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Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
1 May 2025
Three Members of A Prolific Chinese Money Laundering Organization Plead Guilty to Laundering Tens of Millions of Dollars in Drug ProceedsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Two Chinese nationals and a California man, all members of a prolific Chinese money laundering organization (CMLO), have pleaded guilty to money laundering charges involving drug trafficking proceeds, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting Special Agent in Charge Jae W. Chung of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Atlanta Division, and Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Charlotte Field Office, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement.
According to court documents, Maoxuan Xia, 29, of China, Shao Neng Lin, 58, of Baldwin Park, California, and Zhou Yu, 42, of China, were members of the CMLO that laundered over $92 million in illicit funds, including proceeds from the importation and distribution of illegal drugs into the United States, primarily through Mexico. Xia was one of the most active members of the Organization, traveling throughout the United States to collect drug trafficking proceeds from U.S.-based drug traffickers and deposit those illicit funds, using both real and fake identities, into shell company bank accounts registered by other members of the CMLO, such as Lin and Yu.
Xia and Yu each pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy, one count of money laundering to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the illicit proceeds, and one count of monetary transactions involving criminally derived property greater than $10,000. Lin pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy, two counts of money laundering to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the illicit proceeds, and two counts of monetary transactions involving criminally derived property greater than $10,000. Pursuant to his plea agreement, Xia admitted that he was personally responsible for laundering more than $30 million of illicit funds, including drug trafficking proceeds, in less than two years. Xia further admitted that he knew funds laundered in the conspiracy included drug trafficking proceeds or funds intended to promote drug trafficking. Pursuant to their respective plea agreements, Lin and Yu both admitted that they each received, through the shell company bank accounts that they created and operated for the CMLO, approximately $20 million in illicit funds, including drug trafficking proceeds. Lin and Yu both admitted that the total amount of illicit funds laundered in the conspiracy for which they had actual knowledge and involvement was approximately $40 million.
“Let this case be a warning to foreign money launderers and drug traffickers,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “We will work day and night to dismantle criminal operations that exploit our robust financial system to fund criminal networks, fuel addiction in our communities, and spread violence in our streets.”
“DEA strives every day to keep the American public safe from criminal organizations who threaten our communities,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Chung. “This case demonstrates our ability to leverage every tool to attack and dismantle dangerous drug trafficking and money laundering organizations.”
“IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to going after money laundering networks attempting to move cash made from the sale of drugs in the United States,” said Special Agent in Charge Eakins. “Our special agents will continue to use their financial expertise to follow the money trail while working alongside partner agencies to stop those who profit from drug sales in the United States.”
The defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each of the conspiracy and money laundering counts and a maximum of 10 years in prison on each of the monetary transactions counts. A federal district court judge will determine their respective sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The DEA and IRS-CI are investigating the case.
Acting Assistant Deputy Chief Mingda Hang and Trial Attorney Jayce Born of the Justice Department’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alfredo De La Rosa and Seth Johnson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
The United States Files False Claims Act Complaint Against Three National Health Insurance Companies and Three Brokers Alleging Unlawful Kickbacks and Discrimination Against Disabled AmericansRead the Press Release
The United States filed a complaint today under the False Claims Act (FCA) against three of the nation’s largest health insurance companies — Aetna Inc. and affiliates, Elevance Health Inc. (formerly known as Anthem), and Humana Inc. — and three large insurance broker organizations — eHealth, Inc. and an affiliate, GoHealth, Inc., and SelectQuote Inc. The United States alleges that from 2016 through at least 2021, the defendant insurers paid hundreds of millions of dollars in illegal kickbacks to the defendant brokers in exchange for enrollments into the insurers’ Medicare Advantage plans.
Under the Medicare Advantage (MA) Program, also known as Medicare Part C, Medicare beneficiaries may choose to enroll in health care plans (MA plans) offered by private insurance companies, such as defendants Aetna, Anthem, and Humana. Many Medicare beneficiaries rely on insurance brokers to help them choose an MA plan that best meets their individual needs. Rather than acting as unbiased stewards, the defendant brokers allegedly directed Medicare beneficiaries to the plans offered by insurers that paid brokers the most in kickbacks, regardless of the suitability of the MA plans for the beneficiaries. According to the complaint, the broker organizations incentivized their employees and agents to sell plans based on the insurers’ kickbacks, set up teams of insurance agents who could sell only those plans, and at times refused to sell MA plans of insurers who did not pay sufficient kickbacks.
The United States further alleges that Aetna and Humana each conspired with the broker defendants to discriminate against Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities whom they perceived to be less profitable. Aetna and Humana allegedly did so by threatening to withhold kickbacks to pressure brokers to enroll fewer disabled Medicare beneficiaries in their plans. The United States alleges that, in response to these financial incentives from Aetna and Humana, the defendant brokers or their agents rejected referrals of disabled beneficiaries and strategically directed disabled beneficiaries away from Aetna and Humana plans.
“Health care companies that attempt to profit from kickbacks will be held accountable,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Michael Granston of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We are committed to rooting out illegal practices by Medicare Advantage insurers and insurance brokers that undermine the interests of federal health care programs and the patients they serve.”
“It is concerning, to say the least, that Medicare beneficiaries were allegedly steered towards plans that were not necessarily in their best interest – but rather in the best interest of the health insurance companies,” said U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley for the District of Massachusetts. “The alleged efforts to drive beneficiaries away specifically because their disabilities might make them less profitable to health insurance companies are even more unconscionable. Profit and greed over beneficiary interest is something we will continue to investigate and prosecute aggressively. This office will continue to take decisive action to protect the rights of Medicare beneficiaries and vulnerable Americans.”
The lawsuit was originally filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the FCA. Under the FCA, private parties can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of the recovery. The FCA permits the United States to intervene in and take over the action, as it has done here. If a defendant is found liable for violating the FCA, the United States may recover three times the amount of its losses plus applicable penalties.
The Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts are handling the matter, with valuable assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General and the FBI. The case is captioned United States ex rel. Shea v. eHealth, et al., No. 21-cv-11777.
Trial Attorneys David G. Miller, Anna H. Jugo, Diana E. Curtis, and Sara B. Hanson of the Justice Department’s Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Weinograd and Julien Mundele for the District of Massachusetts are handling the matter.
The investigation and prosecution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the FCA. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The claims asserted in the complaint are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
Note: Read the complaint here
The Department of Justice Files Complaint Against Illinois for Encroaching on Federal Immigration AuthorityRead the Press Release
The United States has filed a complaint against the state of Illinois, the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL), Jane Flanagan, Director of IDOL, and Kwame Raoul, the Attorney General for the state of Illinois, alleging that the implementation of SB0508, which amended Illinois’s “Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act,” infringes on federal immigration authority. By imposing confusing rules during the employment verification process and threatening employers with penalties if they do not comply, SB0508 discourages and complicates the use of E-Verify and Form I-9 inspection requirements. E-Verify allows any U.S. employer to electronically confirm the employment eligibility of newly hired employees and Form I-9 is used to verify the identity and employment authorization of individuals.
“This Department of Justice is committed to protecting American workers, employers, and enforcing federal immigration law,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Any state that incentivizes illegal immigration and makes it harder for federal authorities to do their job will face legal consequences from this Administration.”
On day one, President Trump declared a “national emergency” at the southern border from the unprecedented illegal entry of aliens into the country. To stop this illegal immigration crisis, President Trump instructed the federal government to ensure “that employment authorization is not provided to any unauthorized alien in the United States.” In the wake of this national crisis, “[e]nforcing our Nation’s immigration laws” is paramount.
Based on its enumerated constitutional and sovereign powers to conduct relations with foreign nations, the Federal Government has broad authority to establish immigration laws, the execution of which States cannot obstruct or take discriminatory actions against. Despite these prohibitions, the employment of unauthorized aliens by United States employers remains a substantial problem and encourages illegal entry into the country. Indeed, employment is one of the primary reasons aliens choose to enter the country illegally.
The United States’ complaint alleges SB0508 violates the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, along with laws enacted by Congress to combat the employment of illegal aliens, including the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, which prohibits employers from knowingly hiring, recruiting, referring, or employing aliens without appropriate work authorization.
Moreover, SB0508 imposes additional notification requirements on employers (at times delineating the time, place, and manner in which notification must be provided) and prohibitions that go beyond federal law. SB0508 also imposes sanctions on employers for failure to adhere to those requirements with civil fines as high as $10,000. Not only are these fines inconsistent with federal law, but such advance notice requirements could prompt an alien employee to not show up to work on the day of inspection or avoid detection by immigration authorities.
The case is United States v. State of Illinois et al., No. 1:25-cv-04811 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
The claims asserted by the United States are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Sun Prairie Man Sentenced to 4 Years for Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Curtis White III, 21, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 4 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. White pleaded guilty to the firearm charge on February 13, 2025.
On September 30, 2024, police in Fitchburg, Wisconsin, received a telephone call from a person who reported that White was in possession of a gun. Officers responded to the caller’s apartment complex in Fitchburg and immediately searched the area around the apartment complex for White. Officers found him a few blocks away.
After he was arrested, White admitted that he possessed a firearm when he approached the caller’s apartment and that his fingerprints would be on the gun. White further stated that he wrapped up the firearm in a sweatshirt and falsely claimed he tossed it in the vicinity of Williamsburg Way and Whitney Way in Fitchburg.
The following day, October 1, 2024, officers reviewed White’s jail calls and heard him provide a person with directions on where to find the firearm. Based on his directions, officers found a loaded black Sarsilmaz 9mm handgun wrapped in a black sweatshirt in a stairwell in the basement of an apartment building in Fitchburg.
At the time of his offense, White had previously been convicted of eight felony offenses in Dane County, including burglary and bail jumping.
At the sentencing hearing, Judge Peterson stated that White was a very dangerous person who had displayed an “unrelenting pattern” of criminal behavior. Judge Peterson noted that White made his situation worse by lying to officers about the firearm’s location after he was arrested and recently assaulting two inmates while in jail awaiting sentencing. Judge Peterson concluded that a 4-year sentence was necessary to protect the public from White’s violent and unpredictable conduct.
This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.
The charge against White was the result of an investigation conducted by the Fitchburg Police Department. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force also assisted with the case. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force consists of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers (TFOs) from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner prosecuted the case.
Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Cyberstalking Victim He Met OnlineRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for cyberstalking a victim he met on an online dating platform.
KEVIN CRUZ met the victim in 2021 on the dating application Grindr. While the pair communicated about a potential intimate relationship, the victim sent Cruz explicit photographs of himself. Cruz and the victim met in person on several occasions, but while Cruz expressed an interest in pursuing a romantic relationship, the victim did not.
From December 2021 to mid-2023, Cruz engaged in a course of harassing and intimidating conduct toward the victim. Cruz created numerous profiles on Grindr and other dating applications in which he impersonated the victim. Cruz, pretending to be the victim, arranged for men to travel to the victim’s home for sexual encounters. In some instances, Cruz, pretending to be the victim, instructed the men to enter the victim’s residence and attempt to have sex with the victim even if he resisted, as Cruz said the resistance would be part of a role-playing scenario. Numerous men arrived at the victim’s residence seeking sex as a result of their communications with Cruz.
Cruz also sent the victim’s explicit photographs to the victim’s family members, including his mother, brother, and cousins. In a text message sent by Cruz to the victim’s mother from a spoofed phone number, Cruz falsely suggested that the victim had committed suicide.
Cruz, 34, of Oak Park, Ill., pleaded guilty last year to a federal cyberstalking charge. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger on Wednesday ordered Cruz to pay $17,313.18 in restitution to the victim.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.
“Defendant’s conduct shocks the conscience,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan L. Shih argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “He created significant risks that the victim would be hurt, injured, and raped.”
St. Louis County Man Sentenced to 130 Months in Prison for Violent St. Louis CarjackingRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark on Thursday sentenced a man who committed a violent 2023 carjacking to 130 months in prison.
On May 8, 2023, Ahdaejay Britton, now 20, of Bel-Ridge, and a juvenile accomplice watched the victim drive a Mazda 3 into a parking garage in the 3800 block of Lindell Boulevard and decided to steal it. Britton waited for the victim to reach the bottom of a stairwell, grabbed him from behind and then threw him to the ground before pointing a handgun in his face. Britton demanded the victim’s keys, cell phone and wallet. He then passed the keys to the juvenile, who went to the car. Both later fled in the stolen car.
Police located the car in the 10000 block of New Halls Ferry Road. The juvenile was in the driver’s seat. Britton was in a nearby business. Officers found the victim’s phone and a .45-caliber semiautomatic pistol in the Mazda.
Britton pleaded guilty last year in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of carjacking and one count of possession and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the St. Louis County Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Martin prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
South Bend Man Sentenced to 82 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Johnny Daniels, 44 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.
Daniels was sentenced to 82 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, in April 2024 Daniels illegally possessed a loaded firearm while he assaulted and threatened the life of another person during the course of stealing items from a residence. Daniels’ prior convictions include numerous felony offenses, any one of which make it unlawful for him to possess the firearm in this case, including a robbery in which the victim was shot and killed.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the South Bend Police Department and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph P. Falvey.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Sioux City Man Who Fled Traffic Stop with Stolen Firearm Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who attempted to flee a traffic stop was sentenced April 25, 2025, to more than 9 years in federal prison consecutive to his state sentence.
Alpacino Lewis Jr., age 24, from Sioux City, received the prison term after a January 10, 2025, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon.
Lewis’ criminal possession of a stolen, loaded, semiautomatic firearm was discovered on February 14, 2024, after he attempted to flee from a traffic stop. He struck a police cruiser, drove over a parking meter, and sped away at a high rate of speed. He ultimately lost control of his vehicle and unsuccessfully attempted to escape on foot. During a search and further investigation, officers located a grinder with marijuana residue on Lewis’ person, the loaded firearm in his flight path, and three jars of THC Wax weighing a total of 112 grams and 4-THC vapes at a home he was sharing with another. Lewis has a criminal history including possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance – marijuana and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance – methamphetamine.
Lewis was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 110 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 1-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. This is consecutive to the independent state sentence Lewis is already serving.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Lewis is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by Sioux City Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-4019.
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Sioux City Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Priest Morris, 21, from Sioux City, Iowa, pled guilty May 1, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City to possession of child pornography.
At the plea hearing, Morris admitted that from January 2024, through August 2024, he used the Discord, Twitter, Telegram, and Snapchat applications to receive, distribute, and possess visual depictions of child pornography including materials involving a prepubescent minor or minor under the age of 12. The Sioux City Police Department received two CyberTips from the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about a Snapchat account uploading child pornography. Law enforcement connected the account back to Morris and obtained a search warrant for his electronics. During the execution of the search warrant, Morris admitted he had received and possessed child pornography, and it would be located on his phone and iPad. Forensic analysis of his electronics showed that Morris possessed over 1,500 images and 6 videos of child pornography including materials that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct as well as infants and toddlers.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Morris remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Morris faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the Sioux City Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-4086.
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Seven Romanian nationals charged with immigration offensesRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – Seven Romanian nationals accused of crossing illegally from Canada into Montana appeared yesterday for arraignment, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Two defendants, Ionut Gheorghe, 27, and Adi Marinescu Gheorghe, 32, pleaded not guilty to transporting illegal aliens, which, if convicted, carries a maximum punishment of five years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. Adi Marinescu Gheorghe was also charged with illegal reentry of a removed alien, which is punishable by two years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
The other five defendants, Mihai Mahaela, 40, Sorin Sandu, 45, Conte Nicolae, 19, Alin Amadeus Musuroi, 23, and Lacrimoara Nicolae, 51, each pleaded not guilty to illegal entry of an alien. If convicted, they could be sentenced to up to six months in prison, fined $100,000, and placed on supervised release for one year.
Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston presided. All seven defendants were detailed pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that Ionut Gheorghe and Adi Marinescu Gheorghe were each driving a van on April 25, 2025. The other defendants were passengers in the vans, which the U.S. Border Patrol detected illegally crossing into the United States at approximately 2:30 a.m. Law enforcement located the vans traveling south on I-15, stopped the vehicles, took the occupants into custody, and transported them to the Sweetgrass Border Patrol Station for further investigation and processing. In total, the two vans contained 21 men, women, and children.
The United States Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case, and the United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
PACER case references: 25-50, 25-51, 25-52, 25-53, 25-54, 25-55, 25-56.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
Sapulpa Woman Sentenced for Second Degree MurderRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Sapulpa woman was sentenced today for Second Degree Murder in Indian Country, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Christin Brianna Kelley, 35, to 240 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.
Shortly after 4:00 a.m. on the morning of January 9th, 2024, Kelley and the victim, Isaac Smith, were sitting in a car in the parking lot of a gas station in Sand Springs. Kelley shot Isaac Smith several times, killing him. Law enforcement recovered the loaded pistol Kelley used in a trash can near the car.
Kelley is a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The FBI, the Sand Springs Police Department, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric O. Johnston and Stephen Flynn prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Santa Clarita Man Agrees to Plead Guilty to Hacking Disney Employee’s Computer, Downloading Confidential Data from CompanyRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Santa Clarita man has agreed to plead guilty to hacking the personal computer of an employee of The Walt Disney Company last year, obtaining login information, and using that information to illegally download confidential data from the Burbank-based mass media and entertainment conglomerate via the employee’s Slack online communications account.
Ryan Mitchell Kramer, 25, has agreed to plead guilty to an information charging him with one count of accessing a computer and obtaining information and one count of threatening to damage a protected computer.
In addition to the information, prosecutors today filed a plea agreement in which Kramer agreed to plead guilty to the two felony charges, which each carry a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.
Kramer is expected to make his initial appearance in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles in the coming weeks.
According to his plea agreement, in early 2024, Kramer posted a computer program on various online platforms, including GitHub, that purported to be computer program that could be used to create A.I.-generated art. In fact, the program contained a malicious file that enabled Kramer to gain access to victims’ computers.
Sometime in April and May of 2024, a victim downloaded the malicious file Kramer posted online, giving Kramer access to the victim’s personal computer, including an online account where the victim stored login credentials and passwords for the victim’s personal and work accounts.
After gaining unauthorized access to the victim’s computer and online accounts, Kramer accessed a Slack online communications account that the victim used as a Disney employee, gaining access to non-public Disney Slack channels. In May 2024, Kramer downloaded approximately 1.1 terabytes of confidential data from thousands of Disney Slack channels.
In July 2024, Kramer contacted the victim via email and the online messaging platform Discord, pretending to be a member of a fake Russia-based hacktivist group called “NullBulge.” The emails and Discord message contained threats to leak the victim’s personal information and Disney’s Slack data.
On July 12, 2024, after the victim did not respond to Kramer’s threats, Kramer publicly released the stolen Disney Slack files, as well as the victim’s bank, medical, and personal information on multiple online platforms.
Kramer admitted in his plea agreement that, in addition to the victim, at least two other victims downloaded Kramer’s malicious file, and that Kramer was able to gain unauthorized access to their computers and accounts.
The FBI is investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Restrepo and Maxwell Coll, both of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section, are prosecuting this case.
Rockford Man Sentenced to Eleven Years in Prison for Attempting to Import More Than Half a Kilogram of FentanylRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A Rockford man was sentenced today to eleven years in federal prison for attempting to import more than half a kilogram of fentanyl into the United States from Mexico.
BENIGNO SANCHEZ, 47, pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of attempting to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston imposed the sentence during a hearing in federal court in Rockford.
Sanchez admitted that in March 2023 he expected a package containing controlled substances to be delivered to him at an address in Rockford via FedEx from Mexico. Law enforcement agents intercepted the package, which contained more than 500 grams of fentanyl pressed into pills (designed to imitate opioid pills) that were hidden inside a wooden tortilla press. After detecting the fentanyl inside the package, law enforcement agents removed the drugs and delivered the package to Sanchez. Once delivered, Sanchez took custody of the package, drove it to another location, and opened it to take possession of what he believed to be the drugs.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent-in-Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ladd.
Rochester man pleads guilty to stealing $168-thousand dollars from his employerRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Michael Torres, 37, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy to financial institution fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of $1,000,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas A. C. Penrose, who is handling the case, stated that between September 2021 and February 2022, Torres was employed as a Relationship Manager at Financial Institution 1. While in this position, he misused his position to apply for loans through Financial Institution 1 in the names of individuals without their knowledge or authorization. Torres applied for 19 loans for a total of $168,000, which was deposited into bank accounts that he controlled.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.
Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
Rochester man going to prison for 15 years on gun and drug chargesRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Shawnle McClary, 49, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine and 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, was sentenced to serve 180 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Marangola, who handled the case, stated that between 2021 and January 17, 2024, McClary conspired with Timothy Jackson, Jr. a/k/a T a/k/a T-Rock, Gary Fuller a/k/a G, Felicia Collins a/k/a Keisha and others to sell cocaine and fentanyl. McClary regularly packaged cocaine for sale, and transported quantities of cocaine and fentanyl from a stash location at residences on Forester Street to stash and/or sale locations on Angle Street in Rochester. On January 17, 2024, law enforcement searched numerous locations in Rochester utilized by members of the conspiracy as well as McClary’s Mobile Drive residence in the Town of Greece. During the searches, approximately 805 grams of cocaine, 210 grams of fentanyl, 223 grams of cocaine, $7,682 in cash, seven loaded firearms, and drug paraphernalia were seized.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan Miller, and the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith.
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Ringleader of Bank Fraud Conspiracy Case Receives Lengthy Federal Prison SentenceRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Destane Glass, 24, of Shreveport, has been sentenced by United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. to 135 months in prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Glass was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $539,578. In addition, Judge Hicks ordered that Glass’s sentence run consecutive to a 37-month federal prison sentence she is currently serving for Payment Protection Program fraud, making her sentence a total of 172 months (14 years, 4 months).
According to evidence presented in court, beginning on or about January 1, 2021, and continuing through October 31, 2022, Glass and her co-conspirators conspired to commit bank fraud from USAA Savings Bank (USAA Bank), Navy Federal Credit Union, and JP Morgan Chase Bank. Glass was the ringleader of this conspiracy and directed and recruited others to participate in the scheme to defraud the banks. Glass was indicted, along with 20 other defendants, in April 2024 in connection with this federal bank fraud scheme.
USAA Bank was a financial institution whose deposits were insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Teleperformance was a multinational company that provided a wide variety of business services including operating a call center in Shreveport, Louisiana. The call center provided customer service for USAA Bank. Teleperformance employees had access to USAA Bank customer information including, but not limited to, customer names, the age of customers, account balances, and account numbers. Glass was not an employee of Teleperformance but conspired with others who were to execute a scheme to defraud USAA Bank.
As part of the conspiracy, Glass worked with her co-defendants to improperly obtain account holder information so that the information could be used by Glass to create counterfeit USAA Bank checks. She instructed her co-defendants to target elderly bank customers whose bank accounts held high account balances as they would be less likely to regularly check their accounts. Glass created counterfeit checks on USAA Bank totaling $2,149,621 from accounts accessed by her co-defendants. After she created the checks, Glass used social media and other methods to recruit individuals in the Shreveport area with bank accounts to use their accounts to deposit the counterfeit checks.
Once the counterfeit checks were deposited into the accounts, Glass and others, worked to withdraw the funds at various locations to include area casinos. Glass and her co-conspirators would share the proceeds generated from negotiating the counterfeit checks.
ZarRajah Z. Watkins, 23, of Shreveport, who also participated in this scheme and was charged as a defendant in this case was sentenced today. Watkins pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and was sentenced to 37 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $397,930.
All of the other defendants charged in this case have now pleaded guilty and received their sentences.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police and Shreveport Police Department and was prosecuted by Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook.
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Raytheon Companies and Nightwing Group to Pay $8.4M to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Relating to Non-Compliance with Cybersecurity Requirements in Federal ContractsRead the Press Release
Raytheon Company (Raytheon), RTX Corporation, and Nightwing Group LLC, and Nightwing Intelligence Solutions LLC (collectively, Nightwing), have agreed to pay $8.4 million to resolve allegations that Raytheon violated the False Claims Act by failing to comply with cybersecurity requirements in contracts or subcontracts involving the Department of Defense (DoD). Raytheon is a subsidiary of Arlington, Virginia-based defense contractor RTX Corporation (formerly known as Raytheon Technologies Corporation). In March 2024, RTX Corporation sold its Cybersecurity, Intelligence, and Services business, which since became part of Dulles, Virginia-based Nightwing. The settlement resolves conduct that allegedly occurred between 2015 and 2021, prior to Nightwing’s acquisition of the business.
The settlement was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov Roth, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Special Agent in Charge Kenneth DeChellis of the Department of Defense Criminal Investigative Service Cyber Field Office, Special Agent in Charge William W. Richards of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), Special Agent in Charge Keith K. Kelly of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Fraud Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross, NCIS Economic Crimes Field Office.
“Cyber threats have grown in size and reach in recent years, leaving no room for complacency among those in the public sector, private sector, or even among private citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. for the District of Columbia. “Government contractors must comply with the cybersecurity rules that govern their performance and be candid about their compliance. This settlement reflects the Government’s commitment to pursue contractors that fail to live up to those expectations.”
“As cyber threats continue to evolve, it is critical that defense contractors take the required steps to protect sensitive government information from bad actors,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov Roth of the Justice Department's Civil Division. “We will continue our efforts to hold contractors accountable when they fail to honor their DoD cybersecurity commitments.”
The settlement resolves allegations that Raytheon and its then-subsidiary Raytheon Cyber Solutions, Inc. (RCSI), failed to implement required cybersecurity controls on an internal development system that was used to perform unclassified work on certain DoD contracts. The United States alleged that Raytheon and RCSI failed to develop and implement a system security plan for the system, as required by DoD cybersecurity regulations, and failed to ensure that the system complied with other cybersecurity requirements contained in the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 252.204-7012 and Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.204-21. FAR 52.204-21 requires federal contractors to apply basic safeguarding requirements to information systems that process or store federal contract information. DFARS 252.204-7012 requires contractors to provide adequate security for information systems that process or store covered defense information. The settlement resolved allegations that Raytheon used its noncompliant internal system to develop, use, or store covered defense information and federal contract information during its performance on 29 DoD contracts and subcontracts.
“The Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the law enforcement arm of the DoD Office of Inspector General, is steadfastly committed to upholding the integrity of all business systems used to process and store defense information,” said Special Agent in Charge DeChellis of the DCIS Cyber Field Office. “DCIS, along with our investigative partners, will continue to protect our service members and military technological edge by ensuring defense contractors strictly adhere to their cyber security contractual obligations.”
“Failure to implement cybersecurity requirements can have devastating consequences, leaving sensitive DoD data vulnerable to cyber threats and malicious actors,” said Special Agent in Charge William Richards of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations Procurement Fraud Office, Andrew AFB, Md. “AFOSI, alongside our investigative partners and the Department of Justice, will continue to combat fraud affecting the Department of the Air Force and hold those accountable that fail to properly safeguard sensitive defense information.”
“This settlement further demonstrates the resolve of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division and our law enforcement partners to protect and defend the assets of the United States Army,” said Special Agent in Charge Keith K. Kelly of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Fraud Field Office.”
“Strict compliance with contractual cybersecurity requirements is of dire importance to adequately safeguard sensitive information from sophisticated adversaries, assure the safety of our warfighters, and maintain our military’s competitive edge,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross, NCIS Economic Crimes Field Office. “NCIS and our federal partners remain committed to investigating entities that do not responsibly protect critical information entrusted to them.”
The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to sue on behalf of the government when they believe that a defendant has submitted false claims for government funds and receive a share of any recovery. The settlement in this case provides for the whistleblower, Branson Kenneth Fowler, Sr., a former Director of Engineering with Raytheon, to receive a $1,512,000 share of the settlement amount. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Doe v. Raytheon Co. et al., No. 21-cv-2343 (D.D.C.).
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, with assistance from the Air Force Materiel Command, AFOSI, DCIS, NCIS, and Army Criminal Investigation Division.
The matter was investigated by Assistant U.S. Attorney Darrell Valdez of the District of Columbia and Senior Trial Counsel Kimberly Friday of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Raytheon Companies and Nightwing Group to Pay $8.4 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Relating to Non-Compliance with Cybersecurity Requirements in Federal ContractsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Raytheon Company (Raytheon), RTX Corporation, and Nightwing Group, LLC, and Nightwing Intelligence Solutions, LLC (collectively, Nightwing), have agreed to pay $8.4 million to resolve allegations that Raytheon violated the False Claims Act by failing to comply with cybersecurity requirements in contracts or subcontracts involving the Department of Defense (DoD). Raytheon is a subsidiary of Arlington, Virginia-based defense contractor RTX Corporation (formerly known as Raytheon Technologies Corporation). In March 2024, RTX Corporation sold its Cybersecurity, Intelligence, and Services business, which since became part of Dulles, Virginia-based Nightwing. The settlement resolves conduct that allegedly occurred between 2015 and 2021, prior to Nightwing’s acquisition of the business.
The settlement was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov Roth, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Special Agent in Charge Kenneth DeChellis of the Department of Defense Criminal Investigative Service Cyber Field Office, Special Agent in Charge William W. Richards of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), Special Agent in Charge Keith K. Kelly of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Fraud Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross, NCIS Economic Crimes Field Office.
“Cyber threats have grown in size and reach in recent years, leaving no room for complacency among those in the public sector, private sector, or even among private citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Martin. “Government contractors must comply with the cybersecurity rules that govern their performance and be candid about their compliance. This settlement reflects the Government’s commitment to pursue contractors that fail to live up to those expectations.”
“As cyber threats continue to evolve, it is critical that defense contractors take the required steps to protect sensitive government information from bad actors,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Roth. “We will continue our efforts to hold contractors accountable when they fail to honor their DoD cybersecurity commitments.”
The settlement resolves allegations that Raytheon and its then-subsidiary Raytheon Cyber Solutions, Inc. (RCSI), failed to implement required cybersecurity controls on an internal development system that was used to perform unclassified work on certain DoD contracts. The United States alleged that Raytheon and RCSI failed to develop and implement a system security plan for the system, as required by DoD cybersecurity regulations, and failed to ensure that the system complied with other cybersecurity requirements contained in the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 252.204-7012 and Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.204-21. FAR 52.204-21 requires federal contractors to apply basic safeguarding requirements to information systems that process or store federal contract information. DFARS 252.204-7012 requires contractors to provide adequate security for information systems that process or store covered defense information. The settlement resolved allegations that Raytheon used its noncompliant internal system to develop, use, or store covered defense information and federal contract information during its performance on 29 DoD contracts and subcontracts.
“The Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the law enforcement arm of the DoD Office of Inspector General, is steadfastly committed to upholding the integrity of all business systems used to process and store defense information,” said DCIS Cyber Field Office Special Agent in Charge DeChellis. “DCIS, along with our investigative partners, will continue to protect our service members and military technological edge by ensuring defense contractors strictly adhere to their cyber security contractual obligations.”
“Failure to implement cybersecurity requirements can have devastating consequences, leaving sensitive DoD data vulnerable to cyber threats and malicious actors,” said Special Agent in Charge William Richards of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations Procurement Fraud Office, Andrew AFB, Md. “AFOSI, alongside our investigative partners and the Department of Justice, will continue to combat fraud affecting the Department of the Air Force and hold those accountable that fail to properly safeguard sensitive defense information.”
“This settlement further demonstrates the resolve of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division and our law enforcement partners to protect and defend the assets of the United States Army,” said Special Agent in Charge Keith K. Kelly of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Fraud Field Office.”
“Strict compliance with contractual cybersecurity requirements is of dire importance to adequately safeguard sensitive information from sophisticated adversaries, assure the safety of our warfighters, and maintain our military’s competitive edge,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross, NCIS Economic Crimes Field Office. “NCIS and our federal partners remain committed to investigating entities that do not responsibly protect critical information entrusted to them.”
The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to sue on behalf of the government when they believe that a defendant has submitted false claims for government funds and receive a share of any recovery. The settlement in this case provides for the whistleblower, Branson Kenneth Fowler, Sr., a former Director of Engineering with Raytheon, to receive a $1,512,000 share of the settlement amount. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Doe v. Raytheon Co., et al., No. 21-cv-2343 (D.D.C.).
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, with assistance from the Air Force Materiel Command, AFOSI, DCIS, NCIS, and Army Criminal Investigation Division.
The matter was investigated by Assistant U.S. Attorney Darrell Valdez of the District of Columbia and Senior Trial Counsel Kimberly Friday of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Prosecutors in CDCA Charge 45 Defendants with Being Illegal Aliens in U.S. Following Removal – a 3,755% Increase from Previous YearRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Federal prosecutors in the Central District of California this week criminally charged 45 defendants who allegedly illegally re-entered the United States following removal, bringing the total number of defendants charged with this crime since January 20 of this year to 347, a year-over-year increase of 3,755%, the Justice Department announced today.
The defendants charged were previously convicted of felonies before they were removed from the United States, offenses that include attempted burglary and forgery.
Since the change in administration this year, federal prosecutors in the seven-county Central District, which includes Los Angeles, have aggressively pursued criminal illegal aliens. In comparison, federal prosecutors in 2024 charged a total of nine defendants with Title 8 United States Code § 1326 – illegal re-entry following removal. In 2023, the office charged eight such defendants.
“The government has a duty to protect its citizens,” said United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “During the prior administration, this office abdicated its duty by effectively failing to prosecute any illegal re-entry cases. Those days are over. Criminal illegal aliens will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“The difference in numbers is staggering,” said United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd M. Lyons. “Since January 20, this jurisdiction has prosecuted 347 illegal aliens for reentering the United States after removal — but last year, there were only nine of these prosecutions. That’s a 3,755% increase in just over a quarter of the time. Partnerships between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, ICE, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the FBI play a critical role in ensuring that individuals who pose threats to public safety are removed from our communities.”
The crime of being found in the United States following removal carries a base sentence of up to two years in federal prison. Defendants who were removed after being convicted of a felony face a maximum 10-year sentence and defendants removed after being convicted of an aggravated felony face a maximum of 20 years in federal prison.
The recently filed cases include the following defendants:
- Paulino González-García, 26, of Mexico, was charged via a federal criminal complaint with being an illegal alien found in the United States after removal. González-García was removed in 2018 and has two prior state convictions in Santa Barbara County Superior Court for driving under the influence (DUI). He is in state custody and charged with a third DUI offense. Assistant United States Attorney Christina A. Marquez of the Domestic Security and Immigration Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.
- Ricardo Cruz-García, 31, of Mexico, was charged via a federal criminal complaint with being an illegal alien found in the United States following removal. Cruz-García was removed in 2019. He has a 2018 conviction for attempted burglary and 2019 convictions in Orange County Superior Court for possession of a controlled substance, possession of unlawful paraphernalia, and forgery. Assistant United States Attorney Christina A. Marquez of the Domestic Security and Immigration Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.
Federal prosecutors this week also charged the following defendant:
- José Rosales Ramírez, 27, of Mexico, was charged via a federal criminal complaint with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. Ramirez was caught with possession of two firearms because of his involvement in an incident in Compton where it is alleged that he shot at a moving vehicle. Assistant United States Attorney Christina A. Marquez of the Domestic Security and Immigration Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.
A criminal complaint contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating these matters.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Pharmacy Owner Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax Returns with IRS and Admits to More Than $1 Million Tax LossRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Today, Moshe Gabay, 54, of Baltimore, Maryland — the owner of a Baltimore pharmacy — pled guilty to one count of filing false tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). On the fraudulent tax returns, Gabay underreported his income by more than $3.5 million which meant he owed more than $1 million in taxes.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington D.C. Field Office.
In his guilty plea, Gabay acknowledged that he owned and operated SINU-RX Pharmacy Inc. (SINU-RX), located in Baltimore. Gabay controlled SINU-RX’s finances and was responsible for directing interactions and providing information to SINU-RX’s bookkeepers and tax preparers.
From tax years 2017 through 2022, Gabay’s tax returns were filed on his behalf. Gabay’s tax returns included Form 1120S, U.S. Income Tax Return for an S Corporation, for SINU-RX and Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.
He intentionally and knowingly provided information to his bookkeepers and tax-return preparers that falsely categorized funds taken from SINU-RX. These funds were listed as business expenses, specifically for the cost of goods sold. But Gabay had diverted these funds to himself for his personal use. Pursuant to the guilty plea, Gabay agreed to pay restitution of more than $1 million.
Gabay faces a maximum sentence of three years in federal prison for filing a false tax return. 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 IRS-CI for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared W. Murphy and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew P. Phelps who are prosecuting the federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Passaic County Man Admits to Using an Explosive to Damage a Chase Bank ATMRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Passaic County man admitted to using an explosive to damage a Chase Bank Automated Teller Machine (“ATM”) in Prospect Park, New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.
Nicolas Torres, 42, of Passaic, New Jersey pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Julien X. Neals in Newark federal court to a one-count information charging him with using an explosive to damage real property used in interstate commerce.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In the early morning hours of July 5, 2022, Torres was captured on surveillance video approaching the Chase Bank ATM in Prospect Park, New Jersey and igniting an item in front of the ATM. Several seconds later, an explosion was seen at the ATM. Torres was seen fleeing the location with two individuals.
In addition to the surveillance video, cellular phone location data placed Torres in the area of the Chase Bank at the time of the explosion. The investigation also revealed that Torres had traveled to Pennsylvania the day before and purchased approximately $1,000 worth of fireworks.
The use of an explosive to damage real property used in interstate commerce charge carries a statutory minimum of 5 years in prison, a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for September 9, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly, and the Prospect Park Police Department, under the direction of Chief William Rausch, with the investigation leading to today’s plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vera Varshavsky of the U.S. Attorney’s National Security Unit in Newark.
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Defense counsel: Adalgiza A. Núñez, Office of the Public Defender
torres.information.pdfOrleans Parish Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking and Carrying a Firearm During Drug Trafficking OffenseRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that DEVIN HILLIARD, age 49, of New Orleans, was sentenced on April 24, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon, for selling drugs and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking offense.
According to court documents, DEVIN HILLIARD was engaged in drug trafficking in the New Orleans area and was apprehended carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking offense.
The defendant was sentenced to sixty-six (66) months of imprisonment followed by five (5) years of supervised release. The defendant was also ordered to pay a mandatory special assessment fee of three hundred dollars.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Richard R. Pickens, II of the Financial Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
New York City Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Transport Money Stolen from Skill Game MachinesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of New York, New York, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of conspiracy to transport stolen money in interstate commerce, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Wander Paulino Pena, 29, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, between April 2022 and June 2023, Pena participated in a conspiracy in which he and several other individuals from New York traveled to Pennsylvania and Virginia, broke into skill game machines across dozens of stores, stole the cash that was inside the machines, and then traveled back to New York with the cash. Through the conspiracy, Pena and his conspirators caused losses estimated at more than $500,000.
Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for September 4, 2025. The law provides for a total maximum sentence of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Secret Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, and multiple police departments throughout Pennsylvania and Virginia conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Pena.
Muncie Area Tax Preparer Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for Filing Nearly 400 False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS— Christina Moles, a/k/a Tina Lashley, 50, of Redkey, Indiana has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to wire fraud and aiding and assisting the making of a false federal income tax return. Moles has also been ordered to pay $567,010 in restitution.
According to court documents, between 2015 and 2021, Christina Moles executed a tax fraud scheme in which she falsified 382 federal income tax returns for numerous clients without their knowledge. During this time, Moles was a tax return preparer and frequently attracted customers by advertising that her business would guarantee large refunds. Many of Moles’ customers received between $5,000-$10,000 in refunds despite having modest incomes.
To increase the amount of refunds her clients would receive, Moles falsely stated that her clients qualified for the American Opportunity Tax Credit (“AOTC”). The AOTC is a credit for qualified education expenses paid for an eligible student for the first four years of higher education. Taxpayers can get a maximum annual credit of $2,500 per eligible student. To be eligible to claim the AOTC, a taxpayer (or a dependent) must have received a Form 1098-T, Tuition Statement, from an eligible educational institution.
For these false tax returns, Moles claimed that her clients incurred educational expenses to either Ivy Tech or Penn Foster online college. In reality, none of these clients had any education expenses and did not attend Ivy Tech or Penn Foster. In addition, neither institution provided a Form 1098-T, Tuition Statement, which Moles would have needed to claim qualified educational expenses for her clients.
The defendant’s clients received tax credits to which they were not entitled, and therefore the IRS provided them with larger tax refunds than they should have.
As a result of this scheme, Moles’ clients received tax credits to which they were not entitled, causing a loss to the Internal Revenue Service of approximately $567,010.
“Due to the defendant’s deceit, the United States lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in unjustified refunds. Even more troubling, her unsuspecting customers faced the threat of audits and the repayment of thousands of dollars they wrongly received, all because they trusted her business practices,” said John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Filing or preparing false tax returns is a serious offense that deprives the government of vital revenue for public services, and today’s sentence serves as a strong warning to anyone considering engaging in such fraudulent activity.”
“Christina Moles exploited a tax credit designed to ease the burden of higher education—twisting it into a tool for fraud,” said Ramsey E. Covington, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “Her deceit didn’t just cheat the system; it undermined a benefit intended to help families invest in their futures. When trust is traded for profit, everyone pays the price.”
“As postal inspectors, it is our mission to investigate criminal matters involving the integrity and security of the U.S. Postal Service. Our partnership with IRS-CI is one of many ways we are able to do that,” said Acting Inspector in Charge Sean McStravick. “I am proud of the work in this case by both agencies, which led to the successful prosecution of an individual who violated the law, and her clients’ trust, hundreds of times, and cost taxpayers over half a million dollars in misallocated funds.”
IRS-CI and USPIS investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney II.
Acting U.S. Attorney Childress thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Eakman, who prosecuted this case.
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Mexican national sentenced in drug trafficking conspiracyRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas –A Mexican national has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr.
Willy Armando Ramirez-Garcia, 34, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 320 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on May 1, 2025.
According to information presented in court, from January 2021 to May 2021, Ramirez-Garcia was illegally in the United States, but operated as the leader of a methamphetamine trafficking organization in Texas. The group was responsible for smuggling liquid methamphetamine into the U.S. from Mexico by using bladders hidden within diesel tanks of commercial tractor trailers. The liquid methamphetamine would be transported to the North Texas area where it was then converted into crystal methamphetamine. The methamphetamine was stored at a stash house in Dallas where it would be retrieved by couriers for distribution in kilogram quantities.
In January 2021, the investigation revealed that the drug trafficking organization included a local narcotics broker, Rosa Velasco De Ballin, her source of supply, Ivan Dejesus Suastes-Cruz, and other co-conspirators, operating from a stash house in Dallas, and a ranch in Kemp, where the methamphetamine was “cooked.” Angel Rodriguez-Campuzano was identified as a distributor working for Suastes-Cruz. It was also determined that Suastes-Cruz and co-conspirators, Juan Fuentez and German Zapata, worked at the direction of Ramirez-Garcia. They assisted in transporting and distributing the methamphetamine, finding buyers, and obtaining properties to store and manufacture the methamphetamine. As a result, a search warrant was obtained for the stash house in Dallas, where approximately 40 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and 25 kilograms of liquid methamphetamine were found. The ranch in Kemp was also searched and a meth conversion lab was discovered. In all, agents seized 66 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and 25 kilograms of liquid methamphetamine. For their involvement, these co-defendants were previously sentenced to the following terms of imprisonment: De Ballin - 168 months; Rodriguez-Campuzano-295 months; Suastes-Cruz - 240 months; Fuentez - 300 months; and Zapata - 270 months.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Collin County Sheriff’s Office, Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, and Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Wes Wynne.
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Mexican National Sentenced to 60 Months for Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Armando Puentes-Melendez, 38, of Mexico, was sentenced on April 24, 2025, by United States District Judge Scott H. Rash to 60 months in prison. Puentes-Melendez previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine.
On January 18, 2024, law enforcement agents intercepted a drug transaction involving over 100 pounds of methamphetamine. Puentes-Melendez and two co-conspirators met with an undercover agent in Phoenix to facilitate the drug deal. While the methamphetamine was being retrieved from a nearby stash house, Puentes-Melendez discussed potential future drug transactions with the undercover agent. Once law enforcement confirmed the drugs were en route, agents moved in and arrested Puentes-Melendez and his co-conspirators.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR24-00681-TUC-SHR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-069_Puentes-Melendez# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Mexican National Sentenced for Illegal Reentry after DeportationRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Mexican man convicted of Illegal Reentry after Deportation. The sentencing took place on April 29, 2025.
Elver Cerecedo-Tellez, 30, was sentenced to time served and ordered to be removed from the United States.
Cerecedo-Tellez was indicted for Illegal Reentry after Deportation by a federal grand jury in February 2025. He pleaded guilty on March 21, 2025.
Cerecedo-Tellez is a non-citizen of the United States and a Mexican national. Cerecedo-Tellez was deported from the United States to Mexico in 2018 and was found back in the United States in May of 2024. Reentering the United States after deportation is a felony.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.
Cerecedo-Tellez was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Meridian Man Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison for Possession of a MachinegunRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Meridian, Mississippi, man was sentenced today to 27 months in prison for possession of a machinegun.
According to court documents, Demetriz Romelo Hopson, 25, was found by law enforcement officers in possession of a Glock 9mm handgun that had been equipped with a machinegun conversion device or “switch” while Hopson was attending a football game on the campus of Meridian High School. Hopson pleaded guilty to the charged conduct on January 8, 2025.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement.
The ATF investigated the case with assistance from the Meridian Schools Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Goff prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Mercer County Man Sentenced for Armed Cocaine Trafficking and Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Harrodsburg, Ky., man, Wayne Jerome Johnson, 46, was sentenced on Monday by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove to 300 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, on November 17, 2021, law enforcement observed Johnson distributing drugs out of two rooms at the Economy Inn in Harrodsburg and conducted an authorized search of those rooms, finding over 50 grams of a methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl mixture, as well as 32 grams of cocaine in separate bags. Law enforcement also found a loaded pistol, ammunition, magazines, cash, and other drug trafficking paraphernalia. Johnson admitted to possessing the drugs with intent to distribute and possessing the firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Also, Johnson was aware at the time of his arrest that he had prior felony convictions and was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Johnson had previously been convicted of two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance first degree in Mercer Circuit Court in October 2000, and one count of trafficking in a controlled substance first degree in Mercer Circuit Court in 2018.
Under federal law, Johnson must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for eight years.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, and Chief Scott Elder, Harrodsburg Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by ATF, KSP, and Harrodsburg Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger West is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Member of Violent Gang Sentenced to Nearly Five Years in Prison for Racketeering and Firearm and Drug Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston-area man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in Cameron Street, a violent Boston gang.
Jonathan Darosa, a/k/a “Jeezy,” 32, of Boston, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 57 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In January 2025, Darosa pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise (more commonly referred to as RICO or racketeering conspiracy); one count of being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition; one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and oxycodone; and one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
Over the course of a two-year investigation, Darosa was identified as a member of Cameron Street. On two separate occasions, Darosa distributed cocaine and oxycodone to a cooperating witness. Additionally, in an interaction with law enforcement, Darosa threatened officers, telling them “If I had a gun on me, I would have shot at you,” “I am not going back to jail,” and “I keep it on my hip.” In April 2021 in Dorchester, law enforcement observed Darosa wearing a “waist bag” across his chest – law enforcement had recovered firearms from similar bags in the past. During a search of Darosa’s person, a Taurus 9 millimeter semi-automatic pistol containing 12 rounds of assorted 9 millimeter ammunition, including one round in the chamber, was recovered.
According to court documents, Cameron Street is a violent gang based largely in the Dorchester section of Boston that used violence and threats of violence to preserve, protect and expand its territory, promote a climate of fear and enhance its reputation.
Darosa has been convicted on three prior occasions of unlawful possession of a firearm, including a 2016 conviction in Suffolk Superior Court for which he served a three-year prison sentence.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Feld Division; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office; Suffolk, Plymouth, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorney’s Offices; and the Canton, Quincy, Randolph, Somerville, Brockton, Malden, Stoughton, Rehoboth and Pawtucket (R.I.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Charles Dell’Anno of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.
This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The remaining defendants named in the indictment are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Maryland Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Assault on Baltimore Cruise ShipRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Today, U.S. District Judge Julie R. Rubin sentenced Jalen Thomas Kelley, 22, of Abingdon, Maryland, to 20 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. On December 12, 2024, after a two-week trial, a federal jury convicted Kelley of aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, and assault.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office.
According to the evidence presented at trial, between January 1 and January 2, 2023, Kelley forcibly raped and assaulted Victim 1 aboard the Carnival Legend. The cruise vessel was scheduled to return to Baltimore on January 2. In addition to the charged offenses, during trial, prosecutors presented testimony from six other individuals who alleged Kelley sexually assaulted them on separate occasions.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI for its work in the investigation, and the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office; Harford County Sherriff’s Office; Union County, North Carolina, District Attorney’s Office; Wingate University Campus Safety; Wingate, North Carolina Police Department; and Wingate Police Department for their valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean R. Delaney and Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn who prosecuted the federal case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s 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, visit www.justice.gov/psc. Click the “Resources” tab on the left side of the page to learn about Internet safety education.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Marty Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Federal Prison for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and KidnappingRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange has sentenced a Marty, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and Kidnapping. The sentencing took place on April 25, 2025.
Ellery Zephier, age 39, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200, and restitution in the amount of $22,260.
Zephier was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2024. Following his trial in January, he was found guilty. The conviction stemmed from incidents between July 20-25, 2024, when Zephier kidnapped and held a woman against her will in his home in Marty and assaulted her resulting in the infliction of serious bodily injury.
This matter is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Yankton Sioux Law Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paige Petersen and Ann M. Hoffman prosecuted the case.
Zephier was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Marathon County Woman Sentenced to 2 ½ Years for Conspiring to Traffic MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Jessica L. Colby, 29, Stratford, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 30 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. This prison term will be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Colby pleaded guilty to this charge on January 31, 2025.
In early 2024, investigators with the Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force began investigating a group of individuals who were distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine in the Marathon County area. Colby was identified as a facilitator for the group.
Following a series of controlled purchases of methamphetamine involving other co-defendants in March and April 2024, task force officers executed a search warrant a residence that Colby shared with co-defendant Joshua Lake. Officers found approximately 2 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1 kilogram of cocaine, 2 rifles, over $24,000 in cash, drug ledgers, and other drug trafficking paraphernalia during the search.
Further investigation revealed that between January 22, 2024, and April 15, 2024, Colby assisted in the distribution of approximately 23 kilograms of methamphetamine and 6 kilograms of cocaine. Colby assisted by picking up and delivering bulk shipments of drugs – at times on her own, as well as making payments to the cartel-connected sources of supply. In addition, Colby admitted to having her own drug customers.
At sentencing, Judge Conley weighed the severity of Colby’s conduct, including the large quantities of drugs involved and her active role in the conspiracy, against her lack of a prior criminal record and her extraordinary conduct while on pretrial release.
Three others were charged in connection with this drug trafficking conspiracy. Mercadys Perkins was convicted of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and sentenced to 6 years in federal prison on April 17, 2025. Dustin Brunker was convicted of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and sentenced to 7 years in federal prison on April 24, 2025. Joshua Lake has pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 4, 2025.
The charge against Colby was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force comprised of investigators from the FBI, Wisconsin State Patrol, Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation, 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. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force also assisted with the case. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force consists of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. The Marathon County District Attorney’s Office also assisted with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson prosecuted this case.
Make DC Safe Again Initiative Continues to Build MomentumRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office brought federal firearms charges against 24 defendants in the month of April —more than twice the monthly average since January 2021— and bringing the total number of firearms prosecutions under the Make D.C. Safe Again initiative to 42 since its inception, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office charged 24 defendants with federal firearms offenses. This marks the highest number of case adoptions since before January 2021. The surge has taken more dangerous offenders off the streets. Examples of these cases include:
- Baltimore Man Indicted on Federal Gun Charge Following Foot Chase in Southeast
- Arrest in Chinatown Results in Illegal Firearm Charge
- Defendant Charged with Illegal Gun Possession in Superior Court Now Faces Federal Firearm Charge
- District Man Indicted for Illegal Firearm Possession Following Arrest in Northeast D.C.
- Felon Charged with Possession of Firearm Following Arrest in Southeast
Make D.C. Safe Again is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful. Make D.C. Safe Again aims to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenses, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Metropolitan Police Department are investigating these cases.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
MS-13 Gang Member who Led Transnational Fentanyl Distribution Operation from Inside State Prison Sentenced to 17 Years by South Florida Federal JudgeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A district judge in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. has sentenced an MS-13 gang member and leader of a transnational drug trafficking organization (DTO) to 210 months in federal prison for running a fentanyl distribution ring, some of which he did from inside a state prison.
Mario Clifford Rivera (a/k/a “Chuky”), 32, is a member of MS-13, a designated foreign terrorist organization. From at least 2022, Rivera used the U.S. Postal Service to distribute fentanyl smuggled into the United States from Mexico. The fentanyl’s travel path: over the wall from Mexico to California, then to Florida by mail for distribution by Rivera and the DTO dealers he controlled.
In early 2023, while free on bond waiting to report to state prison to serve three years for felon in possession of a firearm, throwing a deadly missile into an occupied vehicle, and aggravated assault crimes, Rivera offered to sell two kilograms of fentanyl to a buyer in Florida, some of which was purchased. Once inside state prison, Rivera continued managing and supervising his DTO. He used prison phones and a contraband cell phone to communicate with his dealers on the outside. Rivera directed them on how to sell fentanyl and what prices to charge, all while making sure that he received his share of the drug proceeds.
Rivera was responsible in this case for distributing over three kilograms of fentanyl. He pled guilty to drug trafficking charges and will begin serving his federal sentence once he completes his state sentence.
“Rivera’s 17-year federal prison sentence should serve as a warning to MS-13 and other terrorist gangs who seek to flood our communities with deadly poisons like fentanyl: Whether you operate on the streets or behind prison walls, we will identify your leaders and members, dismantle your networks, and hold you accountable using the full force of American law,” said U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rinku Tribuiani for the Southern District of Florida prosecuted this case.
FBI Miami; U.S. Postal Inspection Service Miami Division; DEA Miami Field Division; Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami Field Division, and Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office investigated it.
“The safety of South Florida communities is our top priority,” said acting Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of FBI Miami. “Shutting down drug trafficking networks like Rivera's is a key step towards achieving this priority. Our long-standing partnerships with USPIS Miami, DEA Miami, HSI Miami and the Palm Beach County Sheriff's office were crucial to this successful investigation. Let this case serve as a warning to MS-13 and other gangs who terrorize communities with violence and sow misery through drug trafficking: these activities will not be tolerated.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to ensuring the U.S. Mail is not used as a tool to distribute dangerous drugs, like fentanyl, to our communities, said Miami Division acting Inspector in Charge Steven L. Hodges. “The sentence handed down should serve as a reminder that we remain steadfast with our law enforcement partners to bring those who engage in drug trafficking through the mail to justice.”
“We and our law enforcement partners will continue to pursue and arrest those who flood our communities with illicit, dangerous, and highly-addictive drugs,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “It is our top priority to protect our citizens and get these gang members off our streets.”
“Homeland Security Investigations and our law enforcement partners have a clear message: those who traffic deadly narcotics and endanger our communities through gang violence will face the full force of justice,” said acting Special Agent in Charge Jose Figueroa of HSI Miami Field Division. “HSI remains relentless in dismantling transnational criminal organizations like MS-13 and stopping the flow of fentanyl that continues to devastate families across our nation.”
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
It is also part of an OCDETF operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-80140.
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Las Cruces Couple Charged with Evidence Tampering in Federal Investigation of Suspected Gang MemberRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A former Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge and his wife are facing federal charges related to alleged evidence tampering in a case involving a suspected member of a Venezuelan criminal organization.
According to court records, on April 24, 2025, Jose Luis “Joel” Cano, 67, and Nancy Ann Cano, 68, were arrested at their Las Cruces home following a federal investigation into their connection with Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, an undocumented Venezuelan national suspected of being affiliated with the Tren de Aragua gang. Federal authorities allege that the Canos hired Ortega-Lopez for home repairs and later allowed him to reside in their guesthouse.
On February 28, 2025, Ortega-Lopez was arrested at the Cano residence and charged with being an illegal alien in possession of firearms. Investigators identified evidence, including clothing, tattoos, and social media content, which indicates Ortega-Lopez’s association with Tren de Aragua, a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).
Following Ortega-Lopez’s arrest, authorities allege that Jose Cano destroyed a cellphone belonging to Ortega-Lopez by smashing it with a hammer and discarding the remains, believing it contained incriminating photos and videos. Nancy Cano is accused of conspiring to delete Ortega-Lopez’s Facebook account to eliminate evidence.
“The allegations against Judge Dugan and Judge Cano are serious: no one, least of all a judge, should obstruct law enforcement operations," said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. "Doing so imperils the safety of our law enforcement officers and undermines the rule of law. The Department of Justice will continue to follow the facts — no one is above the law.”
“Sanctuary jurisdictions that shield criminal aliens endanger American communities,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “This Justice Department will not stand by as local officials put politics over public safety. Reckless sanctuary city policies create a sanctuary for one class—criminals. Those days are over.”
Jose Cano is charged with tampering with evidence, while Nancy Cano faces conspiracy to tamper with evidence. Both have been released on $10,000 bond each, are prohibited from contacting Ortega-Lopez, and must restrict tenants and guests at their properties to those who can provide proof of citizenship or legal residency.
“Judges are responsible for upholding our country’s laws. It is beyond egregious for a former judge and his wife to engage in evidence tampering on behalf of a suspected Tren de Aragua gang member accused of illegally possessing firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison for the District of New Mexico. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to dismantling this foreign terrorist organization by disrupting its criminal operations in New Mexico. That starts by prosecuting those who support gang members — including judges.”
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Jason T. Stevens, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso, made the announcement today.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case with assistance from FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria Y. Armijo, Randy Castellano, and Elizabeth Tonkin is prosecuting the case.
View the Criminal Complaint (Jose Luis Cano).pdf View the Criminal Complaint (Nancy Cano).pdfA criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Lake County Convicted Felon Facing up to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Gregory Coleman III (28, Leesburg) has been arrested on an indictment charging him with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. If convicted, Coleman faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison.
According to the court records, Coleman has been convicted of four state felonies, including aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting law enforcement with violence, fleeing or attempting to elude, and possession of cocaine. Following these convictions, on November 4, 2023, Coleman sold a firearm to a confidential source who was working with federal law enforcement. Coleman told the source that he had more firearms, but he wanted to keep them for himself. As a convicted felon, Coleman is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Eustis Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Kentucky man sentenced to 10+ years in federal prison for attempted sex offenses against a child in southern IllinoisRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – A district judge sentenced a Paducah, Kentucky, man to 121 months’ imprisonment for attempting to entice a minor in southern Illinois to engage in illegal sexual activity.
In October, a federal jury returned guilty verdicts for Robert R. Rodriguez, 41, on one count of attempted enticement of a minor and one count of soliciting an obscene visual depiction of a minor.
“Those who target children for sex crimes sicken us all. The federal justice system will relentlessly pursue and prosecute these offenders to ensure they face severe consequences for their actions,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft.
According to court documents and evidence presented during the trial, Rodriguez initiated conversation with an undercover federal agent on an online social media platform in May 2023. In the messages, Rodriguez discussed meeting with a purported 9-year-old child to engage in sexual activity and requested child sexual abuse material.
On May 10, 2023, law enforcement arrested Rodriguez in Marion, Illinois, when he tried to meet with the purported 9-year-old child.
"This sentencing makes one thing clear: the FBI Springfield Field Office is taking decisive action to protect the children of Illinois. We will use every tool at our disposal to stop those who seek to do them harm, and with our partners at the Department of Justice, we will pursue the highest penalties for these crimes."
Following imprisonment, Rodriguez will serve seven years of supervised release.
FBI Springfield Field Office led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tom Leggans and David Sanders prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
Justice Department Files Complaints Against Hawaii, Michigan, New York and Vermont over Unconstitutional State Climate ActionsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department today filed complaints against the states of New York and Vermont over their “climate superfund laws.” In separate actions, the Justice Department yesterday filed lawsuits against the states of Hawaii and Michigan to prevent each state from suing fossil fuel companies in state court to seek damages for alleged climate change harms.
President Trump recently directed Attorney General Pamela Bondi to take action to stop the enforcement of state laws that unreasonably burden domestic energy development so that energy will once again be reliable and affordable for all Americans. These lawsuits advance President Trump’s directive in Executive Order 14260, Protecting American Energy from State Overreach.
“These burdensome and ideologically motivated laws and lawsuits threaten American energy independence and our country’s economic and national security,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The Department of Justice is working to ‘Unleash American Energy’ by stopping these illegitimate impediments to the production of affordable, reliable energy that Americans deserve.”
“When states seek to regulate energy beyond their constitutional or statutory authority, they harm the country’s ability to produce energy and they aid our adversaries,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The Department’s filings seek to protect Americans from unlawful state overreach that would threaten energy independence critical to the wellbeing and security of all Americans.”
According to the complaints filed yesterday in the U.S. District Courts for the District of Hawaii and the Western District of Michigan, Hawaii and Michigan intend to sue fossil fuel companies to seek damages for alleged climate change harms. The government alleges that these anticipated actions are preempted by the Clean Air Act and violate the Constitution. Such lawsuits burden energy production, force the American people to pay more for energy, and make the United States less able to defend itself from hostile foreign actors.
Complaints filed today in U.S. District Courts for the Southern District of New York and for the District of Vermont challenge expropriative laws passed by New York and Vermont. These “climate superfund” laws would impose strict liability on energy companies for their worldwide activities extracting or refining fossil fuels. The laws assess penalties for those businesses’ purported contributions to harms that those states allegedly are experiencing from climate change. The New York law seeks $75 billion from energy companies, while the Vermont law seeks an unspecified amount.
Today’s complaints allege that the New York Climate Change Superfund Act and the Vermont Climate Superfund Act are preempted by the federal Clean Air Act and by the federal foreign affairs power, and that they violate the U.S. Constitution. The Justice Department seeks a declaration that these state laws are unconstitutional and an injunction against their enforcement.
Complaints:
- Hawaii
- Michigan
- New York
- Vermont
Inmate previously convicted for child sexual abuse material found guilty of possessing more in his cellRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A federal jury convicted an inmate at the Petersburg Federal Correctional Institution (FCI Petersburg) yesterday for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on March 7, 2024, correctional officers at FCI Petersburg searched the cell of inmate James Skibinski, 61, and found him in possession of prison contraband photos. Skibinski’s personal property was collected from his cell and held by staff of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. On April 10, 2024, another correctional officer received information that Skibinski had a folder with hidden compartments where he kept altered images and photographs of children. The officer retrieved Skibinski’s property bags, located the folder, and found the hidden compartments. Inside these hidden compartments were envelopes containing images of young children that had been altered to depict the children engaging in sexual acts.
Skibinski faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to 20 years in prison when sentenced on Sept. 11. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr. accepted the verdict.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather H. Mansfield is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s 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.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-145.
Illegal Possession of Firearm and Distribution Quantities of PCP Net Felon a 72-Month Prison SentenceRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Timothy Eugene Taylor, 36, a previously convicted felon from the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 72-months in prison for being in illegal possession of a semiautomatic pistol and distribution quantities of PCP.
The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Taylor pleaded guilty on Oct. 1, 2024, to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon and unlawful possession with intent to distribute phencyclidine (PCP). In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss ordered Taylor to serve three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on August 11, 2023, members of the MPD’s Seventh District Crime Suppression Team were patrolling in a marked vehicle along the 300 block of Livingston Terrace, SE. The area is known to be a high-crime area, where crimes with firearms and gunshots are routinely reported. As the officers were driving, they passed Taylor and another male standing on the 4300 block of 3rd St., SE. Taylor was wearing a black satchel across his torso. One of the officers noticed a distinct L-shaped bulge protruding from the satchel.
The officers made a U-turn to talk with him. As they pulled up, the officers noticed that Taylor had moved the satchel and turned his body to obscure their view of the bag. Officers asked Taylor if he had a gun and if he would fold his bag in half. Taylor replied, “No, I live right here” and pointed to a nearby house. Officers exited their marked car to get a better look at the satchel. Taylor immediately fled into the building. Officers followed, found Taylor standing in front of an apartment door, and cuffed him. An officer opened the satchel and found a loaded Smith and Wesson M&P 9 2.0 9mm, semiautomatic pistol with 21 rounds loaded in its extended magazine. The officer also recovered from the satchel three vials of liquid phencyclidine, commonly known as PCP. The quantity of PCP was indicative of distribution rather than personal use.
Taylor has a previous felony conviction for illegal possession of a firearm.
This case was investigated by the MPD’s Seventh District Crime Suppression Team and the ATF. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Helfand.
23cr406
Idaho Falls Man Sentenced to 135 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – Andrew Clifford Meyer, 36, of Idaho Falls, was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced today.
According to court records, on August 18, 2023, officers contacted Meyer in the Fort Hall Casino parking lot, after receiving reports of a fight. After locating Meyer’s car, officers observed fentanyl pills through a window. Officers subsequently searched Meyer’s car and found approximately 12,000 fentanyl pills and a large quantity of cash. Meyer told officers the pills came from Arizona and admitted to selling fentanyl.
Meyer pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl on September 19, 2024. Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Meyer to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott commended the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Fort Hall Police Department and the Bingham County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Haycock prosecuted the case.
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Houston man admits to million-dollar electricity fraud schemeRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 51-year-old Houston resident has entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Daniel Rodriguez-Martinez created a fictitious company to conceal the proceeds of an electricity theft scheme.
From March 2021 to May 2024, Rodriguez-Martinez and others ran the scheme by creating a fake utility company to conceal profits. They used stolen personal information, including Social Security numbers, to open electricity accounts with real providers. The stolen identities were linked to actual service addresses, allowing customers to receive power while the billing responsibility fell on unsuspecting victims.
When providers shut off service for nonpayment, the group reopened accounts under new fake identities. In exchange for uninterrupted electricity, customers paid a flat fee of $80 per month to the fraudulent company. The operation allowed participants to avoid legitimate charges while the organizers profited from the deception.
Rodriguez-Martinez admitted to creating a fake electricity services company solely to conceal the theft scheme. He received payments from clients through peer-to-peer apps such as CashApp and Zelle, then transferred the funds into a business account to mask their origin.
Rodriguez-Martinez received at least $1.4 million as a result of the scheme.
As a part of his plea, he agreed to forfeit $456,859.76 in U.S. currency as well as his interest in multiple properties.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane accepted the plea and set sentencing for July 15. At that time, Rodriguez-Martinez faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine.
He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose A. Garcia prosecuted the case.
Honduras Man Sentenced for Fourth Illegal Reentry into U.S.Read the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Honduras pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of illegal reentry of a removed alien and was sentenced to time served of approximately 31 days of imprisonment and removal from the United States on his conviction, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy imposed the sentence on Julian Alberto Rios-Andasol, 31.
According to information presented to the Court, Rios-Andasol was arrested by the Moon Township Police Department for driving an unregistered vehicle and driving without a license, charges to which he pleaded guilty, according to the public docket. Following this encounter, immigration officials determined that Rios-Andasol was illegally present in the United States and arrested the defendant on March 29, 2025, on this charge. Rios-Andasol was previously removed from the United States on three separate occasions between 2013 and 2019, and had not received the required permission to be in the United States. Rios-Andasol has been in custody since his March arrest, and will be returned to immigration custody for his removal from the U.S., to which Rios-Andasol agreed as part of his plea and sentence.
Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Rios-Andasol.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, combat illegal immigration, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Harrisburg Man Indicted for Drug Trafficking and Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced Kyree Ross, 30, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number; and two counts of possession of firearms by a felon.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that on April 20, 2022, Ross possessed a firearm with an obliterated serial number. The indictment also alleges that on November 30, 2024, Ross possessed with the intent to distribute 28 grams of crack cocaine and possessed a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The indictment further alleges that Ross possessed a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Harrisburg Bureau of Police, and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Ford is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Ross faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Gun Trafficker Sentenced to 135 Months in Prison for Robbing ATF Agent with Machine GunRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Jonathan Manuel Flores was sentenced in federal court today to 135 months in prison for his role in an illegal firearms business and for robbing an undercover Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent at gun point during a machine gun deal gone wrong.
ATF special agents were conducting a months-long investigation into the trafficking of privately manufactured firearms, commonly referred to as “ghost guns,” and guns modified with illegal auto conversion devices that transform everyday firearms into dangerous machine guns, when the defendant decided to rob an undercover ATF special agent, instead of selling the agent the firearm.
During that deal on February 17, 2023, ATF special agents conducted an undercover operation in San Diego to purchase a Glock pistol with a full auto conversion device, commonly known as a “Glock Switch,” for $2,400.
In a meeting in the parking lot of Walmart on Murphy Canyon Road, the defendant insisted that the gun deal take place in the backseat of his car. The undercover agent got into the back seat of the defendant’s parked car as requested. When the undercover agent entered the car there were two other individuals seated in the driver’s seat and front passenger seat of the car. Once inside the car, Flores showed the agent a Glock pistol with an extended magazine inserted and a machinegun conversion device installed.
Although the agent asked to hold the firearm, Flores insisted the agent show and count the money first. As the undercover agent finished counting $2,000 in cash, the defendant pulled back the slide on the pistol to make it ready to shoot and pushed the muzzle into the undercover agent’s ribcage. He then said, “Get the f---- out of the car dog before I smoke you” while grabbing the cash from the agent’s hand. The agent successfully exited the vehicle. Flores and his two companions fled. Flores was later apprehended with the assistance of the San Diego Police Department.
“This robbery is a stark reminder of the extreme danger our agents face every day in their efforts to keep illegal firearms off our streets,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “We are grateful for our law enforcement partners working to keep these dangerous firearms out of the hands of felons.”
“ATF’s core mission is to protect the public by investigating and apprehending the most violent offenders in our communities,” said ATF Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Kenny Cooper. “It is an honor to work with our state, local, and federal partners to successfully carry out our public safety mission.” Cooper thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the El Cajon Police Department, and San Diego Police Department for working with ATF in the investigation, apprehension, and successful prosecution of Jonathan Manuel Flores.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Evangeline Dech and Alicia Williams.
DEFENDANT Case Number 23cr00512CAB
Jonathan Manuel Flores Age: 20 Chula Vista, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Assault on a Federal Officer with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon - 18 U.S.C. § 111(b)
Maximum Penalties: Twenty Years in prison; $250,000 fine
Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence - 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)
Maximum Penalty: Mandatory minimum seven years to life in prison, consecutive to any other term of imprisonment imposed as to Count 5; $250,000 fine
Engaging in the Business of Dealing Firearms Without a License - 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(1)(A), 923(a), and 924(a)(1)(D); Aiding and Abetting - 18 U.S.C. § 2
Maximum penalties: Five years in prison; $250,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Greenwood Man Will Serve over 17 Years for Conspiracy Involving over 6 Kilograms of Methamphetamine Shipped from U.S.-Mexico Border TownRead the Press Release
OXFORD, MS – Timothy Terrell Robinson, 31, was sentenced today to over 17 years in prison for conspiring to distribute more than fifty grams of methamphetamine.
The investigation began when law enforcement seized three packages sent through the United States Mail to Robinson from an individual in San Luis, Arizona, a town along the U.S.-Mexico border. During a subsequent search, officers discovered the packages contained methamphetamine with 97% purity. In total, Robinson’s conduct involved over 6 kilograms of methamphetamine that arrived in Greenwood, Mississippi.
U.S. District Court Judge Michael P. Mills sentenced Robinson to 212 months imprisonment followed by a three-year term of supervised release for the offense. Robinson will be ineligible for federal benefits for five years.
“Our citizens should have the right to expect that defendants who traffic dangerous and highly addictive drugs into the Northern District of Mississippi will face time in federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “Our office and our federal law enforcement partners at the Postal Inspection Service will continue to disrupt drug traffickers and reduce the harm they bring to our communities.”
“The Postal Service has no interest in being the unwitting accomplice to anyone using the U.S. Mail to distribute illegal drugs or other harmful substances,” said Shameka Jackson, Acting Postal Inspector in Charge of the Houston Division of the US Postal Inspection Service. “Postal inspectors will continue to work with our local and federal law enforcement partners to investigate and hold accountable those who misuse the U.S. Mail. We thank the members of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Marshals Service, for partnering with us to bring this criminal to justice.”
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, Oxford, Mississippi Domicile. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Howell Addison prosecuted the case.
Gillette man found guilty of trafficking methamphetamine from ColoradoRead the Press Release
Wade Schear, 41, of Gillette, Wyoming, was convicted by a federal jury on April 30 for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. The trial lasted nearly three days and was held before U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H Rankin.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation Central Enforcement Team began an investigation into the possession, transportation, and distribution of controlled substances in Natrona County. During the investigation, Schear was identified as a person of interest. On June 22, 2024, the Platte County Sheriff's Office conducted a traffic stop near Chugwater on a VW Bug driven by Schear. Deputies searched the vehicle after a K9 alerted to the presence of controlled substances. Deputies located approximately two pounds of methamphetamine hidden in a backpack that also contained multiple cell phones, over $800 in cash and Schear’s personal belongings. Trial evidence indicated Schear traveled several times from Wyoming to Colorado to obtain large quantities of methamphetamine for distribution in Wyoming.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 17. Schear faces a minimum of 10 years up to life imprisonment, followed by at least five years to life of supervised release, a $10 million fine, and a $100 special assessment.
The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation Central Enforcement Team and the Platte County Sheriff’s Office investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mackenzie R. Morrison and Eric Heimann prosecuted the case.
Case No. 24-CR-00136
Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 96 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Cantrell James, 34 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.
Cantrell James was sentenced to 96 months in prison followed by 30 months of supervised release
According to documents in the case, on November 6, 2024, law enforcement found James in possession of two firearms. James has an extensive criminal history including felony convictions for carrying a handgun without a license, failure to return to lawful detention, possession of cocaine, escape, felon carrying a handgun, and resisting law enforcement. As a convicted felon, James is prohibited from possessing the firearms in this case.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Fort Wayne Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Teresa L. Ashcraft.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Former Velda City Police Chief, Who Also Served as City’s Administrator, Accused of Stealing $313,000 from CityRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – The former police chief and city administrator of Velda City, Missouri was accused in an indictment Wednesday of fraudulently obtaining $313,420 in city funds through a series of fraudulent transactions.
Daniel Paulino, 51, was indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis with three counts of wire fraud.
The indictment says Paulino used the city’s credit card to make about 828 charges for his personal expenses totaling about $145,428. The indictment says Paulino used the city credit card on about 17 additional occasions to transfer Velda City funds totaling about $43,870 to a business he owned, R & B Towing, and one owned by his spouse, Renovations-STL. The city funds were ultimately transferred to either Paulino’s personal bank account or the account for another company he owned, D and H Towing, the indictment says.
Paulino caused about eight city checks to be issued in a total amount of about $34,374 to pay third party vendors for his personal expenses, the indictment says. One $25,500 city check was used to pay for a 2007 International tow truck that was then registered in Paulino’s name and used by Paulino’s privately-owned towing company, the indictment says. Paulino caused Automated Clearing House (ACH) transactions to be made from a city account to pay third party vendors for $2,575 in personal expenses, the indictment says.
Paulino also caused about 20 direct deposits totaling $30,667 in city funds, purportedly for additional payroll, into his personal account, the indictment says. He caused about 55 direct deposits of a total of about $54,693 in Velda City funds, purportedly for his spouse’s payroll, to be sent to his personal bank account, the indictment says. Paulino’s spouse was being paid for work that was not actually performed in the city’s public works division during the years 2021 through 2023 and Paulino used that money for his own personal expenses, the indictment says.
The indictment also alleges that Paulino caused three city checks totaling $1,800 to be fraudulently issued to him.
The money was transferred without the authority or knowledge of the city, its mayor, treasurer or Board of Aldermen, the indictment says. Paulino used the money for travel, automobiles, pool supplies, utilities at his personal residence and food and beverage charges, the indictment says.
During the scheme, Paulino transferred about $58,171 from his personal or business bank accounts to Velda City’s bank account or the city’s credit card to conceal his crimes, the indictment says.
Paulino was appointed to the city administrator position in 2021. He was police chief until the department was dissolved in 2024.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith is prosecuting the case.