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Tuesday 14 July 2026
Harvey Man Charged for Possession of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of MinorsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced today that MICHAEL CUSIMANO (“CUSIMANO”), age 59, of Harvey, Louisiana, was charged by bill of information on July 9, 2026, with Possession of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(4)(B) and (b)(2). If convicted, CUSIMANO faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten (10) years and a maximum sentence of twenty (20) years imprisonment, and/or a fine of up to $250,000.00, a term of supervised release of no less than five (5) years and up to life, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee.
According to court documents, beginning at an unknown time and until on or about May 27, 2026, CUSIMANO possessed, and attempted to possess, images and videos of pre-pubescent child pornography. CUSIMANO’s home was searched by state law enforcement officials and federal agents on May 27, 2026. CUSIMANO was arrested by federal agents during the execution of the search warrant after finding him in possession of electronic devices and media containing the sexual abuse of prepubescent children.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s 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.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey N. Knight of the Financial Crimes Unit.
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Guatemalan Illegal Alien Guilty of Illegal Reentry of a Removed AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – OSEAS AGUILAR-GUZMAN (“AGUILAR-GUZMAN”), age 38, a native of Guatemala, pleaded guilty to reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. His sentencing is set before Chief U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter on October 13, 2026.
According to the charging document, AGUILAR-GUZMAN was found in the United States on March 20, 2024, having reentered the United States without authorization from the Attorney General of the United States or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, after previously being deported on December 4, 2013.
AGUILAR-GUZMAN faces up to two years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to one year of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
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.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Shannon Kippers of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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Ghanaian National Extradited to U.S. to Face Accusations of Using Romance Fraud Schemes to Take $8+ Million from Elderly VictimsRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A 31-year-old Ghanaian National was extradited from the Republic of Ghana to face charges that involve defrauding more than 80 elderly victims out of more than $8 million.
According to court documents, Frederick Kumi, aka Emmanuel Kojo Baah Obeng, aka Abu Trica, of Swedru, Ghana, and co-defendant Daniel Yussif, aka Denteni, aka Slab, 31, of Accra Ghana, were part of a criminal network that targeted elderly victims in romance scams across the United States since 2023. Kumi was arrested in Ghana Dec. 11, 2025, and extradited to the United States July 9.
Court records allege that from about April 2023 to November 2025, Kumi was part of a criminal network that devised romance fraud schemes to obtain money from elderly United States citizens. Kumi and Yussif acted as leaders of a group that used online dating sites and social media to identify and target their victims, who were often widows or divorcees. Kumi employed advanced techniques including AI-driven video platforms to engage with the victims under fictitious female personas. Others involved in the deception leveraged Ghanaian associates to communicate directly with victims via encrypted apps and by phone, to maintain the false identities used to facilitate the fraud. After being misled by false stories or gold or diamond inheritances, the victims sent money via wire transfer to financial accounts controlled by conspiracy members. Portions of the funds were further provided to co-conspirators in Ghana and elsewhere. Kumi and other co-conspirators used money mules based in Ghana, and contacts in the Ghanaian immigrant community in the U.S., to launder millions of dollars through fake businesses and bank accounts.
Kumi allegedly used his ill-gotten gains to acquire luxury vehicles and other items of value. Assets seized by international law enforcement partners included a mansion in Ghana, a Lamborghini, Tesla Cybertruck, Mercedes Benz, and BMW.
U.S. v. Kumi et al, case# 1:25CR590 U.S. v. Kumi et al, case# 1:25CR590Kumi has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy. Additionally, his ill-gotten gains are subject to forfeiture. Kumi faces up to 20 years imprisonment.
If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to the case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, his role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentences will not exceed the statutory maximum, and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Each defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian M. McDonough and Elliot Morrison for the Northern District of Ohio.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio would like to acknowledge and thank the Ghana Attorney General’s Office, EOCO – Ghana Economic Organized Crime Office, GPS – Ghana Police Service, Ghana Cyber Security Authority, NACOC – Ghana Narcotics Control Commission, Ghana National Intelligence Bureau, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Sensitive Investigation Unit, U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and FBI Legal Attaché Office in Accra for their cooperation in securing the arrest and extradition from Ghana.
The investigation and prosecution are conducted under the Elder Justice Initiative Program, established by the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act of 2017 (EAPPA). The EAPPA and Elder Justice Initiative aims to coordinate and strengthen the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat abuse, neglect, financial fraud, and scams targeting older adults.
To submit a report of suspected elder financial abuse, please visit tips.fbi.gov/home or justice.gov/elderjustice/financial-exploitation.
Gary Man Found Guilty by Jury for Trafficking Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, and HeroinRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Darod Wheeler, 55 years old, of Gary, Indiana, was found guilty following a two-day trial presided over by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 8, 2026.
“The Defendant was found guilty for Trafficking Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, and Heroin. According to trial testimony and documents in the case, on July 24, 2025, during an initial controlled purchase outside his residence in Gary, Indiana, Wheeler sold more than 5 grams of methamphetamine and a quantity of fentanyl to a confidential informant acting at the direction of law enforcement. Five days later, on July 29, 2025, during a second controlled purchase outside that residence, Wheeler sold more than 5 grams of methamphetamine, a quantity of fentanyl, and a quantity of heroin to that informant. The jury was advised that less than an hour after the second controlled purchase concluded, officers searched Wheeler’s residence and located the money used to pay Wheeler for those drugs. After being advised of his Miranda rights, the Defendant confessed to drug trafficking, according to trial testimony,” said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
The jury also found that Wheeler has a prior federal conviction for a “serious drug felony,” distribution of fentanyl, in the Northern District of Indiana for which he served more than twelve months of imprisonment and for which he was released from serving any term of imprisonment related to that offense within fifteen years of July 24 and July 29, 2025. Based on that prior conviction, Wheeler faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years of imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Porter County Multi-Enforcement Group, the Porter County Sheriff’s Office, and the Valparaiso Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kristian R. Mukoski and Ambris Saravanan.
Former executive director of Hinesville Housing Authority indicted for defrauding housing agencyRead the Press Release
4_26cr79_indictment_as_to_melanie_s_thompson.pdfSAVANNAH, Georgia: The former executive director of the Hinesville Housing Authority (HHA) and another individual have been indicted on multiple counts of Wire Fraud and Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud.
Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announced the indictments.
Melanie S. Thompson, 55, of Savannah, was indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, 19 counts of Wire Fraud, and two counts of False, Fictitious, or Fraudulent Claims. Toriono L. Byrd, 52, of Savannah, is charged in the indictment with Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
As described in the indictment, beginning as early as September 2019 and continuing through October 2023, while employed with the HHA, Thompson is alleged to have created or authorized false invoices, directed to Byrd’s private business, which authorized payments to Byrd for work that was never completed, or in amounts that far exceeded the actual value of the work. Upon receiving these payments, Byrd is alleged to have made return payments, or kickbacks, to Thompson for her personal use and benefit.
The indictment further alleges that through her role as executive director, Thompson directed multiple fraudulent payments to herself through the payroll system, directed payments of fraudulent bonuses to which she was not entitled, and that Thompson made false Covid-era loan applications to the federal government.
In all, the scheme is alleged to have resulted in a loss of more than $2.5 million for the HHA.
The charges carry statutory penalties upon conviction of up to 20 years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and up to three years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General, the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and is being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darron J. Hubbard and L. Alexander Hamner.
Florida Man Sentenced to 32 Months in Federal Prison for Defrauding Zelle UsersRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that KUTTINO JAMAL SCOTT, 24, of Miami, Florida, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 32 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for his role in a scheme that defrauded numerous individuals who used the electronic payments system Zelle. Judge Shea also ordered Scott to perform 125 hours of community service while on supervised release.
According to court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement has been investigating crimes against users of digital payment applications, including Zelle. Typically, through this scheme, a victim receives a fraudulent text message, purporting to be from the victim’s bank, asking the victim to confirm whether a Zelle transaction was authorized. When the victim denies the transaction, the victim receives a response that a bank representative will be in contact. The victim then receives a phone call from an individual impersonating a bank representative who informs the victim that an unauthorized transaction has occurred and that they need to work together to reverse the transaction. Without the victim’s knowledge, the fraudsters will link the victim’s actual phone number or email address via Zelle to a bank account that does not belong to the victim. The victim is then instructed to “reverse” the fictional fraudulent transaction by making a Zelle payment to what they believe is their own account, but is, in fact, an account controlled by the fraudsters.
From approximately February 2021 through August 2023, Scott and others, including Kader Gahmaal Biwaki Edmond, stole $657,680.79 from approximately 140 victims, including victims in Connecticut, through this Zelle scheme and other fraud schemes. The investigation revealed that Edmond had more direct contact with victims, and Scott managed at least eight “money mules,” individuals who allowed their bank accounts to receive and transfer proceeds of the fraud scheme.
Judge Shea ordered Scott to pay full restitution.
Scott was arrested on August 31, 2023. On January 13, 2026, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Scott, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on September 15.
Edmond pleaded guilty to the same charge and, on August 19, 2024, was sentenced to three years of imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Chang with the assistance of Law Student Intern Lucas Alexander.
Victims can report Zelle fraud to their bank or credit union, or to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), which is run by the FBI and serves as the country’s hub for reporting cybercrime, at www.ic3.gov.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Swears in Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra HebertRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Monday July 13th, 2026, First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III swore in Sandra Hebert as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York.
Hebert brings more than 20 years of federal prosecutorial experience to the Northern District. She has served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney since 2004, first in the Western District of Texas, and most recently in the District of Rhode Island. During her tenure, Hebert held multiple leadership roles including OCDETF Chief, Deputy Criminal Chief and Criminal Chief.
“We are proud to welcome Sandra Hebert to the Northern District family,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III. “Sandra’s extensive experience spanning the spectrum of federal prosecutions makes her an outstanding addition to our team. Her commitment to justice and strong track record of public service will complement and enhance our ability to protect communities throughout the Northern District of New York.”
Prior to joining the United States Attorney’s Office, Hebert clerked for the Honorable John D. Rainey in the Southern District of Texas and was an active-duty United States Army Judge Advocate General Officer.Sandra joins the Office’s Criminal Division, where she will contribute her extensive federal prosecutorial experience to ongoing and future cases. She will be based in the Syracuse office, supporting the District’s efforts to advance public safety and uphold the rule of law across the Northern District.
First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone swears in Assistant United States Attorney Sandra Hebert
Final fugitives charged as part of ‘Operation Fly City’ enforcement operation arrestedRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – The final of four fugitives charged in June as part of “Operation Fly City” were arrested by federal agents yesterday evening.
U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II announced on June 22 with federal law enforcement partners the results of an eight-week operation to fight gun violence and drug trafficking in Dayton. Forty-seven defendants face federal charges.
During the operation, which began on April 27, agents seized 176 firearms, as well as machinegun conversion devices and kilogram quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine.
At the time of the announcement, four defendants remained at large: Isaiah Chancellor, 25, of Dayton; Anthony Scott, 23, of Dayton; Eucelf Taste Sr., 46, of Trotwood; and Eucelf Taste Jr., 22, of Dayton.
Father and son Taste Sr. and Taste Jr. were arrested yesterday by officials with the Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (SOFAST), which is led by the United States Marshals Service. SOFAST arrested Taste Sr. and Taste Jr. in the parking lot of a business complex in Oakwood.
Taste Jr. allegedly sold fentanyl and a machinegun to undercover officers. He told officers he was a member of the 41 Boyz, a violent drug trafficking organization that law enforcement knows to offer protection services to other drug dealers. Charging documents detail that Taste Jr. allegedly offered these services to undercover officers, saying he and others would willingly provide armed security at a five-kilogram drug deal. Taste Jr. allegedly showed up to the purported deal site on June 9, armed, and brought with him two other associates who were also armed.
Taste Jr. also allegedly discussed his father, saying his father was a major drug trafficker with direct drug connections to Mexico.
Taste Sr. allegedly received kilograms of narcotics every month from his drug source. The son showed undercover officers a June 8 photo of his father holding up a trash bag purportedly filled with half a million dollars in cash from drug sales. Through an introduction from Taste Jr., Taste Sr. then allegedly sold a kilogram of fentanyl to an undercover officer.
The two other fugitives were taken into custody last month. Chancellor was arrested June 23. He is charged with conspiring to distribute fentanyl and distributing 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Scott, who was arrested on June 30, is charged with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The charges against all 47 defendants were brought via 20 federal indictments and three federal criminal complaints. Indictments and criminal complaints merely contain allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Deputy Criminal Chief Brent G. Tabacchi, Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Amy M. Smith, Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly K. Rossi, Elizabeth L. McCormick, Rob Painter, Brendan Sullivan, Erica D. Lunderman, Christina E. Mahy and Ryan A. Saunders and Special Assistant United States attorney Allison Oswall are representing the United States in these cases.
These cases are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Cincinnati comprises agents and officers from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
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FCI-Marion inmate known as “Beetlejuice” sentenced to additional prison time for producing hand-drawn child sexual abuse materialRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – A district judge added 224 months of additional federal imprisonment to an FCI-Marion inmate’s sentence after he admitted to producing hand-drawn child sexual abuse material while incarcerated.
Christopher L. Collins, also known as “Beetlejuice”, 42, pleaded guilty to two counts of Production of Obscene Visual Representations of the Sexual Abuse of Children and one count of Possession of Obscene Visual Representations of the Sexual Abuse of Children. In March 2025, a corrections officer at FCI-Marion located 11 hand drawings depicting adults sexually assaulting children. The images depicted drawings of children approximately 6 to 12 years old. According to court documents, Collins admitted to creating the obscene drawings and providing them to other inmates at FCI-Marion.
“Christopher Collins is a serial child sex offender who continues to produce images of his grotesque fantasies of adults raping young children,” said United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “We are determined to add as much prison time as the law allows to his already lengthy sentence to ensure he never has access to children in the community ever again.”
Collins is currently serving a 240-month sentence in the Bureau of Prisons at FCI-Marion. Collins has two prior felony convictions. In 2008, Collins pled guilty to one count of possession of child pornography in the Southern District of Iowa. And in 2019, Collins pled guilty to two counts for receiving child pornography and possession of obscene visual representation of the sexual abuse of children in the Southern District of Iowa. The district court ordered Collins’ new sentence to run consecutively to the undischarged time on his 2019 conviction.
“Collins’ actions demonstrate a continued pattern of exploiting children, even while incarcerated. The FBI remains committed to identifying and disrupting all forms of child exploitation, whether committed in our communities or from within prison walls,” said FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge Ryan Presley. “We will continue working with our partners to ensure that those who create or circulate materials that exploit children are held accountable.”
“Inmate Collins’ actions are disgraceful and show a vile disregard for the safety and dignity of children," said BOP Director William K. Marshall III. "I commend the staff at FCI Marion for their vigilance and thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois for its unwavering pursuit of justice. The Bureau of Prisons will never tolerate predatory behavior toward children and will always ensure offenders face the full consequences of the law.”
FBI-Marion and the Bureau of Prisons led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Sanders prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Dominican National Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national unlawfully residing in Lawrence was sentenced on July 8, 2026, in federal court in Boston for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.
Jason Aymar Ramos, 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to a term of 18 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In April 2026, Aymar Ramos pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Aymar Ramos was indicted by a federal grand jury in 2018.
Aymar Ramos was deported from the United States to the Dominican Republic on April 5, 2012. Sometime after his removal, Aymar Ramos illegally reentered the United States without permission.
Between 2015 and 2024, Aymar Ramos, using an alias, was convicted in four separate state court drug cases. In October 2025, after completing a two and a half year jail sentence in one of the cases, he was transported to federal court in the illegal reentry case. He has been in federal custody since that time.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; David T. Wesling, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston; and Lawrence Police Chief Maurice Aguiler made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Delco Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Second Child Pornography ConvictionRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Jeffrey Worrilow Jr., 44, of Media, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 120 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release by United States District Judge Chad F. Kenney for child pornography offenses.
The defendant was also ordered to pay $40,000 in restitution, a $10,000 Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act Assessment, $1,500 Amy, Vicky and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act Assessment, and $200 special assessment. In addition, Worrilow Jr. is subject to mandatory registration as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”) and Megan’s Law.
The defendant was charged by indictment in September 2025 and pleaded guilty this March to two counts of accessing with intent to view child pornography.
As detailed in court filings and statements, the FBI, in an undercover operation, took control of a website on the dark web providing child pornography. Investigators identified Worrilow Jr. as being a member of the site for more than a year and determined that he maintained two different accounts, which he used to access the site 27 times and post at least twice.
On one occasion when the defendant accessed the website, the FBI captured the IP address used, with subscriber information subsequently leading to the defendant’s home. In March 2025, a federal search warrant was executed at that residence and several devices were seized. Investigators located evidence of child pornography on two devices, including 648 images and 14 videos of child pornography found in the cache of Worrilow’s iPhone and an additional 17 images of child pornography in the phone’s browser.
This is the defendant’s second such conviction. In 2008, at the age of 26, Worrilow Jr. was convicted in Delaware County for online child pornography offenses. He was sentenced to 11½ to 23 months of imprisonment and allowed to serve the imprisonment over 24 weekends.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to 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 projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by the FBI, with assistance from the Media Police Department and Upper Providence Township (Delaware Co.) Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brittany Jones.
Dayton man sentenced to federal prison after shootout on University of Dayton campusRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – Dylan Hiner, 20, of Dayton, was sentenced in federal court here to 27 months in prison for illegally receiving a firearm or ammunition while under indictment for another felony crime.
According to court documents, Hiner was attending a Halloween party on Nov. 1, 2025, at the University of Dayton. While at the party, Hiner participated in a shootout. The defendant fired multiple rounds of ammunition into the air. A student was shot in the leg by another suspect who was also firing a weapon.
The Dayton Police Department and University of Dayton Police Department arrived on scene and discovered multiple rounds of ammunition and observed home surveillance footage. Video surveillance shows Hiner discharging a firearm between houses on Evanston Avenue.
At the time of this incident, Hiner was under indictment in Montgomery County for allegedly carrying a concealed weapon and improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle and therefore was prohibited by federal law from receiving a firearm or ammunition.
Hiner has been suspected of multiple shootings and other acts of violence in 2025. The United States detailed in its sentencing memorandum that Hiner was captured on surveillance and in Instagram posts possessing and firing weapons.
Hiner was arrested and charged federally on Nov. 10, 2025. He pleaded guilty in this federal case in February.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); Dayton Police Chief Eric Henderson and University of Dayton Police Chief Steve Durian announced the sentence imposed on July 14 by U.S. District Judge Michal J. Newman. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders is representing the United States in this case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Dallas felon sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for attempting to rob Plano Lyft driver at gunpointRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas –A Dallas convicted felon has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Antonio Detravion Woodard, Jr., 24, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Richard Schell on July 13, 2026.
According to information presented in court, on January 10, 2025, Woodard called for a Lyft and upon arrival, pulled out a gun and told the Lyft driver, “This is a robbery.” Woodard asked the driver for access to his Cash App and Wallet. Upon inspection, Woodard discovered that the victim driver had no cash. Woodard was upset and demanded the victim, “Not tell the police what happened.” The Lyft driver was able to hit the safety feature in his Lyft app and local law enforcement responded. Further investigation revealed Woodard was a convicted felon and prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms.
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.
This case was investigated by the Plano Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr.
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Court Orders Continued Access for USDA to Inspect Iowa Dog Breeder’s Facility Following Seizure of 32 DogsRead the Press Release
Last week, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa issued a preliminary injunction against Wuanita Swedlund, a dog breeder, based on claims that she has repeatedly failed to grant Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials access to inspect her facility, animals, and records in violation of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). This preliminary injunction follows a temporary restraining order (TRO) based on the same claims that led to the seizure of 32 dogs by Iowa law enforcement.
Photo of a dog at Swedlund’s facility, from USDA’s inspection report.“The court’s preliminary injunction ensures USDA inspectors can assess whether this breeder continues to operate in violation of the Animal Welfare Act,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “We enforce the AWA’s standards to ensure that animals in breeding facilities are safe and healthy.”
“The U.S. Department of Agriculture continues its close collaboration with the U.S. Department of Justice on enforcing the Animal Welfare Act,” said General Counsel Tyler Clarkson of the USDA.
According to the complaint, filed with a motion for TRO and preliminary injunction, Swedlund has allegedly engaged in a pattern and practice of violating the AWA while operating a dog breeding facility in Farmington, Iowa. After the court issued the TRO requested by the United States, inspectors from USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship coordinated and obtained access to Swedlund’s facility. APHIS cited Swedlund for dozens of AWA violations, including lack of adequate veterinary care for animals with visible fleas, failure to provide sanitary enclosures for puppies and their mothers, and indoor housing facilities with temperatures that exceeded 90 degrees for at least four hours. The state obtained a search warrant and took possession of all 32 dogs found at the facility, and they have been placed in a local animal shelter.
In issuing the preliminary injunction, the court recognized, “the animals in Swedlund’s care suffered needlessly—precisely the type of harm that the AWA sought to prevent.” The preliminary injunction will assist USDA with preventing the conditions that affected the health and well-being of the animals at Swedlund’s facility.
The USDA referred this matter to the Justice Department based on concerns about potential conditions faced by the animals in Swedlund’s facility. The preliminary injunction will assist USDA with assessing the health and well-being of the animals in Swedlund’s possession. This lawsuit follows the Prioritization of Animal Welfare Enforcement memorandum issued by the Attorney General in February.
USDA’s APHIS is investigating this matter.
Trial Attorneys Kamela A. Caschette, Michelle M. Spatz, and Bonnie M. Ballard of ENRD’s Wildlife and Marine Resources Section are handling this matter.
Correctional center employees admit to depriving inmate of civil rightsRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – A Correctional Officer and Correctional Lieutenant employed at Lawrence Correctional Center appeared in federal court Tuesday to admit to conspiring to deprive a restrained inmate of civil rights.
Craig Muhs, 28, and Ethan Yates, 30, each pled guilty to conspiring to violate an inmate’s civil rights during an incident occurring on July 31, 2025, and during the ensuing investigation. Muhs was employed as a Correctional Officer at Lawrence Correctional Center. Yates was employed as a Correctional Lieutenant, charged with supervising other staff. Lawrence Correctional Center is a maximum-security state prison staffed by employees of the Illinois Department of Corrections.
According to court documents, the incident arose from a mistaken belief that the inmate had assaulted a female employee. Yates and Muhs admitted to participating in a six-person conspiracy in which the inmate, who was restrained in a mobility chair with leg shackles and hand cuffs, was struck in the face, head, and body. The victim was also pepper sprayed in the genital region and experienced a sensation of asphyxiation after an employee poured water over the cloth spit hood covering the victim’s mouth and nose. The victim received numerous injuries, including an orbital fracture requiring reconstructive surgery.
“These maximum-security correctional officers have a difficult and dangerous job, and I stand behind the men and women who work every day in these dangerous conditions surrounded by dangerous people,” said United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “By their own admissions, these two officers crossed the line into vigilantism after mistakenly believing the inmate had assaulted a female employee. Prison guards simply cannot be allowed to physically abuse a restrained inmate, and other guards who are present must protect a defenseless inmate from this type of unjustified abuse.”
Muhs and Yates both admitted to striking the restrained inmate, failing to intervene when other employees severely abused the victim, failing to submit required reports regarding the incident, and failing to obtain appropriate medical attention for the victim.
“ISP takes allegations of abuse very seriously and is committed to thorough investigations and accountability,” said Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly.
Under federal law, officers must not only refrain from the use of excessive force, but also have a duty to intervene if a fellow officer uses excessive force. Charges of deprivation of civil rights carry potential sentences of 10 years.
Muhs’s sentencing is scheduled for November 9, 2026 at 11:00 AM. Yates’s sentencing is scheduled for November 12, 2026 at 10:30 AM. Both sentencings will be held at the Benton Courthouse before Chief Judge Yandle.
Illinois State Police is leading the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Burke is prosecuting the case.
Chouteau Man Sentenced for Driving Impaired and Causing Fatal Car WreckRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Chouteau man was sentenced for Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country after driving impaired and causing a fatal car wreck, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Tyler Ray Thompson, 29, to 64 months' imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.
The investigation revealed that in March 2024, Thompson began his day by consuming methamphetamine and marijuana. Thompson had never held a valid driver’s license and told investigators that he usually drove only in neighborhoods. On the date of the incident, he claims that his significant other, Nancy Moore, drove them to her dentist’s appointment but could not drive afterward because she was under anesthesia. After Thompson purchased more marijuana, he attempted to drive on a busy highway. On the drive home, he failed to stop at a red light and struck the rear end of a tractor-trailer while driving at approximately 57 miles per hour. Nancy Moore died from blunt force trauma.
The toxicology report confirmed that Thompson had methamphetamine, amphetamine, THC, hydroxy-THC, and THCA in his blood when he was treated at the hospital shortly after the crash.
Thompson is a citizen of the Muskogee Creek Nation. He was previously released on bond but was taken into custody after violating the terms of his pretrial release in July. Court documents show that after pleading guilty and while awaiting sentencing for this offense, he tested positive for marijuana eight times, for amphetamines seven times, failed to appear for required drug tests, and missed six scheduled mental-health treatment appointments. Thompson will remain in custody, pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The FBI and the Pryor Police Department investigated the case with assistance from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Dunn prosecuted the case.
Chester County Man Sentenced to over Three Years in Prison for Possessing Unregistered Explosive DevicesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Kevin Krebs, 32, of Malvern, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 37 months in prison and three years of supervised release by United States District Judge Mary Kay Costello for possessing unregistered explosive devices.
The defendant was arrested on a criminal complaint and warrant in October of last year, charged by information in December with one count of possession of an unregistered firearm or destructive device, and pleaded guilty the same month.
As detailed in court filings and statements, on June 14, 2025, Krebs was arrested by the West Chester Police Department for carrying a firearm without a license. Two days later, Chester County Detectives executed a state search warrant at Krebs’s residence and discovered what appeared to be an improvised explosive device (“IED”), specifically a pipe bomb, and related materials, in a garage attached to the premises.
Bomb technicians responded, examined the device, and determined that it contained nails and screws, which are frequently placed inside IEDs to serve as shrapnel. As the search continued, investigators located multiple additional IEDs, other explosive materials, and related components.
The recovered items yielded a total of six destructive devices and 10 improvised explosive detonators. Investigators also recovered eight one-pound orange plastic containers containing suspected ammonium nitrate and aluminum powder, a binary explosive mixture that forms an ammonium nitrate and aluminum explosive when combined and is classified as a regulated explosive.
This case was investigated by the Chester County District Attorney’s Office, FBI Philadelphia’s Newtown Square Resident Agency, and the West Chester Police Department, with the assistance of the Montgomery County, FBI, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives bomb squads, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Everett Witherell and Frank Menna.
The commonwealth’s case against Krebs is still pending.
Casamero Lake Woman Sentenced for Fatal Hit-and-RunRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Casamero Lake woman was sentenced to 37 months in prison for striking and killing a pedestrian on a dirt road while driving drunk.
According to court documents, on or about August 6, 2024, Debbie Rojack, 46, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, hit and killed John Doe on a dirt road in the Borrego Pass area after drinking a six-pack of beer that day. John Doe was last seen leaving work on August 5, 2024, and his body was discovered four days later. An autopsy determined that John Doe died from blunt force injuries consistent with vehicular trauma, including multiple fractures and a severed spinal cord. Investigators recovered vehicle debris near the body, and several parts were traced to a gray 2018-2022 Ford SUV. Additional investigation linked the parts to a gray 2019 Ford SUV owned by Rojack, which had significant damage to the driver's side and deployed airbags. A federal search warrant executed on the vehicle recovered additional evidence.
On October 4, 2024, special agents interviewed Rojack, who stated that she had been involved in an accident in a canyon while driving home from Crownpoint to Casamero Lake late at night. Rojack claimed she believed she struck a deer and did not stop to investigate because she was alone and it was late at night. She admitted drinking a six-pack of Bud Light on the day of the crash and stated that she was approximately a "5 out of 10" in terms of intoxication. Rojack further stated that she later learned a person had been found dead in the same canyon where the collision occurred and acknowledged she was concerned that she may have struck a person. She also confirmed that she was the sole occupant of the vehicle at the time of the crash.
Rojack pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Upon her release from prison, Rojack will be subject to two years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations and the New Mexico State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittany DuChaussee and Jack Burkehad are prosecuting the case.
Butte woman sentenced to 11 years in prison for trafficking methRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – A Butte woman who was pulled over with 27 pounds of meth in her car was sentenced today to 11 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Carol Jane Soza, 61, pleaded guilty in December 2025 to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Soza was bringing methamphetamine into Montana from a source in Washington and selling it in Butte with the help of a partner.
In January 2025, law enforcement learned from a source who had been buying meth from Soza twice a month that Soza was regularly traveling to Washington to obtain her methamphetamine. A month later, law enforcement pulled over Soza and her partner in Rocker. Investigators found 10 pounds of meth in her partner’s suitcase and another 17 pounds in a duffle bag in the trunk. Also in the vehicle was Soza’s ledger that detailed her drug distribution, including an entry that broke down the cost of the meth that specifically noted 20 pounds were paid for and 7 pounds were “fronted.”
A cell phone search turned up messages that indicated the pair worked together to acquire the meth in Washington and distribute it in Butte. Soza was the connection with the Washington supplier and her partner handled the distribution in Butte.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Lowney prosecuted the case. The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation.
Burke County Sheriff indicted by federal grand juryRead the Press Release
1_26cr47_indictment_as_to_alfonzo_williams.pdfSAVANNAH, Georgia: Burke County Sheriff Alfonzo Williams, 55, of Waynesboro, Georgia, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia on five counts of Extortion Under the Color of Official Right and one count of Transfer of a Firearm to a Convicted Felon.
The indictment, returned by the July term of the grand jury, alleges the offenses occurred from August 2021 to April 2022, with the indictment asserting that Williams requested and accepted monetary payments from five individuals in exchange for dismissing pending citations for driving under the influence. Additionally, the indictment charges that in January 2023, Williams provided a firearm to an individual previously convicted of a felony.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The extortion charges each carry a statutory penalty upon conviction of up to 20 years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and up to three years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. The firearms charge carries a statutory penalty upon conviction of up to 15 years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and up to three years of supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara M. Lyons and Timothy P. Dean.
Billings man pleads guilty to trafficking fentanylRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Billings man who trafficked significant amounts of fentanyl from his West End home admitted to charges today, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Jason Allen Lehman, 50, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Lehman faces up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, a $5 million fine, and a $100 special assessment on the trafficking charge. For the gun charge he faces between five years and life in prison, five years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided at the change of plea and sentencing was set for a later date. U.S. District Judge Kathleen S. Lane will determine a sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Lehman remained on release pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that Lehman had been using the postal service to obtain fentanyl pills, which he then trafficked around Billings from his home on the West End.
The investigation into Lehman began on Feb. 24, 2025, when law enforcement intercepted a suspicious package sent from an invalid Colorado address to a home on Green Teal Drive in Billings. Using a warrant, investigators opened the package and discovered more than 100 grams of fentanyl in the form of 1,000 pills. A cell number associated with the package was registered to Lehman.
A month later, law enforcement spoke with a source who had purchased fentanyl from a man named “Jason Holtz,” who drove a Ford F-150, and lived on Green Teal Drive. By April 2025, law enforcement had learned of a second person who had purchased fentanyl from Lehman at the address on Green Teal Drive. On April 21, 2025, law enforcement intercepted another package containing fentanyl addressed to the Green Teal Drive home. Investigators then obtained a search warrant for the home and the Ford F-150, and found roughly 1,500 fentanyl pills, drug paraphernalia, a handgun, a shotgun, an assault-style rifle, and a bolt action hunting rifle.
In interviews with law enforcement, Lehman acknowledged he purchased fentanyl pills online, which were then shipped to his home under different names. He said he used most of the pills himself but said he also sold some and gave some away. He said he kept the guns for protection.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The United States Postal Inspection Service and Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force conducted the investigation.
Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Deputy Convicted of Tipping Off DEA TargetsRead the Press Release
LUBBOCK, Texas – United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Ryan Raybould, announced the July 10 conviction of a Bernalillo County, New Mexico Sheriff’s Office detective for obstructing Drug Enforcement Administration investigations and making a false statement to the FBI.
After five days of trial and three hours of deliberation, a New Mexico jury convicted Paul Jessen, Jr., 36, of one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice, two counts of obstruction of justice, and one count of making a false statement.
Due to a recusal by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico, Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas prosecuted the case. The trial was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
“Paul Jessen, Jr. violated his oath, betrayed his position of public trust and jeopardized the safety of fellow law enforcement officers when he compromised DEA operations by providing confidential information to a known drug trafficker” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “When given the opportunity to do the right thing, Jessen compounded his criminality by lying to the FBI and further obfuscating justice. Most law enforcement officers serve with honor and distinction, but those rare few like this former Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Deputy who abuse their positions of trust will be held accountable by the Department of Justice. Credit to the agents who investigated and the Northern District of Texas AUSAs who prosecuted this very important public corruption case in New Mexico.”
“Jessen failed to conduct his work with honor and integrity when he used his law enforcement position to obstruct a DEA investigation and made a false statement in an attempt to avoid accountability,” said Special Agent in Charge Cloey Pierce of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General’s (DOJ OIG) South Central Region. “The DOJ OIG, along with its law enforcement partners, is committed to rooting out this kind of wrongdoing and bringing perpetrators to justice.”
“The integrity of the criminal justice system depends on law enforcement officers honoring their oath and protecting the sensitive information entrusted to them. By tipping off the subject of an active investigation, Jessen not only compromised investigative efforts but also put fellow law enforcement personnel in unnecessary risk and betrayed the public's confidence,” said Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to working with our partners to protect the integrity of our investigations and ensure that anyone who violates the public's trust is held accountable.”
According to evidence presented at trial, Paul Jessen, Jr. and former BCSO Detective Kyle Linker recruited a drug trafficker to work as a confidential informant in July 2021. In November 2021, a DEA agent notified Linker that the agency planned to conduct an operation near the confidential informant’s home. Fearing the operation might target the BCSO confidential informant, Linker reached out to warn him about the impending operation. As a result, the confidential informant changed the location of a drug deal and canceled another deal altogether.
At trial, prosecutors introduced text messages between Linker and Jessen. The text messages showed that the two BSCO detectives harbored personal animus against the DEA in Albuquerque because they believed the DEA was stealing their targets. In one message, Linker wrote: “I should tell [confidential informant] to tip off [drug trafficker] hahahaha.” Jessen replied, “Do it!” Also, in response to learning about a DEA operation, Jessen wrote: “It would be a shame if there is nothing there.” Linker responded, “Gonna be a real shame.”
In early December 2021, Jessen received information about an upcoming DEA operation. Jessen sent a text saying: “It’s happing this upcoming week.” Two minutes later, Linker sent the confidential informant a text warning, “Fairly certain [drug trafficker] getting hit Mon or Wed next week. Got a tip.”
Upon examining the confidential informant’s phone records, DEA agents began to suspect that he had been tipped off by Linker and decided to conduct another operation without notifying Linker first.
According to additional evidence admitted during trial, in December 2021, the DEA executed a search warrant at the confidential informant’s residence and located more than 470 grams of methamphetamine, fentanyl pills, and a firearm. During the ensuing interview, the confidential informant admitted to the agents that he had been previously tipped off by Linker. The DEA devised a plan to confirm the confidential informant’s statement.
Shortly thereafter, an agent contacted Linker to inform him the DEA was planning to conduct a controlled purchase from the confidential informant. Although the agent specifically instructed Linker not to contact the informant, Linker messaged the informant to “call me ASAP.” Unbeknownst to Linker, the confidential informant was still in the presence of law enforcement.
The informant called Linker, who told him he was “on DEA’s radar” and instructed him to have someone else deliver drugs to the DEA.
Shortly after receiving word from the DEA that the operation would continue as planned, Linker texted Jessen to complain about the DEA’s plan.
“Tell [confidential informant] not to sell to anyone. And go to a hotel or stay with someone else for a bit,” Jessen responded.
“What I should do is have you call [confidential informant] that way when they ultimately say I tipped [confidential informant] off I can show them my call logs and be like I haven’t talked to him since this morning, “Linker texted back.
“I’ll [expletive] do it,” Jessen allegedly responded.
“Perfect,” Linker said. “Plausible deniability for me.”
Prosecutors introduced evidence that Linker used Jessen’s cell phone to contact the confidential informant to further warn that the DEA was planning to target the confidential informant.
The jury also saw evidence of a meeting between Jessen and the confidential informant. Jessen searched the confidential informant to see if he was wearing a wire and said: “If I find out that you’re like working for the DEA and you’re gonna try and rat me out, like I’m not gonna answer your phone calls or anything.”
Jessen was interviewed by an FBI special agent in January 2022. The jury found that Jessen made a false statement during the interview when he denied personal knowledge of anything inappropriate between Linker and the confidential informant.
Jessen faces up to 65 years in federal prison. His sentencing date has not been set but will be scheduled before Senior U.S. District Judge James O. Browning, from the District of New Mexico, Albuquerque Division, who presided over the trial.
Linker pled guilty to obstruction of justice and was sentenced to eight months’ custody, resulting in a 30-day imprisonment term, followed by seven months of location monitoring.
The Department of Justice Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Albuquerque District Office conducted the investigation. Northern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Long and Ryan Redd prosecuted the case in the District of New Mexico.
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Arlington Resident Indicted for Wire Fraud and Identity Theft ChargesRead the Press Release
An Arlington, Texas resident with ties to several Arlington and Mansfield churches was indicted for alleged conduct related to a scheme to defraud through his church-related entities, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.
Richard Reinaldo Garcia, 53, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Fort Worth on June 2, for one count of wire fraud conspiracy, two counts of wire fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft.
“The defendant allegedly took advantage of his victims’ faith by promising significant profits through investment opportunities but instead used their funds to selfishly enrich himself at their expense,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “We will not stand idly by while North Texans fall victim to these unscrupulous schemes, and my office will work hard to seek out and prosecute those that commit these types of crimes.”
“The FBI remains committed to investigating those who misuse positions of trust to further fraudulent investment schemes. The FBI encourages anyone who may be a victim to access the Seeking Victims page on our website,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock.
According to the indictment, from August 2021 through April 2025, Garcia and others allegedly made false material misstatements based, in part, on the promise of significant profits for his victims. The misstatements, among other things, induced victims to enter into agreements and provide funds for “church flipping” real estate improvement projects and “joint venture” agreements to host Christian music concerts and other church programs. Garcia then allegedly used victim funds to pay for his own personal expenses and business operating expenses.
The indictment alleges that Garcia controlled bank accounts in church-related entity names, such as Ministerio Gracia, Iglesia Gracia de Texas, Gracia Church of Texas, and Pesar de Todo, LLC (“relevant entity names”). Garcia allegedly directed several victims to transfer their funds to accounts held in these relevant entity names and to label the funds as “donations” for Gracia Church, when in reality, the funds were solicited for use in the relevant fraudulent scheme. According to the indictment, over 50 victims across the United States and internationally paid over $3.2 million to Garcia as a result of his scheme to defraud.
The case is set for trial in Fort Worth on Oct. 13. If convicted, Garcia faces a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison for each count of wire fraud, conspiracy and wire fraud, and a mandatory sentence of two years in prison for the aggravated identity theft count.
The FBI requests that if you or someone you know is a potential victim of this alleged fraudulent scheme, please go to one of the websites listed below for additional information and click on the link to fill out the “Seeking Information Questionnaire.”
English version: fbi.gov/GraciaChurchvictims
Spanish version: fbi.gov/GraciaChurchVictimsEspanol
The FBI’s Fort Worth Resident Agency conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac McDonald is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
"GUILTY" - A Federal Jury Convicts a California Felon for Firearms Trafficking ViolationsRead the Press Release
Oxford, MS – United States Attorney Scott F. Leary announced today that a federal jury convicted Yohannes Tekie Gebrezghi, 41, of Sacramento, California after a two-day trial. Gebrezghi was convicted of firearms trafficking.
According to evidence produced at trial, Gebrezghi was stopped in New Albany by two Mississippi Highway Patrol officers. A search of his vehicle by the troopers uncovered 13 firearms, including pistols and AK-style rifles. The weapons were hidden in the vehicle’s door panels and hatch, along with ammunition, large-capacity magazines, and $16,000 in United States currency. Evidence at trial confirmed that Gebrezghi had travelled from California. He was a prior convicted felon.
Gebrezghi will be sentenced by United States District Judge James D. Maxwell, II on a future date.
U.S. Attorney Leary stated, “Gun traffickers put both our citizens and law enforcement officers at risk. Those who traffic in illegal firearms are directly feeding the cycle of violent crime that is out plaguing our communities. We, as responsible free people, can never tolerate such dangerous criminals in our society. The Mississippi Highway Patrol did an excellent job with this case. We’ve grown to expect continual investigative professionalism from the ATF and this case is another fine example of their work.”
“In our effort to disrupt violent gun crime in our community, ATF will continue to focus efforts on long-time criminals who illegally traffic firearms,” said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. “The jury’s guilty verdict today sends a message to convicted felons who are prohibited from trafficking firearms that we will continue to work to keep our neighborhoods safe as the top priority for ATF.”
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the Mississippi Highway Patrol and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. The Fort Bragg, California Police Department provided further support in the prosecution.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie Addison and Chad Doleac.
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.
Monday 13 July 2026
Wyoming Law Enforcement Leaders Unite to Combat Drug Abuse and Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
CHEYENNE Wyo.—The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Wyoming joined the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (RMHIDTA) program, the Laramie County Sheriff's Office today to highlight their coordinated efforts to combat drug trafficking, reduce overdose deaths, and hold criminals responsible for distributing dangerous drugs.
During a joint briefing, officials discussed the latest trends impacting Wyoming, including the continued threat posed by fentanyl and cartel-connected drug trafficking organizations. They emphasized that while overdose deaths have declined in recent years, fentanyl remains the deadliest drug threat facing the nation, and law enforcement agencies continue to see increasing seizures of illicit fentanyl and other dangerous narcotics across the state.
Officials highlighted the collaborative work underway to identify and dismantle drug trafficking organizations operating in Wyoming. Through intelligence sharing, joint investigations, highway interdiction efforts, and coordinated federal prosecutions, law enforcement agencies are disrupting the criminal networks responsible for distributing fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin throughout the region.
The briefing also underscored the importance of partnerships between law enforcement and public health agencies to reduce substance abuse and prevent overdose deaths. Officials warned that counterfeit pills continue to claim lives across the country and urged the public to never take medication that was not prescribed by a licensed medical provider and dispensed by a legitimate pharmacy.
"Protecting Wyoming communities requires a unified approach," said U.S. Attorney Darin Smith. "By working together across all levels of government, we are disrupting criminal organizations, removing deadly drugs from our streets, and saving lives through prevention, enforcement, and accountability."
Fentanyl remains the deadliest drug threat facing our country, said Special Agent in Charge David Olesky with the DEA. “Nearly all the fentanyl in the United States comes from Mexico, and most of it is trafficked by the Sinaloa and Jalisco Cartels. Interstates 25 and 70 remain transportation routes for cartel-led smuggling.”
The Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak said, "We value our law enforcement partners. It takes all of us together to investigate these crimes and hold the offenders accountable. We have a zero-tolerance policy for drug offenses in Laramie County, resulting in 186 drug arrests made by our deputies so far this year."
Training Manager Jeremy Wicht from RMHIDTA stated, “The close working partnership between the state’s public safety and health agencies will continue to be integral in addressing the most dangerous drug trafficking endangering Wyoming communities.”
This press conference was held to enforce 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 Project Safe Neighborhoods.
DEA’s Fentanyl Free America initiative integrates enforcement with prevention and public awareness to address both the supply and demand side of the crisis. The integrated approach to Fentanyl Free America reflects how DEA is adapting to the current threat environment by combining operational pressure with prevention to achieve lasting results. Information and free resources are available on DEA.gov.
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Image Caption:
(From Left to Right) Laramie County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) Deputy Wilthanger, LCSO K9 Dak, Sheriff Brian Kozak, LCSO; Darin Smith, United States Attorney for the District of Wyoming, Dave Olesky, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Jeremy Wicht, Training Manager, Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) spoke at a press conference to combat drug abuse and drug trafficking in Wyoming.
United States Reaches $4.17 Million Civil Settlement and Three-Year Compliance Agreement with West Virginia University Health System over Controlled Substance ViolationsRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA — The United States Attorney’s Offices for the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia announced today that West Virginia United Health System, Inc., doing business as West Virginia University Health System (WVUHS), has agreed to pay $4,177,139 and enter a Memorandum of Agreement to resolve civil allegations that it violated multiple provisions of the Controlled Substances Act across various registered facilities over a seven-year span.
Pursuant to a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigation, the United States identified that WVUHS committed numerous recordkeeping and reporting violations between 2017 and 2024. WVUHS facilities failed to notify the DEA regarding thefts or significant losses of controlled substances. In addition to these failures to report, other violations included errors in orders regarding controlled substances; failures to maintain accurate and current inventory records; failures to ensure proper authority for use of DEA order forms; maintaining policies and procedures not fully consistent with the requirements of the Controlled Substance Act; and other administrative violations.
“The DEA Diversion Investigators who worked this matter should be commended for uncovering failures that put controlled substances at risk of diversion, and their work has undoubtedly made West Virginia a safer place,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Prezioso. “When a healthcare system controls large quantities of addictive medications, strict compliance with the Controlled Substances Act is necessary to protect the public. This settlement, along with the corresponding Memorandum of Agreement, demands accountability and mandates meaningful reform across WVUHS.”
In addition to the civil monetary settlement, WVUHS has signed a comprehensive, three‑year Memorandum of Agreement with the DEA. The Memorandum of Agreement imposes detailed systemwide compliance requirements, including additional diversion oversight; rapid reporting of thefts or losses; installing hundreds of security cameras at controlled substance storage sites; enhancing training and auditing procedures; and other policy improvements to detect, investigate, and prevent diversion.
“Hospital systems stockpile controlled medications with a high potential for abuse, so it’s imperative that they safeguard those drugs and maintain accurate records to prevent diversion,” said Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott, head of DEA’s Louisville Field Division. “The multi-million dollar fine levied against the WVUHS in this case reflects the serious nature of their failure to meet their obligations in accordance with the Controlled Substances Act.”
This case was litigated on behalf of the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Prezioso, Jordan V. Palmer, and Stephanie K. Savino, from the Northern District of West Virginia, and Greg Neil of the Southern District of West Virginia. It is also the result of tireless efforts by DEA Diversion Investigators.
For questions about the settlement or the terms of the MOA, please contact the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia.
Read the settlement agreement below.
final_wvuhs_settlement_agreement_.pdfU.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle Visits TSA Officials at RDURead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle and his team recently visited the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials at Raleigh–Durham International Airport for an inside look at the vital work TSA performs to keep travel safe and moving efficiently. TSA plays a crucial role in protecting the nation’s transportation systems—not only for millions of daily air travelers, but across rail, maritime, pipelines, highways, and the broader supply chain. During the visit, both agencies reaffirmed their strong partnership, working side‑by‑side by maintaining a coordinated, united approach to keeping the transportation system secure.Two sentenced to federal prison in Eastern District of Texas cocaine trafficking conspiracyRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – Two individuals were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Jonathan Guerra, 30, of Irving, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on July 10, 2026.
Laura Loera-Flores, 38, of Mexico, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison by Judge Jordan.
According to information presented in court, Guerra and Loera-Flores were involved in a conspiracy with others to traffic more than five kilograms of cocaine from Mexico into the Eastern District of Texas and beyond. Loera-Flores played an integral role in the conspiracy and was responsible for driving her vehicle loaded with hidden drug proceeds from the United States into Mexico so that Mexican drug traffickers could receive the profits from the illegal drug trade. Loera-Flores was found with ten bundles totaling $198,902 in cash on one trip. She made multiple trips between Mexico and the United States during the conspiracy.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lesley Brooks.
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TransDigm Abandons Proposed Acquisition of Stellant Systems in Response to Justice Department’s Decision to Block TransactionRead the Press Release
TransDigm Group has abandoned its attempt to acquire rival defense and industrial component manufacturer Stellant Systems. TransDigm and Stellant compete, in addition to industrial products, to supply and repair components used in radar systems for the U.S. Navy’s Aegis Combat System and the U.S. Air Force’s F-16 fighter jets. The acquisition would have left the Department of War with a single source for critical products, increasing supply chain risks and removing the benefits of competition.
TransDigm abandoned the transaction after the Justice Department informed the parties that it would file a lawsuit in federal court to block the transaction.
“This Justice Department will rigorously investigate and challenge mergers that create monopolies and harm competition. Our decision to put a stop to this deal preserved critical competition that protects American taxpayers and warfighters,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. “We are grateful to our War Department partners who were crucial to this investigation.”
“The Department of War is committed to building the Arsenal of Freedom, which requires resilient supply chains and competition,” said Michael P. Duffey, Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment. “Maintaining a robust, diverse, and competitive defense industrial base is vital to preventing single-source vulnerabilities and ensuring our warfighters are equipped with superior capabilities at the best value to the American taxpayer.”
TransDigm Group Incorporated is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. Stellant Systems Inc. is headquartered in Torrance, California.
Tallahassee Armed Drug Trafficker Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Landon Dashawn Wilson, 28, of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute marijuana, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking offense. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Our citizens deserve to live in safe, drug-free communities, and my office will do everything in its power to deliver on that promise with aggressive prosecutions of armed drug dealers, like this defendant. Operation Take Back America was launched under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to eradicate the scourge of drug traffickers from our streets, and that’s exactly what my office will do.”
Court documents reflect that the Tallahassee Police Department responded to a call regarding a possible burglary or assault at an apartment. Witnesses reported the defendant attempted to enter an apartment without permission of the residents, and had a bookbag containing a firearm. After the defendant was located nearby, and identified by the witnesses, the bookbag was searched. Law enforcement recovered a jar containing approximately 113 grams of marijuana, 81 baggies, and a loaded “AR”-type pistol.
The defendant was prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions for burglary, drug possession, and firearm offenses.
The defendant faces up to 5 years’ imprisonment on the possession with intent to distribute marijuana count; up to 5 years’ imprisonment on the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon count; and not less than 5 years’ imprisonment on the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense count consecutive to other sentences imposed.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tallahassee Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Eric K. Mountin and James A. McCain.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 25, 2026, at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Federal Prison for Threatening to Kill Multiple Public OfficialsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for making a true threat to kill multiple public officials, including President Donald J. Trump, the 47th and 45th President of the United States.
On Oct. 21, 2025, TRENT SCHNEIDER posted a video of himself on Instagram in which he stated, “People like me have suffered real [expletive] crimes from [expletive] judges, doctors, lawyers, police. They all should be killed. All of them should be executed for what they’ve done . . . I’m going to get some guns. I know where I can get a lot of [expletive] guns and I am going to take care of business myself. I’m tired of all you [expletive] frauds. People need to [expletive] die and people are going to die. [Expletive] all of you, especially you Trump. You should be executed.”
On the same day, Schneider appeared at the Lake County, Ill. courthouse and told the judge presiding over Schneider’s pending foreclosure case that he would burn the courthouse down.
A federal jury in Chicago earlier this year convicted Schneider, 58, of Winthrop Harbor, Ill., of making a true threat in interstate commerce to injure a person. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman sentenced Schneider to three years and two months in federal prison.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Jim Morley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Chicago Field Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lake County, Ill. Sheriff’s Office and the Winthrop Harbor, Ill. Police Department. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hanna Helwig and Paige Nutini.
“As I have repeatedly stated since becoming U.S. Attorney, threats against public officials are an attack on our democracy and must be met with swift and serious consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office is working in lockstep with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to vigorously investigate and prosecute criminal threats of violence, including political violence. Those who cross the line into such conduct and activity will not find safe haven in the Northern District of Illinois.”
“Safeguarding the President of the United States and all our protectees is the U.S. Secret Service’s top priority, as this case demonstrates,” said Acting SAIC Morley. “Political violence has no place in civil society, and we will vigorously pursue threats against our protectees. I commend the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois for its diligent prosecution in this important case. I also thank our law enforcement partners at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the Winthrop Harbor Police Department for their support and collaboration throughout this investigation.”
Stockton, California Man Found Guilty after Federal Jury Trial of Conspiring to Distribute Huge Quantities of Methamphetamine in South DakotaRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a jury has convicted John Odom Harris, Jr., age 41, of Stockton, California of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine following a 4-day jury trial in federal district court in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on July 10, 2026.
The charge carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life imprisonment, a $10 million dollar fine and at least five years up to life supervised release.
Harris was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2024.
Harris was responsible for distributing over 100 pounds of methamphetamine to a co-conspirator who then distributed the methamphetamine to others in South Dakota from early 2023 to early 2024. Harris sent methamphetamine to South Dakota through the mail. He also provided it to his co-conspirator in California, who then transported the drugs to South Dakota in cars and on trains. Four other conspirators from the same drug trafficking organization have been convicted in federal court to date. Harris’s co-conspirator, Marquez McGee, was caught in possession of 42 pounds of methamphetamine in January 2024. After pleading guilty, McGee was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison in December of that year.
“Methamphetamine dealers seeking to distribute their poisonous product would be wise to cross off South Dakota from their list,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons.
This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered. Sentencing will be set for a later date. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Stockton and Modesto Men Indicted in Separate Felon in Possession Firearm CasesRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announces the separate indictments of a Stockton man and a Modesto man that highlight the Office’s commitment to prosecuting felons who unlawfully possess firearms and to reducing gun violence in the Eastern District of California.
Man with prior manslaughter conviction charged for illegal firearm possession
George Onesavanh, 43, of Stockton, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on April 27, 2026, Onesavanh was found in possession of a gun in Stockton. Onesavanh is prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions that include voluntary manslaughter and carrying a concealed weapon.
The Stockton Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation.
Multiple Instagram posts lead to arrest
Samian Sivansay, 27, of Modesto, was charged with being a felon in possession of firearms after posting photos and videos of guns on Instagram on June 14 and 16, 2026. According to court documents, law enforcement tracked Sivansay’s vehicle from Arizona to California, attempted a traffic stop, and briefly pursued him in a high‑speed chase before ending the pursuit for safety reasons. Soon after, officers found the vehicle abandoned and recovered nine firearms inside, many matching those shown on Sivansay’s Instagram. Sivansay is prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions that include robbery with a firearm and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Stockton Police Department, the Stanislaus County Sheriff, and the California Highway Patrol conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole M. Vanek is prosecuting both cases.
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
St. Petersburg Sexual Offender Sentenced to 11 Years for Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Nathaniel McAlpine (48, St. Petersburg) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian Miller to 11 years in federal prison for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. McAlpine was found guilty by a jury on September 24, 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, McAlpine, while on supervised release for possession of child pornography, engaged in conversations with the purported mother of a child wherein he coerced, encouraged and persuaded the purported mother to engage in sexual activity with her child. Through investigation, agents determined the purported mother to actually be an online scammer.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry.
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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Sioux City Man Found Guilty of Multiple Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
Jonathan Seff, age 50, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted by a jury on July 9, 2026, after a three-day trial in federal court in Sioux City. Seff was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, distribution of methamphetamine near a protected location (an elementary school), and two-counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, methamphetamine and fentanyl. The verdict was returned following about three hours of jury deliberations.
Seff was previously convicted in the Northern District of Iowa of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine that contained five grams or more of actual (pure) methamphetamine.
Evidence presented to the jury in this case revealed from at least April 1, 2025, to January 7, 2026, Seff was obtaining and distributing methamphetamine. Seff was obtaining illegal drugs from the dark web that he purchased using cryptocurrency. On October 9, 2025, Seff distributed more than 5 grams of pure methamphetamine to another person within 1,000 feet of a school in Sioux City.
On October 13, 2025, Seff was arrested for operating while under the influence after hitting a legally parked car on a Sioux City street and flipping his own car. Law enforcement officers recovered over 800 counterfeit oxycodone tablets containing fentanyl, more than $4,000 cash, a digital scale with methamphetamine on it, several baggies, and MDMA from Seff’s car.
On January 7, 2026, the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Department responded to a home in Spirit Lake for individuals trespassing in an unoccupied home. Seff had contacted an individual on a recorded jail call and sent them to the home that he had been staying at to “clean up,” directing them to specific locations within the home. Law enforcement officers located more than ten grams of methamphetamine, a digital scale, baggies, fentanyl, and MDMA in the house.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Seff remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Seff faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, an $8,000,000 fine, and 8 years to life on supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department, the Dickinson County, Iowa, Sheriff’s Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-04071.
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Sex offender who failed to register and absconded from community supervision sentenced for illegal gun possessionRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 40-year-old Seattle man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 37 months in prison for illegally possessing a loaded “ghost gun,” announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Raymond Lawrence Massey was convicted in Clark County, Washington in 2011 of assault with sexual motivation. After serving more than seven years in state custody, he absconded from community supervision and failed to register in King County as a sex offender. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Kymberly K. Evanson said, “illegally possessing a firearm is a serious offense.”
According to records filed in the case, Massey was convicted of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old while claiming to be armed with a firearm. He was sentenced to 81 months to life in prison and was required to register as a sex offender. Instead, Massey left the area where he was on community corrections and moved to the Seattle area. He did not register as a sex offender. When Department of Corrections officers located him, he had a polymer 9 mm firearm, loaded with a red dot sight on the barrel. The gun was privately manufactured – known as a “ghost gun” as it lacks a serial number which can be traced by law enforcement.
In asking for a guidelines sentence, Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson wrote to the court, “Once located, the defendant ran from officers and refused commands to comply with arrest. Once caught, the defendant alerted officers to the fact that he was armed with a non-serialized handgun with an extended capacity magazine and a red dot optic designed to assist with precision aiming. The fact that the defendant committed this offense while on supervision is problematic in and of itself. Further troubling, the defendant had then twice escaped from Department of Corrections supervision for a crime of sexual violence, was not compliant with sex offender registration, was living amongst citizens unaware of the risk he posed to their safety.”
Massey will be on three years of federal supervised release following his prison term. He is required to register as a sex offender. Judge Evanson noted that Massey will have the benefit of supervision in the federal system saying, “Our probation officers are extraordinary and want you to succeed” in a crime-free life.
The case was investigated by the Washington State Department of Corrections, the Seattle Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson.
Savannah man sentenced to nearly 10 years in federal prison on drug and gun chargesRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, Georgia: A Savannah man has been sentenced to prison in federal court following a plea agreement for firearm- and drug-related crimes.
The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa G. Wood and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
Jamel Adams, 42, of Savannah, was sentenced to 116 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Fentanyl. Court documents and testimony show that in December 2024, Savannah Police initiated a traffic stop of Adams when he attempted to flee on foot. After being apprehended, a search of Adams’s vehicle led to the discovery of 20 grams of methamphetamine and 31 grams of fentanyl.
Adams also pled guilty to Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. During the same encounter, Savannah Police found a Springfield XD5, .45 caliber pistol in Adams’s vehicle.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“This sentence reflects the serious consequences for those who choose to threaten the safety and well-being of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Our office, together with our law enforcement partners, remains committed to aggressively prosecuting offenders who endanger the public and holding them accountable under federal law.”
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Savannah Police Department and was prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys L. Alexander Hamner and Makeia R. Jonese.
Rockford Man Sentenced to More Than Six and a Half Years in Federal Prison for Robbing a United States Post Office with a FirearmRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A man has been sentenced to more than six and a half years in federal prison for robbing a United States Post Office in Rockford last year.
On May 27, 2025, ANTHONY JOHNSON walked approximately one block from his residence in Rockford to the Post Office, where he reached for a firearm in his waistband and told the clerk to give him all the money in the cash register. After stealing approximately $219, Johnson ran back to his residence, crossing private backyards on his way.
Johnson, 59, of Rockford, pleaded guilty in March 2026 to one count of robbing money from the United States. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston sentenced Johnson to six years and eight months in federal prison and ordered him to pay full restitution to the U.S. Postal Service.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Nicholas Bucciarelli, Inspector in Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The Rockford Police Department assisted in the investigation. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Kim.
“Robbing a Post Office with a gun is a violent offense that places innocent human lives in immediate, terrifying danger,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “The U.S. Postal Service serves a critically important government function, and its employees must be allowed to perform their duties for the American people safely and securely. Under my leadership, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prioritize cases that involve threats, violence, and intimidation against federal officials. The federal law enforcement apparatus in Chicago will pursue, apprehend, and convict those who choose to compromise the safety of our public servants.”
“The safety of our postal employees and postal infrastructure is paramount,” said USPIS Inspector in Charge Bucciarelli. “Letter carriers, clerks, and other postal employees serve our communities, and violence against them affects us all. This conviction serves as a warning that targeting the U.S. Postal Service will result in federal law enforcement relentlessly pursuing those responsible until they are brought to justice. We thank the Rockford Police Department and the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office for their dedication and partnership in securing this conviction.”
Rochester man going to prison for trafficking gunsRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.–U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Todd L. Addison, 38, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted firearms trafficking, was sentenced to serve 87 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Meredith A. Vacca.
On multiple occasions between March 2025 and August 27, 2025, Addison purchased as many as seven firearms, including one with an obliterated serial number, from Federal Firearms Licensees in Pennsylvania, transported them to New York, and sold them illegally to individuals in Rochester. Addison knew that at least one of the persons he sold the firearms to was a felon who intended to dispose of the firearm unlawfully.
On August 27, 2025, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Rochester Police Department Violent Crime Task Force executed federal search warrants at Addison’s Hudson Avenue residence and on a vehicle that he used to travel to and from Pennsylvania. During the search of the vehicle, law enforcement recovered a 9mm semi-automatic pistol, 56 rounds of ammunition, and pistol magazines. During the search of Addison’s residence, they found empty pistol boxes for various firearms, multiple black pistol holders, and a gun cleaning kit.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Marangola. The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan DiGirolamo, and the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith.
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Rochester man charged with threatening President Trump’s son, Donald Trump. Jr.Read the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.–U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that James Gerald Eckert, Jr., 39, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with threats to kill, kidnap, or inflict bodily harm upon a member of the immediate family of the President, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
According to the criminal complaint, on June 18, 2026, a member of the U.S. Secret Service on duty at the residence of President Donald Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., was alerted that several threats were made against Trump Jr. The threats, made in the group chat feed of Trump Jr.’s podcast “Triggered with Donald Trump Jr., included: “im going to kill you, (expletive), I am going to kill this (expletive) on the screen.” The threats were posted by an account with the username JamesGeraldEckertJr/@JamesGeraldEckertJr.
While viewing the podcast on the online video platform Rumble, JamesGeraldEckertJr/@JamesGeraldEckertJr was also streaming himself on Rumble. Eckert, Jr. repeats, both verbally, as well as by posts in the live chat, similar threats against Trump Jr. as well as the CEO of Rumble, for most of the duration of an approximately eight-minute video. The threats included, “your (expletive) dead, its over guys” and “I'm going to go to YouTube and be calm and I’m still going to (expletive) kill Trump Junior. We’re going to get to World Peace. (Expletive) die guy. Try to get out of this surviving. (Expletive) you forever. (Expletive) you forever.”
On June 7, 2026, prior to the threats made against Donald Trump Jr., Eckert, Jr. posted a message on the Facebook account of “James Gerald Eckert Jr.” stating: “Mayor Malik Evans, I am coming for your family. Seriously, you will lose them to me personally. Stand by. This will not go away until you are dead or [REDACTED] is behind bars. Deal with this.” On June 11, 2026, the same Facebook account made a threatening post against New York State Senator Samra Brook, on the senator’s official Facebook page. The comment stated: “You are going to die.”
Eckert made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen and was held pending a detention hearing on July 20, 2026.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Louis A. Testani. The complaint the result of an investigation by the United States Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Charles T. Perras and the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Repeat Offender Sentenced to Prison for Armed Drug DistributionRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – A South Georgia resident with three prior felony convictions for drug distribution was sentenced to serve 12 years in prison for armed drug distribution.
Quentin Hall, 30, of Valdosta, was sentenced to serve 204 months in prison to be followed by six years of supervised release by Senior U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands on July 8, after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of possession of a firearm in the furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on April 8. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Repeat offenders with guns will face long prison sentences without parole for continuing to endanger others and breaking the law,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “Our office is committed to working closely with our law enforcement partners to ensure career criminals are held fully accountable.”
“This case highlights the critical need for collaboration among law enforcement agencies. Together, we are dedicated to safeguarding our communities and ensuring that those who threaten public safety are brought to justice,” said ATF Atlanta’s Resident Agent in Charge Robert Davis.
According to court documents and statements referenced in court, Hall was pulled over for a traffic violation on Nov. 26, 2024, on 7th Avenue in Moultrie, and didn’t immediately pull over, but instead continued driving and entered the Art Center Apartments. While the car he was driving was still moving, Hall jumped out and ran away holding a bookbag.
A Moultrie Police Department officer chased after Hall; Hall threw his bookbag as he ran, then lost his balance and fell to the ground. Hall ignored the officer's verbal commands to lie on the ground and not move, but pulled out a handgun, pointed it at the officer, and said to “go on” before he turned and ran. The chase continued, with Hall again falling and dropping the gun before picking it up and continuing to run. He ran behind a stairway and eventually surrendered to officers.
Law enforcement retrieved the firearm that Hall had pointed at the police officer, which had a round in the chamber. Inside Hall’s backpack, officers found several small baggies containing cocaine and other drugs. Later, Hall admitted to officers that the drugs belonged to him and that the gun was not his, but a family member’s. He said he blacked out when he pointed the gun at the officer. Hall told officers that he was on parole and had been out of prison for 16 months.
Hall has three prior drug distribution state convictions, two in Colquitt County, Georgia, and one in Bulloch County, Georgia. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The Moultrie Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tamara Jarrett and Monica Daniels prosecuted the case for the Government.
Philippine National Pleads Guilty to Knowingly Bringing Nearly 200 Kilograms of Cocaine on El Segundo-Bound Oil TankerRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Philippine national pleaded guilty today to knowingly bringing nearly 200 kilograms of cocaine on an oil tanker inbound from Ecuador to El Segundo earlier this year.
Ceasar Tubay Gelacio, Jr., 43, of The Philippines, pleaded guilty to one count of knowingly bringing cocaine on a vessel arriving in the United States. He has been in federal custody since May 21.
According to his plea agreement, in May 2026, Gelacio was an able-bodied seaman on the Aquatravesia, an oil tanker that was scheduled to arrive in El Segundo. While at port in Ecuador, Gelacio agreed with an unknown person using the moniker “Luis” to possess and conceal more than five kilograms (11 pounds) on the vessel.
Gelacio concealed approximately 195 kilograms (430 pounds) of cocaine in the vessel’s garbage space and in his room aboard the vessel.
On May 21, 2026, the Aquatravesia traveled near the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. When it arrived in U.S. territory, Gelacio knew the cocaine remained on the vessel.
On that day, law enforcement recovered approximately 195 kilograms of cocaine concealed in trash bags in the vessel’s garbage space area. According to court documents, the vessel’s crew had discovered the cocaine and alerted the ship’s captain, who later discovered Gelacio possessed the drugs. The captain then secured the cocaine and notified law enforcement.
United States District Judge Stephen V. Wilson scheduled an October 19 sentencing hearing, at which time Gelacio will face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Coast Guard are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Monika L. Hara and Kyle W. Kahan of the General Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.
Pair convicted for scheme to defraud seriously ill veterans by calling medical facilities to steal personal informationRead the Press Release
Seattle – A former King County Jail inmate and his accomplice were convicted today in U.S. District Court in Seattle for their scheme to target seriously ill veterans for fraud, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. 47-year-old Darryl Lamont Young was convicted of all 14 counts in the indictment while his co-defendant, 29-year-old Aqeelah Ngiesha Williams, was convicted of 12 counts. The jury deliberated about six hours following a four-day trial. Both defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit aggravated identity theft. Both were convicted of six counts of aggravated identity theft. Young was convicted of six counts of wire fraud and Williams was convicted of four counts of wire fraud. Young remains in custody while Williams remains on bond. U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead has not yet scheduled a sentencing date.
According to the records in the case and testimony at trial, Young, while incarcerated, used the jail phone system to place calls to the local Veterans Affairs medical center. These calls were free and the local VA medical center did not receive the jail’s announcement that the call was from an inmate. Impersonating a VA employee, Young would then ask to be transferred to out-of-state medical facilities. Because the local VA transferred the call, the out-of-state medical center did not know that the call was from an inmate. Once connected to the out-of-state medical center, Young posed as a VA employee — “Jason in bed control” or “Travis” in “patient registration”—who needed information about the patients currently in the Intensive Care Unit, including their names and the names and phone numbers of their emergency contact person. Having served in the military, Young had some understanding of VA hospital operations.
Once Young had information about a seriously ill veteran, he would call Williams who placed a three-way call to the veteran or the veteran’s emergency contact. Young would pretend to be a VA employee who needed the veteran’s credit or debit card information to deposit COVID stimulus benefits into the veteran’s bank account. Once Young and Williams had the veterans’ card information, they used it to deposit funds into Young’s commissary and jail call accounts.
Young and Williams targeted more than 30 VA and non-VA medical facilities and targeted more than 60 victims. They attempted 130 fraudulent transactions on victim accounts and obtained about $8,300 from the scheme.
In closing argument Assistant U.S. Attorney Sok Tea Jiang told the jury “This was a shared plan, a shared purpose, a shared role—using fraud to steal from vulnerable victims. These defendants forced their way into the hospital through the phone lines with lies and deception.”
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud are each punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Aggravated identity theft is punishable by two years in prison to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed in the case.
The case is being investigated by the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General. (VA-OIG) and the United States Secret Service (USSS).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Yunah Chung and Sok Tea Jiang.
Oklahoma City Felon Sentenced to Twelve Years in Federal Prison after Pointing a Firearm at Three People Inside VehicleRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – STEVEN CHARLES GIVENS, 52, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 144 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm after a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public records, on September 28, 2025, officers with the Oklahoma City Police Department responded to a residence after receiving reports that a man was pointing a firearm at a vehicle. Officers observed the suspect, later identified as Givens, standing outside a pickup truck. Witnesses reported to officers that three individuals inside the truck attempted to leave the parking lot, but Givens blocked their path with his vehicle before pointing a firearm at them for more than eight minutes while threatening to kill them. Officers then arrested Givens and recovered a firearm.
Court records also reflect that on October 10, 2025, after Givens had been arrested, he attempted to pressure and influence a witness to stop cooperating with law enforcement.
On November 4, 2025, a federal grand jury charged Givens with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Givens pleaded guilty on January 6, 2026, and admitted he possessed a firearm despite his previous felony convictions.
At a sentencing hearing on July 9, 2026, U.S. District Judge Jodi W. Dishman sentenced Givens to serve 144 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing her sentence, Judge Dishman noted the dangerous behavior of the defendant, the need to protect the public, the need for significant deterrence, and the defendant’s significant criminal history. Public records reflect that Givens has previous felony convictions in Oklahoma County District Court that include:
- second degree burglary and concealing stolen property in case number CF-1992-3265;
- robbery by force in case number CF-1992-5666;
- possession of a controlled dangerous substance in case number CF-2001-560; and
- assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in case number CF-2005-5984.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oklahoma City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary E. Walters prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (OTBA), 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. This case is also part of “Operation 922,” the Western District of Oklahoma’s implementation of OTBA, which prioritizes prosecution of federal crimes connected to domestic violence.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Ohio Woman and Two Sons Charged with Conspiracy to Defraud the IRS and Pandemic-era Programs of More Than $5MRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – Three Lorain County residents, a mother and her adult sons, have been charged with conspiring for more than five years to defraud the IRS and several taxpayer-funded programs established to assist small business owners during the pandemic.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Junera Holt Sr., 55, and her sons, Divante Holt, 32, and Richard Henry, 35, with:
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
- Aiding and Assisting in the Preparation of False Tax Returns
- Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud, Wire Fraud, and Bank Fraud
Additionally, Junera Holt was charged with:
- Filing a False Tax Return
- Aggravated Identity Theft
- Bank Fraud
Henry was additionally charged with:
- Bank Fraud
- Engaging in Monetary Transactions in Criminally Derived Property
According to allegations contained in court documents, defendants orchestrated two conspiracies to submit fraudulent applications and claims in efforts to seek more than $5 million in government funds. These methods included obtaining both tax refunds and COVID-19 pandemic stimulus funds through identity theft, the use of shell entities, and numerous misstatements.
In the tax fraud conspiracy, between 2019 and 2024, the conspirators are alleged to have filed numerous false claims with the IRS in their own names and in the names of shell entities and identity theft victims. They are alleged to have claimed approximately $1,533,395.
It is also alleged that the defendants engaged in a wide-ranging conspiracy to obtain COVID-19 pandemic stimulus funds, primarily unemployment insurance benefits for those who lost their jobs due to the pandemic. The amount of funds alleged to have been fraudulently sought was approximately $3,273,455.
Additionally, allegations contained in the indictment outline that in 2021 the defendants submitted fraudulent loan applications seeking at least $337,645 in U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for purported small businesses—funds intended to help small businesses to continue to employ their workers during the pandemic.
This investigation was led by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General-Office of Investigations.
Assistant United States Attorneys Stephanie Wojtasik and Erica Barnhill for the Northern District Ohio are leading the prosecution.
The Department of Justice has created the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Ohio Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Jeffrey Allen Jones, also known as “Ben,” 46, of Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced today to seven years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 7, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Jones’ Huntington residence and seized approximately 44 grams of fentanyl, approximately 23 grams of cocaine base, also known as “crack,” and a loaded Glock 23 .40-caliber pistol. As part of his guilty plea, Jones admitted that he possessed the seized controlled substances and intended to distribute them, and that he possessed the firearm to protect himself and the seized drugs.
Jones also admitted to selling fentanyl on four occasions between January 2, 2025, and March 5, 2025, in quantities of approximately 1 gram each time to a confidential informant at the Huntington residence and in exchange for $80.
On December 17, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Huntington motel room, where they arrested Jones and seized approximately 15 grams of crack and 5 grams of fentanyl in his possession.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force and the Huntington Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Finney prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-153.
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Nicaraguan Illegal Alien Sentenced for Illegal Re-Entry of a Deported AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ORLANDO JOSE JARQUIN OROZCO (“JARQUIN”), age 36, a native of Nicaragua, was sentenced on July 9, 2026, by United States District Judge William J. Crain after previously pleading guilty to illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326, announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
JARQUIN was sentenced to forty-two months imprisonment, a fine of $100,000, a three-year term of supervised release, and payment of a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
According to the indictment, JARQUIN reentered the United States after he was previously deported on November 16, 2016. Prior to his deportation, he was convicted of second-degree battery in Jefferson Parish.
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.
United States Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Office of the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration in investigating this matter. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mary Katherine Kaufman.
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New Orleans Man Guilty of Machinegun Possession and Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – RALPH PRICE (“PRICE”), age 28, pleaded guilty on July 9, 2026 before U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, Suboxone, and marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), 841(b)(1)(D), and 841(b)(1)(E); possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i); and possession of a machinegun, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(o) and 924(a)(2), announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, since at least 2024, PRICE had been selling drugs in the New Orleans area. On March 13, 2025, law enforcement officers executed search warrants on PRICE’s vehicle, and an apartment where PRICE was staying. Officers found Suboxone strips inside PRICE’s vehicle, and marijuana and methamphetamine inside the apartment. Near the drugs in the apartment, officers also recovered a Glock Model 19, nine-millimeter caliber pistol equipped with a loaded extended magazine and a machinegun conversion device. The machinegun conversion device transformed PRICE’s semi-automatic handgun into a fully-automatic machinegun.
Casings from PRICE’s machinegun were a ballistic match to casings recovered from a shooting at a gas station on Crowder Boulevard one week earlier. Surveillance footage of the shooting shows PRICE walk towards a man standing near a vehicle, confront him, and then fire at the man several times while retreating across the parking lot.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, PRICE will serve 15 years in prison. The Court took PRICE’s guilty plea but deferred its decision on whether to accept or reject the negotiated plea until sentencing. PRICE also faces a term of supervised release of at least three years up to life. Each count also carries a maximum $250,000 fine and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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.
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New Jersey man arrested for local fentanyl overdoseRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 34-year-old Trenton, New Jersey, resident has been charged with possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance resulting in death.
Authorities have now taken Edgar Guzman into custody at his residence. He will make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tonianne J. Bongiovanni in New Jersey and is expected to appear in Corpus Christi federal court in the near future.
A federal grand jury returned the indictment July 8, 2026, which was unsealed upon his arrest.
The charges allege that on April 18, 2026, law enforcement responded to a call in relation to a cardiac arrest and discovered an unresponsive individual. Emergency personnel arrived on scene and declared the victim to be deceased, noting signs of drug use in the residence and near the body, according to the allegations.
Court records indicate the cause of death was fentanyl toxicity.
Authorities allegedly recovered messages from the victim’s phone and other evidence from the residence. The indictment alleges the victim would order fentanyl from Guzman who would then ship it through the mail to Corpus Christi using flat rate shipping envelopes.
If convicted, Guzman faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years and up to life in federal prison and a possible $1 million maximum fine.
Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Yasmine K. Tucker prosecuted 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.
Nebraska Woman Sentenced to more than 6 Years in Federal Prison for Wire Fraud and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rushville, Nebraska, woman convicted of four counts of Wire Fraud and three counts of Money Laundering. The sentencing took place on June 29, 2026.
Buffy Redfish, age 57, was sentenced to 6 years and 6 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $4,744,415.36 in restitution.
From May 2006 to November 2024, Redfish worked for the Oglala Sioux Tribe’s (OST) Tribal Employment Rights Office (TERO), which enforces the tribal requirement that all employers engaged in business on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation give preference to qualified Native Americans in employment, contracting, and other business or economic development activities. One of Redfish’s duties was to collect TERO fee checks from contractors and transfer them to OST’s revenue department for deposit into the tribe’s general fund. Between November 2017 and May 2024, Redfish and a co-defendant, working together, developed a scheme to defraud OST by diverting TERO fee checks totaling more than $4.7 million belonging to the tribe and depositing the checks into the co-defendant’s bank account. The two then split the embezzled funds between themselves and used the funds for their own personal benefit, including purchasing homes and vehicles. Redfish is a member of the Gila Tribe in Arizona.
“This Administration has made prosecution of government fraud a top priority,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “This substantial prison sentence for stealing millions of dollars from the Oglala Sioux Tribe is another step forward by our office in fulfilling that directive.”
“Together with her co-defendant, Buffy Redfish stole $4.7 million from an Oglala Sioux Tribe program and out of the hands of the people of the Pine Ridge Reservation," said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. "The FBI will take every necessary investigative step to stop fraud and ensure the integrity of public programs. Those entrusted with public and tribal funds must uphold that trust or they face significant prison sentences."
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Redfish was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.