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Monday 13 July 2026
Montgomery Man Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Prison Following Federal Drug and Gun ConvictionsRead the Press Release
Today, United States Attorney Thomas Govan announced that a Montgomery, Alabama man has been sentenced to prison following convictions for methamphetamine distribution and the illegal possession of a firearm.
On July 9, 2026, a United States District Court Judge sentenced 33-year-old Robert Marshall Jr. to 140 months in prison. Following his term of imprisonment, Marshall will serve four years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to his plea agreement and other court records, on February 6, 2023, law enforcement in Montgomery conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Marshall. A search of the vehicle revealed approximately 20 grams of methamphetamine, a digital scale, and a handgun. Marshall has previous felony convictions in Autauga County and is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
On February 25, 2026, Marshall pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Montgomery Police Department investigated the case, which Assistant United States Attorneys Mark E. Andreu and John J. Geer, III prosecuted.
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.
Mobile Man Convicted at Trial for Participating in a Multimillion-Dollar Bank Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A federal jury convicted a Mobile man today for his participation in a multimillion-dollar bank fraud conspiracy involving theft of mail, identity theft, counterfeiting of stolen checks and money orders, and fraudulent financial transactions.
According to court documents and evidence presented at a four-day jury trial, Jacody Deauntae Roberts Williams, 22, participated in a nationwide fraud conspiracy that affected dozens of victims in multiple states between 2018 and 2025. The scheme involved widespread theft of mail, identity theft, counterfeiting of millions of dollars’ worth of stolen checks and money orders, and fraudulent deposits of fictitious financial instruments into numerous bank accounts.
The jury reviewed evidence that on several occasions between 2022 and 2025, Williams and other members of the conspiracy fraudulently opened accounts at banks in Mobile and elsewhere to conduct sham deposits of counterfeit checks and money orders. For example, in October 2022, one of Williams’s coconspirators, Patrick E. Williams, impersonated an identity-theft victim using a fake driver’s license to open a bank account and conduct fraudulent deposits of altered money orders. Similarly, in March 2024, another of Williams’s coconspirators, Shaquan L. Manassa, impersonated other victims, used fake driver’s licenses, and opened a business bank account in the name of a bogus Alabama corporation to conduct fraudulent deposits of counterfeited money orders and checks.
In February 2025, Williams’s coconspirator, Nicholas Jon Neil Robinson, was released from federal prison for a previous COVID-19 loan fraud conviction. The jury reviewed text messages and Instagram messages in which Williams and Robinson coordinated for Williams to fraudulently open a bank account to aid the scheme. On March 25, 2025, Williams and another coconspirator visited a bank branch in Mobile and lied to a teller on account-opening documentation. Williams then gave Robinson his debit card and bank account login information. On March 31, 2025, Robinson fraudulently deposited a $34,000 counterfeited check, altered to be made payable to Williams, into Williams’s account. The bank refused the deposit. The original check had been stolen from the mail. The victim owner of the check testified at trial that the original check had been intended to pay school tuition for a special-needs child.
In April 2025, federal agents executed a search warrant at the home of one of Williams’s coconspirators, Demetrius J. Manassa, in Atlanta, Georgia. During that search, agents seized dozens of counterfeited money orders and checks, including some bearing Williams’s name. Agents also seized piles of stolen mail, several fake driver’s licenses and credit cards, bogus Alabama corporation documents, a loaded firearm, a counterfeiting station, and other evidence of the scheme.
The jury reviewed dozens of incriminating Instagram messages that Williams exchanged with coconspirators. For example, in June 2023, a coconspirator asked Williams, “What type of scams y’all doing,” to which Williams responded, “I gotta tell u in person.” Later, in November 2023, Williams messaged a coconspirator asking to illegally purchase Percocet pills and stating that “the bank closed before we can get the money off this account.” Between January and April 2024, Williams exchanged messages with a coconspirator about defrauding several banks, including Bank of America and Wells Fargo, offered to find banks for the coconspirator to defraud, and discussed purchasing a how-to guide for committing fraud referred to as a “method.” Williams also shared a video of a stolen check being fraudulently “washed,” shared images of himself and others possessing bulk cash, and discussed defrauding several banks with his coconspirators.
Chief United States District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock will sentence Williams in October 2026. Williams faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, a five-year supervised release term, and an obligation to pay any victim restitution to be ordered by the court. The court previously sentenced two of Williams’s coconspirators, Demetrius J. Manassa and Jarrod A. Ross, to 180 months and 84 months in prison, respectively, for their involvement in the scheme. Several other coconspirators are pending sentencing.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The United States Postal Inspection Service, the United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, the United States Secret Service, the Mobile Police Department, and the Jackson Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Roller and Michael Tabarrok are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
Mexican National Previously Twice Removed from the United States and Previously Convicted of Illegal Reentry Indicted Again for Same OffenseRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Hilario Sifuentes-Cordero (42, Mexico) has been charged by federal indictment with illegal reentry into the United States by a previously deported alien. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and subsequent removal from the United States. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the indictment, on June 30, 2026, Sifuentes-Cordero was found to be unlawfully present in the United States after having previously been removed from the United States on May 24, 2007, and November 1, 2008. Sifuentes-Cordero had not applied for or received permission from government authorities to re-enter the United States after his last removal. Sifuentes-Cordero was previously convicted of illegal re-entry on October 15, 2008.
An indictment is only an allegation, and every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Florida Highway Patrol. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier.
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.
Maryland Man Indicted on Domestic Terrorism Charges Against Federal Official and OthersRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced, today, that a Maryland man faces indictment in connection with domestic terrorism charges.
Daniel Amos, 51, of Aberdeen, is charged with three counts of repeatedly making harassing telephone calls and one count of influencing, impeding, or retaliating against a federal official.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Akil Baldwin, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland, and Chief Henry Trabert, Aberdeen Police Department (APD).
According to the indictment, between April 15, 2024, and April 16, 2026, Amos repeatedly made telephone calls, and initiated communication with a telecommunications device, solely to harass Individuals 1, 2, and 3.
Additionally, Amos threatened to assault Individual 3, a federal law enforcement officer working for the Supreme Court of the United States Police Department. Through Amos’s threats, he intended to impede, intimidate, and interfere with Individual 3’s ability to perform his official job duties. Amos also intended to retaliate against Individual 3 for performing his official duties.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.
If convicted, Amos faces a maximum of two years in prison for each count of repeatedly making harassing telephone calls and 10 years for influencing, impeding, or retaliating against a federal official.
Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, Supreme Court of the United States Police Department – Protective Intelligence Unit, HSI, and APD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia McLane, who is prosecuting the federal case, along with Investigator William Nickoles, for his valuable assistance.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.
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Marrero Resident Guilty of Federal Firearm Violations and Mail TheftRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – TREMAINE MYLES (“MYLES”), age 34, a resident of Marrero, pled guilty on July 8, 2026, to a four-count indictment for violations of the Federal Gun Control Act, and theft of mail, announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
Specifically, MYLES pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A; making a false statement to a firearms dealer, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(6) and § 924(a)(1)(A); being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), and theft of mail, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1708. Together, these charges expose him to a mandatory consecutive sentence of up to 2 years for aggravated identity theft; up to 15 years for the felon‑in‑possession charge; up to 5 years for the mail‑theft offense; and up to 5 years for the false‑statement offense. Each count also carries potential supervised‑release terms of up to three years, fines of up to $250,000, and payment of a mandatory $100 special assessment fee per count. Sentencing is scheduled for October 28, 2026.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the United States Postal Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit oversees 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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Marathon County Man Sentenced to 7 ½ Years for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Tyler Briggs, 33, Mosinee, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 7 ½ years in federal prison for possessing methamphetamine intended for distribution. The prison term will be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Briggs pled guilty to this charge on April 23, 2026.
On January 29, 2026, an undercover officer with the Wausau Police Department arranged to buy a small amount of methamphetamine from Briggs outside of a Wausau bar. When Briggs arrived, police arrested him and found over 1.5 pounds of methamphetamine in his backpack. During an interview, Briggs admitted to police that he was a drug dealer.
At Briggs’s sentencing, Judge Conley observed that over the past several years, Briggs had spent more time in jail than out in the community. Judge Conley found that the lengthy sentence was necessary because the large amount of methamphetamine in this case put Briggs in an entirely different category of drug distributor.
The charge against Briggs was the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI’s Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force comprised of agents from the FBI, Wisconsin State Patrol, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Mountain Bay Police Department, Wausau Police Department and Wisconsin National Guard Counter Drug Program. Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. Levins prosecuted the case.
Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Manchester Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Unlawful Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
Manchester Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Unlawful Possession of Firearms
CONCORD – A Manchester man was sentenced today in federal court for the unlawful possession of multiple firearms, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Thomas Young, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Landya B. McCafferty to 28 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. On March 26, 2026, Young pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of firearms.
“The defendant possessed multiple firearms capable of inflicting massive damage and enough ammunition to equip a small militia. Today’s sentence underscores that felons are not legally allowed to possess firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Creegan. “We will continue to work with law enforcement to disarm felons.”
“Getting guns away from people who shouldn’t have them, like Thomas Young, is a critical part of our concerted effort to crush violent crime in this city,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “If you’re in criminal possession of a firearm, the FBI and our partners will be glad to take it off your hands, in exchange for a nice pair of cuffs and time behind bars.”
Young was a convicted felon and unable to legally possess a firearm or ammunition. In September 2023, the FBI learned from a confidential source that Young was a gang member and selling firearms. Young agreed to sell the confidential source a modified AK-47 rifle for $2,200 and gave the confidential source two boxes. The first contained the AK-47, and the second contained magazines and ammunition. Young later tried selling another firearm, a .40 caliber carbine-style gun, to the confidential source for $1,350. In April 2024, law enforcement searched Young’s home and found two shotguns, shotgun shells, a silencer, and almost 500 rounds of ammunition.
The FBI led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen prosecuted the case.
Kanawha County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Robert J. Thomas, 31, of St. Albans, was sentenced today to four years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 27, 2024, Thomas possessed a Glock Model 27 .40-caliber pistol in the Jefferson area of Kanawha County.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Thomas knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance in Putnam County Circuit Court on October 9, 2019.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Gabriel Price and third-year law student intern Jeffrey R. Watkins 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. 2:25-cr-40.
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Justice Department Opens Application Period for Program to Enhance Tribal Access to National Crime Information DatabasesRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice is pleased to announce the opening of the application period for federally recognized Tribes and intertribal consortia to participate in the Tribal Access Program (TAP) for National Crime Information. TAP improves public safety by providing federally recognized Tribes the ability to access and exchange data with national crime information databases for authorized criminal justice and non-criminal justice purposes, including the FBI’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC).
“Making America safe again extends to Indian country and Native American communities across the U.S. who experience high rates of crime and victimization,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “For more than a decade the Department of Justice has offered TAP, an innovative program that enables Tribes to access and share critical crime data in real time with our national databases. With this information Tribal partners can solve crimes, locate fugitives, and use a variety of other tools to keep their communities safe.”
The program provides software, hardware, and training, as well as a web-based application and biometric/biographic kiosk workstations to process fingerprints, take mugshots, and submit information to FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) systems. The Department will accept TAP applications from July 13 to August 31. Tribes selected to participate will be notified in September. There are currently 152 federally recognized Tribes participating in TAP.
Using TAP, Tribes have shared information about missing persons; entered domestic violence orders of protection for nationwide enforcement; registered convicted sex offenders; run criminal histories; located fugitives; entered bookings and convictions; and completed fingerprint-based record checks for non-criminal justice purposes such as screening employees or volunteers who work with children.
“The TAP program has significantly helped the La Jolla Tribal Police Department by strengthening our operational capacity, improving access to critical law enforcement resources, and expanding the training opportunities available to our officers,” said Abraham Chavero, Chief of Police, La Jolla Tribal Police Department. “Through TAP’s support, we have been able to streamline reporting processes, enhance data accuracy, and improve coordination with partnering agencies.”
“The Penobscot Nation Tribal Court has greatly benefited from participating in TAP,” said Rebecca Winter, Penobscot Nation Tribal Court Administrator. “Having direct access to national crime information systems has strengthened public safety efforts within our community. TAP has enabled our Court and law enforcement partners to access important information in real time, helping us better serve our tribal members.”
For Tribes that are considering applying, TAP staff will be conducting informational webinars describing the program and its capabilities. Webinars will be offered throughout July and August. For more information about TAP, including webinar dates, times and access information, visit www.justice.gov/tribal/tribal-access-program-tap.
To qualify for funding, federally recognized Tribes must have – and agree to use TAP for – at least one of the following:
- A Tribal sex offender registry authorized by the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act,
- A Tribal law enforcement agency that has arrest powers,
- A Tribal court that issues orders of protection, or
- A Tribal government agency that screens individuals for foster care placement or that investigates allegations of child abuse/neglect.
TAP is funded by the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking; the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services; the Office for Victims of Crime; and the Office on Violence Against Women. TAP is co-managed by the department’s Office of the Chief Information Officer and Office of Tribal Justice.
Justice Department Opens Application Period for Program to Enhance Tribal Access to National Crime Information DatabasesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice is pleased to announce the opening of the application period for federally recognized Tribes and intertribal consortia to participate in the Tribal Access Program (TAP) for National Crime Information. TAP improves public safety by providing federally recognized Tribes the ability to access and exchange data with national crime information databases for authorized criminal justice and non-criminal justice purposes, including the FBI’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC).
“Making America safe again extends to Indian country and Native American communities across the U.S. who experience high rates of crime and victimization,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “For more than a decade the Department of Justice has offered TAP, an innovative program that enables Tribes to access and share critical crime data in real time with our national databases. With this information Tribal partners can solve crimes, locate fugitives, and use a variety of other tools to keep their communities safe.”
The program provides software, hardware, and training, as well as a web-based application and biometric/biographic kiosk workstations to process fingerprints, take mugshots, and submit information to FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) systems. The Department will accept TAP applications from July 13 to August 31. Tribes selected to participate will be notified in September. There are currently 152 federally recognized Tribes participating in TAP.
Using TAP, Tribes have shared information about missing persons; entered domestic violence orders of protection for nationwide enforcement; registered convicted sex offenders; run criminal histories; located fugitives; entered bookings and convictions; and completed fingerprint-based record checks for non-criminal justice purposes such as screening employees or volunteers who work with children.
“The TAP program has significantly helped the La Jolla Tribal Police Department by strengthening our operational capacity, improving access to critical law enforcement resources, and expanding the training opportunities available to our officers,” said Abraham Chavero, Chief of Police, La Jolla Tribal Police Department. “Through TAP’s support, we have been able to streamline reporting processes, enhance data accuracy, and improve coordination with partnering agencies.”
“The Penobscot Nation Tribal Court has greatly benefited from participating in TAP,” said Rebecca Winter, Penobscot Nation Tribal Court Administrator. “Having direct access to national crime information systems has strengthened public safety efforts within our community. TAP has enabled our Court and law enforcement partners to access important information in real time, helping us better serve our tribal members.”
For Tribes that are considering applying, TAP staff will be conducting informational webinars describing the program and its capabilities. Webinars will be offered throughout July and August. For more information about TAP, including webinar dates, times and access information, visit www.justice.gov/tribal/tribal-access-program-tap.
To qualify for funding, federally recognized Tribes must have – and agree to use TAP for – at least one of the following:
- A Tribal sex offender registry authorized by the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act,
- A Tribal law enforcement agency that has arrest powers,
- A Tribal court that issues orders of protection, or
- A Tribal government agency that screens individuals for foster care placement or that investigates allegations of child abuse/neglect.
TAP is funded by the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking; the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services; the Office for Victims of Crime; and the Office on Violence Against Women. TAP is co-managed by the department’s Office of the Chief Information Officer and Office of Tribal Justice.
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OAG
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If you have questions, please use the contacts in the message or call the Office of Public Affairs at 202-514-2007.
Illegal alien previously convicted of shooting girlfriend’s husband and other crimes sent to federal prisonRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 30-year-old illegal alien from Honduras illegally living in Houston has been sentenced for unlawfully reentering the country.
Nelson Alberto Fajardo pleaded guilty March 10, 2026.
U.S. District Judge Charles Eskridge has now ordered Fajardo to serve 46 months in federal prison. As an illegal alien, he is expected to be once again removed from the United States following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence about his criminal history while illegally present in the country.
Farjardo has multiple prior convictions for burglary, possessing a firearm after a felony conviction, and aggravated assault.
Authorities removed him from the country in 2015, but he illegally returned. In 2022, he shot his girlfriend’s estranged husband at a residence in Houston, ordered to prison, and ultimately charged with felony illegal reentry.
Fajardo has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robin Whitney and Amanda Alum 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 immigrants, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Illegal Alien from Romania Receives Federal Sentence for Role in SNAP Benefits Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – An illegal alien, who is a citizen of Romania, received a federal-prison term, today, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
U.S. District Judge Julie R. Rubin sentenced Florin Serdaru, 29, to 39 months in prison for his role in a Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits fraud conspiracy. Judge Rubin also ordered Serdaru to pay $343,756 in restitution, and a money judgment of $91,873.52.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker, U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG) Northeast Region; Chief Marc R. Yamada, Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD); and Chief Gregory Der, Howard County Police Department (HCPD).
SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, was a federally funded, national program established by the United States to alleviate hunger and malnutrition among lower income families. Each SNAP recipient receives an EBT authorization card that acts as a debit card and which electronically stores personal identifying information and other data concerning the applicant.
According to his plea agreement, Serdaru participated in a conspiracy to defraud the United States and multiple recipients of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) benefits. In 2022, Serdaru and his co-conspirators obtained EBT information from victims throughout the U.S., including in Maryland, California, Kentucky, Tennessee, New York, and other states. They used skimming devices and other means to carry out the conspiracy.
The co-conspirators played various roles in skimming operations, including acquiring skimming equipment, shipping equipment to co-conspirators, and installing or removing the equipment at the point-of-sale terminals at various commercial establishments. They also monitored the activity at the terminals where skimming equipment was installed and duplicated victims’ EBT cards using the information collected from the skimming devices. Co-conspirators then fraudulently purchased large bulk items using cloned EBT cards containing numerous victims’ personal identifying information.
On November 15, 2022, Serdaru, used a debit card, issued under the alias “Florin Florea” to upgrade a Sam’s Club membership plus account in Canton, Ohio. A review of the account revealed that approximately 168 unique EBT cards were used to make purchases using the account from July 2022, until at least June 2023, in Maryland and six other states. The co-conspirators made approximately $175,612.76 in SNAP purchases through the Sam’s Club account. Approximately $12,484.78 of the purchases were made in Maryland, using 14 separate victims’ EBT cards.
Law enforcement learned that an additional Sam’s Club account, in the name of “Alex Stan,” also used the phone number attributed to Serdaru in its account creation. After reviewing the “Alex Stan” Sam’s Club account, law enforcement found that the co-conspirators used approximately 29 unique EBT cards to make purchases from June 2022, until at least July 2022, in Maryland and four other states. The co-conspirators used the account to make approximately $46,439.84 in SNAP purchases. Approximately $43,449.60 of the purchases were made in Maryland, using 28 separate victims’ EBT cards.
Authorities also discovered that in June 2022, Serdaru created a BJ’s Wholesale account in the name of “Alex Stan,” using Serdaru’s home address. After reviewing the “Alex Stan” BJ’s account, authorities found that from June 2022, until at least October 7, 2022, the co-conspirators used approximately 179 unique EBT cards to make purchases on the account in Maryland and seven other states. The co-conspirators used the “Alex Stan” BJ’s account to make approximately $107,541.92 in SNAP purchases, using the EBT cards of 57 separate victims.
Additionally, on multiple occasions, Serdaru personally purchased items in bulk using cloned EBT cards containing the personal identifying information of victims.
Due to the loss of their SNAP benefits, at least 15 victims were unable to obtain food items until after the replenishment of their funds the following month. The total loss attributed to the conspiracy in Maryland is approximately $343,756.
Judge Rubin previously sentenced co-conspirator Fabritio Sardaru, 22, an illegal alien who is a citizen of Romania and Ireland, to two years in prison, and Maria Roza Tomescu, 22, to 28 months in prison, for their roles in the conspiracy.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of 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.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the USDA-OIG, MCPD, and HCPD for their work in the investigation, along with the Maryland Department of Human Services, Office of Inspector General, for their valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot Higgins who prosecuted the case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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Huntington Man Sentenced for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Tavoyn Billy Morrison, 26, of Huntington, was sentenced today to time served and three years of supervised release for distribution of cocaine base, also known as “crack.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 31, 2025, Morrison sold approximately 3 grams of crack to a confidential informant for $200 at a Huntington residence. As part of his guilty plea, Morrison admitted to conducting the transaction and further admitted that he sold approximately 3 grams of crack to a confidential informant for $200 outside of the Huntington residence on August 14, 2025.
Morrison is among seven individuals who pleaded guilty as the result of an investigation targeting the distribution of controlled substances in the Huntington area.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Huntington Police Department, and the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-156.
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Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marrio Adam Kinchen, also known as “Kardi,” 37, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to distribution of a mixture containing methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 2, 2025, Kinchen sold approximately 27 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant at a Huntington address in exchange for $200.
Kinchen is scheduled to be sentenced on October 26, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:26-cr-20.
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Houston man guilty of drug trafficking as part of Homeland Security Task Force investigation in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Houston man has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking violations following a Homeland Security Task Force investigation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Indolfo Hernandez, 36, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine before U.S. Magistrate Judge Zack Hawthorn on July 10, 2026.
According to information presented in court, in January 2024, law enforcement began investigating a drug trafficking organization that was distributing large amounts of methamphetamine throughout Texas and neighboring regions. The organization, based in Houston and operating within the Eastern District of Texas, was led by Hernandez. During the investigation, law enforcement seized more than 16 kilograms of methamphetamine that had been distributed by Hernandez and his coconspirators.
This case is 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 Houston comprises agents and officers from the FBI; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations - Houston (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI); and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas; DEA Beaumont HIDTA Task Force Group D23; Houston Police Department; Liberty County Sheriff’s Office; and Harris County Precinct 2 Constable’s Office with the prosecution being led by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan C. Lee.
Hernandez faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison at sentencing. The actual sentence will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
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Honduran National Charged with Illegally Reentering U.S.Read the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that YOVANI DE JESUS ALVAREZ MURILLO, 42, a citizen of Honduras, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with illegal reentry of a removed alien.
The criminal complaint alleges that Alvarez was first encountered in the U.S. in February 2005 when he was arrested by the New York State Police in Tarrytown, New York, and charged with driving while ability impaired by the consumption of alcohol. In August 2008, Greenwich (Conn.) Police arrested Alvarez, under the name “Geovany Alvares-Murillo,” on a charge of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs/alcohol. In December 2008, Stamford Police arrested Alvarez, under the names “Geovany Alvarez-Murillo” and “Geovany Alvares-Murillo,” for two counts of failure to appear in the second degree. In November 2009, Stamford Police arrested Alvarez, under the name “Geovany Alvares-Murillo,” on a charge of larceny in the third degree. In December 2011, Stamford Police arrested Alvarez, under the name “Geovany Alvares,” on a charge of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs/alcohol. In June 2012, Stamford Police arrested Alvarez, under the name “Geovany Alvares-Murillo,” on a charge of failure to appear in the first degree. In October 2012, Stamford Police arrested Alvarez, under the name Geovany Alvares-Murillo, on a charge of forgery in the second degree. Alvarez was convicted of, and sentenced for, these offenses.
The complaint further alleges that, in October 2012, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) interviewed Alvarez while he was serving a sentence in the custody of Connecticut Department of Correction. During the interview, Alvarez admitted that had illegally entered the U.S. in approximately 2002 by crossing the border from Mexico. Alvarez was removed to Honduras in October 2013.
The complaint further alleges that, Alvarez illegally reentered the U.S. and, in August 2021, under the name “Geovany Alvares-Murillo,” was arrested by Stamford Police on a charge of breach of peace in the second degree. He was convicted of the offense and ordered to pay a $150 fine. In May 2023, Alvarez, under the name “Geovany Alvares Murillo,” was arrested by Stamford Police on a charge of criminal trespass in the third degree. He was convicted of the offense and was ordered to pay a $300 fine.
The complaint further alleges that, in November 2024, Connecticut State Police arrested Alvarez, under the name “Geovanny Alvares,” on a charge of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. In August 2025, Stamford Police arrested Alvarez, also under the name “Geovanny Alvares,” for operating a motor vehicle without an ignition interlock device (breathalyzer). Alvarez was convicted of these offenses on May 14, 2026, in Stamford Superior Court. He served a 60-day state sentence and was transferred to ICE custody today.
Alvarez appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven and was ordered detained.
If convicted of the charge of unlawful reentry, Alvarez faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael S. Deel and Neeraj N. Patel.
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.
Honduran Illegal Alien Sentenced for Illegal Re-Entry of Removed AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – OBLAN ANTONIO CANALES-MARTINEZ (“CANALES-MARTINEZ”), age 51, a native of Honduras, was sentenced on July 9, 2026, after previously pleading guilty to illegal re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to the charging document, the defendant was found in the United States on December 13, 2025, having reentered the United States without authorization from the Attorney General of the United States, after being previously deported on July 18, 2005.
According to court documents, federal agents arrived at an apartment complex in Metairie, Louisiana, and saw a white Toyota Tundra leaving the area. A search of the truck’s license plate revealed its owner to be CANALES-MARTINEZ, a Honduran national previously deported on July 18, 2005. The truck was followed to a Shell station located on Veterans Memorial Boulevard in Metairie, Louisiana. CANALES-MARTINEZ exited the truck and began filling it with gasoline. When the truck was stopped at a gas station, the uniformed federal agents approached CANALES-MARTINEZ. CANALES MARTINEZ then threw coffee in one of the agents’ faces and fled. After chasing and apprehending CANALES–MARTINEZ, the agents arrested him.
CANALES-MARTINEZ was sentenced to time served. He has been in federal custody since December 29, 2025.
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 Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Border Patrol in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. is in charge of the prosecution.
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Honduran Criminal Alien Apprehended in Pensacola Pleads Guilty to Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Osman Edgardo Cubas-Alvarenga, 38, a Honduran illegally present in the United States, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of production of child pornography and one count of illegal reentry of an alien. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “For more than a year, this criminal alien preyed upon and sexually exploited a minor child while he was illegally present in our country. This heartbreaking story underscores the commonsense reason why we must secure our borders and aggressively enforce our nation’s immigration laws: because the safety of our communities depends upon it. I appreciate the incredible investigative work by our state and federal law enforcement partners to help bring this criminal alien to justice, and commit that my office will continue to aggressively prosecute sexual predators, like this defendant, to keep our kids and our communities safe.”
Court documents reflect that between January 2025 and February 2026, the defendant was engaging in a secret “relationship” with a sixteen year old victim in Pensacola. The defendant would communicate with the minor via encrypted social media applications, which included them exchanging sexually explicit material. The defendant video recorded sexual acts with the victim. Law enforcement obtained search warrants to uncover all the digital evidence and arrest the defendant.
The defendant faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years’ imprisonment and up to 30 years’ imprisonment, and a lifetime of supervision upon release as well as registration as a sexual offender. He also faces removal from the United States.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 24, 2026, at 10:00 am, at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Florida Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood and Operation Take Back America. Project Safe Childhood is 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. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
High Museum of Art's Former Chief Operating Officer Pleads Guilty to EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Brady Lum, the former chief operating officer of the High Museum of Art who pilfered more than $600,000 from the museum by doctoring invoices and approving transactions for personal purchases, has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds.
“Over several years, Lum deceptively plundered the southeast’s premier museum of visual art, embezzling more than half a million dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Criminals like Lum who steal from institutions that receive taxpayer money to serve the public will face prison time for their thievery and be compelled to repay their ill-gotten gains.”
“As he admitted in court, Brady Lum breached the trust of his organization and undermined the integrity of the museum,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI remains unwavering in its pursuit to hold accountable those who exploit their positions for selfish purposes.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Lum served as the High Museum of Art’s chief operating officer from January 2, 2019, until his resignation on December 9, 2025. As COO, he was responsible for planning, implementing, managing, and controlling the High Museum’s operational and financial activities.
During his tenure as COO, Lum repeatedly purchased non-business items and services for himself, including luxury guitars and other music equipment, personal music lessons, and woodworking equipment, through direct supplier invoicing and through the High Museum’s corporate credit card reimbursement process. Lum concealed the nature of his transactions in several ways, including by submitting altered invoices, using his position to exercise delegated expense approval authority, and using accounting adjustments to spread his expenses across different cost centers so that they would not be readily identified.
For example, in one instance, on or about November 29, 2024, Lum submitted an altered invoice for reimbursement through the High Museum’s online expense processing platform. While the submitted invoice showed a $9,147.87 purchase of equipment that appeared to be for the museum’s benefit, the original version of the invoice was for a high-end guitar and accessories that Lum kept for himself. Over the course of his scheme, Lum received more than 700 reimbursements, most of which were for less than $1,000, and stole more than $600,000 from the High Museum.
Brady Lum, 59, of Atlanta, Georgia, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Michael L. Brown. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 2, 2026 at 10 a.m. As part of his plea agreement, Lum will pay full restitution to the High Museum.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas N. Joy is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Guatemalan National Previously Removed from the United States Three Times and Previously Convicted of Illegal Reentry is Indicted Again for Same OffenseRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Gaspar Mateo-Morales (41, Guatemala) has been charged by federal indictment with illegal reentry into the United States by a previously deported alien. If convicted, Mateo-Morales faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and subsequent removal from the United States. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the indictment, on June 28, 2026, Mateo-Morales was found to be unlawfully present in the United States after having previously been removed from the United States on February 25, 2011, March 25, 2011, and September 14, 2016. Mateo-Morales had not applied for or received permission from government authorities to re-enter the United States after his last removal. He was previously convicted of illegal re-entry on August 16, 2016.
An indictment is only an allegation, and every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Florida Highway Patrol. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier.
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.
Graduate Student Arrested for Hateful and Threatening Message at San Jose State UniversityRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that Ziheng “Tony” Fang was arrested on a federal charge of false information and hoaxes. Fang made an initial appearance on July 10, in federal court in San Jose, California.
According to the allegations in a criminal complaint and court documents filed on July 9, Fang, 30, of San Jose, California, wrote a hateful and threatening message placed in a plastic cover sheet taped to the bathroom wall of a men’s restroom on the campus of San Jose State University (SJSU). Fang is a graduate student at SJSU, pursuing his Master’s Degree in Data Science.
The message was discovered on Nov. 5, 2025, and began with “!WARNING! MASS BOMB NEXT WEEK,” among other statements, accompanied by multiple swastika symbols. A photograph of this message is below:
Photograph of the message discovered on Nov. 5, 2025Fang’s fingerprint was found on this paper. A second message was also discovered on the wall of the same bathroom at the same time. It read “Kill all Jews, Muslims, Chinks, and Mexicans,” “Mass bombing 11/11 and 11/12 guess.”
As alleged in the complaint, since October 2024, SJSU Police Department personnel have recorded more than 20 instances of hateful and threatening messages written in men’s and gender-neutral restrooms around the SJSU campus. In many instances, these messages included threats specifying a particular date that an attack was allegedly intended to take place and/or weapons and methods that would be used such as bombs, knives, and shooting. The most recent hateful and threatening message was discovered on May 14.
Fang accessed buildings in the days leading up to the discovery of hateful and threatening messages in 16 of the 18 instances where key card access is required, according to the complaint. The next closest number of entries was from a SJSU staff member who worked with facilities and had a reason to be in each building. Surveillance footage also shows Fang entering and exiting the restrooms or restroom areas where some of the messages were written up to a day before their discovery.
According to the complaint, the SJSU President’s Office provided several email/text message alerts to notify students and staff before dates that attacks were allegedly set to take place. When alerts were issued, SJSU professors independently decided whether to cancel class or hold it virtually. University police and the college administration received multiple calls from people worried about coming onto campus because of the threats. Campus buildings on the dates specified in the messages were described as “ghost town,” as described in the complaint.
U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and Special Agent in Charge Scott Schelble of the FBI San Francisco Field Office made the announcement.
Fang is currently in federal custody. Fang is next scheduled to appear in federal court on July 13 for identification of counsel before Chief Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Griswold for the Northern District of California is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Trial Attorney Connor Cheadle of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, with the assistance of the San Jose State University Police Department.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Graduate Student Arrested for Hateful and Threatening Message at San Jose State UniversityRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – The Justice Department announced today that Ziheng “Tony” Fang was arrested on a federal charge of false information and hoaxes. Fang made an initial appearance on July 10, 2026 in federal court in San Jose.
According to the allegations in a criminal complaint and court documents filed on July 9, 2026, Fang, 30, of San Jose, wrote a hateful and threatening message placed in a plastic cover sheet taped to the bathroom wall of a men’s restroom on the campus of San Jose State University (SJSU). Fang is a graduate student at SJSU, pursuing his Master’s Degree in Data Science.
The message was discovered on November 5, 2025, and began with “!WARNING! MASS BOMB NEXT WEEK,” among other statements, accompanied by multiple swastika symbols. A photograph of this message is below:
Fang’s fingerprint was found on this paper. A second message was also discovered on the wall of the same bathroom at the same time. It read “Kill all Jews, Muslims, Chinks, and Mexicans,” “Mass bombing 11/11 and 11/12 guess.”
As alleged in the complaint, since October 2024, SJSU Police Department personnel have recorded more than 20 instances of hateful and threatening messages written in men’s and gender-neutral restrooms around the SJSU campus. In many instances, these messages included threats specifying a particular date that an attack was allegedly intended to take place and/or weapons and methods that would be used such as bombs, knives, and shooting. The most recent hateful and threatening message was discovered on May 14, 2026.
Fang accessed buildings in the days leading up to the discovery of hateful and threatening messages in 16 of the 18 instances where key card access is required, according to the complaint. The next closest number of entries was from a SJSU staff member who worked with facilities and had a reason to be in each building. Surveillance footage also shows FANG entering and exiting the restrooms or restroom areas where some of the messages were written up to a day before their discovery.
According to the complaint, the SJSU President’s Office provided several email/text message alerts to notify students and staff before dates that attacks were allegedly set to take place. When alerts were issued, SJSU professors independently decided whether to cancel class or hold it virtually. University police and the college administration received multiple calls from people worried about coming onto campus because of the threats. Campus buildings on the dates specified in the messages were described as “ghost town,” as described in the complaint.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Scott Schelble made the announcement.
Fang is currently in federal custody. Fang is next scheduled to appear in federal court on July 13, 2026 for identification of counsel before Chief Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins.
A criminal complaint merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Griswold of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Trial Attorney Connor Cheadle of the Civil Rights Division. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, with the assistance of the San Jose State University Police Department.
Frisco furry enthusiast sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for transporting child for sexual exploitationRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – A Frisco man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for transporting a minor for sexual exploitation, announced Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Joseph Ray Robertson, 37, pleaded guilty to transportation of minors and was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Richard Schell on July 13, 2026. Judge Schell also imposed lifetime supervised release on the defendant.
According to information presented in court, in May of 2024, Robertson, a furry enthusiast, transported a minor from Frisco to Atlanta, Georgia for a furry convention. Furry refers to a subculture of enthusiasts of anthropomorphic (human-like) animals in which fans create animal characters with human personalities and traits. Robertson commissioned an elaborate, custom-made costume to further facilitate his furry persona. While at the convention, Robertson sexually abused the child by engaging in acts that would constitute child molestation and sodomy under Georgia State law. Additionally, Robertson purchased sexual stimulants and devices at the convention, and commissioned artwork depicting his furry persona engaged in sex acts with the minor victim.
“This defendant’s actions were depraved and absolutely justify every day of the imposed 20-year sentence,” said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. “Most children’s experiences with people costumed as animals comes in the context of fun encounters in theme parks. This defendant turned a furry costume into a nightmare of sexual abuse. It shocks the conscience that a child was allowed into a convention where adults were dressed up as furry animals and sex devices were being sold. Not one person in that convention contacted the authorities to protect the child. Every child deserves security, dignity, and a community that stands fiercely in their defense. Protecting children is one of our most solemn responsibilities, and we will act ferociously against anyone who threatens their safety.”
This case is 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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the 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.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by FBI and the Frisco Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa Miller.
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Fresno Man Sentenced to 8.5 Years in Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Patrick Kasper, 33, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley to eight years and six months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court records, on March 16, 2022, Kasper failed to yield when law enforcement attempted to pull him over for a traffic stop. Kasper engaged law enforcement in a vehicle pursuit at speeds of over 110 miles per hour. Kasper stopped at a residence and fled inside, leaving on the ground a black Smith & Wesson M&P 40 Shield .40-caliber pistol loaded with seven rounds of .40-caliber Smith & Wesson ammunition. Kasper is a five-time convicted felon for offenses that include possession of a controlled substance for sale, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and domestic violence. Because of these felony convictions, Kasper is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
On April 21, 2025, Kasper pleaded guilty.
The Fresno Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Arelis M. Clemente 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, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Fourteen New Indictments Returned for Immigration Offenses in JuneRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Pensacola and Gainesville – Today, United States Attorney John P. Heekin announced that 14 previously deported illegal aliens have been separately indicted by a federal grand jury for illegal reentry into the United States in the month of June.
According to court records, the 14 illegal aliens indicted in the month of June include:
- Marcelino Mendez-Gomez, 42, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Walton County in May 2026, after previously being deported in 2013 and 2019. Change of plea and sentencing took place on July 8, 2026, at 11:30 am before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers in Pensacola, Florida.
- Adelmo Alvarado-Lopez, 55, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Bay County in May 2026, after previously being deported twice in 2018. Trial is scheduled for July 20, 2026, at 8:30 am before District Court Judge Mark E. Walker in Tallahassee, Florida.
- Salvador Martinez Andrade, 41, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in May 2026, after previously being deported in 2012. Trial is scheduled for August 3, 2026, at 8:00 am before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers in Pensacola, Florida.
- Bernado Perez Bartolon, 46, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Escambia County in May 2026, after previously being deported twice in 2024. Trial is scheduled for August 3, 2026, at 8:00 am before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers in Pensacola, Florida.
- Pedro Flores-Perales, 40, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Walton County in May 2026, after previously being deported seven times: once in 2010; once in 2013; and five times in 2014. Trial is scheduled for August 3, 2026, at 8:00 am before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers in Pensacola, Florida.
- Jonathan Gonzaelz-Resendiz, 35, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Walton County in May 2026, after previously being deported four times in 2012. Trial is scheduled for August 17, 2026, at 8:30 am before District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II in Pensacola, Florida.
- Josue Orlando Medina-Lira, 35, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Escambia County in May 2026, after previously being deported in 2009 and 2023. Trial is scheduled for August 3, 2026, at 8:00 am before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers in Pensacola, Florida.
- Ernesto Perez-Vasquez, 36, of Guatemala, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Escambia County in May 2026, after previously being deported in 2010 and 2014. Trial is scheduled for August 3, 2026, at 8:00 am before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers in Pensacola, Florida.
- Miguel Angel Quiroz-Perez, 53, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in June 2026, after previously being deported twice in 2017. Trial is scheduled for August 17, 2026, at 8:30 am before District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II in Pensacola, Florida.
- Selvin Fernandez Ruis, 33, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in June 2026, after previously being deported in 2023. Trial is scheduled for August 17, 2026, at 8:30 am before District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II in Pensacola, Florida.
- Denis Eduardo Garache Moncada, 33, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Bay County in May 2024 and on or about March 2024, after previously being deported in 2019. Trial is scheduled for August 24, 2026, at 8:30 am before District Court Judge Mark E. Walker in Tallahassee, Florida.
- Hugo Angeles-Cruz, 42, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Bay County in May 2026, after previously being deported in 2016. Trial is scheduled for August 24, 2026, at 8:30 am before District Court Judge Mark E. Walker in Tallahassee, Florida.
- Andres Antonio Mendez, 34, of Guatemala, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Jackson County in June 2026, after previously being deported three times in 2015. Trial is scheduled for August 24, 2026, at 8:30 am before District Court Judge Mark E. Walker in Tallahassee, Florida.
- Ramon Alfredo Solano-Cruz, 36, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Bay County in May 2026, after previously being deported 2012 & 2019. Trial is scheduled for August 24, 2026, at 8:30 am before District Court Judge Mark E. Walker in Tallahassee, Florida.
The penalty for illegally reentering the United States after deportation is a maximum of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Mendez-Gomez faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine pursuant to allegations of prior convictions qualifying for an increased maximum sentence.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The cases involved investigations by Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations with the assistance of the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Pensacola Police Department, and the Lynn Haven Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Meredith L. Steer, Alicia H. Forbes, Jeffrey M. Tharp, Emma Schwann, Walter E. Narramore, Thomas S.P. Geeker, Brooke Lindsay, Joseph A. Ravelo, and Tyler Fleming are prosecuting the cases.
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.
Four Sentenced After Firearms Investigation Following a Million-Dollar BurglaryRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.—The last of four co-defendants was sentenced to federal prison last Friday after burglaries of a home in Coos County, Oregon, and stealing cash, gold, silver coins, and firearms. The following individuals have been sentenced:
- Daniel Knapp, 58, of Port Orford, Oregon, was sentenced last Friday to 24 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release;
- William Travis Cutlip, 41, of Port Orford, was sentenced July 7, 2026, to 24 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release;
- Kyle Vanalstine, 31, of Bandon, Oregon, was sentenced July 7, 2026, to 77 months in federal prison and 5 years of supervised release; and
- Matthew Knapp, 48, of Ashland, Oregon, was sentenced June 24, 2026, to five years of probation.
According to court documents, a federal firearms investigation began after a significant residential burglary. On Dec. 19, 2023, Matthew Knapp, Daniel Knapp, and Cutlip broke into the vault of a Coos County residence and stole approximately one million dollars in cash, gold, silver coins, and at least one firearm. After returning to one of their residences, Matthew Knapp was seen possessing a stolen pistol. The investigation revealed several messages showing Matthew Knapp’s history with firearms and accessories nine months prior, in March 2023. Matthew Knapp is a felon and prohibited from having a firearm. Matthew Knapp was later convicted of Aggravated Theft I in state court.
Several days later, on Dec. 23, Vanalstine broke into the same vault and stole approximately 40 firearms, including assault rifles, pistols, and at least one silencer and transferred many of them to Cutlip. Several stolen firearms stored at Cutlip’s property were later recovered in California.
On Jan. 5, 2024, law enforcement stopped and searched Vanalstine while he was driving in Curry County, Oregon. In his car, Vanalstine had more than one kilogram of methamphetamine, scales and a loaded pistol. Vanalstine was convicted in state court for the burglary of the residence and for a separate possession of a controlled substance case and was sentenced to prison for both offenses.
On Jan. 9, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Cutlip’s residence in Port Orford and seized a stolen silencer and the assault rifles pictured below:
In January 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Daniel Knapp’s residence and found a .22 revolver, which was unconnected to the burglary. Daniel Knapp is a felon and prohibited from having a firearm.
On Dec. 11, 2024, Cutlip pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic in firearms. He was convicted in state court for burglary.
On Dec. 4, 2025, Vanalstine pleaded guilty to trafficking in firearms and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
In February 2026, Matthew Knapp and Daniel Knapp pleaded guilty to felon in possession of a firearm.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was prosecuted by the ATF, FBI, SCINT (South Coos Interagency Narcotics Team), Coos County Sheriff Office, and Oregon State Police, with assistance from Coquille Tribal Police, Bandon Police Department, Coos Bay Police Department and the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team (DINT). It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Sweet.
Former Registered Nurse from LeMars Sentenced for False Statements Relating to Health Care Matters and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Chad Hoppe, age 49, from LeMars, Iowa, was sentenced July 9, 2026, to more than two years in prison after a march 9, 2026, guilty plea to false statements relating to health care matters and aggravated identity theft.
Evidence in the case revealed that between May 2024 and March 2025, Hoppe diverted fentanyl and dilaudid allegedly for patient use. Instead, he used the controlled substances personally and failed to complete or falsified the related health care paperwork. During this time, Hoppe was an Iowa licensed registered nurse. He inputted false orders for narcotics claiming to have permission from a licensed physician, when he did not. Hoppe diverted “staggering” amounts of liquid fentanyl and dilaudid. In March 2025, for example, while working as a supervisor, Hoppe pulled out over 9,000 mcg of fentanyl. The next closest staff member at the same facility pulled out a total of 700 mcg of fentanyl that month.
Hoppe was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 30 months’ imprisonment and fined $1,000. He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Hoppe was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on a date yet to be set.
The case was investigated by the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals Investigations Division Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and was 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 25-04042.
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Former L.A. County Sheriff’s Deputy Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for Obstructing Federal Probe into Crypto ‘Mogul’ Threats Against VictimRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A former Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) deputy was sentenced today to 18 months in federal prison for obstructing a federal investigation into a now-jailed, self-styled cryptocurrency businessman by lying that he never witnessed the wannabe crypto mogul threaten and extort $25,000 from a party planner at his Bel Air mansion.
Scott Allen Simpkins, 34, of Brea, was sentenced by United States District Judge Percy Anderson, who fined him $10,000.
Simpkins pleaded guilty on March 17 to one count of obstruction of justice. He resigned from LASD’s Special Enforcement Bureau after pleading guilty to the felony.
According to his plea agreement, Simpkins was a deputy assigned to LASD’s Lakewood Station and worked for LASD’s Special Enforcement Bureau and SWAT team. He also worked approximately six to eight shifts as a private security guard for Saavedra & Associates and received cash payments for his services.
Saavedra & Associates was a private company owned and operated by then-LASD Deputy and one-time federal task force officer Eric Chase Saavedra, 43, of Chino, that employed active LASD deputies and law enforcement officers and provided private security services for clients.
One of those clients was Adam Iza, 25, who resided in Beverly Hills and Newport Beach, was a self-styled cryptocurrency businessman who called himself “The Godfather,” and who has been in federal custody since September 2024. Iza pleaded guilty in January 2025 to one count of conspiracy against rights, one count of wire fraud, and one count of tax evasion, and awaits sentencing.
On June 1, 2026, Iza pleaded guilty in the District of Connecticut to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act) related to his involvement in an attempted robbery of Bitcoin and a kidnapping in Danbury, Connecticut, in August 2024.
In August 2021, Iza hired Simpkins, fellow then-LASD Deputy Christopher Michael Cadman, 34, of Fullerton, and other law enforcement officers to provide private security at a party at his Bel Air mansion. At the time, Simpkins knew Iza possessed at least one firearm.
After the party ended, at around 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. on August 15, 2021, Simpkins learned the party planner – identified in court documents as “R.C.” – had been kicked out of the party for erratic behavior.
The next day, Simpkins worked another shift at Iza’s Bel Air mansion and – along with Cadman – escorted R.C. to Iza’s office and closed the door behind them. Iza – seated behind his office desk – then took steps to intimidate R.C. to obtain $25,000 by placing four or five rounds of live 9mm ammunition on his desk across from R.C. While speaking to the victim, Iza picked up the live ammunition and twirled a bullet in his hand as he spoke threateningly to R.C.
During this meeting, Iza accessed R.C.’s phone after demanding that $25,000 be transferred from R.C.’s bank account to an Iza-controlled bank account. After the transfer occurred, Simpkins and Cadman escorted R.C. out of Iza’s mansion.
After this incident, Iza hired Saavedra & Associates as his private security provider and made substantial payments to Saavedra and his employees. Simpkins and Cadman each earned $1,400 for their shifts during the August 2021 party and the August 16 incident with R.C.
In response to Simpkins and Cadman helping to secure a long-term contract with Iza, Saavedra & Associate paid them approximately 10% of the company’s total profits for the contract’s first month.
After Iza’s arrest in September 2024 and the R.C.-related conduct being charged – along with other crimes – in a federal criminal complaint and an indictment against Iza, the FBI executed a search warrant on Simpkins’ person and seized his phone.
In a November 2024 meeting with federal law enforcement concerning Iza and corrupt LASD deputies and in which Simpkins was warned that lying would result in criminal prosecution, Simpkins lied repeatedly to FBI agents and federal prosecutors that he saw no ammunition or shell casings inside Iza’s office during the incident with victim R.C. Simpkins further lied when he said he saw no financial transactions occur.
Simpkins admitted in his plea agreement that he knew his lies had the natural and probable effect of interfering with the criminal investigation and legal proceedings against Iza and were material to the investigation.
In addition to Iza, Saavedra and Cadman, among others, have pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges and await sentencing.
Former LASD Deputy Michael David Coberg, 44, of Eastvale, is serving a 63-month federal prison sentence and was ordered to pay $127,000 in restitution for helping Iza extort a rival and arrange the sham illegal drug possession arrest of another adversary in Paramount in 2021.
The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this matter. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department provided assistance.
Assistant United States Attorney Maxwell K. Coll of the National Security Division prosecuted this case.
Former Hominy Bookkeeper Sentenced for Bank FraudRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A former Hominy bookkeeper was sentenced today for Bank Fraud after stealing more than $393k from a family business, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Susan Marie Garrison, 54, of Sand Springs, to 33 months' imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. She was ordered to pay $393,025.09 in restitution.
From 2017 through 2022, Garrison was a trusted bookkeeper handling the finances for a family business in Hominy. Court documents show that her duties include managing financial activities, bank accounts, and preparing records. In total, Garrison admitted to writing more than 240 checks to herself, all of which she cashed and deposited into her own checking accounts.
Garrison was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons at a later date.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Greenough prosecuted the case.
Former Deputy U.S. Marshal Sentenced for Assault on Prisoner in Louisiana CourthouseRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — A former Deputy U.S. Marshal was sentenced today to 45 months in prison for assaulting a federal inmate and writing a false report about the incident.
In April 2026, after a three-day trial, a federal jury in the Western District of Louisiana convicted Joshua Firmin, 49, of one count of Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law and one count of Falsification of Records.
“The great majority of law enforcement officers do essential work honorably and lawfully under difficult and high-risk conditions,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “But Joshua Firmin knowingly overstepped his authority when he assaulted a shackled prisoner and failed to uphold the trust placed in him when he lied about it in official documents. Today’s sentence represents appropriate accountability, and we are grateful to the law enforcement personnel who reported the misconduct and cooperated with the investigation.”
“The civil rights protections afforded to all U.S. citizens are a fundamental part of the Constitution,” said U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle for the Eastern District of Louisiana. “The unlawful civil rights violation committed by Mr. Firmin against a shackled inmate, not only tarnishes the reputation, it also engenders public distrust of the innumerable law enforcement officers who so honorably protect and serve all of us. Today’s sentencing ensures that Mr. Firmin is being held accountable for his actions.”
“Firmin violated his oath as a law enforcement officer by abusing his authority,” said Special Agent in Charge Cloey Pierce of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG) South Central Region Houston Office. “The DOJ OIG will continue working with its law enforcement partners to ensure that anyone participating in this type of behavior will be brought to justice.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on February 29, 2024, Firmin, who was then assigned to operations duties at the federal courthouse in Lafayette, Louisiana, learned that a prisoner awaiting a court appearance in the courthouse cell block had made insulting remarks about Firmin to another courthouse employee. Shortly thereafter, Firmin entered the courthouse cellblock and unlocked the cell where the prisoner was being held, yanked the prisoner, who was restrained in handcuffs, waist shackles, and leg irons, out of the cell by his hair and slammed his head into the cellblock wall. As a result of the assault, the prisoner suffered a laceration to his scalp that required staples to close. Following the assault, Firmin wrote an official use of force report in which he falsely stated that the prisoner had attempted to spit on him and then inadvertently struck his head on a door while resisting efforts to escort him to another cell. However, another Deputy U.S. Marshal, who had witnessed the assault, promptly reported the misconduct to his chain of command, leading to an investigation by the DOJ OIG.
The case was investigated by the DOJ OIG South Central Region Houston Office.
The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Alec Ward of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chandra Menon for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Re-Issued 7/13/2026
Former Corrections Sergeant Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Dealing in Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Former corrections sergeant at the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla, Ralph Contreras Jr., 40, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff to 15 years in prison for receipt and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between Sept. 29, 2024, and Jan. 2, 2025, Contreras received and distributed CSAM through social media apps. He specifically sought out CSAM that depicted prepubescent minors. At the time of his arrest, Contreras was working as a corrections sergeant.
Contreras pleaded guilty on April 13, 2026.
Homeland Security Investigations, the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Madera County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Barton prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the DOJ to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue the victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
A Florida man pleaded guilty today to filing a false tax return filed on behalf of a trust he controlled.
According to court documents and statements made in court, McDonald Preval, of Miami, filed numerous false tax returns on behalf of himself and purported trusts he controlled. The trust tax returns reported that the trusts had earned significant income and made tax withholding payments to the IRS, purportedly entitling the trusts to large tax refunds. In fact, the trusts did not have the claimed income, and did not make payments in the amounts claimed on the returns, and therefore were not entitled to the refunds Preval claimed. He also filed tax returns for 2023 that did not include the income from his employment. The false tax returns Preval filed and caused to be filed on behalf of purported trusts and himself collectively sought tax refunds totaling more than $4.2 million.
Preval pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false tax return. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 6 and faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Melissa Siskind and Kavitha Bondada of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, Tax Section, are prosecuting the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports 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.
Felon Who Possessed a Gun Sent Back to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who illegally possessed a gun was sentenced today to more than two years in federal prison.
Edinton Grugbay Wright, age 30, from Marion, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 11, 2025, guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence during the case showed Wright was originally convicted in federal court of being a drug user in possession of a firearm. In 2022, after his release from federal prison, Wright began serving a term of supervised release. While on supervised release, Cedar Rapids Police Department officers attempted to stop a car where Wright was seated in the front passenger seat. The car refused to stop and instead drove onto the front lawn of a residential home. Both the driver and Wright ran from the car. As officers pursued Wright, he threw a loaded pistol onto the ground. Officers eventually located Wright and the pistol.
Wright was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Wright was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
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.
Wright is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lisa C. Williams and Timothy Vavricek and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force. The task force is composed of representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cedar Rapids Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-0048.
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Fairfield Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Nicolas Vasquez II, 46, of Fairfield, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb to five years in prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on Feb. 25, 2025, during a traffic stop, Vasquez was found with a loaded 9 mm pistol without a serial number and a loaded, spare high-capacity magazine. In total, Vasquez possessed 22 rounds of 9 mm ammunition. Vasquez has prior felony convictions — assault with a firearm and evading a police officer — and is prohibited from possessing ammunition and firearms. Vasquez pleaded guilty on April 6, 2026.
The Fairfield Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heiko P. Coppola 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, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Erie, Kansas Man Charged with Attempted Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity and Offense by a Registered Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Erie, Kan. man has been charged by criminal complaint for attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity and committing that offense as a registered sex offender.
Richard V. Mitchell, 63, appeared in federal court today on a two-count criminal complaint.
According to court documents, Mitchell requested a minor child be transported from the Western District of Missouri to Erie, Kan. to engage in sexual activity with Mitchell. Mitchell is a registered sex offender in the State of Kansas.
The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen A. Brackett and Kelly Collins. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Dominican Nationals Sentenced in Federal Benefits Fraud CasesRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – Two Dominican nationals were sentenced on July 9, 2026, in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island for fraud schemes involving the use of stolen identities of American citizens to fraudulently obtain Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and unemployment benefits.
Jesus Matos Perez, 52, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to illegal entry, false representation of a social security number, health care and wire fraud.
According to court documents, Matos Perez used the stolen identities of two American citizens for approximately ten years to fraudulently obtain approximately $75,000 of Medicaid, SNAP, and unemployment benefits.
William Jose Alejandro Arias Amador, 45, a citizen of the Dominican Republic was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to false representation of a social security number, health care and wire fraud.
According to court documents, upon his release from the Adult Correctional Institution, Arias Amador, who had amassed a significant criminal history in the identity of a United States citizen, fraudulently obtained Medicaid and SNAP benefits using the stolen identity and social security number of the same individual.
“The message from these sentences is straightforward,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “If you steal identities and exploit government programs for personal gain, we will continue working with our law enforcement partners to identify, prosecute, and seek meaningful consequences. Protecting the integrity of taxpayer-funded benefit programs from fraud remains a top priority of this office and the Department of Justice.”
The cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dulce Donovan and Special Assistant United States Attorney John Moreria.
The matters were investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports 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.
Dominican National Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison for Trafficking Illegal Drugs in the New Hampshire SeacoastRead the Press Release
Dominican National Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison for Trafficking Illegal Drugs in the New Hampshire Seacoast
CONCORD – A citizen of the Dominican Republic, who previously lived in Massachusetts, was sentenced today in federal court for drug trafficking in New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Juan De Los Santos Romero, 23, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Court Judge Samantha Elliott to 30 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release. De Los Santos Romero previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl. De Los Santos Romero will be removed from the United States upon the completion of his prison sentence. Four co-conspirators, Jose Luis Guerrero Nunez, Carlos Alejandro Chevalier Santos, Eddy Mendez Carmona, and Luis Guerrero Cabral, have previously pleaded guilty.
“Fentanyl and methamphetamine are destructive drugs that devastate our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Creegan. “We will continue to pursue and hold accountable those individuals who distribute these dangerous substances in our state.”
“The defendant chose to profit from the distribution of two of the most dangerous drugs threatening our communities today—fentanyl and methamphetamine,” said Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget, New England Field Division. “His actions contributed to the flow of deadly narcotics into New Hampshire, putting countless lives at risk. Today’s sentence demonstrates that those who traffic these poisons will be identified, investigated, and held accountable, regardless of their citizenship or where they attempt to operate. The DEA remains steadfast in our commitment to working alongside our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to dismantle drug trafficking organizations and protect the people of New England.”
De Los Santos Romero was part of a Methuen-based drug trafficking organization that was distributing significant quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Seacoast area. He was responsible for at least four controlled drug purchases with an undercover DEA agent.
The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. The Seabrook Police Department, Hampton Police Department, Portsmouth Police Department, Methuen Police Department, and the New Hampshire State Police provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Vicinanzo 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.
Detroit Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Multiple Felony Drug Crimes in Huntington-Area Drug Trafficking Conspiracy CaseRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Lamarr Anthony Welch, also known as “Joe,” 35, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced today to 11 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for 11 felony drug offenses. Welch admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Huntington area.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Welch admitted that he participated in the conspiracy, distributed various quantities of methamphetamine totaling 651 grams on multiple occasions between March 3, 2025, and August 27, 2025, and distributed 4.4 grams fentanyl on August 27, 2025, as part of the DTO.
On September 10, 2025, law enforcement officers arrested Welch at a trailer in Huntington where the DTO stored drugs for distribution and seized approximately 3.95 kilograms of methamphetamine, 266 grams of fentanyl, and a loaded firearm.
Welch pleaded guilty to three counts of distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, two counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count each of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, aiding and abetting the distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, aiding and abetting the distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, distribution of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, and distribution of fentanyl.
Welch conducted transactions arranged by or at the direction of three co-defendants: Joshua Willie McCarver, also known as “TJ,” 28, of Detroit; McCarver’s nephew, Darnell Marice McCarver, also known as “WAP,” 19, of Detroit; and Geon Lavell Henderson, also known as “Money,” 53, of Huntington.
The three co-defendants and Welch are among six defendants who pleaded guilty following their indictment on charges alleging they participated in the DTO while it operated from in or about January 2025 to in or about August 2025. Darnell Marice McCarver was sentenced on April 13, 2026, to 12 years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to distribution of 50 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture. Henderson was sentenced on June 22, 2026, to 12 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a quantity of fentanyl. Joshua Willie McCarver is scheduled to be sentenced on October 13, 2026, after pleading guilty to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
The indictment remains pending against three other defendants. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Welch was sentenced as a career offender, with a criminal history that includes two prior convictions for armed robbery.
“This career criminal flooded Huntington with a staggering amount of dangerous drugs,” said United States Attorney Moore Capito. “Today’s sentence reflects the severity of the harm he inflicted and demonstrates our commitment to bring the full weight of the law down on those who target our communities with this poison.”
Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Cabell County Sheriff's Office, the Mason County Sheriff’s Office, and the Huntington Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys 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-154.
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D.C. Man Found Guilty of Armed Carjacking and Armed RobberyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Orlin Lemus-Cruz, 22, of the District, was found guilty today in D.C. Superior Court on charges related to the armed robbery of two victims on March 26, 2025, in Northwest, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Lemus-Cruz was found guilty of one count of armed carjacking, two counts of armed robbery and two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld scheduled sentencing for October 30, 2026. The armed robbery conviction carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years imprisonment. The armed carjacking conviction carries a mandatory minimum sentence of not less than 15 years and a maximum sentence of not more than 40 years of imprisonment.
According to the government’s evidence, on the afternoon of March 26, 2025, Lemus-Cruz and his two co-conspirators, Jason Benitez-Umanzor and Julio Villafranco, approached two victims watching a soccer game at the Bell Athletic Field in the 3100 block of Hiatt Place, NW. The victims were then pistol-whipped and robbed at gunpoint of a coat and a moped.
Lemus-Cruz was arrested on April 5, 2025, and has been in custody since. Co-conspirators Jason Benitez-Umanzor and Julio Villafranco previously pleaded guilty to armed robbery on November 19, 2025.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nickolas Reck and Michael Dal Lago. Assistant United States Attorney Rashmika Nedungadi indicted the case.
2025 CF3 003832
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Crowley Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking; Co-Defendant Also Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE–On June 30, 2026, District Judge David C. Joseph sentenced Marcus Redlich, 26, of Crowley, to 10 years in federal prison for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with the Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(l).
A close associate of Redlich’s, Marley Guidry, 22, also of Crowley, pled guilty to the same offense on July 1, 2026.
According to court documents, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) identified Redlich in July 2024 as a suspected methamphetamine trafficker operating in and around the region. Over several months, agents conducted extensive surveillance and determined that Redlich worked closely with an associate, Guidry, who helped transport, supply, and facilitate Redlich’s distribution activities throughout the area.
On August 28, 2025, federal and state authorities coordinated search and enforcement actions. Louisiana State Police initiated a traffic stop on Redlich along Interstate 10 at mile marker 97 in Lafayette Parish. Redlich briefly slowed his vehicle but suddenly accelerated in an attempt to flee, directing a passenger to throw two white grocery bags out of the vehicle before crashing and being apprehended. Troopers recovered two clear, vacuum sealed bags containing approximately three pounds of pure methamphetamine from the roadside where the bags were discarded.
Simultaneously, Acadia Parish Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant at Redlich’s residence in Crowley. Agents recovered additional quantities of pure methamphetamine, digital scales, and plastic baggies, along with other controlled substances. Redlich later admitted to possessing the narcotics found in his home.
A separate search warrant executed on Guidry’s home also uncovered a significant quantity of illegal narcotics, including pure methamphetamine, Dimethyl Sulfone, cocaine, and other controlled substances.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office (LPSO), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Louisiana State Police (LSP), and Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office (APSO).
It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney LaDonte Murphy with assistance from Legal Administrative Specialist Christy Angelle.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer, under Case Number 6:25 CR 00326 01.
Public Affairs
United States Attorney’s Office
Western District of Louisiana
[email protected]
www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
Twitter @USAO_WDLA
Crookston Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced today that Joseph Robert Thompson, a Crookston man, has pleaded guilty to one count of attempted production of child pornography.
According to court documents, on October 13, 2024, Thompson took a series of photos of sexually explicit conduct of a then-six-year-old minor for the purpose of producing visual depictions of such conduct.
Thompson had previously come to law enforcement’s attention after soliciting illicit images from an undercover officer posing as a 14‑year‑old on August 28, 2024. On October 15, 2024, Thompson was arrested, and during a search of his home, investigators seized multiple electronic devices which included additional evidence, including child sexual abuse material and communications between Thompson and an adult male in Missouri. Thompson and the Missouri male exchanged child sexual abuse material and discussed abusing minors. Thompson admitted to distributing and receiving illegal material between August and October 2024.
Thompson pleaded guilty to attempted production of child pornography before United States District Court Judge Nancy E. Brasel on June 29, 2026. This federal felony offense carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison, along with a term of supervised release of at least five years and up to life. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
“Today’s guilty plea demonstrates the unwavering commitment of federal, state, and local partners to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who prey on children,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. “Our office will continue to use every available resource to protect vulnerable victims and bring those who harm them to justice.”
“I am extremely proud of the outstanding collaboration between the Crookston Police Department, Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI's Minnesota Child Exploitation Task Force, which culminated in the successful arrest and charging of a dangerous child predator. Protecting our children is one of our highest priorities. We will continue to pursue these offenders relentlessly to hold these offenders responsible to ensure our community is a safer place for our most vulnerable residents,” said Crookston Police Chief Darin Selzler.
“Joseph Robert Thompson's conviction in this case is just one example of how strong law enforcement partnerships keep our communities safer,” said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Christopher D. Dotson. “FBI resources, paired with tenacious work from our Task Force Officers from Crookston Police and detectives from Polk County Sheriff's Office, have combined to take another child predator off of our streets. The Minnesota Child Exploitation Task Force continues to work throughout the state to keep our kids safe online and in our neighborhoods.”
This case was investigated by the Crookston Police Department and Polk County Sheriff's Office with assistance from the FBI's Minnesota Child Exploitation Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorney Kristian Weir is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the 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 www.justice.gov/psc.
Convicted Felons Sentenced to Federal Prison on Drug Trafficking and Firearm Charges Following Deadly CrashRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Daryl Hubbard and Carl Todd, who were previously convicted of felony drug distribution, were sentenced to federal prison after their drug dealing resulted in a high-speed chase ending in death and serious injury.
“This case is a prime example of the consequences that could result from trafficking illegal drugs – one man dead, another paralyzed, and a police officer injured,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Due to the hard work and sacrifices of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners and the Homeland Security Task Force, Hubbard and Todd were held accountable for their crimes and will serve lengthy prison sentences without parole.”
“These sentences reflect the tragic consequences of illegal drug distribution,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “The defendant’s actions resulted in devastating loss of life and serious injury, an outcome that serves as a stark reminder that drug trafficking destroys lives and families. Through the unwavering commitment of our Homeland Security Task Force and our local law enforcement partners, we will continue to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who profit from distributing deadly drugs. Together, we remain steadfast in our mission to protect our communities.”
“This sentencing sends a clear message that those who illegally traffic drugs and unlawfully possess or use firearms will be held accountable,” stated Ryan Todd, ATF Atlanta Assistant Special Agent in Charge. “ATF will continue working with our law enforcement partners to enforce our nation’s firearms laws and protect our communities from the violence these crimes create.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: From about 2022 until their arrests in 2024, Hubbard and Todd maintained commercial and residential properties throughout DeKalb County, Georgia, for the purpose of distributing large quantities of cocaine and marijuana.
On March 20, 2023, Hubbard provided two drug dealers with duffle bags of narcotics from a warehouse he leased in Lithonia, Georgia. When law enforcement attempted to stop the drug dealers’ SUV in Lamar County, the duo led police on a high-speed chase while tossing drugs out of the vehicle’s window. The SUV reached speeds of over 100 miles per hour, forced a state patrol cruiser off the road, and caused the cruiser to flip multiple times, injuring a trooper. The chase ended after the drug dealers crashed into a tree, killing the passenger and paralyzing the driver.
After this incident, Hubbard emptied the warehouse and set up another stash house in Stonecrest, Georgia. On July 23, 2024, law enforcement executed search warrants on the Stonecrest stash house and Hubbard’s home in Conyers, Georgia. During the searches, law enforcement recovered cocaine, marijuana, and five guns, including a stolen handgun. Two of the firearms—a high-powered rifle with a 30-round magazine and a pistol loaded with ammunition capable of piercing body armor—were recovered within arm’s reach of Todd when law enforcement searched the Stonecrest stash house. Hubbard’s and Todd’s criminal association spanned over a decade as they were arrested together in 2013 and later convicted in a DeKalb County felony drug distribution case.
On July 10, 2026, Daryl Hubbard, a/k/a “Dirt,” 46, of Conyers, Georgia, was sentenced to 12 years and 4 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release and ordered to pay a fine in the amount of $5,000. Hubbard was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, after he pleaded guilty on February 25, 2026.
On December 1, 2025, Carl Todd, 49, of Snellville, Georgia, was sentenced to 10 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Todd was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, after he pleaded guilty on August 15, 2025.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Lamar County Sheriff’s Office. The Georgia State Patrol provided substantial assistance to the investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney John T. DeGenova and Special Assistant United States Attorney Steve A. Hsieh prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force 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. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF is comprised of agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Convicted Drug Trafficker Sentenced for Violating Federal Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Louisiana announced today that LIKE CHEN, age 36, was sentenced on July 8, 2026 by United States District Judge Greg G. Guidry to 24 months’ imprisonment, 4 years of supervised release, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, a mixture and substance containing one hundred (100) kilograms or more of a detectable amount of marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 846.
According to court documents, on April 14, 2025, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agents observed an individual identified as Yilei Zhou pick up Hanjie Wu, a known marijuana distributor, from an airport in Houston, Texas and drive him to a residence in Katy, Texas. While at that residence they picked up Zihang Zeng, and then drove to Denham Springs, Louisiana. The following day, two other individuals, Wei Bin Chen and LIKE CHEN, left Denham Springs, traveled to a nearby storage facility and retrieved multiple large trash bags from a storage unit. They then drove to another storage facility in Slidell, Louisiana. Zhou and Wu then drove to same facility in Slidell where they all met with an individual identified as Aaron Steele. Wei Bin and LIKE CHEN then loaded the large trash bags into Steele’s vehicle and all parties left the storage facility.
Forrest County Sheriff’s deputies conducted a traffic stop of CHEN’S vehicle on Interstate 59 headed towards Hattiesburg, Mississippi. A consensual search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of approximately 43.5 kilograms of marijuana.
Mississippi Police Department officers conducted a traffic stop of Steele’s vehicle on Interstate 59 in Picayune, Mississippi. A consensual search of his vehicle resulted in the seizure of approximately 22.7 kilograms of marijuana.
Based on the seizures that occurred in Slidell and Mississippi, Livingston Parish officers obtained search warrants for the residence and storage facility in Denham Springs. When the officers arrived at the residence, Zeng ran from the residence and was arrested. Inside the residence, officers located $1,552.00 in currency, hundreds of rubber bands, a vacuum sealer and a money counter. From the storage unit, officers seized 38.5 kilograms of marijuana.
On the drug conspiracy count, LIKE CHEN faced a minimum term of imprisonment of five (5) years, a maximum term of imprisonment of forty (40) years, a fine of up to $5,000,000.00, at least four (4) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office, Forrest County Mississippi Sheriff’s Office, and the Picayune, Mississippi Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys André Jones and Nolan D. Paige of the Narcotics Unit.
This prosecution is 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 New Orleans comprises agents and officers from the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Re-issued 7/13/2026
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Citizen from the Congo who Committed Visa Fraud Sentenced and FinedRead the Press Release
A man who came to the United States in 2023 was sentenced today to three years’ probation, 90 days of home confinement, and fined for committing visa fraud. Bienvenu Saido Binyangi, age 37, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, received the prison term after a December 11, 2025, guilty plea to one count of visa fraud.
Three other individuals who were charged in the same indictment with conspiracy have already been sentenced. Joseph Longanga Okoko was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. Medard Lotahe Elonge was sentenced to twelve months and one day imprisonment. Joseph Onolenga Okamba was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.
In a plea agreement, Binyangi admitted that he entered the United States on a B1/B2 visa that he obtained by fraud because he did not intend to stay in the United States for temporary business or pleasure, but rather to reunite with his family in the Northern District of Iowa.
At sentencing, the evidence showed that when Binyangi entered the United States, he reunited with his family, including Joseph Okoko’s daughter, and their minor children. Binyangi subsequently petitioned for asylum. The evidence at sentencing also showed that Binyangi had unsuccessfully entered the diversity visa lottery while in the Congo and provided false information about his marital status. The evidence also showed that Binyangi had gotten married in Congo; however, he hid that information from immigration officials.
Binyangi was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Binyangi was sentenced to three years’ probation, 90 days of home confinement, and fined $500.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew J. Cole and Nicole L. Nagin and was investigated by the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Waterloo Police Department, the Sioux City Police Department, and the Iowa Department of Transportation.
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.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of 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.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR-2052.
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Chicago-Area Gun and Drug Trafficker Resentenced to Forty Years in Prison for Firearms and Drug Offenses in East Central IllinoisRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A Markham, Illinois, man, Deon Evans, 42, was sentenced on July 13, 2026, to forty years and eight months’ imprisonment in the Federal Bureau of Prisons for trafficking heroin and methamphetamine, carrying and possessing a firearm during his drug trafficking crimes, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
At the resentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Colin S. Bruce found that Evans faced a mandatory consecutive twenty-five-year sentence for his offense of carrying a firearm while distributing heroin and possessing a firearm in furtherance of his possession of methamphetamine (“ecstasy”) with the intent to distribute it. Judge Bruce further determined that Evans was involved in the trafficking of at least eight to twenty-four firearms and found that Evans had obstructed justice by providing false testimony during his case. Evans faced an enhanced sentence because he was on federal supervised release at the time of his offenses from a 2007 conviction for possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in the Southern District of Iowa.
Evans was originally convicted following a jury trial in January 2020. During the three-day trial, the government presented evidence that, in July 2016, Evans traveled from his residence in Markham to a gas station in Gilman, Illinois, where he sold 48.4 grams of heroin in exchange for $4,500. In August 2016, Evans again traveled to the gas station to meet the same buyer, this time bringing an associate and two loaded firearms. During this meeting, Evans sold 124.3 grams of heroin for $11,250.
After the August 2016 heroin sale, Evans was stopped by troopers with the Illinois State Police on Interstate 57. Troopers searched Evans’ vehicle and found the cash hidden under the back seat, two fully loaded firearms, an extra magazine, and 173 ecstasy pills that contained methamphetamine. The trial evidence established that Evans obtained one of those firearms, a Glock, Model 30, .45 caliber, semi-automatic pistol, by trading two grams of heroin and $100 in exchange for the gun. It was also established that the firearm had been stolen from Indiana. Additional evidence showed that Evans used two individuals, known as “straw purchasers”, to purchase fourteen guns for him in Birmingham, Alabama, which he then sold illegally in Chicago. Some of the firearms were later recovered after they were used in violent crimes.
Judge Bruce originally sentenced Evans in January of 2022. Following an appeal, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals remanded the case for an evidentiary hearing to determine if Evans’s trial counsel was constitutionally ineffective, and for resentencing. Judge Bruce determined that Evans’s trial counsel did not provide ineffective assistance before proceeding to resentencing. Judge Bruce ordered the new sentence to be served consecutively to Evans’s 27-month sentence of imprisonment imposed in the Southern District of Iowa for violating his conditions of federal supervised release.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Chicago Division, Springfield Resident Office; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Springfield, Illinois, and Birmingham Field Offices; and the Illinois State Police investigated the case. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene L. Miller represented the government throughout the case.
Career Offender on Federal Supervision Sentenced to More Than 25 Years in Prison for the Murder of a Yakama Nation ManRead the Press Release
Yakima, WASHINGTON — First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that on July 13, Antonio Montellano, 44, was sentenced by Chief District Court Judge Stanley Bastain to 328 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release stemming from his murder conviction of a Yakama Nation man in January 2025.
Based upon information presented at the time of sentencing, Montellano was under federal supervision for his conviction of Importation of Cocaine and Methamphetamine in 2012 in the Southern District of California after serving an over 10-year prison sentence. Montellano’s supervision was transferred to the Eastern District of Washington and specifically Yakima in 2023. In January 2025 while at the home of the victim, Montellano and the victim got into an argument. The defendant had been ingesting methamphetamine and had not slept for several days. Likely due to his drug usage and lack of sleep, Montellano acted impulsively in response to what he considered to be an inappropriate act. Montellano picked up a shovel and struck the victim in the head and continued to strike him after he had fallen to the ground. After the murder, Montellano covered the victim’s body with a blanket, searched his home for surveillance cameras, took additional items and fled. During the late hours of January 28, 2025, the victim’s family discovered his body.
Due to the quick investigative efforts of the Yakama Nation tribal police and FBI, they determined that the victim’s new cellular phone was missing. The FBI called the victim’s phone and Montellano answered the call. Montellano provided a fake name and lied about how he came into possession of the phone. Utilizing phone data and Flock camera footage, the FBI was able to identify Montellano as the primary suspect. Due to the egregious facts of the case, multiple citizens cooperated with law enforcement which greatly assisted the investigation. As the investigation progressed, the FBI learned that Montellano fled to California and then crossed the border into Mexico. Based upon the cooperative efforts between the Department of Justice and Mexican authorities, specifically Fuerza Estatal de Seguridad Ciudadana (FESC) in Baja California and the Instituto Nacional de Migracion (INM), Montellano, a U.S. citizen, was deported from Mexico to the United States. On June 10, 2025, the Grand Jury returned an indictment charging the defendant with Second Degree Murder. After Montellano was returned to the United States from Mexico, he admitted to killing the victim. On November 4, 2025, Montellano pled guilty to Second Degree Murder.
The victim’s family noted that he had a large family including several grandchildren that dearly missed his presence. Multiple family members and friends attended the sentencing hearing and addressed the court. The family’s loss can never be made whole commenting on the tragic impact his senseless murder had on their family especially on those who found him that tragic morning. In imposing sentence, Chief District Court Judge Bastian noted Montellano’s criminal history and the need for the court to impose a sentence to protect the public. The Court had concerns of the defendant’s impulsive behavior which, in this case, led to the death of the victim.
First Assistant Pete Serrrano stated, “Behind every senseless act of violence is a family member forever changed whose loss echoes far beyond the crime scene. Justice cannot restore a life lost to senseless violence, but it can confirm that every victim matters and that repeated criminal behavior has devastating consequences. I am thankful for the efforts of all involved to bring this repeat violent offender back to face his crimes.”
“Not only did Mr. Montellano violently and repeatedly attack this victim, but he also took steps to cover up the murder before fleeing the state and country,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “Nevertheless, he could not escape the consequences of his crime. No matter how far a subject may run, and how many borders he may cross, the FBI will work diligently with our partners to bring them back to face justice.”
The case was investigated by the Yakama Nation Tribal Police and the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tom Hanlon.
1:25-CR-2065-SAB
California Man to Serve 30 Years in Federal Prison for Transporting More Than 60 Pounds of Methamphetamine to OklahomaRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – GUSTAVO DE ALBA, 48, of Los Angeles, California, has been sentenced to serve 360 months in federal prison for drug conspiracy and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public records, on June 13, 2025, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop involving a vehicle being driven by De Alba on Interstate 40 near Sayre, Oklahoma. A K-9 unit alerted to the presence of narcotics, prompting a search of the vehicle. During the search, officers discovered approximately 30 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden inside a sophisticated, aftermarket compartment concealed behind the back seat.
A federal grand jury indicted De Alba on charges of drug conspiracy and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on July 1, 2025. Following a two-day trial, a federal jury convicted De Alba on both counts on February 18, 2026.
At a sentencing hearing on July 13, 2026, U.S. District Judge Patrick R. Wyrick sentenced De Alba to serve 360 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Wyrick noted the seriousness of the offense, the need to promote respect for the law, and the need for deterrence.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Hoch and Drew E. Davis 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.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Bergen County Woman Charged with Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Bergen County woman was charged on with distributing methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Brittany Malsch, 38, of Garfield, New Jersey, was charged by Complaint with possession with intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine. Malsch had her initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Jessica S. Allen in Newark federal court, and was remanded.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From at least as early as December 2025, law enforcement began investigating Malsch for her role in distributing methamphetamine from a room at a hotel located in Fairfield, New Jersey. After confirming that Malsch was residing in the hotel, law enforcement executed a judicially- authorized search warrant for her hotel room, in which law enforcement discovered multiple bags containing suspected crystal methamphetamine, as well as drug paraphernalia including packaging materials. Officers also recovered approximately $1,720.00 in U.S. currency.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine carries a minimum statutory term of 10 years, a maximum statutory term of life, and a maximum fine of $10 million.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited task force officers of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James, and the Fairfield Police Department, under the direction of Chief Anthony G. Manna, with the investigation.
The Government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Isen Kang of the General Crimes Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Defense counsel: Laura C. Sayler, Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender.
malsch.complaint.pdfBangladeshi national extradited from Brazil to face charges for role in transnational criminal human smuggling organizationRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 39-year-old Bangladeshi national has made his initial appearance in Laredo federal court after being extradited from Brazil on July 8. A second superseding indictment charges Saifullah Al-Mamun for his role in a conspiracy that smuggled aliens from Bangladesh into the United States.
According to court documents, Al-Mamun and his co-defendants, Mohamad Milon Hossain, 46 and Moktar Hossain, 38, both of Bangladesh, participated in a wide-ranging human smuggling operation and assisted other smugglers by facilitating the travel of scores of aliens from São Paulo, Brazil, and other locations in South America, Central America, and Mexico so that the aliens could illegally enter the United States. Al-Mamun housed aliens in São Paulo and arranged their travel, while Mohamad Milon Hossain housed aliens in Tapachula, Mexico, and facilitated their transportation to Monterrey, Mexico, according to the charges. Moktar Hossain allegedly housed aliens in Monterrey and instructed them how to cross the Rio Grande River into the United States, but many had difficulty safely doing so. The charges allege aliens paid as much as tens of thousands of dollars to individuals in Bangladesh to help them travel illegally to the United States.
Al-Mamun was arrested in Brazil in October 2019.
Al-Mamun is charged with conspiracy to bring an alien to the United States and conspiracy to encourage and induce an alien to enter the United States and faces up to 10 years in federal prison. He could also receive up to 15 years for multiple counts of bringing an alien to the United States for financial gain.
Mohamad Milon Hossain and Moktar Hossain pleaded guilty to their roles ole in the operation and were each sentenced to 46 months in prison.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Phoenix is investigating this case with assistance from the HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., U.S. Customs and Border and Protection’s (CBP) International Interdiction Task Force, CBP – Counter Network Division, HSI Laredo, HSI Brasilia, HSI Bogota, U.S. Embassy in Brazil including the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, Brazil Federal Police, Colombian National Police, and U.S. Marshals Service.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s arrest and extradition from Brazil. The Justice Department thanks its Brazilian law enforcement counterparts for their assistance in this matter.
The investigation and indictment were supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated prosecutors from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE HSI and Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 464 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 414 U.S. convictions; and more than 360 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
This case is also 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 immigrants, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Bangladeshi National Extradited from Brazil to Face Charges for Role in Transnational Criminal Human Smuggling OrganizationRead the Press Release
Bangladeshi national Saifullah Al-Mamun, 39, made his initial appearance in Laredo, Texas, today after being extradited from Brazil on July 8. A second superseding indictment charges Al-Mamun for his role in a conspiracy that smuggled aliens from Bangladesh into the United States.
According to court documents, Al-Mamun and his co-defendants — Mohamad Milon Hossain, 46 and Moktar Hossain, 38, both of Bangladesh — participated in a wide-ranging human smuggling operation and assisted other smugglers by facilitating the travel of scores of aliens from São Paulo, Brazil, and other locations in South America, Central America, and Mexico so that the aliens could illegally enter the United States. Al-Mamun housed aliens in São Paulo and arranged their travel, Mohamad Milon Hossain housed aliens in Tapachula, Mexico, and facilitated their transportation to Monterrey, Mexico. Moktar Hossain housed aliens in Monterrey and instructed them how to cross the Rio Grande River into the United States. Many of the aliens had difficulty safely crossing the Rio Grande River. The aliens paid as much as tens of thousands of dollars to individuals in Bangladesh to help them travel illegally to the United States. Al-Mamun was arrested in Brazil on Oct. 31, 2019.
Mohamad Milon Hossain pleaded guilty to his role in the operation and was sentenced to 46 months in prison. Moktar Hossain also pleaded guilty to his role in the operation and was also sentenced to 46 months in prison.
Al-Mamun is charged with conspiracy to bring an alien to the United States, multiple counts of bringing an alien to the United States for financial gain, and conspiracy to encourage and induce an alien to enter the United States. If convicted on all counts of bringing an alien to the United States for financial gain, he faces a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. If convicted of conspiracy to bring and/or conspiracy to encourage and induce and alien to enter the United States, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz for the Southern District of Texas; and Special Agent in Charge Jason T. Stevens of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Phoenix made the announcement.
HSI Phoenix is investigating this case with assistance from the HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., U.S. Customs and Border and Protection’s International Interdiction Task Force, U.S. Customs and Border Protection – Counter Network Division, HSI Laredo, HSI Brasilia, HSI Bogota, , U.S. Embassy in Brazil including the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, Brazil Federal Police, Colombian National Police, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s arrest and extradition from Brazil. The Justice Department thanks its Brazilian law enforcement counterparts for their assistance in this matter.
The investigation and indictment were supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated prosecutors from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/HSI and Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 464 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 414 U.S. convictions; and more than 360 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
Trial Attorney Spencer M. Perry of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie Cortez for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.