, victims know their abuser. It could be a trusted friend, neighbor, coach, religious leader, babysitter −or even a parent−committing these crimes,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Carol M. Skutnik for the Northern District of Ohio. “Our office is determined to go after these perpetrators and will continue to dedicate time and resources to investigate and prosecute CSAM offenders so that we can protect and rescue the children of our District as well as those in the worldwide internet community.”
With the proliferation of the internet, the Department of Justice launched the Project Safe Childhood initiative in 2006 to combat technology-facilitated crimes that involve the sexual exploitation of children. Sexual predators use online avenues such as social media, to solicit children for physical sexual contact. Increasingly, offenders entice, coerce or groom minors into producing CSAM. They accomplish this by gaining their trust in a number of ways quickly. Some minors report chatting with offenders for less than an hour before being asked to provide sexually explicit photos of themselves. Minors who comply with the request oftentimes become the victims of sextortion, where the perpetrator threatens to blackmail them in some way.
Recent USAO cases involving child exploitation and sexual abuse include:
U.S v. Rudra - A Pennsylvania man was sentenced to 30 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to traveling across state lines to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor. He admitted to picking her up in his vehicle to drive her to a hotel for the purpose of engaging in criminal sexual acts with her. He was also found to possess CSAM on his electronic devices.
U.S. v. Chesser – A former firefighter from Maumee, Ohio, was sentenced to 30 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to sexually exploiting a two-year-old and produced child pornography of the toddler. He sexually exploited a second minor who was a teenager.
U.S. v. Walker – A Rocky River, Ohio, man was sentenced to 35 years in prison after admitted to harming his victims and recording the sexual abuse on his cellphone. He connected with an 11-year-old victim through a children’s app and coerced her to send him sexually explicit photos. Two additional victims were identified as toddlers at a home daycare where he visited a friend who resided there.
U.S. v. Patterson – A Canton, Ohio, man was sentenced to 26 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges including possessing hundreds of CSAM images that included children under the age of 12. Some of the images were of a minor who was unaware that she was being surreptitiously recorded by a hidden camera.
U.S. v. Hughes – A Piqua, Ohio, man was sentenced to 14 years in prison for admitting his intention to engage in sexual activity with a purported seven-year-old daughter of an undercover agent.
U.S. v. Reebel – A federal jury convicted a Toledo, Ohio, man of receiving and distributing CSAM, for nearly eight years. Investigators also discovered that he used social media for years to chat with minors and send them sexually explicit messages and photos of himself. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 23, 2025.
U.S. v. Greulich – A Cleveland man pleaded guilty to gaining the trust of a 14-year-old girl through a social media app and then driving to her home in New York on two separate occasions to take her to a hotel where he violently and sexually abused her which he recorded on a digital device. Sentencing is scheduled for June 23, 2025.
To report child sexual abuse, please visit www.cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Tucson Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Firearms Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Julian Canastillo, 23, of Tucson, was sentenced on April 15, 2025, by United States District Judge John C. Hinderaker to six years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Canastillo previously pleaded guilty to six counts of Smuggling Goods from the United States and one count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
Canastillo was the lead defendant in a 51-count indictment filed on September 15, 2022, charging 10 individuals involved in a firearms trafficking organization based in Tucson. An investigation leading to the indictment revealed a series of transactions linked to the organization for firearms that were later seized in the Republic of Mexico. In total, the Tucson-based organization is connected to more than 200 firearms transactions, and Canastillo alone admitted to smuggling 36 firearms into Mexico.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, and Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angela W. Woolridge, Craig H. Russell, and Matthew C. Cassell, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-01857-001-TUC-JCH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-058_Canastillo# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Three Nampa-Area Residents Plead Guilty to COVID-19 Relief FraudRead the Press Release
BOISE – Miguel Vittorio, Yessenia Casillas, and Luis Vasquez pleaded guilty to bank fraud charges in separate federal cases for defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced today. The PPP was a COVID-19 pandemic relief program administered by the Small Business Administration that provided forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other related business expenses.
Miguel Vittorio
According to court records, Vittorio admitted that he submitted two PPP loan applications in March 2021 that contained false and fraudulent information. In both applications, Vittorio included false information about the number employees and the amount of monthly payroll. He also submitted false and fraudulent documentation in connection with these loans in an effort to substantiate the false information included on the applications. Vittorio additionally admitted that he submitted a fraudulent PPP loan application on behalf of another individual which also included false information and fraudulent supporting documentation. In total, as a result of the fraudulent loans, Vittorio and others received approximately $126,800 in fraudulent PPP loan proceeds.
Vittorio pleaded guilty to bank fraud last week and Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill will sentence Vittorio on June 16, 2025. The charge in this case is punishable by up to 30 years in federal prison, a maximum fine of $250,000 and up to 5 years of supervised release.
Yessenia Casillas
During her change of plea hearing, Casillas admitted that in February 2021, she submitted two PPP loan applications on behalf of two businesses that contained false information about the number of employees and the amount of payroll. Casillas also submitted fraudulent documentation with the PPP loan applications in an effort to substantiate the false information included on the loans. As a result of the fraudulent loan applications, Casillas and others received approximately $74,500 in fraudulent loan proceeds.
Casillas pleaded guilty to bank fraud in January and Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill will sentence Casillas on April 29, 2025. The charge in this case is punishable by up to 30 years in federal prison, a maximum fine of $250,000 and up to 5 years of supervised release.
Luis Vasquez
According to facts admitted at his change of plea, Vasquez engaged in a bank fraud scheme in April 2021 to fraudulently obtain a PPP loan by submitting an application that contained false information about the purported business’s employees and amount of payroll. Additionally, false and fraudulent documentation was submitted in connection with the loan application including falsified tax documents and payroll reports. As a result of the fraudulent PPP loan application, Vasquez and others received approximately $51,614.
Vasquez pleaded guilty in January and U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford will sentence Vasquez on April 16, 2025. The charge in this case is punishable by up to 30 years in federal prison, a maximum fine of $250,000 and up to 5 years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott commended the investigations by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and the U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S Attorney Brittney Campbell prosecuted the cases.
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Three Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – Three men were sentenced to federal prison for their role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
According to public court documents, three men were involved in fentanyl distribution in the Des Moines metro throughout 2024: Chuol Peter Mai, 32, of Des Moines, Rickey Raymone Hayes, also known as “Dee,” of Des Moines, formerly of Detroit, and Keith Holliday, 35, of Detroit. In 2024, law enforcement purchased fentanyl pills from Mai using a confidential informant. Mai introduced the confidential informant to Hayes, Mai’s drug source of supply. Hayes directed Holliday to distribute the fentanyl pills to the confidential informant. In June 2024, Hayes’ vehicle and Des Moines residence were searched and law enforcement located more than $21,000 in cash in his vehicle, and a firearm and more than 200 grams of fentanyl at his residence.
Mai was sentenced on April 2, 2025 to 60 months in federal prison. After completing his term of imprisonment, Mai will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release.
Hayes was sentenced on March 28, 2025 to 150 months in federal prison, followed by a five-year term of supervised release.
Holliday was sentenced on April 17, 2025 to 60 months in federal prison, followed by a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Des Moines Police Department.
Texas Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Roles in Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery While Posing as DEA AgentsRead the Press Release
MEDFORD, Ore.—Two San Antonio, Texas men were sentenced to federal prison and another San Antonio man pleaded guilty Wednesday for conspiring to travel from Texas to Southern Oregon to commit an armed robbery while disguised as agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Nevin Cuevas Morales, 23, was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release, and Michael Rey Acuna, 23, was sentenced to 64 months in federal prison and four years’ supervised release. The sum of restitution they each must pay to victims will be determined at a later date.
Juan Carlos Conchas, 23, pleaded guilty to conspiring to interfere with commerce by robbery and conspiring to possess marijuana with the intent to distribute. Conchas faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, a $5,000,000 fine and four years of supervised release. He will be sentenced on July 17, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Mustafa T. Kasubhai.
According to court documents, on March 12, 2022, deputies from the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office responded to a rural address in Josephine County, Oregon after receiving reports of an armed robbery in progress. The deputies found a residence with a closed driveway gate and two empty vehicles with Texas license plates in the driveway with their doors open. Deputies saw several people running toward the back of the property and found victims inside the house. The victims reported that armed individuals dressed in what appeared to be DEA attire and wearing body armor arrived at the property and used zip ties and duct tape to restrain several of them.
The deputies searched the property and found large plastic totes containing packaged marijuana in the buildings and vehicles. They also found body armor, firearms, ammunition, shell casings, and badges that resembled those carried by DEA agents along the path that Morales, Acuna, Conchas and others used to flee the property.
Investigators learned that in late February 2022, the group traveled from San Antonio to Southern Oregon to steal over 200 pounds of marijuana and recovered photographs taken by the group in which they posed with firearms while dressed as DEA agents.
On October 6, 2022, Morales and Acuna were located and arrested in San Antonio. One week later, on October 13, 2022, Conchas was also arrested in San Antonio.
On September 1, 2022, a federal grand jury in Medford returned a three-count indictment charging Morales, Acuna, Conchas and co-conspirators with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, conspiracy to possess marijuana with intent to distribute, and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
On February 2, 2024, Morales pleaded guilty to conspiring to interfere with commerce by robbery and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
On November 6, 2024, Acuna pleaded guilty to conspiring to interfere with commerce by robbery and conspiring to possess marijuana with the intent to distribute.
In addition, three co-conspirators have pleaded guilty to felony charges stemming from their roles in the conspiracy. Two have been sentenced to federal prison and the third is awaiting sentencing.
This case was investigated by the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety. It is being prosecuted by Judith R. Harper, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Suburban Chicago Man Charged with Preparing and Filing More Than 50 Fraudulent Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man has been charged in federal court with preparing and filing more than 50 fraudulent tax returns for himself and others.
An indictment returned Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago accuses CEDRICK TAYLOR of preparing and assisting in the preparation of 45 individual tax returns on behalf of numerous individuals for the calendar years 2018 to 2023. Taylor helped prepare returns that fraudulently overstated and misrepresented tax credits, deductions, and expenses in order to fraudulently reduce the individuals’ tax liabilities and claim refund amounts to which they were not entitled, the indictment states. Taylor also filed several individual tax returns for himself that misrepresented tax credits and underreported his income, the indictment alleges.
Taylor, 40, of Winfield, Ill., is charged with 45 counts of willfully preparing a false tax return for others and six counts of filing false tax returns for himself. Each count is punishable by up to three years in federal prison. Arraignment in federal court in Chicago has not yet been scheduled.
The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Ramsey Covington, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI Chicago Field Office. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Snell.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
taylor_indictment.pdfSt. Louis County Tax Preparer Admits Falsifying Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis County tax preparer on Thursday admitted falsifying 42 federal income tax returns for clients.
Elisa Y. Brown, 60, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to two counts of assisting in the preparation of a false tax return. She admitted preparing false tax returns from 2016-2020. Brown prepared the returns with commercial tax preparation software from her home in exchange for between $150 and $250 per return. She did not have a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN), which is issued by the IRS and required on returns prepared for compensation. Brown digitally signed each tax return in the name of the taxpayer, making it appear to the IRS that the taxpayer had prepared the return. Brown claimed false medical and dental expenses and cash donations as deductibles and included false schedule C forms reflecting tens of thousands of dollars of false business expenses.
Brown admitted filing false tax returns for 11 clients from 2016-2020, resulting in a tax loss to the IRS of $171,866. During the same time, she prepared and submitted a total of 560 tax returns, many of which contained similar false deductible expenses.
Brown is scheduled to be sentenced July 22. Each charge carries a penalty of up to three years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both.
The case was investigated by IRS - Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow is prosecuting the case.
South Bend Woman Sentenced to 210 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Jennifer Krueger, 42 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.
Krueger was sentenced to 210 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, in July 2024, law enforcement found Krueger, who had an active state arrest warrant for dealing a narcotic drug, at a hotel in Mishawaka with over 50 grams of crystal methamphetamine, thousands of fentanyl pills weighing over 400 grams, and over $58,000 cash. Krueger’s criminal history includes two prior convictions for dealing narcotic drugs.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration including the DEA North Central Laboratory with assistance from the Mishawaka Police Department, the Indiana State Police, and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius.
South Bend Man Sentenced to 128 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – James Dockins, 37 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.
Dockins was sentenced to 128 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, in February 2024, Dockins received a package that contained over 400 grams of fentanyl pills. He stored the fentanyl pills in his home in a cabinet alongside other fentanyl pills that were packaged and ready for distribution. When Dockins left his home, law enforcement attempted to stop him, but he fled in his car through a residential neighborhood and surrendered after he had crashed his car into a fire hydrant.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service including the USPIS Forensic Laboratory, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, the Mishawaka Police Department, the St. Joseph County Police Department, and the Indiana State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius.
Sixteen charged in East Texas federal methamphetamine conspiracyRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A federal indictment in the Eastern District of Texas has resulted in the arrest of 16 individuals charged with various violations related to a wide-spread methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr.
The indictment, returned by a federal grand jury on April 2, 2025, in the Eastern District of Texas, charges the defendants with federal drug and gun violations. A multi-agency law enforcement action was held on April 16, 2025, resulting in those arrests. Since the investigation began in November 2022, law enforcement has seized over 10 kilograms of methamphetamine and 14 firearms. Those in custody began making initial appearances in federal court on April 16, 2025, in Beaumont.
According to information provided in court, the following individuals are alleged to have been involved in the methamphetamine conspiracy in the Angelina, Nacogdoches, and Polk counties area:
• Albert Lopez, 39, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime;
• Adaryl Douglas, 45, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime;
• Hector Gomez, 40, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine;
• Oscar Padilla, 44, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine;
• Leanna Jean Busby, 45, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine;
• Amanda McBride, 43, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine;
• John Christopher Rios, 53, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine;
• Jose Pedro Guzman Jr., 34, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine;
• Lorene Michelle Baker, 44, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine;
• David Davis, Jr., 48, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine;
• Penny Ann King, 51, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine;
• Jodi Calvin Sparkman, 53, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine;
• Christopher Dewayne Harvey, 51, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine;
• Gary Mills, 65, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and felon in possession of a firearm;
• Clifton Collin-Dakota Smith, 32, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; and
• Corey Mullan, 39, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
If convicted, defendants face from 10 years to life in federal prison.
As part of the operation, Eduardo Barajas-Macias, 32, a close associate of the criminal conspiracy, was also arrested and charged with unlawful reentry by a removed or deported alien.
This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The case is being investigated by the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; FBI; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Homeland Security Investigations; Lufkin Police Department; Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office; Texas Department of Public Safety; and U.S. Marshals Service. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald S. Carter.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Sixteen Defendants Arrested for Alleged Involvement in Drug Trafficking within the Pine Ridge ReservationRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY, SD – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that a multi-agency law enforcement operation has resulted in 16 federal arrests in Rapid City, South Dakota, and within the Pine Ridge Reservation. Operation Snowy Ridge was organized by the FBI to clear outstanding warrants related to federally indicted drug trafficking cases. The operation began on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, and continued through the morning of Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
“Operation Snowy Ridge brought together vast resources from federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies for a two-day takedown of alleged drug traffickers living within the Pine Ridge Reservation and Rapid City, South Dakota,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. “Thanks to law enforcement’s sophisticated planning and extraordinary collaboration, the operation accomplished its intended goal—improve public safety in tribal communities by removing individuals who drive violence and facilitate drug addiction in Indian country.”
“This operation disrupted the networks fueling violence and trafficking deadly drugs on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “Through strong and sustained partnerships with our federal, state, tribal, and local counterparts, we are committed to holding violent offenders accountable and protecting our communities.”
“The success of this operation reflects the strength of our partnerships and our shared dedication to protecting the people of Pine Ridge,” said Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety Chief of Police Danielle Means. “By targeting violent offenders and drug trafficking networks, this effort directly addressed the threats impacting our community. We are appreciative for the unified effort and remain committed to working together to ensure safety for our community.”
As a result of the operation, the following individuals were arrested: Echo Winters (35, Pine Ridge, SD); Esther Winters (43, Pine Ridge, SD); Garren Wilson, Sr. (42, Pine Ridge, SD); Gabriel Gibbons (52, Pine Ridge, SD); Michaela Peoples (44, Pine Ridge, SD); Reed Brown (68, Wanblee, SD); Jackie Black Bear (60, Pine Ridge, SD); Skyler Red Cloud (31, Wounded Knee, SD); Theodore Coomes, Jr., a/k/a TC (38, Pine Ridge, SD); Abe Marshall (39, Batesland, SD); Laquetta Rouillard (34, Pine Ridge, SD); Anja Little Hawk (35, Pine Ridge, SD); Lisa Mills (33, Pine Ridge, SD); Demitre Ecoffey (30, Wounded Knee, SD); Tucker Fischbach (29, Rapid City, SD); Sesalie Red Owl (41, Rapid City, SD). Federal prosecutors at the U.S. Attorney’s Office have charged each of these individuals for their involvement in various drug conspiracies.
“The combined effort of law enforcement agencies involved in this operation allowed for the removal of life-threatening substances including cocaine and methamphetamine,” Drug Enforcement Administration Omaha Division Acting Special Agent in Charge Rafael Mattei said. “For DEA, the goal at the end of the day is to keep our communities safe from the harm associated with these drugs.”
“This operation reflects the very best of what sustained, strategic partnership between law enforcement can accomplish,” said Acting U.S. Marshal Stephen Houghtaling. “Together, we targeted those driving violence and drug trafficking on the Pine Ridge Reservation and we did so with one goal in mind—to protect the community. We are proud of the successful outcome of this operation and remain committed to the pursuit of justice.”
“This operation exemplifies the power of collaboration and the effectiveness of agencies uniting their resources toward a shared goal,” said Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services Deputy Bureau Director Richard “Glen” Melville. “BIA-OJS remains steadfast in its commitment to Indian Country and its mission to combat the drug crisis gripping tribal communities.” Director Melville also praised the Oglala Sioux Tribe for their unwavering dedication and partnership in this large-scale operation. “The success of this initiative is a testament to the Oglala Sioux Tribe’s willingness to work in partnership with other law enforcement agencies including FBI, DEA, US Marshal’s Service, and BIA Division of Drug Enforcement to protect their communities. Their cooperation was instrumental in making this operation possible.”
The operation was spearheaded by the Badlands Safe Trails Drug Task Force (Task Force), which is comprised of agents from the FBI, the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Division of Drug Enforcement (BIA DDE), the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, and the Martin Police Department. In executing this takedown, the Task Force received critical assistance from the DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol.
Investigations are currently underway to determine if any of those arrested in this operation will be charged with additional crimes. Charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward Tarbay and Meghan Dilges.
Sixteen Charged in Takedown of Drug Trafficking NetworkRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Four indictments were unsealed in federal court charging 16 individuals throughout San Diego County with distributing large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl and heroin and laundering drug-trafficking proceeds.
In a coordinated takedown yesterday, more than 115 federal, state and local law enforcement officials arrested 10 defendants and executed three search warrants in the Nestor, Palm City, and Encanto neighborhoods within the City of San Diego. Six defendants were still being sought.
Including seizures today and throughout this investigation, authorities have confiscated 26.8 kilograms of powdered fentanyl; 5.7 kilograms of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl (estimated to be 57,000 pills); 25.7 kilograms of methamphetamine; 1.5 kilograms of cocaine; 1.1 kilograms of heroin; ketamine; MDMA; more than $40,000 in U.S. currency; a Maserati Ghibili; and nine firearms including an AK-47.
U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon said: “Together with our law enforcement partners, this office will disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations throughout the district. We are focused on the Department’s Take Back America priorities, and this investigation shows the direct results of implementing these priorities.”
“Drug trafficking organizations fuel addiction and erode the safety of our communities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian Clark. “This extensive drug trafficking investigation exposed a criminal network that peddled poison from coast to coast. Law enforcement put their collective authorities together to dismantle this organization brick by brick. We stand with our fellow law enforcement partners to ensure the community is safe and those involved in drug trafficking are brought to justice.”
“The indictments unsealed today paint a picture of an organization responsible for trafficking dangerous drugs into our communities – drugs that are killing Americans daily,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office. “These indictments should send a clear signal to drug trafficking organizations that where there’s money, there’s a trail, and IRS-CI is the best in the world at finding and following those trails. We are proud to partner with fellow law enforcement agencies to flush out DTOs that put our communities at risk.”
Today’s charges are the result of a 16-month investigation that included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, undercover agents, and confidential sources. According to the indictments, the defendants distributed dangerous drugs such as fentanyl throughout the U.S., including in Ohio and Kansas, on behalf of a San Diego County-based drug trafficking organization. The investigation uncovered the use of shell companies to gather and launder the proceeds of the drug trafficking enterprise from other states, including Colorado, Minnesota and Nebraska.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Deshong.
DEFENDANTS
Case Number 25cr0818-BAS
Rodrigo Maciel-Cortez Age: 25
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Possession with Intent to Distribute more than 500 Grams of Methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)
Maximum Penalty: Life in prison; Mandatory Minimum: Ten years in prison; $10 million fine
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 846
Maximum Penalty: Twenty years in prison; $1 million fine.
Criminal Forfeiture; Title 21 U.S.C. § 853
Case Number 25cr0819-BAS
Elijah Roman Age: 28
Leonela Veronica Leal Age: 26
Cindy Camarena-Gonzalez Age: 27
Adan Antonio Sandoval-Luna Age: 30
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute more than 50 Grams of Methamphetamine (Actual) and more than 400 grams of Fentanyl, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 846
Maximum Penalty: Life in prison; Mandatory Minimum: Ten years in prison; $10 million fine
Distribution of more than 50 Grams of Methamphetamine (Actual), in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)
Maximum Penalty: Life in prison; Mandatory Minimum: Ten years in prison; $10 million fine
Possession with Intent to Distribute more than 50 Grams of Methamphetamine (Actual), in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)
Maximum Penalty: Life in prison; Mandatory Minimum: Ten years in prison; $10 million fine
Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. § 1956
Maximum Penalty: Twenty years in prison; $5,000 fine
Criminal Forfeiture; Title 21 U.S.C. § 853
Case Number 25cr0820-AJB
Luis Carlos Franco Age: 24
Jesus Adrian Garcia Jr. Age: 32
Jose Alexander Flores Age: 23
Andres Emilio Arce-Corrales Age: 18
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute more than 100 Grams of Heroin, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 846
Maximum Penalty: Life in prison; Mandatory Minimum: Ten years in prison; $10,000,000 fine
Distribution of more than 100 Grams of Heroin, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)
Maximum Penalty: Life in prison; Mandatory Minimum: Ten years in prison; $10 million fine
Conspiracy to Distribute more than 500 Grams of Methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 846
Maximum Penalty: Life in prison; Mandatory Minimum: Ten years in prison; $10 million fine
Possession with Intent to Distribute more than 500 Grams of Methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)
Maximum Penalty: Life in prison; Mandatory Minimum: Ten years in prison; $10 million fine
Criminal Forfeiture; Title 21 U.S.C. § 853
Case Number 25cr0821-WQH
Diego Hernandez Age: 24
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Distribution of more than 400 Grams of Fentanyl, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)
Maximum Penalty: Life in prison; Mandatory Minimum: Ten years in prison; $10 million fine
Criminal Forfeiture; Title 21 U.S.C. § 853
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Drug Enforcement Administration
Oceanside Police Department
IRS Criminal Investigation
U.S. Bureau of Land Management
San Diego Police Department
San Diego County Sheriff’s Department
Carlsbad Police Department
United States Marshals Service
* Six defendants are still being sought
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is the result of ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership that brings together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, dismantle and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations and enterprises.
This investigation 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).
High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program, created by Congress with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, provides assistance to federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States. This grant program is administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). There are currently 33 HIDTAs, and HIDTA-designated counties are located in 50 states, as well as in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.
Sheep Springs Couple Faces Federal Charges for Assault and Reckless Child EndangermentRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A couple from Sheep Springs is facing federal charges related to an alleged assault and subsequent medical neglect of a minor.
According to court records, on September 9, 2024, Raeshawn Doctor, 24, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, allegedly assaulted Jane Doe, a minor, causing serious bodily injury. Additionally, between September 9, 2024, and January 31, 2025, Doctor and Harley Nelson, 45, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, are accused of knowingly and recklessly endangering Jane Doe’s life and health through medical neglect.
Doctor and Nelson will remain on conditions of release pending trial, which has not been set. If convicted, Doctor faces up to 10 years in prison and Nelson faces up to three years in prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Department of Investigation and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Marshall is prosecuting the case.
View the Indictment (Doctor and Nelson).pdfAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Serial Bank Robber Sentenced to More than 11 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio - Hershel Winbush, 68, of Toledo, Ohio, was sentenced to prison by U.S. District Judge Jack Zouhary after he pleaded guilty to four counts of bank robbery in Lucas County, Ohio, and for violating the conditions of his supervised release for a prior conviction. Imprisonment will be for a total term of 140 months (more than 11 years) for each count to run concurrently and pay $8,210 in restitution. Upon release from imprisonment, the defendant was also ordered to serve two years of supervised release.
According to court documents and court records, Winbush entered several financial institutions in the Toledo, Ohio, area from 2019 through 2024 and threatened bank employees with violence by presenting notes such as “I have a gun, give me all the cash available,” and “This is a hold up. I have a gun.” Federally insured banking institutions that were affected included:
- Woodforest National Bank, Glendale Ave., Oct. 24, 2019
- Woodforest National Bank, Glendale Ave., Nov. 5, 2019
- Jeep Federal Credit Union, Manhattan Blvd., April 8, 2024
- Key Bank, Secor Rd., April 22, 2024
During the investigation, authorities discovered that Winbush had a decades-long pattern of bank robberies and had multiple incarcerations and prior convictions for crimes of violence in Michigan. Winbush was classified as a Career-Offender by Judge Jack Zouhary.
This case was investigated by the FBI Toledo Field Office and the Toledo Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Simko for the Northern District of Ohio.
Romanian National Unlawfully Residing in California Sentenced to Federal Prison for Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft in Oregon and MaineRead the Press Release
MEDFORD, Ore.—A Romanian national unlawfully residing in Garden Grove, California, was sentenced to federal prison today for stealing more than $176,000 by installing Automated Teller Machine (ATM) skimming devices throughout Oregon and Maine.
Florin George Ionita, 45, was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $176,922 in restitution to his victims.
According to court documents, between June and August 2023, Ionita installed skimming devices on ATMs and used the devices to steal account information and Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) from customers who conducted transactions at the ATMs. Ionita used the stolen information to produce counterfeit debit cards and withdraw cash from victims’ accounts. Over the course of his scheme, Ionita accessed hundreds of bank accounts and stole more than $176,000 from victims in Oregon and Maine.
On August 22, 2023, the Medford Police Department (MPD) received a report of a masked individual installing a skimming device. Investigators received photos of the man and distributed a law enforcement bulletin to identify the unknown individual. The following day, investigators from Kennebunk Police Department in Kennebunk, Maine, identified Ionita and informed MPD investigators of their investigation of Ionita installing skimming devices in Maine. Investigators learned that due to his immigration status, Ionita was required to wear a Global Positioning System (GPS) monitor which confirmed his location at several banks where the ATM skimming devices were installed.
On November 2, 2023, a federal grand jury in Medford returned a nine-count indictment charging Ionita with bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
On March 20, 2024, a federal grand jury in the District of Maine returned a fifteen-count indictment charging Ionita with bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
On December 6, 2024, Ionita pleaded guilty to one count each of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft for his crimes in Oregon, and one count each of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft for his crimes in Maine.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Secret Service New England Cyber Fraud Task Force, the Medford Police Department Criminal Investigative Division, the Kennebunk Police Department, and the Freeport Police Department. It is being prosecuted by John C. Brassell, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces
(OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal
organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multiagency
approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces,
please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.Rochester woman pleads guilty to defrauding Social SecurityRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Wendy Stone, 63, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. to conversion/unlawful conveyance of government money, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Testani, who is handling the case, stated that in December 2022, Victim 1 was a recipient of benefits under the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Program. On December 28, 2022, Victim 1 died at a residence in Rochester. Stone discovered Victim 1’s body days after Victim 1 died. She was also aware that Victim 1 collected SSI Program benefits. But rather than inform authorities of Victim 1’s death, Stone took Victim 1’s debit card and spent SSI Program money still being deposited into Victim 1’s account for her own benefit. In furtherance of this scheme, Stone used Victim 1’s social security number to activate a new debit card in the name of Victim 1. In order to conceal Victim 1’s death and continue receiving Victim 1’s SSI Program benefits, Stone moved Victim 1’s corpse into the basement of the residence Victim 1 died in. She wrapped Victim 1’s corpse in plastic, placed it in a recycling bin, and periodically poured bleach on it. Victim 1’s corpse remained in the basement from December 2022 to September 2023. Between January 2023 and September 2023, Stone improperly collected $7,902.00 in SSI Program benefits intended for Victim 1. In addition, on February 6, 2023, Stone recertified SNAP benefits. In her recertification, Stone stated that Victim 1 still resided with her. As a result of this false information, Stone received an additional $1,072.00 in SNAP benefits that she was not entitled to receive.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Amy Connelly and the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 17, 2025, at 11:30 a.m., before Judge Geraci.
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Repeat Offender Sentenced for Methamphetamine PossessionRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Matthew R. Molsen announced that Hannie Rice, 67, formerly of Oakland, Nebraska, was sentenced on April 16, 2025 in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Rice to 188 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Rice’s release from prison, he will begin a four-year term of supervised release.
In January 2023, a Burt County sheriff’s deputy received information from arrested individuals that Rice was a meth distributor. On May 6, 2023, sheriff’s deputies executed a search warrant at Rice’s home in Oakland. After being advised of his Miranda rights, Rice told a deputy that there was meth in his bedroom. Rice took the deputy to his bedroom, where the deputy found approximately 35 grams of meth inside of a lock box.
Postal records showed that eight packages, weighing from four ounces up to four pounds seven ounces, were mailed from California to Rice’s residence since the fall of 2022. These postal records corroborated the information deputies received from the arrested individuals that Rice was receiving three-pound packages of meth through the mail from California.
At sentencing, Rice’s advisory sentencing range was increased because of multiple California convictions involving possessing meth and marijuana for sale.
This case was investigated by the Burt County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Repeat Gun Offender Sentenced to 58 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Tre Enrique Jackson, 31, of the District, was sentenced to 58 months in federal prison today after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes ordered that Jackson serve three years on supervised release when he is released from prison.
The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
On Sept. 18, 2023, MPD detectives and officers executed a search warrant at a residence where Jackson was staying. While searching the residence, detectives looked inside a backpack that Jackson had been seen carrying earlier that day and discovered a Glock-style Privately Manufactured Firearm– commonly referred to as a ghost gun.
The firearm was chambered for 9mm ammunition and was loaded with one round in the chamber and 12 rounds in a 17-round capacity magazine.
A review of Jackson’s criminal history revealed that he was on supervised release in D.C. Superior Court for a prior gun conviction, and Jackson was placed under arrest. DNA testing confirmed the presence of Jackson’s DNA on the firearm seized from his backpack.
This case was investigated by MPD and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James B. Nelson.
23cr173
Rapid City Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on April 11, 2025.
Dakota Jolley, age 28, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Jolley was indicted on the possession charge in February 2024, and he pleaded guilty on January 8, 2025.
In November 2023, the defendant got into an argument with his spouse, who was holding the couple’s small child. During the argument, the defendant initially threatened to hit his spouse and small child with a belt. The defendant then obtained a loaded Springfield Armory, model 1911, .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, threatened to kill his spouse, and held the loaded firearm to her head on several occasions while she worked to protect their child. Jolley is prohibited from possessing firearms due to several prior felony conviction.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Jolley was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Prairieburg Man Who Sexually Exploited Children Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
A man who used Snapchat, Instagram, and text messages to persuade children to engage in sexually explicit conduct and send him photographs and videos of this conduct, pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Bryce Hans Plower, age 37, from Prairieburg, Iowa, was convicted of sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography.
In a plea agreement, Plower admitted that he persuaded, induced, and enticed multiple children to send him sexually explicit images and videos of themselves. At least two children under the age of 16 did so. Plower paid the children, sometimes as little as $1, so that they would continue to send him sexually explicit images. Plower also possessed photographs and videos of child pornography on his phone, including images of sadistic or masochistic conduct.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Plower remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Plower faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 50 years’ imprisonment, a $500,000 fine, $77,200 in special assessments, and a life of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR-91.
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Phone Spoof WarningRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska is alerting the public to be aware of imposter scams involving individuals claiming to represent the United States Attorney’s Office or other government agencies.
Scammers may call, email, text, write, or message members of the public on social media claiming to be from the United States Attorney’s Office or another government office. While legitimate employees of the United States Attorney’s Office do contact the public for business purposes, they will never pressure, threaten, or inform you to make payments in questionable ways.
Scammers may use tactics to sound and appear credible. Often, they will provide information or actual names of federal employees and federal office addresses. Scammers also commonly rely on “phone spoofing”, this is where a caller falsifies the information displayed on a caller ID to make their identity or location unknown. Phone spoofing can make calls appear to be from a local number or trusted organization.
If you are the victim of such a call, please report the incident via https://www.ic3.gov/ or https://tips.fbi.gov/home.
Additional resources on how to avoid imposter scams can be found at https://consumer.ftc.gov/features/how-avoid-imposter-scams.
Philadelphia Woman Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Defrauding Her Employer of More Than $250,000 and the U.S. Government of $23,000Read the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Kimberly Lawson, 44, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Michael M. Baylson to 60 months in prison, five years of supervised release, and $244,343 in restitution, for the unauthorized use of her employer’s identity to embezzle from him and his company and her fraudulent applications to the Small Business Administration (SBA) to obtain Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDL”).
In September 2023, Lawson was charged by indictment with one count of bank fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and four counts of wire fraud, and pleaded guilty to all charges against her in September 2024.
The fraud loss attributed to Lawson for the workplace embezzlement is $250,817.80, and for the fraud against the government $23,000, for a total fraud loss amount of $273,817.80.
In March 2018, Lawson began working as the office manager of an area electrical contracting company, where her responsibilities included tracking employee hours, invoices, and vendor payments, and writing checks to vendors from the company’s bank account. She was also responsible for reconciling bank statements, reviewing images of checks, and confirming the checks cleared. Lawson did not have signature authority on the checks but was authorized to use her employer’s signature stamp to sign the checks he authorized.
As detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, between 2018 and 2020, Lawson used her knowledge and access to divert significant amounts of the company’s money to external accounts that she controlled, through hundreds of fraudulent vendor and employee payments, unauthorized payroll transactions, and unauthorized electronic transfers. To avoid discovery of her fraudulent activities, Lawson intentionally mislabeled entries in the company’s accounting software, making them look authentic by recording them as legitimate payables.
In addition, the defendant attempted to steal money from her employer’s 401k account, submitting two separate loan requests totaling more than $17,000, but her employer learned of and was able to cancel the requests before any funds were disbursed.
In addition to the workplace embezzlement, Lawson fraudulently sought $253,874 in EIDLs from the SBA, filed in 15 separate applications in different names including her own. Only the applications that she submitted in her husband’s and his sister’s names were approved for funding, with each receiving $8,500 and $14,500, respectively, deposited into bank accounts controlled by Lawson. Among numerous false statements made in the applications, Lawson falsely represented that she had a retail business, that her husband had a construction business, and her sister-in-law had a cleaning business.
In 2012, Lawson was convicted in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania of defrauding a different employer of more than $293,000 and received a sentence of 21 months’ imprisonment.
“Kimberly Lawson’s greed is her downfall,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “This is now the second time that she’s being sentenced for stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from an employer — and this go-round, she decided to defraud the federal government, as well. Perhaps today’s longer prison term will prove more impactful than her first. Either way, we won’t rest until criminals like this get the message that we will find and punish financial fraud.”
“Through a multitude of deceptions and manipulations, Ms. Lawson stole from her employer and from the United States in the pursuit of her own personal gain,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Dave Carter of FBI Philadelphia. “This sentencing serves as a reminder that those who exploit their positions for financial profits will be held accountable. I want to thank our FBI personnel and our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their diligent efforts in bringing this defendant to justice.”
The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anita Eve.
Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Using a Destructive Device to Start a Fire at a Northeast Philadelphia Home in 2022Read the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Jason Mattis, 51, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gerald J. Pappert yesterday to 120 months in prison and three years of supervised release for using a destructive device to start a fire at a Northeast Philadelphia home.
Mattis was charged by indictment in December 2022 and convicted in September 2024, following a jury trial, of possessing an unregistered destructive device.
As proven at trial, on July 1, 2022, Mattis lit an incendiary device similar to a Molotov cocktail and threw it onto the porch of a residence in the Tacony section of Northeast Philadelphia. The weapon thrown by Mattis ignited and started a fire on the porch of the residence, as well as the sidewalk and the street in front. The incident occurred in the evening while the residents of the home were inside.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives examined the evidence left at the scene and determined that the weapon used by the defendant was an incendiary bomb as that term is defined under federal law.
Mattis committed this arson while on state parole for an attempted murder conviction.
“It’s tough to understate the seriousness of a crime like this, which put the victims, their home, and their neighborhood at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “As his lengthy criminal history shows, Jason Mattis lacks respect for both the law and other people. This sentence keeps him behind bars for years and the public is safer for it.”
“It is remarkable that this family was able to escape with their lives when Mattis set their home ablaze with a Molotov cocktail-type incendiary device,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division. “Arson is a serious, dangerous and often deadly crime. Using the combined capabilities of the ATF-led Philadelphia Arson and Explosives Task Force with the Philadelphia Fire and Police Departments, we will continue to seek justice and keep our communities safe from dangerous arsonists.”
“This type of skilled investigative work and interagency cooperation makes our city safer. I am grateful for the diligence and dedication shown by our Fire Marshal’s Office, the Philadelphia Police Department and the ATF,” said Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Jeffrey W. Thompson.
“Violent acts like these endanger not just the intended target, but entire communities,” said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel. “The thorough investigation by our officers, alongside our federal partners and the Philadelphia Fire Department, demonstrates our absolute commitment to holding individuals like Mr. Mattis accountable for violent crimes. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those who threaten our neighborhoods are brought to justice.”
The case was investigated by the ATF’s Arson and Explosives Task Force, the Philadelphia Fire Department, and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Eckert.
Pharmacist indicted in $2 million health care fraud schemeRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 48-year-old Edinburg resident has been taken into custody on charges of health care fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme to defraud the Texas Medicaid Program, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Cynthia Ann Herrera is set to make her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Juan Alanis at 9 a.m.
The indictment, returned April 15 and unsealed upon her arrest, alleges she submitted or caused the submission of fraudulent claims to Medicaid for prescriptions that a doctor had never prescribed. Between 2018 and 2024, the claims resulted in more than $2 million in Medicaid payments, according to the charges. Herrera allegedly used the personal information of doctors without their consent to bill Medicaid for the prescriptions.
Herrera is charged with six counts of health care fraud, each carrying a possible 10-year maximum sentence and up to a $250,000 fine. She is also facing six counts of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, she faces a mandatory two years which must be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed.
Department of Health and Human Services - Office of the Inspector General (OIG), FBI, Health and Human Services Commission - OIG, Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and Texas Department of Insurance conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarina S. DiPiazza and Theodore Parran III are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Owner of Scott, LA Non-Profit Corporation and Two Daughters Indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Wire FraudRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – A federal grand jury in Lafayette, Louisiana has returned an indictment charging a Lafayette man and his two daughters with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud the Child and Adult Care Food Program (“the Program”), a federal program operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”), announced Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook.
The indictment charges Brian Desormeaux, 64, and his two daughters, Amy Desormeaux Hernandez, 38, and Lenzi Desormeaux Babineaux, 34, each with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud. According to the indictment, Regional Nutrition Assistance, Inc. (“RNA”) was a Louisiana non-profit corporation located in Scott, Louisiana and was owned and operated by Brian Desormeaux and he served as its Executive Director. Amy Desoremaux Hernandez served as its Assistant Director and Lenzi Desormeaux Babineaux served as its Senior Program Manager.
RNA was a “Sponsoring Organization” for the Program and was responsible for administering it in certain locations, including “Day Care Homes,” which are organized childcare programs for children enrolled in a private home. The Program authorizes assistance to states through grants-in-aid and other means to assist non-profit food service programs for children and adult participants in non-residential institutions that provide care. It is intended to provide aid to the participants and family or group day care homes to provide nutritious foods for the health and wellness of young children, older adults, and chronically impaired persons.
The indictment alleges that the defendants had access to KidKare/Minute Menu HX, the online portal used by Sponsoring Organizations to administer the Program. It is alleged that it was part of the conspiracy that defendant Amy Hernandez would access the online portal at the beginning of the month to change Day Care Home Providers to “inactive” status to avoid monitoring and oversight by the Louisiana Department of Education (“LDOE”). Then at the end of the month, she would change those “inactive” Day Care Home providers back to “active” status so that claims could be submitted to LDOE for reimbursement by USDA.
Allegations in the indictment state that all three defendants submitted or caused the submission of false and fraudulent claims to LDOE for reimbursement from USDA, to include claims that children were being cared for and fed at Day Care Home providers when in fact, they were not. In fact, it is alleged that some of those Day Care Home providers were deceased at the time claims were made on their behalf.
The indictment also alleges that Lenzi Desormeaux Babineaux submitted false and fraudulent state fire marshal inspection reports for Day Care Home providers so that they would be in compliance with LDOE’s requirements for inclusion in the Program, which was necessary for reimbursements. The indictment further alleges that these three defendants submitted false and fraudulent claims seeking reimbursement they were not entitled to, causing LDOE and USDA to pay at least $400,000 in fraudulent claims.
If convicted, each defendant faces not more than 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both, on each count.
The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Louisiana State Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren L. Gardner.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Owner of Money Service Business Unlawfully Residing in Beaverton Faces Federal Charges for Laundering Drug ProceedsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—The owner and operator of La Popular, a money service business with locations in Oregon and Washington, was arraigned in federal court today after she was charged with laundering drug proceeds.
Brenda Lili Barrera Orantes, 39, a Guatemalan national unlawfully residing in Beaverton, Oregon, has been charged by criminal complaint with money laundering.
According to court documents, between 2021 and 2024, Barrera Orantes is alleged to have accepted cash from drug proceeds and wired the funds through La Popular stores in Oregon and Washington. In return, Barrera Orantes charged a ten percent commission. Barrera Orantes is further alleged to have worked with others to divide large sums of money into several smaller transactions and used fictitious sender information to conceal her money laundering activities. Financial records indicate that Barrera Orantes transferred more than $89 million through her La Popular stores, including $18.5 million to regions in Mexico and Honduras that are associated with drug trafficking organizations.
“This investigation has revealed the pivotal role that money service businesses play in laundering the enormous proceeds of trafficking illegal drugs in our community,” said Katie de Villiers, Chief of the Asset Recovery and Money Laundering Division for the District of Oregon. “The amount of dirty money allegedly flowing through these small businesses and back to Mexico and Honduras is truly staggering. We intend to hold accountable the operators of these businesses who profit by assisting drug trafficking organizations in laundering their proceeds.”
“Because crime is such a coordinated effort, it is critical that we respond in kind,” said Special Agent in Charge Adam Jobes, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Seattle Field Office. “IRS-CI specializes in fighting illicit financial activity, and we are proud to partner closely with our law enforcement partners to keep our communities safe.”
“Money laundering allows drug traffickers to thrive in the shadows, and by severing their cash flow we are striking at the very thing that incentivizes their illicit pursuits,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Seattle acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Murphy. “By stopping those that try to conceal criminal profits, communities are protected from the violence, addiction, and instability caused by the drug trade.”
“The defendant in this case is suspected of providing financial support to overseas drug organizations under the guise of business transactions,” said FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge Doug Olson. “These are serious allegations that cause significant harm to our communities. We will never tolerate individuals who profit from activities that support a drug epidemic that harms our citizens.”
On April 16, 2025, investigators executed federal search warrants at Barrera Orantes’ residence and three La Popular stores located in Beaverton, Hillsboro, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington. Barrera Orantes was arrested in Beaverton without incident.
Barrera Orantes made her first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. She was ordered detained pending further court proceedings.
If convicted, Barrera Orantes faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, five years’ supervised release, and a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the money laundered.
This case is being investigated by the IRS-CI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), FBI, and the Westside Interagency Narcotics team. It is being prosecuted by Christopher L. Cardani and Julia Jarrett, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.
The Westside Interagency Narcotics team is a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and is composed of members from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Beaverton Police Department, Hillsboro Police Department, FBI, HSI, and the Oregon National Guard. The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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 (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
Since 2018, IRS-CI has maintained a Third Party Money Laundering (3PML) Project. This project focuses on Complicit Money Service Businesses (MSB) working for Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations. The purpose of this project is to develop high-impact 3PML cases for IRS-CI and other agencies across the United States, by utilizing data analytics.
North Carolina Woman Sentenced to 7 Years’ Imprisonment for Wire Fraud and Money Laundering in Connection with Embezzlement of Funds from Her EmployerRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Rhonda Rochelle Canidate, age 49, of Greensboro, North Carolina, was sentenced on April 15, 2025, to 84 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Kelli M. Neary for wire fraud and money laundering, arising from Canidate’s scheme to embezzle funds from her employer between 2021 and 2022.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, between March 2021 and July 2022, Canidate was employed as an accounting specialist at Henry Molded Products Company (“Henry Molded”) in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Between October 2021 and June 2022, Canidate entered false payment entries for former Henry Molded employees into Henry Molded’s third-party payroll software, causing the software to issue direct deposit payments from Henry Molded’s bank account to bank accounts controlled by Canidate in the name of the former employees. This fraud not only financially injured Henry Molded, but it also harmed the former employees by creating an overpayment for tax purposes.
"The role of IRS Criminal Investigation becomes even more important in embezzlement and fraud cases due to the complex financial transactions that can take time to unravel," stated Yury Kruty, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Philadelphia Field Office. "The federal tax laws are normally violated in these cases which can add to additional jail time. As we often see, the victims are not only the taxpayers, but also the individuals and entities who suffer the financial harm."
Judge Neary further ordered Canidate to pay restitution in the amount of $480,033.12.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service. Assistant United States Attorney David C. Williams is prosecuting the case.
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Norfolk man sentenced to over five years in prison for using other people’s identities to defraud COVID-19 pandemic relief programsRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Norfolk man was sentenced yesterday to five years and ten months in prison for mail fraud and aggravated identity theft.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act expanded states’ ability to provide unemployment insurance (UI) for many workers impacted by the pandemic. During that time, the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) was responsible for administering the unemployment compensation program in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Unemployed workers in Virginia could file for UI benefits either by phone or through the VEC internet portal and applicants could choose whether to have VEC deposit their unemployment benefits directly in a linked bank account or loaded onto a prepaid debit card, typically called a “Way2Go” card.
According to court documents, Dwaynald Darion Gibbs, 40, filed or caused to be filed dozens of claims resulting in the VEC’s approval of approximately $658,966 in UI benefits. The fraudulent claims were identified after a review identified multiple applications that shared certain similarities. For example, many of the claims provided the name “Legends” or “Legends Barbershop” as the former employer, used one of two mailing addresses associated with Gibbs, and provided the same telephone number. Many of the claims were also submitted from the same internet protocol address.
Gibbs pled guilty on Dec. 5, 2024.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Troy W. Springer, Special Agent in Charge, National Capital Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and Joseph V. Cuffari, Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony Mozzi and Kristen S. Taylor prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-109.
Nine facing federal immigration-related offenses in southern IllinoisRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A federal grand jury has charged nine illegal aliens with immigration-related offenses in Effingham, Madison, Monroe and St. Clair counties over the last two months.
“Every time an illegal immigrant unlawfully enters the United States, they commit a federal crime. But eight of these individuals are repeat offenders—often deported after earlier crimes, only to reenter and face new charges,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “The only person who wasn’t a prior offender was indicted for a firearms offense. These charges show our commitment to prioritizing repeat offenders and those who threaten public safety.”
Josue Lopez-Serrano, 35, a Mexican national, was charged with one count of illegal reentry after deportation in Monroe County.
Angel Carmona-Perez, 44, a Mexican national, is facing one count of illegal reentry after deportation in Madison County.
Gaspar Lux-Lopez, 30, a Guatemalan national, was charged with one count of illegal reentry after deportation in Madison County.
Luis Morocho-Minga, 42, an Ecuadorian national, is facing one count of illegal alien in possession of a firearm in St. Clair County.
Pedro Ramos-Garcia, 36, a Guatemalan national, was charged with one count of illegal reentry after deportation in Effingham County.
Andres Jimenez-Santiago, 26, a Mexican national, is facing one count of illegal reentry after deportation in St. Clair County.
Jose Ariza-Angula, 37, a Mexican national, is facing one count of illegal reentry after deportation in St. Clair County.
Erick Roman-Roman, 49, a Mexican national, was charged with one count of illegal reentry after deportation in St. Clair County.
Mayorie Fernandez-Ormeno, 44, a Chilean national, is facing one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud, access device fraud, attempted access device fraud and illegal entry after deportation in Madison County and two counts of aggravated identity theft.
An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
In February, a southern Illinois jury convicted an illegal alien from India for participating in an imposter scam and working to exploit more than $400,000 from elderly victims across the Midwest. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 29 at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is leading the investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dan Kapsak, Madalyn Campbell and Kathleen Howard are prosecuting the cases.
The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
New Orleans and Mississippi Men Indicted for Conspiracy and Interstate Transport of Stolen VehiclesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that JARED THOMAS (“THOMAS”), age 32, a resident of New Orleans; TERRENCE ROBINSON a/k/a Brian Jacobs (“ROBINSON”), age 39, a resident of Carriere, Mississippi; CHRISTOPHER MEYERS (“MEYERS”), age 33, a resident of Slidell; HANNIF BEY (“BEY”), age 34, a resident of Metairie; and JALEN HILLS (“HILLS”), age 22, a resident of Lacombe, were charged on April 11, 2025, in a six-count indictment. In Count One, ROBINSON, THOMAS, BEY, MEYERS, ROBINSON, and HILLS were charged for conspiracy, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. In Counts Two through Six, MEYERS, THOMAS, and ROBINSON were charged with interstate transport of stolen vehicles, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2312.
According to the indictment, THOMAS, BEY, MEYERS, ROBINSON, and HILLS devised a scheme to create fake credit profiles to secure funding for auto loans. The credit profiles used both stolen and fake social security numbers, drivers’ license numbers, and dates of birth. Once they secured the loan they would purchase Audi vehicles at Audi of New Orleans. After the group would take possession of the vehicles, they would never pack back the auto loan, sell the vehicles for their personal enrichment, or use the vehicles for their personal enjoyment.
If convicted of Count One, THOMAS, BEY, MEYERS, ROBINSON, and HILLS face up to 5 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to 3 years of supervised release and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. If convicted of Counts Two through Six, THOMAS, MEYERS, and ROBINSON face up to 10 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to 3 years of supervised release and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of Homeland Security Investigations, the Louisiana State Police, and the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Office, in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Paul J. Hubbell of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
New Jersey Woman Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Residential Marijuana Grows in Sacramento and Placer CountiesRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Xiu Ping Li, 48, residing in Skillman, New Jersey, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta to five years in prison and four years of supervised release for three counts of manufacturing marijuana, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.
According to court documents, Li operated multiple residential marijuana grows in Sacramento and Placer Counties that yielded more than 8,000 marijuana plants and 21.4 pounds of processed marijuana found during the execution of search warrants in 2016 and 2017. Li also acknowledged using proceeds from a marijuana grow to buy another property to continue growing marijuana.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, IRS Criminal Investigation, the Elk Grove Police Department, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sacramento Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Roger Yang prosecuted the case.
New England Doctor Sentenced for Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – A New England doctor was sentenced on April 14, 2025 to eight months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, for conspiring to illegally distribute buprenorphine, a prescription opioid. The Court also ordered the forfeiture of $75,000, which reflects the proceeds Khan collected as a result of prescribing high-dose opioids over the course of the conspiracy, and a fine of $20,000. Additionally, as a result of this investigation, Khan has relinquished his medical license and DEA registrations. This was the first joint prosecution of a doctor by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont and the United States Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Health Care Fraud Unit’s New England Strike Force.
According to court documents, in November 2024, Adnan S. Khan, M.D., 49, of Manchester, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to illegally distribute opioids through his business, New England Medicine and Counseling Associates (NEMCA), which operated a network of clinics in New England. Khan admitted that he and others agreed to require cash for purported office visits and falsify medical records to justify his illegal prescribing practices.
During the conspiracy, Khan emailed a co-conspirator a press release from the United States Department of Justice (“USDOJ”), announcing the creation of the New England Strike Force. In response, the co-conspirator stated that it is “clear that ‘making profit off of patients’ is geared towards folks like us. Curious where this will lead.” Khan then emailed NEMCA staff and stated that, “I have been informed that there is a new task force . . . [for the New England states] on the lookout for medical professionals who are prescribing scheduled meds [irresponsibly], etc.” In light of this, Khan warned his staff that, “It is not a matter of if someone from such a task force will visit NEMCA but rather a matter of time.” Khan then ordered his staff “NOT to engage or discuss anything [with the USDOJ’s New England Strike Force] about NEMCA, what we do, what we offer, fees, etc.”
Under the plea agreement, Khan admitted that he and a co-conspirator required patients—many of whom were economically disadvantaged—to pay $250 cash in exchange for opioid prescriptions. Khan then diverted funds that he earned from these patients for his personal use and benefit, including by purchasing an airplane and multiple properties in New England. Khan would also personally deposit the cash that he received from patients, including deposits in excess of $10,000, at his bank. If a patient could not afford the full cash payment, Khan agreed to lower the dosage of that patient’s prescription.
Khan also admitted that he and a co-conspirator discussed their concern that, because pharmacies were no longer willing to fill the prescriptions, NEMCA might lose “dishonest” patients, who were “selling their meds.” Khan said that their “honest patients” were “the smaller part of [NEMCA’s] clientele” and urged a co-conspirator, “it’s the diverters [of the drugs that] we need to try to figure out a way to retain.” A co-conspirator emailed Khan, suggesting that they give $100 “scholarships” to patients who owed them money. Khan responded, “Stuck on ‘who’ should get them. Shitbag patients owe me so much that $100 won’t even put a dent on their account and they probably won’t appreciate it. Maybe the borderline ones who are just over the $250 threshold? They would probably get on their knees in gratitude.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Michael P. Drescher for the District of Vermont made the announcement. The Department of Health and Human Services—Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Vermont Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud and Residential Abuse Unit, investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Thomas D. Campbell and Danielle H. Sakowski of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Gilman for the District of Vermont prosecuted the case.
The Fraud Section partners with federal and state law enforcement agencies and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country to prosecute medical professionals and others involved in the illegal prescription and distribution of opioids. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Anyone needing access to opioid treatment services can contact HHS-OIG’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 24/7 National Helpline for referrals to treatment services at 1-800-662-4359.
Miske Enterprise Member Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Racketeering Conspiracy and Role in Kidnapping and Murder of Johnathan FraserRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – Acting United States Attorney Kenneth M. Sorenson announced that Delia Fabro-Miske, 30, of Honolulu, was sentenced yesterday in federal court by U.S. District Judge Derrick K. Watson to 84 months of imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release for racketeering conspiracy. Fabro-Miske pled guilty on January 12, 2024, in the middle of jury selection, to conspiring to conduct and participate in the conduct of the affairs of a racketeering enterprise, the “Miske Enterprise,” through racketeering activity that included bank fraud, obstruction of justice, and wire fraud.
Fabro-Miske admitted that she and codefendant Michael J. Miske committed bank fraud by submitting fraudulent paperwork in order to obtain leases for two vehicles that were used for one of Miske’s businesses. Fabro-Miske also obstructed a joint investigation into another of Miske’s businesses, Kamaaina Termite and Pest Control (“KTPC”), which was conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (“HDA”). At Miske’s direction, Fabro-Miske submitted to HDA falsified fumigation logs, which claimed that she was the certified applicator of chemicals on hundreds of jobs. In reality, most of the listed jobs were completed by unlicensed applicators. Fabro-Miske also fraudulently obtained Social Security Administration (“SSA”) survivor benefits at Miske’s direction by having her wages at KTPC decreased below the SSA benefits income threshold. At the same time, Miske paid Fabro-Miske in benefits that were not reported to the SSA or Internal Revenue Service.
Additionally, according to information provided to the Court, in or about 2017, Miske placed Fabro-Miske in charge of his businesses in an attempt to preserve and conceal his assets in anticipation of federal prosecution. In practice, Fabro-Miske carried out Miske’s wishes and acted at his direction. Fabro-Miske assisted in a fraudulent scheme committed through Miske’s businesses, which involved submitting false filings to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs that permitted the businesses to operate under fraudulently obtained and maintained licenses. Miske Enterprise members then falsely represented to customers that Miske’s businesses were properly licensed. Between 2017 and 2020, the businesses generated millions of dollars in income annually. As the head of Miske’s businesses, Fabro-Miske was also responsible for the proper and safe application of pesticides and other chemicals at customers’ homes. Information provided to the Court, however, showed that fumigations were regularly conducted without proper supervision or chemicals. Chief Judge Watson stated that Fabro-Miske’s work at Miske’s businesses “funded any number of crimes that we heard months and months of testimony” about in Miske’s trial, and her assistance “allowed Mr. Miske to run rampant in this community.”
Finally, the Court determined that Fabro-Miske was also responsible for participating in a conspiracy with other Miske Enterprise members to kidnap and murder 21-year-old Johnathan Fraser. According to information provided to the Court, Caleb Miske – Miske’s son and Fabro-Miske’s husband – and Fraser were driving together when the two were involved in a car crash in November 2015. Caleb Miske ultimately passed away from his injuries, and Miske blamed Fraser for his son’s death and enlisted several Miske Enterprise members to assist in his plan to murder Fraser. As part of that plan, Miske directed Fabro-Miske to rekindle her friendship with Fraser and his girlfriend and to lure them into living with her at an apartment paid for by Miske. On July 30, 2016, Fabro-Miske took Fraser’s girlfriend on a “spa day” paid for by Miske, ensuring that Fraser would be isolated when he was kidnapped. Fraser was never seen again after that day. Due to Miske’s death in December 2024, Chief Judge Watson explained that “the person most involved in Mr. Fraser’s demise will not ever be sentenced by this Court.” While Chief Judge Watson found that Fabro-Miske did not “directly and personally kill” Fraser and determined her to be a minimal participant in the kidnapping and murder conspiracy, he noted that there was “no doubt” that her actions led to Fraser’s murder and that the circumstances painted a “strong and clear picture” of a conspiracy to commit kidnapping murder in aid of racketeering.
Fabro-Miske was charged alongside twelve other defendants, all of whom pled guilty except for Miske, who proceeded to trial and was found guilty of racketeering conspiracy, murder, and 11 other felony charges on July 18, 2024. Seven other members and associates of the Miske Enterprise pled guilty to various offenses in related cases.
“Delia Fabro-Miske was an integral member of the Miske Enterprise, which terrorized, exploited, and defrauded our community for decades. She participated in Miske’s bank frauds, social security fraud, falsification of fumigation records, and the concealment of Miske’s illegally obtained assets, and was a vital cog in the plot to murder of Johnathan Fraser. Fabro-Miske’s sentence yesterday demonstrates that those who occupy even the lower rungs of Hawaii’s criminal enterprises will pay a steep price when they face justice in federal court,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “The dismantling of the Miske Enterprise represents one of the most significant law enforcement efforts in the history of Hawaii law enforcement, and it would not have been possible without the tremendous and dedicated work of our partners at the Honolulu Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and Environmental Protection Agency, among many others.”
“Ms. Fabro-Miske was a key member in the Miske Enterprise fraud schemes, actively participating in defrauding the government and taxpayers,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “This sentencing reflects years of collaboration between FBI Honolulu and our law enforcement partners. The FBI remains steadfast in its commitment to dismantle violent criminal enterprises, hold their members accountable, and pursue justice for victims.”
“Our investigators follow the money because criminal organizations profit at the expense of public safety,” said Adam Jobes, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Seattle Field Office. “Ms. Fabro-Miske’s racketeering conviction is a reminder that, in the end, crime really doesn’t pay.”
“The sentencing of Ms. Fabro-Miske underscores HSI’s commitment to disrupting and dismantling criminal organizations in Hawaii,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Lucy Cabral-DeArmas. “HSI will continue to hold accountable those who significantly harm our communities by breaking federal laws. By bringing justice to the Miske Enterprise, HSI sends the message that we will not tolerate any violent activity on our islands.”
“By falsifying documents, defendant obstructed EPA and the state’s criminal investigation of a pesticide applicator that illegally applied restricted use pesticides,” said Benjamin Carr, Special Agent in Charge for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division in Hawaii. “Yesterday’s sentencing reflects the seriousness of defendant’s fraudulent conduct and the importance of complying with pesticide reporting requirements so EPA and Hawaii Department of Agriculture can keep our communities safe.”
This prosecution was 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, intelligencedriven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Criminal Investigation Division of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with assistance from the Honolulu Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Coast Guard Investigative Service, the United States Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, the Cybercrime Lab of the Department of Justice Criminal Division Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center, the Honolulu Fire Department, the Hawaii National Guard, 93rd Civil Support Team, the Office of Investigations–Office of the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration, and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Inciong, Michael Nammar, KeAupuni Akina, and Aislinn Affinito prosecuted the case.
Mineral Springs Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Distributing Methamphetamine and Possession of Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking CrimeRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - A resident of Mineral Springs, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 181 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, on his convictions of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on Brian Gidney, 51.
According to information presented to the Court, from in and around July 2019 to in and around June 2020, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Gidney conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine. Further, on or about June 9, 2020, Gidney possessed with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine, and also possessed a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking crime. Gidney was intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining quantities of methamphetamine that he distributed to others.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Drug Enforcement Administration and Pennsylvania State Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Gidney. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Clearfield County District Attorney’s Office, Erie County District Attorney’s Office, Millcreek Police Department, Erie Bureau of Police, and other local law enforcement agencies.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Returning to United StatesRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican national has pleaded guilty in federal court today to illegally reentering the United States.
Jose Raul Falcon-Reyes, 36, plead guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to one count of unlawfully returning to the United States. Falcon-Reyes was previously convicted of improper entry by an alien in 2015 and was subsequently deported to Mexico that same year.
On February 15, 2025, he was arrested in Pettis County, Mo., for having been convicted of felony possession of a controlled substance.
Falcon-Reyes faces up to two years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes will impose sentencing on August 28, 2025.
He has been and will remain in custody pending his sentencing hearing.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes IV. It was investigated by Immigration & Customs Enforcement, Enforcement & Removal Operations.
Operation Take Back America
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Mexican National Charged with Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG-The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Fraidi Perez-Bartolon, age 34, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was indicted on April 16, 2025, by a federal grand jury on the charge of illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that Perez-Bartolon was previously removed from the United States on June 2, 2012, through Calexico, California, and it is alleged that he was subsequently found in the United States without having first obtained legal permission to reenter the country. The indictment also alleges that on April 14, 2025, Perez-Bartolon was encountered in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Consiglio is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 2 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Mexican Man Indicted for Re-Entry of Removed AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JOSE GUADALUPE COCA-ESCALANTE, a/k/a “Lenin Romo”, a/k/a “Guadalupe Escalante,” (“COCA-ESCALANTE”) age 39, a native of Mexico, was indicted on April 11, 2025, for re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8 United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson.
According to the indictment, COCA-ESCALANTE was found in the United States on September 26, 2024, having reentered the United States without authorization from the Attorney General of the United States, after being previously deported on December 8, 2016.
COCA-ESCALANTE faces up to two years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to one year of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00 for re-entry of a removed alien.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (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).
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.