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Friday 14 March 2025
Former Customs and Border Protection Officer Sentenced for Abducting and Sexually Assaulting a Minor VictimRead the Press Release
Aaron Thomas Mitchell, 30, a former U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer, was sentenced to 27 years in prison for abducting a 15-year-old female middle school student, driving her to his apartment, and repeatedly sexually assaulting her.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Mitchell found the child waiting for school to start, introduced himself as a law enforcement officer, and ordered the child into his car. Mitchell then restrained the child’s hands and feet with handcuffs and drove her nearly an hour away to his apartment.
At his apartment, Mitchell forced the victim into his bedroom, where he repeatedly sexually assaulted her over the course of several hours, before he returned the victim to an alley near the middle school.
An examination of Mitchell’s cellphone revealed that he conducted numerous searches regarding rape, how to stop someone from screaming, and how long it takes to smother someone.
“As we work to secure the southern border, it is essential that our law enforcement officers remain above reproach and are trusted by the people they protect,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine for the District of Arizona. “This sentence shows that if anyone abuses their position of authority, they will face the harshest consequences available. And while we can never undo the pain inflicted by this defendant on the victim, we are proud to see that justice has been served.”
“This sentence underscores the FBI's commitment to holding law enforcement officers accountable when they violate the rights of individuals. When an officer shrugs off his sworn oath and harms those they promised to protect, he betrays the people of his community and all of us who wear a badge," said Special Agent in Charge Jose A. Perez of the FBI Phoenix Field Office. “The FBI continues to ensure the rights of every American are protected. Thank you to the Douglas Police Department for their partnership and work on this case.”
The Douglas Police Department and FBI Phoenix Field Office, Sierra Vista Resident Agency investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carin Duryee for the District of Arizona and Trial Attorney MarLa Duncan of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.
Former Bookkeeper Accused of Embezzling at Least $400,000 from ChurchRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A former parish secretary and bookkeeper turned herself in Friday to face an accusation that she embezzled at least $400,000 from a DeSoto, Missouri church.
Corie M. Boyer, 49, of Jefferson County, Missouri, was indicted March 6 in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on four counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering. She pleaded not guilty in court Friday afternoon.
The indictment says Boyer was responsible for maintaining the parish's books and records, organizing certain parish fundraisers and assisting in the collection and counting of the weekly offertory. From at least January of 2017 through March of 2024, Boyer stole at least $400,000 in parish funds in multiple ways, the indictment says. She used parish funds to pay her personal credit card bills and used parish credit cards for personal expenses including airfare for herself and relatives, cruises, college tuition payments, shopping, taxes and rent, the indictment says. She also wrote checks to herself and stole cash from the offertory, and she covered up her thefts by falsifying parish records, the indictment says.
Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both. Money laundering is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and the same fine.
A charge set forth in an indictment is merely an accusation and does not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The FBI and IRS - Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow is prosecuting the case.
Former Antioch Police Officer Found Guilty of Deprivation of Civil Rights and Falsification of RecordsRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – A federal jury today convicted former Antioch police officer Morteza Amiri of one count of deprivation of rights under color of law and one count of falsification of records. The jury’s verdict followed an eight-day trial before Senior U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White.
Amiri, 33, was previously employed as a police officer with the Antioch Police Department. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Amiri, a K-9 handler, deployed his K-9 to bite suspects even when it was not necessary. Amiri kept a running bite count that he celebrated with other officers. Amiri also took photographs of the dog bites and shared them with other officers, stating in one text message that “gory pics are for personal stuff” and “cleaned up pics for the case.”
“Morteza Amiri violated the oath he swore to protect the people of Antioch. He flouted his duty as a police officer, misused his police dog, and inflicted unnecessary and excessive force against the victim. This appalling conduct erodes public trust in law enforcement. And it weakens law enforcement’s ability to carry out its primary mission of public safety. As today’s jury verdict makes clear, officers who put themselves above the law will be held accountable,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick D. Robbins.
“Today’s guilty verdict against Morteza Amiri sends a clear message: no one is above the law, especially those sworn to uphold it. Amiri’s actions betrayed the trust of the community and undermined the integrity of law enforcement,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani. “The FBI remains committed to holding accountable any officer who violates their oath and deprives citizens of their constitutional rights. The people of Antioch, and communities everywhere, deserve better.”
According to the evidence at trial, on July 24, 2019, Amiri pulled over and stopped a bicyclist identified as A.A., who, according to Amiri, did not have his bicycle light on. Amiri approached A.A., punched and took the victim to the ground, and then called for his K-9 to bite the victim. As a result, A.A. sustained injuries. At the time, Amiri was accompanied by a police officer with a neighboring agency as a ride-along, and that officer assisted with the deployment of the K-9. Afterwards, Amiri shared pictures of the victim’s wounds with other Antioch police officers. One officer responded, “Yeah buddy good boy,” referring to the K-9, and “Lol you bit [A.A.].” In response to a question from another officer about what cut the dog’s face, Amiri responded, “that’s a piece of the suspect’s flesh lol.”
Amiri later wrote to the officer who accompanied him on the ride-along, “you got to see [the K-9] in action lol,” and stated that detectives got the victim “a 45 day violation and we are gonna leave it at that so i don’t go to court for the bite. Easy,” referring to the victim going into custody for a parole/probation violation. Amiri then falsified a police report of the incident, stating that one of the reasons he deployed his K-9 was because he was alone, when instead the ride-along police officer was with him at the time and had helped Amiri deploy the K-9.
The jury convicted Amiri of one count of deprivation of rights under color of law in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 242 and one count of falsification of records in a federal investigation in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1519. The jury acquitted Amiri of one count of conspiracy against rights in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 241 and two counts of deprivation of rights under color of law, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 242.
Amiri was previously convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud following a jury trial in August 2024.
Amiri is scheduled to appear on March 18, 2025, for a hearing on whether to remand him to custody pending sentencing, and on June 3, 2025, for sentencing. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison on the count of deprivation of rights under color of law and 20 years in prison on the count of falsification of records. Any sentence will be imposed by the Court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
The case is being prosecuted by the National Security & Special Prosecutions Section and the Oakland Branch of the United States Attorney’s Office. This prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.
These civil rights charges against Amiri were brought as part of an investigation into the Antioch and Pittsburgh police departments that resulted in multiple charges against 10 current and former officers and employees of these two police departments for various crimes ranging from the use of excessive force to fraud. The status of these cases, all of which are before Senior U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White, is below:
Case Name and NumberStatute(s)Defendant
(Bold: multiple case numbers)
StatusFraud
23-cr-00264
18 U.S.C. §§ 1349 (Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud; 1343 (Wire Fraud)Patrick BerhanSentenced to 30 months custody, 2 years supervised release concurrent with 24-cr-157 on 9/5/24Morteza AmiriConvicted at trial 8/8/24, sentencing pendingAmanda Theodosy a/k/a NashSentenced to 3 months custody, 3 years supervised release 11/15/24Samantha PetersonSentenced to time served, 3 years supervised release 4/24/24Ernesto Mejia-OrozcoSentenced to 3 months custody, 3 years supervised release on 9/19/24Brauli Jalapa RodriguezSentenced to 3 months custody, 3 years supervised release on 10/25/24Obstruction
23-cr-00267
18 U.S.C. §§ 1519 (Destruction, Alteration, and Falsification of Records in Federal Investigations); 1512(c)(2) (Obstruction of Official Proceedings); 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law)Timothy Manly WilliamsPleaded guilty 11/28/23, status conference 4/15/25Steroid Distribution
23-cr-00268
21 U.S.C. §§ 846 (Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids), 841(a)(1), and (b)(1)(E)(i) (Possession with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids)Daniel HarrisPleaded guilty 9/17/24, status conference 4/15/2521 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), and (b)(1)(E)(i) (Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids);
18 U.S.C.§ 1519 (Destruction, Alteration, and Falsification of Records in Federal Investigations)
Devon WengerTrial set for 4/28/25Civil Rights
23-cr-00269
18 U.S.C. §§ 241 (Conspiracy Against Rights), 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law); § 1519 (Destruction, Alteration, and Falsification of Records in Federal Investigations)Morteza AmiriConvicted at trial 3/14/25 on counts 2 and 5, sentencing set for 6/3/2518 U.S.C. §§ 241 (Conspiracy Against Rights), 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law)Eric RomboughPleaded guilty 1/14/25, status conference 4/22/2518 U.S.C. §§ 241 (Conspiracy Against Rights), 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law)Devon WengerPendingSteroid Distribution
24-cr-00157
21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(E)(i) (Possession with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids)Patrick BerhanSentenced to 30 months custody, 2 years supervised release concurrent with 23-cr-264 on 9/5/24Bank fraud
24-cr-00502
18 U.S.C. § 1344(1), (2) (Bank fraud)Daniel HarrisPleaded guilty 9/17/24, status conference 4/15/25
Florida Man Sentenced for Using Gasoline to Start Employer’s Semi Trailer on Fire at EppleyRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Matthew R. Molsen announced that Kevin Kaedi, age 27, of Florida was sentenced on March 14, 2025, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for malicious use of explosive materials. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Kaedi to 60 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Kaedi is released from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.
On March 31, 2024, a semi-truck owned by Prime Inc., a nationwide-based trucking company headquartered in Missouri, was damaged due to arson.
On March 25, 2024, Kaedi, a Prime, Inc. driver, disconnected his semi-truck’s tracking device so his employer could no longer see the vehicle movement. He eventually parked the semi in the south cell phone parking lot of Eppley Airfield in Omaha.
On March 31, Kaedi can be seen on surveillance video walking into Eppley Airfield terminal and renting a vehicle. He then drives the rental back to the semi-truck and unloads items from the semi-truck into his rental car. Kaedi then drives away in his rental car. Several minutes later, smoke can be seen coming from the semi-truck. Fire fighters were dispatched to the scene and extinguished the fire. Investigators located a red plastic gas container inside the cab of the semi-truck along with an incendiary device, indicating that the fire was intentional. The amount of loss totaled $59,353.63, which Kaedi was ordered to pay as restitution.
This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and City of Omaha, Fire Investigation Unit.
Florida Businessman Patrick Walsh and Affiliated Companies Agree to $20M Consent Judgment to Settle False Claims Act Liability Relating to Fraudulent Pandemic Relief LoansRead the Press Release
Patrick Walsh and 10 companies he owned or operated have agreed to enter into a consent judgment totaling $20,074,458.70 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly providing false information in support of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) loan applications. The 10 companies for which Walsh obtained fraudulent loans include American Blimp Company LLC; Walsh Family Land Corp.; Airsign Inc.; Airsign Airship Group LLC; Airsign Group LLC; Airsign Airships Latin America LLC; Airsign Airships Asia Pacific LLC; Airsign Airships Repair Station LLC; Aero Capital LLC; and Eagle Ridge Management Group LLC doing business as Shiloh Oil Company.
Congress created the PPP loan program and expanded access to the EIDL program in March 2020, as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, to provide emergency loans to small businesses suffering economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The PPP, administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), was designed to provide low-interest, forgivable loans to applicants to help fund certain permissible expenses for qualifying businesses amidst the COVID‑19 pandemic, which included payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. The EIDL program, also administered by the SBA, provides low-interest loans to small businesses in regions affected by declared disasters. PPP loans were guaranteed by the SBA, and EIDL loans were direct loans made by the SBA. To qualify under either program, a corporate representative submitted a loan application that, among other things, stated the number of the entity’s employees and certified that the borrower was an operating business that would use loan proceeds for eligible business expenses.
In this case, Walsh entered into a civil settlement in which he admitted to submitting PPP and EIDL loan applications on behalf of the companies listed above that provided false information about the companies’ employee rosters and payrolls. Some of the entities for which Walsh submitted loan applications were dormant or inactive. Walsh submitted additional EIDL applications in his wife’s name on behalf of certain corporations. In total, Walsh received approximately $7.8 million in fraudulent loans on behalf of various corporate entities. Walsh used those loan proceeds for impermissible personal purposes, including the purchase of a private island, investment in Texas oil interests, and paying off personal debts. When Walsh defaulted on the PPP loans, the SBA paid the lenders in full pursuant to its guarantee obligations. The SBA also paid for certain interest and processing fee expenses incurred by the lenders related to the loans. Under the terms of the consent judgment, Walsh and the companies he owned or operated have agreed to the entry of judgments against them totaling $20,074,458.70.
In January 2023, Walsh pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering in connection with the fraudulent loans and was sentenced to 66 months in federal prison, which he is currently serving. The court also ordered him to pay $7.8 million in restitution and entered a forfeiture order in the same amount.
“PPP and EIDL loans were intended to help small businesses during the pandemic,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov M. Roth of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department is committed to holding accountable those who undermined the purpose of these programs by knowingly obtaining and retaining loan proceeds for which they were not eligible.”
“Today’s civil resolution and the previously imposed 66-month period of incarceration should serve as a significant deterrent to others like the defendant who would attempt to steal millions of dollars from the American people and exploit Federal relief programs,” said Acting United States Attorney Michelle Spaven for the Northern District of Florida. “The Northern District of Florida is committed to protecting government programs from fraud, and we will hold those accountable who steal from the American taxpayers.”
“This settlement is a victory over bad actors seeking to exploit taxpayer-funded programs,” said Wendell Davis, General Counsel for the U.S. Small Business Administration. “SBA is committed to vigorously protecting the hard-earned money of the American people and ensuring that those who fraudulently obtain those funds are held accountable.”
The civil settlement stems from a whistleblower complaint filed in 2020 by Andrew Hersh, who performed information technology services for Walsh. The qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act permit private persons to bring a lawsuit on behalf of the government and to share in the proceeds of the suit. The qui tam lawsuit is captioned United States ex rel. Andrew Hersh v. Patrick Walsh et al., No. 1:20‑cv‑231 (N.D. Fla.). The amount that Mr. Hersh will receive as a share of the recovery has not yet been determined.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort among the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, with assistance from the SBA’s Office of General Counsel and the SBA’s Office of Inspector General.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, except for the matters admitted in Walsh’s guilty plea.
Florida Attorney Sentenced to 102 Months for an Attempted Bombing Near the Chinese Embassy in Washington D.C.Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Christopher Rodriguez, 45, of Panama City, Fla., was sentenced today to 102 months in federal prison for the September 2023 attempted bombing near the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Washington, D.C., and for the November 2022 bombing of a satirical sculpture depicting communist leaders Vladimir Lenin and Mao Zedong in San Antonio, Texas.
The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., and Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington Field Division.
Rodriguez, a licensed Florida attorney and a U.S. Army veteran, pleaded guilty August 2, 2024, to damaging property occupied by a foreign government, explosive materials—malicious damage to federal property, and receipt or possession of an unregistered firearm (destructive device).
In addition to the 102-month prison term, U.S. District Court Chief Judge James E. Boasberg ordered Rodriguez to serve three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on September 23-24, 2023, Rodriguez drove from his home in Panama City, Fla., to Northern Virginia with a rifle and 15 pounds of explosive material. On the way, he stopped in Harrisonburg and Charlottesville, Va., to buy a black backpack, nitrile gloves, and a burner cell phone. On September 24, he parked his car in Arlington, Va., and used the burner phone to arrange for a taxi to drive him to within a few blocks of the Chinese Embassy. Between midnight and 3 a.m. near the back wall of the Embassy in Northwest Washington, Rodriguez placed the explosives-filled backpack next to a streetlight. Rodriguez then attempted to detonate the explosives by shooting at the backpack with a rifle. Rodriguez missed his target, and the device failed to detonate. Law enforcement officers later recovered the backpack containing explosive material, three shell casings, and bullet fragments from the ground along the outer perimeter wall of the Chinese Embassy. Impact marks were found on the Embassy wall near the bullet fragments behind the backpack.
According to court documents, DNA obtained from the black backpack was found to be consistent with DNA evidence obtained from a previous arrest of Rodriguez in June 2021 in California. During the California incident, Rodriguez possessed three firearms and apparent explosive material consistent with the explosives used during the Chinese Embassy attack. DNA evidence obtained from Rodriguez pursuant to a buccal swab warrant later confirmed this DNA match.
Between November 5 and 7, 2022, according to court documents, Rodriguez rented a vehicle in Pensacola, Fla., and drove to San Antonio, Texas. At about 2:25 a.m. on November 7, Rodriguez scaled an eight-foot fence to enter a courtyard on the 300 block of West Commerce Street, San Antonio. Inside the courtyard, he placed two canisters of explosive materials at the base of a satirical steel sculpture titled “Miss Mao Trying to Poise Herself at the Top of Lenin’s Head.” At 2:30 a.m., Rodriguez used a rifle to shoot at the canisters at the base of the statue, causing an explosion that caused damages of at least $325,000 to the Miss Mao sculpture.
Law enforcement arrested Rodriguez on November 4, 2023, in Lafayette, Louisiana. He has been held since that date.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Washington Field Division. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Northern District of Florida, the Western District of Louisiana, and the Western District of Texas; the ATF’s Tampa, New Orleans, and Houston Field Divisions; the FBI’s Washington and San Antonio Field Offices; the San Antonio Field Office of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; the U.S. Secret Service, Uniformed Division and Foreign Missions Detective Unit; the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security; and the Metropolitan Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jolie F. Zimmerman and Stuart D. Allen. Valuable assistance was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maeghan Mikorski and Kelly Stephenson and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael McCarthy.
23cr392
Felon Sentenced to Prison for Drug and Ammunition OffensesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man who has prior felony convictions was sentenced today to five years in prison for distributing approximately 1,000 pills containing fentanyl and unlawfully possessing ammunition.
Edward Rodriguez, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of fentanyl and one count of felon in possession of ammunition. In addition to imprisonment, United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware II sentenced Rodriguez to four years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on October 6, 2022, Rodriguez sold approximately 1,000 pills containing fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, in exchange for money. Later, on October 18, 2022, when an officer with the Mesquite Police Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop, Rodriguez began to drive faster through the school zone and neighborhood causing children to have to jump out of the way of his car. He was later stopped inside a store carrying a backpack containing fentanyl pills, heroin, car keys, a magazine loaded with .40 caliber ammunition, and a hypodermic needle with methamphetamine. Furthermore, Rodriguez admitted that inside his car was a shotgun and a 40mm semi-automatic handgun with no serial number which was modified with a machine gun conversion device.
Rodriguez has prior felony convictions for forgery, attempted burglary, and ex-felon in possession of a firearm, all in Clark County, Nevada, and distribution of a controlled substance and felon in possession of a firearm in the District of Nevada. He is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm and ammunition due to the prior felony convictions.
Acting United States Attorney Sue Fahami for the District of Nevada and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kevin Adams for the DEA Las Vegas Division made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the DEA and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Melanee Smith prosecuted the case.
If you are aware of controlled substance violations in your community — which may include the growing, manufacture, distribution or trafficking of controlled substances — please report your anonymous tip through the DEA Tip Line at https://www.dea.gov/submit-tip.
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Federal grand jury indicts Jamestown man for his role in Jamestown drug conspiracyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Joseph Thayer, 48, of Jamestown, NY, with narcotics conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua A. Violanti and Louis A. Testani, who are handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, between 2018, and May 26, 2022, Thayer conspired with Joseph S. Zaso and others, to sell heroin and fentanyl in the Jamestown area. Co-defendants include Andres Pizzaro Campos, Max Pizzaro Campos, Cindy Frank, Edward Leeper, and Jaquez L. Thomas. Joseph Zaso was previously charged and convicted and is awaiting sentencing.
Thayer was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and detained.
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 indictment is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Federal Prosecutors Charge 16 Previously Removed Illegal Aliens – Including Convicted Felons – with Illegally Re-entering the U.S.Read the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal law enforcement partners, federal prosecutors in the last two weeks filed charges against 16 defendants who allegedly illegally re-entered the United States after being removed, the Justice Department announced today.
Many of the defendants charged were previously convicted of felony offenses before they were removed from the U.S., offenses that include sexual abuse of children. One of the defendants is charged in state court with a murder in Inglewood last month.
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.
Some of the recently filed cases are summarized below with information contained in court documents.
- United States v. Saravia-Sanchez
Jose Cristian Saravia-Sanchez, 30, of El Salvador, was charged via a federal criminal complaint after he was arrested by Inglewood Police Department as a suspect in the February 25 murder of a man who tried to stop Saravia and another individual from stealing a neighbor’s catalytic converter.
Following the arrest, federal law enforcement determined that Saravia was previously removed in 2013 and returned to the United States illegally. At the time of his arrest on March 6, officers found a firearm in the bathroom of the hotel room in which Saravia barricaded himself, resulting in an hours-long standoff with law enforcement.
In the complaint, Saravia is charged with being an illegal alien found in the United States and an alien in possession of a firearm. His criminal history includes a felony conviction in Los Angeles Superior Court in May 2023 for taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent. Saravia is in state custody and has been booked for murder.
The matter was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearm and Explosives, and ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations.
- United States v. Marquina-Sierra
Francisco Marquina-Sierra, 32, of Mexico, was charged via a federal criminal complaint for being an illegal alien found in the United States after he was previously removed. An immigration judge ordered him removed in December 2013. Marquina’s criminal history includes convictions in Orange County Superior Court for second-degree robbery in 2012 and for child abuse with possible great bodily injury in 2023 for which he was incarcerated in California state prison. On March 12, a federal magistrate judge ordered Marquina jailed without bond. His arraignment is scheduled for April 14 in United States District Court in Santa Ana.
- United States v. Barreto
Luis Enrique Barreto, 38, of Mexico, a convicted sex offender, was charged this week in a two-count indictment for allegedly failing to register under the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) and for illegally returning to the United States following removal.
Barreto, who was found living across from a school when he was arrested, was convicted in 2012 in Orange County Superior Court of lascivious acts with a child 14 or 15 years of age and offender 10 or more years older than victim (lewd act upon a child). In September 2021, Barreto was removed to Mexico, but he returned to the United States by the following year and did not register as a sex offender.
A federal magistrate judge ordered Barreto jailed without bond pending trial. His arraignment is scheduled for March 18 in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
Criminal complaints and indictments contain 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.
The criminal cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys in the Domestic Security and Immigration Crimes Section and the General Crimes Section.
Federal Firearms Licensee Sentenced to Prison for Selling Firearms “Off-The-Books”Read the Press Release
MIAMI – A Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) was sentenced on March 13 in a federal court in Fort Pierce for selling firearms “off-the-books.”
Michael John Pellicione, 76, of Port St. Lucie, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge K. Michael Moore to 15 months in prison, followed by one year of supervised release and a $7,500 fine.
In December 2024, Pellicione pleaded guilty to five counts of failure of a firearms dealer to keep proper record of a sale, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sections 922(b)(5) and 914(a)(1)(D). Pellicione was charged by criminal complaint in September 2024 and was subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2024.
According to allegations contained in court documents, including a Stipulation of Facts, filed in this matter, Pellicione, was an FFL, dba Mike’s Gun Shop, out of his residence in Port St. Lucie. In April 2024, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents discovered that firearms, linked to sales by Pellicione, were recovered in Canada and Jamaica. After an investigation, ATF determined that Pellicione failed to enter at least six firearms, sold by a law enforcement officer, into his acquisition and disposition (A&D) record. Pellicione admitted that when customers dropped their used firearms off to him, he took pictures of the firearms and then sent them to other interested customers. Pellicione also admitted that he repeated failed to log the used firearms in his A&D book, did not conduct a background check, or require the buyer to fill ATF Forms 4473 for the firearms. In failing to do so, Pellicione also failed to record the name, age, and address of purchasers as required by law.
Federal law requires an FFL to record, in the A&D book, all the firearms that the FFL receives or makes, and then indicate where each of those firearms are – whether they are still in the FFL’s inventory or where they went if they were sold or transferred. Additionally, the A&D book must include the type of firearm, the make, model, caliber, and serial number, the date and from whom the firearm was received and that person’s address, as well as the name, date, and address of the person to whom the firearm was sold or transferred.
U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami and Acting Special Agent in Charge John F. Dion Jr. of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division, made the announcement.
HSI Fort Pierce and ATF Fort Pierce Field Office investigated this case. Managing Assistant U.S. Attorney Carmen Lineberger prosecuted the case.
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-14055.
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FCI Allenwood Inmate Charged with Possessing WeaponRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Eric Rodriguez, age 32, an inmate at FCI Allenwood, was indicted on February 27, 2025, by a federal grand jury on possessing a weapon in prison.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that on January 31, 2025, Rodriguez possessed a razor blade wrapped in electrical tape to fashion a handle, approximately 2 1/4 inches in length.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Zenzinger is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is five years and a fine. A sentence would also include a period of supervised release following imprisonment. 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 are only allegations. All persons charged by indictment are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Eight GoodFellas Gang Members and Associates Charged with Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering, Including Attempted MurderRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed yesterday in the Northern District of Georgia charging eight members and associates of the GoodFellas Gang for their alleged roles in a criminal enterprise engaged in attempted murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and attempted carjacking in and around Atlanta.
According to the indictment, the GoodFellas are a violent gang that heavily recruits members in Atlanta neighborhoods, local jails, and Georgia Department of Corrections facilities. Members engage in violence to enhance the violent reputation of the gang.
As alleged in the indictment, six of the defendants shot and attempted to murder four victims. Additionally, two GoodFellas members and associates allegedly attempted a carjacking and assaulted three victims with a dangerous weapon.
Frank Hubbert, also known as Capo Frank, 38; Montavis Jones, also known as Nigel Woods, Jitt, and Git, 37; Darian Sheppard, also known as Lil D, 27; De’Andre Jackson, also known as Gen, Glock, and Glizzy, 22; Ephram Marshall, also known as Lil E, 24; Tahj Rankine, also known as Biggz, 26; and Leonunte Carson, also known as Lil Tae, 22, are each charged with multiple counts of attempted murder in aid of racketeering and with using a firearm during these crimes.
Hubbert and Ahday Nelson-George, also known as Baby K, 25, are each charged with multiple counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and attempted carjacking.
Seven of the defendants face a maximum penalty of life in prison; Nelson-George faces a maximum penalty of 75 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Supervisory Official Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie Jr. for the Northern District of Georgia, and Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown of the FBI Atlanta Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case with valuable assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Fulton County (Georgia) Sheriff’s Office; Georgia Department of Corrections; and the Atlanta Police Department.
Trial Attorney Sarah J. Rasalam of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Renaud for the Northern District of Georgia 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 achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Edmond Man Sentenced to Serve 18 Months in Federal Prison after Machinegun Conversion Devices are Intercepted from Packages Destined for OklahomaRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – EMANUEL LOPEZ, 21, of Edmond, has been sentenced to serve 18 months in federal prison for transporting machineguns without a license, announced Robert J. Troester, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.
According to public record, in May and June 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents in Los Angeles, California, intercepted four packages shipped from China. These packages were destined for Lopez at his home in Edmond and contained machinegun conversion devices (MCDs), commonly known as “switches.” The packages were mislabeled as “auto parts,” “hardware accessories,” and “decorative ornaments” on the shipping manifest. When installed, MCDs convert semi-automatic weapons into fully automatic machineguns, and transporting and possessing these devices violates federal law. Lopez was charged by a federal Grand Jury with transporting machineguns without a license on July 2, 2024.
On November 25, 2024, Lopez pleaded guilty, and admitted he knowingly transported machineguns and that he was not licensed to do so.
At the sentencing hearing on March 5, 2025, U.S. District Judge Bernard M. Jones sentenced Lopez to serve 18 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Jones noted the seriousness of the offense.
This case is a result of an investigation by CBP, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Oklahoma City Police Department, and the Edmond Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew E. Davis 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. This case is also part of “Project Switch Off,” the Western District of Oklahoma’s local implementation of PSN. “Project Switch Off” targets illegal machinegun conversion devices to address the significant danger these illegal devices present and to remove them from our streets. For more information about PSN and “Project Switch Off,” please visit https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Duluth Felon Sentenced to over 13 Years in Narcotics Trafficking CaseRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Duluth felon was sentenced yesterday to 167 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.
According to court documents, on February 19, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the residence of Diaunte Jevon Shields, 44, in Duluth, Minnesota. Inside his apartment, officers discovered over a kilogram of fentanyl, a pound of methamphetamine, and hundreds of grams of cocaine in Shields’s apartment—with a gun and loaded magazine in the same cooler. Officers also found other evidence of narcotics trafficking inside the apartment, including cutting agents, and packing materials. Law enforcement found another kilogram-plus of cocaine in a FedEx box intended for Shields. In total, Shields had over $33,000 in cash on his person when police arrested him.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office proudly serves all of Minnesota, from our big cities to our small towns,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. “Defendant Shields trafficked deadly poison to our community in Duluth—and now will be off the streets for well more than a decade.”
On August 22, 2024, Shields pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine with intent to distribute. He was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge Katherine M. Menendez.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Duluth Police Department, with assistance from the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Campbell Warner prosecuted the case.
Dominican Man Sentenced to 33 Months of Imprisonment for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Ramon Medina Colon, age 50, of the Dominican Republic, was sentenced on March 14, 2025, to 33 months’ imprisonment by U.S. District Judge Julia K. Munley for illegal reentry into the United States.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Medina Colon was first ordered removed from the United States in 2007 following his first felony conviction for criminal possession of a loaded firearm. Thereafter, Medina Colon was discovered and removed from the United States a total of four times, following additional convictions for possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, resisting arrest, and several DUIs. He was also previously convicted of illegal reentry into the United States in 2012.
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Lloyd prosecuted the case.
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Doctor Sentenced for Health Care Fraud and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
GREENSBORO – A doctor from Mt. Airy, North Carolina was sentenced to 30 months of imprisonment and ordered to pay restitution totaling $2,049,747.47 after pleading guilty to one count of health care fraud and one count of money laundering, announced Acting United States Attorney Randall S. Galyon of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC).
WENDELL LEWIS RANDALL, age 72, was sentenced to a 30-month term of imprisonment plus 2 years supervised release by the Honorable Catherine C. Eagles, Senior United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the MDNC. This sentence is ordered to run consecutively to the 18-month sentence RANDALL is currently serving for a conviction in the Western District of Virginia.
According to court records, RANDALL was the sole physician and owner of the National Institute of Toxicology, PLLC (NIT), located in Mt. Airy, NC. At NIT, RANDALL typically prescribed opioids or other controlled substances to his patients without regard to whether such prescriptions were medically indicated. RANDALL then required his patients to submit to definitive urine drug tests (UDT) on every office visit without regard to the medical necessity of such tests. NIT had an in-house laboratory to run the UDT. From August 2018 through December 2021, RANDALL, through NIT, billed Medicare and North Carolina Medicaid for the UDT that reimbursed at the highest pay for nearly all of his patients on Medicare and Medicaid. RANDALL obtained $753,446.70 from Medicare and $1,296,300.77 from Medicaid for these fraudulently billed UDT.
RANDALL used the fraudulently obtained proceeds to make several large purchases, including a building on property near his home in 2019 for a total of $97,000.
“RANDALL abused his position as a medical provider to gain excessive profit from government-funded insurance programs,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Galyon. “This Office will continue to seek out fraud and abuse perpetrated on our health insurance system and hold those responsible accountable.”
“Physicians and other providers who authorize medically unnecessary drugs and services undermine the integrity of our health care system, waste taxpayer dollars, and endanger patients,” said Kelly Blackmon, Special Agent in Charge at the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Today’s sentencing is a clear reminder that those who exploit our nation’s health care system at the expense of patients and taxpayers will be held accountable.”
“This case represents the continued commitment of the DEA to identify and hold accountable those who engaged in fraud and money laundering,” said Jae W. Chung, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division.
“Fraud schemes harm everyone, especially those which defraud the healthcare system, the American taxpayer, and members of our community,” Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins, Charlotte Field Office, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. “IRS-CI special agents’ forensic accounting skills helped unravel this complex fraud and money laundering scheme while working alongside other federal, state, and local law enforcement officers.”
“This health care provider stole taxpayer dollars for his own profit while he worsened our state’s opioid crisis,” said Attorney General Jeff Jackson. “Doctors have a legal and ethical responsibility to provide the quality health care that patients need. When they don’t, our office and our federal and state partners will hold them accountable.”
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Charlotte Tactical Diversion Squad and the Greensboro Diversion Group; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General; the Internal Revenue Service; the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office, Medicaid Investigations Division; and the North Carolina Department of Insurance. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca Mayer and Special Assistant United States Attorney Dan Spillman.
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Dade City Man Sentenced to 15 Years’ Imprisonment for Selling Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and CocaineRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Rudy Salazar (37, Dade City) to 15 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute, and for possessing with the intent to distribute, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine. Salazar pleaded guilty on December 3, 2024.
According to the plea agreement, between January and November 2023, Salazar trafficked approximately 11.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, 39 grams of cocaine, and 30 grams of fentanyl within Pasco County. Salazar, knowing the lethality of fentanyl, took extra precautions to protect himself when selling it, including wearing a mask and gloves. He warned a buyer that one could die from touching or ingesting fentanyl without protection (photo below):
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tampa Police Department, and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David J. Pardo.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Convicted Felon Arrested and Charged After Being Found with Defaced 9mm Handgun, Ammunition, and Illegal Machine Gun Conversion DeviceRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – Acting United States Attorney Kenneth M. Sorenson announced today that Chris Pham, 21, of Honolulu, Hawaii, was charged yesterday by criminal complaint with illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. A detention hearing in federal court is scheduled for March 20, 2025.
According to court documents, on March 12, 2025, law enforcement encountered Pham and found he was carrying a fully loaded 9mm semiautomatic handgun with a defaced serial number. Pham was also carrying an additional magazine with 13 rounds of 9mm ammunition. During a search of Pham’s residence, law enforcement recovered a machine gun conversion device designed to turn a semiautomatic handgun into a fully automatic handgun. Law enforcement previously located an Instagram video showing Pham firing a fully automatic handgun into the air in public.
If convicted of the charged offense, Pham faces up to fifteen years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The charge in the criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Honolulu Police Department.
It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara D. Ayabe.
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).
Cocoa Man Who Drove Across the State to Commit Armed Robbery in Tampa and Shot Employee in the Face ChargedRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the filing of a criminal complaint charging Phillip Johnson (21, Cocoa) with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, robbery, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. If convicted on all counts, Johnson faces a minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison.
According to the complaint, during the early morning hours of February 1, 2025, three individuals traveled from Brevard County to Tampa to commit a robbery. After arriving in Tampa, the three individuals went inside the Dreams Club near Ybor City. The three individuals were wearing all black clothing, ski masks, and armed with rifles and handguns.
While inside, the three individuals demanded money from the victim, and Johnson ultimately shot the victim in the face.
A criminal complaint 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 was investigated by the Tampa Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with great assistance provided by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, the Cocoa Police Department and the State Attorney’s Office for the 13th Judicial Circuit in Tampa. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes.
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).
City Man Charged in 2023 Kidnapping, Death of Philadelphia Man Abducted Outside His HomeRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Tyheem Tyler, 34, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was arrested and charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit kidnapping, kidnapping resulting in death, and aiding and abetting.
The indictment alleges that on or about March 6, 2023, the defendant traveled to Wey Um’s place of business in Philadelphia and participated in a robbery of Wey Um at gunpoint.
The indictment further alleges that in the early hours of March 31, 2023, Tyler and his co-conspirators drove a Ford Explorer SUV to Wey Um’s Philadelphia home, kidnapped Wey Um from outside of his residence, and at approximately 2:12 a.m., drove Wey Um in the Ford Explorer to a location near the Delaware River in Philadelphia.
As alleged, Tyler knowingly, willfully, and unlawfully seized, confined, kidnapped, abducted, carried away, and held, and aided and abetted the unlawful seizing, confining, abduction, carrying away, and holding of, Wey Um, deceased, for ransom, reward, and otherwise, resulting in the death of Wey Um, and in committing and in furtherance of the commission of the offense used means, facilities, and instrumentalities of interstate commerce.
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment or death.
The case was investigated by the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Everett Witherell and Timothy Lanni.
An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Chinese National Sentenced for Smuggling Turtles from the United States to Hong KongRead the Press Release
Sai Keung Tin, also known as Ricky Tin, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for his role in smuggling protected turtles from the United States to Hong Kong. Tin pleaded guilty in December to four counts of exporting merchandise contrary to law.
According to the government’s filed sentencing memorandum and evidence presented during today’s hearing, Tin, a Chinese citizen, aided and abetted turtle smugglers in the United States from February 2018 to June 2023. During that time, Tin trafficked approximately 2,100 turtles to three addresses in Hong Kong for the illegal Asian pet trade. Based on a conservative, contemporary market valuation of $2,000 per turtle, the smuggled reptiles were valued at $4.2 million.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) agents arrested Tin on Feb. 25, 2024, on his arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. On March 8, 2024, a grand jury indicted Tin on the present charges, which focused on four packages shipped in June 2023 containing 40 eastern box turtles. USFWS wildlife inspectors at an international mail facility in Torrance, California, intercepted the packages which were falsely labeled as containing almonds and chocolate cookies. Three of the packages contained between eight and 12 live eastern box turtles each, all bound in socks to restrict movement to avoid alerting authorities. The fourth package contained seven live eastern box turtles and one dead one.
Eastern box turtle seized from a package shipped to Hong Kong. Photo is from the sentencing memo in case U.S. v. Sai Keung Tin, No. 24-cr-00161 in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Credit: USFWSUSFWS agents obtained a search warrant to seize Tin’s cell phones, which indicated that Tin came to the United States to smuggle turtles. He planned to travel to New Jersey, Texas, and Washington — familiarizing himself with tourist locations to present a false story if apprehended. His ultimate plan was to pay for turtles in cash, ship turtles around the country, and eventually, illegally export them to Hong Kong. He had detailed information on how to soak turtles to reduce odors and bind them in socks with tape, all to avoid detection.
Tin was associated with international turtle smuggler Kang Juntao, of Hangzhou City, China, who was extradited from Malaysia in 2019 and later sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to money laundering. Kang caused at least 1,500 turtles — with a market value exceeding $2.25 million — to be shipped from the United States to Hong Kong, including to Tin.
Tin trafficked primarily eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina), a subspecies of the common box turtle and native to the United States. Turtles with colorful markings are highly prized pets, particularly in China and Hong Kong, and are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). China and the Unites States are parties to CITES.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph T. McNally for the Central District of California, and Assistant Director Douglas Ault of the USFWS’ Office of Law Enforcement made the announcement.
The USFWS investigated this case with assistance from Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations.
Senior Trial Attorney Ryan Connors and Trial Attorney Lauren Steele of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis Mitchell for the Central District of California prosecuted the case.
Cheektowaga man charged with attempted sex trafficking and cocaine possessionRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Darryl Lamont Paul, a/k/a Darryl Lamont, 59, of Cheektowaga, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with attempted sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin M. Higgins, who is handling the case, stated that for the last 25 years, Lamont has owned NoLimit Entertainment (NLE), a company that provides entertainment, including nude dancers and topless bartenders, for parties such as stags and birthdays. Throughout the years, Lamont has maintained a friendship and business relationship with the owner of Pharoah’s Gentleman’s Club, with the two men sharing employees. Lamont would recruit young vulnerable women from Pharoah’s to work for NLE, and he would also refer young women to Pharoah’s for additional employment.
According to the complaint, in early July 2024, Lamont invited a 19-year-old woman (victim), to his residence to audition for NLE. During the audition, Lamont instructed the victim to strip completely naked so he could inspect her body. After her audition, Lamont invited the victim to “shadow” at stag party, where she observed two dancers engaging in sexual activity with each other.
Lamont also arranged for the victim to audition at an area strip club. After the audition, he took her back to his apartment for “training.” While there, Lamont forced the victim to snort cocaine and drink alcohol. The victim observed Lamont with what appeared to be a large quantity of cocaine. According to the victim, Lamont said that working for him would make her a lot of money and that he knew a lot of important people. He also claimed to know the names of the victim’s family members. The victim believed Lamont told her these things to intimidate her. Lamont also had the victim sign a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) prohibiting her from telling anyone anything that occurred at Lamont’s house or the stag parties. When the victim told Lamont that she was felt extremely uncomfortable and no longer wanted to work for NLE, Lamont threatened that if she did not work for him, then she would not be allowed to work at the strip club.
Lamont made an initial appearance this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and was held pending a detention hearing on March, 18, 2025.
The complaint is a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Carroll County Iowa Man Sentenced to 50 Years in Federal Prison for Child Sexual Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
A man who sexually exploited multiple children and possessed millions of files of child pornography was sentenced today, to 50 years in federal prison.
Lucas Oliver Knowles, age 48, from Carroll, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 23, 2024, guilty plea to sexual exploitation of a child, receipt and possession of child pornography, and possession of firearms by a prohibited person.
Evidence in the case showed that the FBI National Threat Operations Center received a tip that Knowles was sexually abusing a minor and was in possession of child sexual abuse material. When the FBI interviewed Knowles, he admitted that he produced child sexual abuse material just a few weeks prior and had been sexually abusing a child. Knowles further admitted that he had been collecting child pornography since approximately 1996 and may have millions of images. Forensic analysis of Knowles computers discovered approximately 1.07 million images and videos of child pornography including several local victims. The images and videos involved material that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct as well as prepubescent children and toddlers. Additionally, Knowles reported that he is a methamphetamine user and stored methamphetamine at his residence where he also possessed multiple firearms.
Knowles was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. The Court sentenced Knowles to 600 months’ imprisonment and imposed $21,400 in fines and assessments. He must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Knowles is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel said, “Lucas Knowles is a sexual predator and a heinous criminal. His appalling actions brought pain and trauma to children for his own gratification. Today’s sentence ensures Knowles will not hurt anyone else. Protecting children is one of the FBI’s highest priorities. We will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners to investigate and apprehend child predators and defend the most vulnerable members of our community.”
United States Attorney Timothy Duax stated “The United States Attorney’s Office thanks the citizen that came forward with the tip and commends the FBI for its excellent investigative work. As a result, a dangerous child predator was removed from our community.”
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.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was 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 23-CR-3028.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Carbon County Man Sentenced to 240 Months in Prison for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Ignacia Salcido-Lopez, age 19, of Lake Harmony, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on March 13, 2025, to 240 months’ imprisonment by U.S. District Judge Malachy E. Mannion for producing child pornography.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, between December 23, 2023, and January 14, 2024, Salcido-Lopez produced hundreds of images of child pornography involving two children, ages seven and three, that he was babysitting.
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.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jenny P. Roberts.
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California Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for 6 ½ Years for Possessing 20 Pounds of Methamphetamine Destined for DistributionRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a San Diego, California, man convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on March 12, 2025.
Leobardo Vega , age 32, was sentenced to six years and six months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, $1,000 fine, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Vega was indicted for Posssession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in August 2023. He pleaded guilty on December 4, 2024.
On September 30, 2022, Vega was involved in a traffic stop on Interstate 90 near Murdo, South Dakota. During the search of the vehicle law enforcement found 20 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in the vehicle. Vega admitted he was transporting the methamphetamine from California to Minnesota where it would be further distributed by others.
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Highway Patrol and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.
Vega was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Broward Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Federal Prison on Gun and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
MIAMI – United States District Judge Raag Singhal has sentenced 38-year-old career offender David Lee Pitts to 135 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, fentanyl, and oxycodone and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Pitts, who has prior felony convictions, pled guilty to these charges on Sept. 4, 2024.
The facts: On April 26, 2024, law enforcement officers saw Pitts drive up to a storage facility in Pompano, Florida and transfer two bags of what appeared to be illegal drugs from Pitts’ storage unit to his car. Pitts noticed law enforcement vehicles at the main gate and decided to make a run for it, leading officers on a foot chase. Pitts tried getting rid of the bags he had taken from storage by throwing them on a nearby roof. Officers caught Pitts and arrested him. They recovered the bags and determined that they contained cocaine and alpha-PVP (or flakka), a dangerous synthetic street drug.
Officers searched Pitts’ storage unit, pursuant to a warrant. They found more cocaine and flakka, plus fentanyl, oxycodone, and a Glock 30S, .45 caliber pistol with a magazine and ammunition.
U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, made the announcement.
DEA Miami and Broward Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Latoya C. Brown prosecuted it.
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.
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 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-60085.
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Brooklyn Podcaster and Cryptocurrency Personality Known as “T.J. Stone” Sentenced to 45 Months’ ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
Thomas John Sfraga, also known as “T.J. Stone,” was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Brooklyn by United States District Judge Frederic Block to 45 months in prison for wire fraud. As part of the sentence, Sfraga was ordered to pay $1,337,700 in forfeiture. The restitution amount will be determined at a later date. Sfraga pleaded guilty in May 2024.
John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Leslie R. Backschies, Acting Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the sentence.
“Sfraga callously stole from friends, next-door neighbors, and the parents of children who played on teams with his own children, as well as from individual cryptocurrency investors,” stated United States Attorney Durham. “There was nothing funny about his use of a Seinfeldian company, Vandelay Industries, to carry out this fraud, which caused severe financial and emotional harm to the hard-working men and women who trusted him.”
As set forth in the information and court filings, from at least 2016 to 2022, Sfraga held himself out as the owner and principal of multiple businesses, including Build Strong Homes LLC and Vandelay Contracting Corp. The latter company had a name similar to the fictional “Vandelay Industries,” which the character George Constanza falsely claimed to have interviewed with for a job in the television show “Seinfeld.” Sfraga held himself out as “T.J. Stone,” a serial entrepreneur with experience in real estate development, media relations, podcasting, and cryptocurrencies, which included acting as the emcee of many cryptocurrency events in New York.
Sfraga defrauded at least 17 victims, including victims in Brooklyn, Staten Island and Long Island, by convincing them to loan him money for, or to invest in, multiple sham investments including purchasing, renovating, and “flipping” homes. On one occasion, Sfraga convinced a victim to lend him $100,000 in cash as start-up costs for a non-existent construction project. On yet another occasion, Sfraga convinced a victim to invest in a fictitious cryptocurrency “virtual wallet.” He promised the victims returns on their investments as high as 60% in three months. In reality, however, Sfraga used the money entrusted to him by the victims for his own benefit, to pay expenses, and to pay earlier victims and business associates. When law enforcement began investigating Sfraga after victims filed lawsuits, he fled to Arizona to live under a false identity. Sfraga was eventually apprehended in Las Vegas after being arrested for running out on his bill at the Wynn Casino.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section. Assistant United States Attorney John Vagelatos is in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Madison Bates.
The Defendant:
THOMAS JOHN SFRAGA (also known as “T.J. Stone”)
Age: 56
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-194 (FB)
Berlin Resident Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Intending to Distribute Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, and CocaineRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Berlin man was sentenced yesterday in federal court for trafficking approximately a pound of methamphetamine, over 200 grams of fentanyl, and over 100 grams of cocaine, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.
Douglas Gray, 52, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Samantha D. Elliott to 96 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On October 15, 2024, Gray pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
“When law enforcement encountered the defendant, he was in possession of distribution-level quantities of multiple drugs,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack. “Law enforcement in New Hampshire prioritizes investigating and prosecuting those who choose to sell drugs in our communities for their own personal profit. This significant sentence reflects the seriousness of this conduct, and it will not be tolerated.”
“Career criminal Douglas Gray’s intent to push this poison into our communities could have resulted in deadly consequences for the people who live and work here, and he’ll spend the next eight years behind bars answering for it,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to prevent illegal drugs from hitting our streets in order to make our cities and towns safer.”
The investigation revealed that in 2023 the defendant arrived after-hours to an automotive shop in Concord known to law enforcement for drug trafficking. After leaving the shop, the defendant traveled northbound. Investigators searched his vehicle and found nearly a pound of methamphetamine, over 200 grams of fentanyl, and over 100 grams of cocaine.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation Major Offender Task Force and the New Hampshire State Police led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Concord Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather A. Cherniske prosecuted the case.
This effort 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).
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Apartment Burglary Lands Oklahoma City Man in Federal Prison for 10 Years for Illegal Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – MICHAEL JOSEPH DIAS, 33, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 120 months in federal prison for illegal possession of ammunition after a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On May 7, 2024, a federal Grand Jury charged Dias with being a felon in possession of ammunition. On October 24, 2024, after a two-day trial, a federal jury found Dias guilty of the charge.
According to evidence presented at trial, on April 2, 2024, officers with the Oklahoma City Police Department (OCPD) responded to an apartment complex following a reported burglary. The victim told officers he found his front door ajar, and attempted to enter his residence, but was stopped by a subject on the other side of the door. The victim eventually gained entry to his apartment, and followed the suspect, later identified as Dias, out into the parking lot of the complex. The victim told officers Dias brandished a firearm from his waistband, and as the victim fled, a gunshot rang out. Officers recovered a spent shell-casing from the parking lot. Dias was located and arrested by OCPD a short time later after a foot pursuit.
Public record reflects that Dias has a lengthy criminal history, with previous felony convictions that include:
- attempted second-degree burglary in Comanche County District Court case number CF-2009-438;
- second-degree burglary in Comanche County District Court case number CF-2009-576;
- attempted first-degree burglary in Oklahoma County District Court case number CF-2014-6249;
- indecent exposure in Oklahoma County District Court case number CF-2018-4626;
- second-degree burglary in Oklahoma County District Court case number CF-2019-1883; and
- felon in possession of a firearm in Oklahoma County District Court case number CF-2019-2104.
At the sentencing hearing on March 4, 2025, U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton sentenced Dias to serve 120 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, the Court noted the dangerous nature of the offense and Dias’s significant criminal history.
This case is the result of an investigation by OCPD and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Gridley and Travis Leverett 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. This case is also part of “Operation Shots Fired.” Operation Shots Fired targets cases involving individuals who discharge firearms as part of their criminal activity, such as drive-by shootings or when shots are fired during robberies, domestic disputes, or other incidents. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Thursday 13 March 2025
Worcester Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Ammunition and SilencerRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Worcester man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon and possessing an unregistered silencer.
Ryan Davidson, 39, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and one count of possessing an unregistered firearm-silencer. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for July 15, 2025. In August 2023, Davidson was indicted by a federal grand jury. The grand jury returned a superseding indictment against Davidson in November 2023.
On or about May 9, 2023 in Worcester, Davidson was stopped by police for a marked lane violation and for concerns about the Georgia “dealer” license plate on his vehicle. After failing to provide proof of insurance on the vehicle, Davidson was told he could leave with a citation but that his car would have to be towed, and an inventory search conducted pursuant to the tow. Davidson told police he did not want them to search his car. Shortly thereafter, he fled the scene on foot. Davidson was apprehended in a backyard on an adjacent street, at which time he was arrested. At the time of the incident, Davidson was wearing a GPS monitoring device in connection with open state charges involving a firearm.
During the inventory search of Davidson’s vehicle, a heavy black bag was located in the trunk of the vehicle. In the bag, was a black balaclava and a zipped blue bag. Inside the blue bag, a Polymer P80, 9-millimeter pistol with no serial number, with a 9-millimeter magazine inserted containing 10 rounds of ammunition, a silencer and a box of 9-millimeter ammunition containing 9 rounds were located. A second firearm was recovered from the glovebox, specifically, a Taurus 9-millimeter pistol with a round in the chamber and a magazine inserted containing six rounds of 9-millimeter ammunition. Davidson possessed the Taurus 9-millimeter pistol and 26 rounds of 9mm ammunition after having been convicted of previous felonies for which he had been sentenced to 7-10 years in prison.
The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides a sentence of up to 15 years’ incarceration. The charge of possessing an unregistered firearm provides a sentence of up to 10 years’ incarceration. Both charges carry a potential for supervised release of up to three years and a $250,000 fine. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Paul Saucier, Chief, Worcester Police Department made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin J. Brown of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting 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 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 https://www.justice.gov/PSN.
Websites seized, ten arrested, in prison drug distribution scheme in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – Three internet domains have been seized and ten individuals arrested in a scheme to provide drugs in prison, announced Eastern District of Texas Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr.
The internet domain name HerbalIncenseUSA.com and two related domains, Herbal-Biz.com and Herbal-Empire.com, were seized on March 6, 2025, following an investigation into drug distribution over the internet and through the U.S. Mail.
According to information provided in court, the three websites are alleged to have sold a variety of controlled substances, to include synthetic cannabinoids, aka “K2” or “Spice” specifically marketed as fictitious legal mail for the express purpose of smuggling the drugs into prisons and correctional facilities through the U.S. Mail and with the assistance of corrupt guards. “K2” supplied by the sites was responsible for multiple overdoses of prisoners being held on pre-trial detention in the Eastern District of Texas and throughout the country. A sheet of paper soaked in the drug sells for approximately $1,000 within a prison. “K2” distribution is difficult for correctional facilities to detect, as there are no reliable presumptive drug test kits that identify the drug.
The investigation identified the three websites as being the primary supplier of “K2,” shipping thousands of drug parcels to the Eastern District of Texas and tens of thousands being shipped nationwide yearly. Gross revenue from the websites was in the millions of dollars each year.
Those arrested and named in two separate federal indictments in the Eastern District of Texas are as follows:
Rana Alrichani, 46, of San Jose, CA;
Taleen Gabriel Zakarian, 36, of Glendale, CA;
Daniela Inman, 58, of Anaheim, CA;
Ioana Harhoiu, 35, of Irvine, CA;
Ziad Tohme, 48, of Burbank, CA;
Gabriel Raad, 50, of Land O’Lakes, FL;
Daisy Chalfoun, 40, of Land O’Lakes, FL;
Luisa Shahinyan, 33, of North Hills, CA;
Harout Payaslyan, 36, of Valley Village, CA; and
Manuk Payaslyan, 40, of Los Angeles, CA.
This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The seizures are part of a joint investigation with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. This matter will be prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Weaverville Man Sentenced to 24 Years for Carjacking and Discharging A Firearm That Seriously Injured A Postal WorkerRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Jaden Isaiah Garay, 25, of Weaverville, N.C. was sentenced today to 24 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for carjacking and discharging a firearm that caused serious bodily injury to a U.S. Postal Carrier, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In addition to prison term imposed, Garay was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $640,582.81 to the victim and $73,868.14 to the Office of Worker’s Compensation Program.
Jessica Wagner, Acting Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), which oversees Charlotte; R.E. “Chip” Hawley, Director of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NC SBI); Colonel Freddy L. Johnson, Jr., Commander of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol; Sheriff Buddy Harwood of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office; Sheriff Banks Hinceman of the Burke County Sheriff’s Office; Sheriff Ricky T. Buchanan of the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office; Chief Chad Wilson of the Mars Hill Police Department; and Chief Allen Lawrence of the Marion Police Department, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.
“Garay’s violent crime spree was a blatant disregard for the law and human life,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “His rampage put innocent lives at risk and ended with the near-fatal shooting of a postal worker simply doing her job. Today’s sentence holds Garay accountable for his reckless crimes. I commend the law enforcement agencies involved in Garay’s apprehension. Together, we will work to protect those who serve our communities.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is dedicated to preserving the integrity of the U.S. Mail, and most importantly, providing a safe environment for Postal employees and the communities they serve,” said Acting Inspector in Charge Wagner. “We fully commend the hard work and countless hours put forth by all the law enforcement agencies involved, which resulted in bringing this individual to justice.”
According to court documents and court proceedings, Garay stole a loaded semiautomatic handgun and several loaded ammunition magazines from his relatives’ home following an argument with them. Court records show that, at approximately 11:50 a.m., while Garay was driving his car on interstate I-26 near Mars Hill, the defendant used the stolen gun to fire a shot into a passing vehicle with an underage passenger inside. The bullet shattered the front passenger window and was lodged in the vehicle; fortunately, it did not hit the occupants. The bullet was later recovered by law enforcement and matched the stolen ammunition.
Following the shooting incident, Garay drove into the town of Mars Hill, where he abandoned his vehicle, taking the stolen firearm with him. Garay then walked through a residential neighborhood, breaking and entering into a home while the homeowner was inside. Garay encountered the homeowner, threatened to shoot her dog, and ordered her to get on her knees. The homeowner refused to do so and told Garay that if he was going to shoot her, he would have to do it while she was standing. Garay then went to the garage, where he tried to start one of the vehicles. He was unsuccessful, so he left the residence and continued walking through the neighborhood.
According to court records, as Garay was walking around the neighborhood, he encountered T.R., a rural postal carrier for the United States Postal Service who was delivering mail to a residential mailbox in her Jeep Wrangler. Garay approached T.R., told her he needed her car, and pointed the handgun at T.R. The victim attempted to comply with Garay’s demand but had to pull forward slightly to exit the vehicle because her door was blocked by a mailbox. Garay then shot T.R. in the face, and T.R. fell out of her vehicle and to the ground. Garay got in the victim’s vehicle and drove off, leaving T.R. laying on the ground with a serious gunshot wound to her head.
According to filed court documents, sometime later, Garay drove T.R.’s stolen vehicle onto I-40, where he was spotted by law enforcement. Police officers began a pursuit of the vehicle with lights and sirens activated. Garay refused to stop and instead fled at a high rate of speed. Officers deployed “stop sticks” on the interstate, but Garay did not stop even after he drove over the stop sticks. Garay eventually exited the interstate, and continued to elude officers, driving three miles further on backroads. He eventually came to a dead end where he abandoned the victim’s Jeep and fled on foot into a wooded area, still armed with the stolen firearm. Dozens of law enforcement officers searched for Garay, who spent the night hiding in the woods. Early the next morning, Garay was taken into custody and the stolen firearm was recovered.
T.R. sustained life-threatening injuries from the gunshot wound. Some of the victim’s injuries are permanent and she faces a lengthy recovery.
On April 15, 2024, Garay pleaded guilty to carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
Garay is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended the USPIS, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the North Carolina Department of Correction K9 Team, the North Carolina Highway Patrol, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, Burke County EMS, Burke County Emergency Management, and Burke County Communications Center, the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office, the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office, the Morganton Department of Public Safety, the Marion Police Department, and the Mars Hill Police Department for their investigation of the case and for their invaluable assistance in apprehending Garay. U.S. Attorney Ferguson also thanked Madison County District Attorney Seth Banks for his Office’s assistance and coordination with the federal investigation.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.
Violent Felon Sentenced to more than 17 Years in Federal Prison for Dealing Meth and MDMA while on Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
EVANSVILLE— Mikeal Luckett, 51, of Evansville, has been sentenced to 211 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute MDMA, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, on June 13, 2023, law enforcement officers conducted a search of Luckett’s Evansville home. Officers found a loaded stolen Taurus G2C 9mm pistol, approximately 26.2 grams of MDMA, approximately 6.4 grams of pure methamphetamine, digital scales, and $10,286 in cash. The pistol and MDMA were hidden together in an opening above the duct work in Luckett’s basement. Officers also found $1,530 in Luckett’s pockets.
In 2012, Luckett was convicted of felony Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine in federal court in Kentucky and was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release. Luckett was on federal supervised release at the time of this most recent incident.
Luckett had been previously convicted of several violent offenses, including assault and aggravated assault.
“Drug dealers like this defendant peddle deadly substances with utter disregard for human life, seeing only dollar signs and not the faces of the many loved ones that have been lost to overdoses and drug abuse,” said John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “This prosecution and sentence demonstrate that our office will continue to work alongside DEA, ATF and local Drug Task Forces to ensure the most dangerous reoffenders are held accountable.”
“There is no place in our community for those who spread pain and destruction through the distribution of illegal drugs. That disregard for human life is compounded when firearms are used to threaten violence to protect their illegal business,” stated Thomas A. Greco, Acting Special Agent in Charge for ATF’s Columbus Field Division. “ATF will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners to bring offenders like the defendant to justice and make our communities safer for everyone.”
“Individuals, especially repeat offenders like Mr. Luckett, who are on probation, and recklessly distribute poisonous drugs in our communities must be held accountable for their actions,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael Gannon. “DEA commends the outstanding work being conducted by our law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s Office, in combating dangerous criminals.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young.
Acting U.S. Attorney Childress thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew B. Miller who prosecuted this case.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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Venezuelan National arrested with large load of drugsRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 22-year-old Venezuelan National made his initial appearance this week in U.S. District Court in Seattle, following his arrest in Federal Way, Washington with a large amount of suspected narcotics, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Sebastian Velasquez-Perez was taken into custody at St Francis Hospital after he was treated for a drug overdose. He remains in federal detention pending a hearing scheduled for March 17, 2025.
According to the criminal complaint, on March 8, 2025, Federal Way Police were called to a Federal Way motel when staff discovered Velasquez-Perez unresponsive in his room. The staff administered two doses of NARCAN and performed CPR. Velasquez-Perez was transported to the hospital, and law enforcement obtained a court order to search the room.
In the room law enforcement seized: five bags containing approximately 3.2 kilograms of methamphetamine; 12 bags of a powdery substance that will be tested as a possible controlled substance; five bags of fentanyl pills – approximately 5,000 pills in all; and two bags of black tar substance appearing to be heroin. Also in the room three cellphones, a digital scale with drug residue, and nearly $8,000 in cash.
There were no documents in the hotel room indicating that Velasquez-Perez was legally present in the United States.
The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI), and the Valley Narcotics Enforcement Team (VNET).
Union County man sentenced to more than 3 years in prison for $1.4M fraud schemeRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Union County man was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 46 months in prison for a $1.4 million fraud scheme involving state agency contracts.
Nicholas Price, 45, of Marysville, defrauded three electronic equipment supplier businesses. The related state customers included the Ohio Department of Transportation, Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.
As part of his sentence, Price will pay more than $1.4 million in restitution.
According to court documents, Price owned Right PriceIT, LLC, an information-technology business registered in Ohio. He accepted money in return for supplying electronic equipment to companies that were awarded state contracts. The state would pay the contracting company, and the contracting company would pay Price, who would broker lower-cost suppliers; however, Price never paid the suppliers.
For example, in 2019, Price made an agreement with a company that won contracts to provide electronic equipment to the Ohio Department of Transportation and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. According to the agreement, the company would pay Price funds for the equipment and a profit for Price, who would then purchase the equipment from a supplier to provide to the state. Price never paid the supplier the cost of the equipment, nearly $689,000, despite the state agencies and companies all holding up their ends of the agreement.
Likewise, Price engaged in a similar scheme with a business that won a contract to provide electronic equipment to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. Again, Price entered into an agreement with the contracting company and a supplier to purchase the equipment and provide it to the state. The state and contracting company provided Price with more than $685,000, and the supplier provided the equipment, but Price never paid the supplier for the equipment.
In total, Price engaged in a similar fraud three times, causing a loss of more than $1.4 million.
Price then laundered the proceeds of his fraud scheme and sent wires to people who own car dealerships with the expectation that the funds would be laundered through those businesses.
Throughout his pending federal fraud case, Price obstructed justice and violated the terms of his pretrial release.
On the day of his detention hearing, Price instructed an individual to delete Price’s iCloud account.
While out on bond, Price violated the terms of his release by using methamphetamine, cocaine and alcohol. Price was also caught by law enforcement on more than one occasion driving luxury vehicles faster than 100 miles per hour. In one instance, Price drove a Ferrari F8 Spider in a densely populated area near Emerald Parkway and Sawmill Road in Dublin and crashed into two vehicles at an intersection. The driver of one of the other cars suffered serious injuries and had to be removed from his car with the jaws of life. Price’s bond was revoked after the crash, and he has been detained since.
Price was arrested on federal fraud charges in March 2024. He pleaded guilty in October 2024 to wire fraud and monetary transaction money laundering.
Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Court Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate is representing the United States in this case.
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- U.S. Attorney's Office Secures Prison Sentence in Fatal Navajo Nation DUI Case
Tulsa Resident Pleads Guilty to RobberyRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Wilmer Medardo Guerrero, age 24, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Robbery in Indian Country.
The Indictment alleged that on December 18, 2020, Guerrero took and attempted to take items of value from the person and presence of another by force, violence, and intimidation.
The crime occurred in Pontotoc County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Ada Police Department, and the District 22 Task Force.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Guerrero will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael E. Robinson and T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.
Trussville Man Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Trussville man has been sentenced for drug trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples.
U.S. District Court Judge R. David Proctor sentenced Antonio Sedell Ellis, 50, to 48 months in prison. In October 2024, Ellis pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.
According to the plea agreement, on May 9, 2023, a Trussville police officer observed a black Ford F-450 traveling on Interstate 59 and cross the outside fog line several times. The officer initiated a traffic stop of the driver, later identified as Ellis. During the stop, the officer could smell alcohol coming from inside the vehicle and asked Ellis to exit the vehicle. Although Ellis initially complied with the officer’s requests, he then attempted to walk away from the scene and refused to follow the officer’s orders. Additional officers responded and successfully apprehended Ellis. He was placed into the back of the patrol car so that a full search of Ellis’s vehicle could be completed. The search uncovered a package containing one kilogram of cocaine, several bags of cocaine, and drug paraphernalia.
The FBI investigated the case along with the Trussville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany T. Byrd prosecuted the case.
Thunderguards Motorcycle Club Member Sentenced for Trafficking FirearmsRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – Shannon T. Hanson, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced today that Robert Dorsey, 47, of New Jersey, was sentenced on March 11, 2025, to 46 months incarceration for trafficking firearms. U.S. District Judge Richard G. Andrews pronounced the sentence.
According to court documents, between September and October 2023, Dorsey sold a total of four firearms during three separate transactions to a law enforcement informant in New Jersey and Delaware. The firearms included a privately made firearm (PMF), known commonly as a “ghost gun”, as well as a firearm that had been stolen from Maryland just a month before Dorsey sold it to the informant on the black market. Additionally, Dorsey had reason to believe one of the firearms he sold would be used in a violent crime. Further, Dorsey sold the informant crack cocaine and heroin on over five occasions, sometimes selling both drugs and a gun as part of the same transaction.
Dorsey was the self-proclaimed vice president of a Thunderguards Motorcycle Club chapter, known as the “North Pole”, in Wilmington, DE. During the investigation Dorsey referred to his role as a “one-percenter” or active member of the Thunderguards, told individuals about his role and chapter affiliations with the Thunderguards, and in fact, other members of the Club were present with Dorsey during the last firearm sale to the informant in Delaware.
Acting U.S. Attorney Hanson, said, “Trafficking firearms, especially PMFs and stolen guns, is a serious threat to public safety. Illegally trafficking guns provides individuals who are prohibited from possessing firearm with ready access to deadly weapons. I commend the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for disrupting the unlawful trafficking of firearms in the New Jersey and Delaware region. I want to thank ATF, Delaware State Police, and our local law enforcement partners for their thorough investigation.”
This investigation is an example of ATF’s dedication to working with our state, local and federal partners in identifying, pursuing, and investigating violent offenders who illegally possess or utilize firearms to commit violent crimes, and those who engage in the unlawful trafficking of firearms. ATF is proud and honored to have such a great working relationship with these outstanding law enforcement organizations and these results demonstrate how the partnerships between our agencies work to protect our communities and hold criminals accountable,” stated Special Agent in Charge LC Cheeks Jr., ATF Newark Field Division.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Delaware State Police, New Jersey State Police, and Pennsville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel S. Frey prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 23-CR-91-RGA.
Three Men Indicted, Nearly 1,400 Pounds of Methamphetamine Seized, and Two Methamphetamine Labs DismantledRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a 3-count superseding indictment today against three defendants, charging them with a drug trafficking conspiracy, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.
Alfredo Alvarez Sanchez, 37, and Raul Munoz Navarro, 54, both of Mexico, were arrested on December 11, 2024, during a coordinated law enforcement operation. Inosencio Cruz, 35, of Visalia, was arrested on March 11, 2025.
According to court documents, coordinated searches conducted on May 17, 2023, led to the seizure of nearly 1,000 pounds of crystal methamphetamine and 14 firearms. The operation involved the search of five properties in Tulare, Earlimart, and Corcoran. During the searches, law enforcement discovered and dismantled two active methamphetamine conversion laboratories. These labs contained numerous 55-gallon drums filled with liquid methamphetamine in various stages of conversion to crystal methamphetamine.
In addition to the seizures described above, law enforcement conducted a series of enforcement actions resulting in the seizure of significant quantities of methamphetamine, firearms, and other contraband destined for distribution in California’s Central Valley and beyond, including:
Nov. 30, 2023: 150 pounds of methamphetamine seized.
- Feb. 24, 2024: 200 pounds of methamphetamine confiscated.
- March 20, 2024: 25 pounds of methamphetamine and 4 pounds of marijuana seized.
Additionally, law enforcement recovered 11 firearms from an individual who attempted to conceal them following the seizure of methamphetamine on March 20, 2024.
Nov. 30, 2023 seizure of 150 pounds of methamphetamine.
Feb. 24, 2024 seizure of 200 pounds of methamphetamine.
March 20, 2024, seizure of 25 pounds of methamphetamine and 4 pounds of marijuana.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office, Sacramento Area Intelligence/Narcotics Task Force (SAINT), Multi-Jurisdictional Methamphetamine Enforcement Team (Cal-MMET), Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, Kings County Sheriff’s Office, Kings County Major Crimes Task Force, Fresno Police Department, Clovis Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Tulare County Tactical-High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Unit (TNT-HIDTA), U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement-ERO. Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonio J. Pataca is prosecuting the case.
If convicted of the charges, the defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum penalty of life in prison and a fine of up to $10 million. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
Three Men Indicted for Conspiring to Distribute 150,000 Fentanyl Pills in Madera CountyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Jesus Valdez Castaneda, 28, of San Bernardino; Carlos German Fierro, 29, of Caruthers; and Alejandro Soto Mares, 43, of Mexico, charging them with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, Acting United States Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.
According to court documents, the defendants conspired with other individuals to distribute and possess with intent to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl. The men arranged to sell 150,000 fentanyl pills in a strip mall parking lot in Madera on Feb. 21, 2025. Castaneda and Soto Mares arrived first and met with a co-conspirator who had agreed to buy the pills. After agreeing on price, Fierro and two other co-conspirators arrived with the pills in a second car.
Before completing the deal, the men went into a nearby Panda Express restaurant to order food. Nearby officers then converged on the men and arrested them. Officers seized 150,000 pills and two firearms.
Fentanyl pills and firearms seized on Feb. 21, 2025 in Madera
This case is the product of an investigation by the High Impact Investigation Team (HIIT), which is composed of personnel from the California Department of Justice, Fresno Police Department, Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Madera County Sheriff’s Office, Kings County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Arin C. Heinz and Cody S. Chapple are prosecuting the case.
All defendants were detained and are in custody awaiting trial. If convicted, each defendant faces a minimum statutory penalty of 10 years and maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine for the drug charge. Fierro faces an additional minimum statutory penalty of five years for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Third Member of Multi-State Gas Pump Skimming Device and Fuel Theft Ring Pleads Guilty to Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that Deyvis Hernandez (37, Miami) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy and wire fraud. Hernandez faces up to 20 years in federal prison on the wire fraud count, up to 5 years’ imprisonment on the conspiracy count, and payment of restitution to the victims he and his co-defendants defrauded. No sentencing date has been set.
According to court documents, Hernandez and his co-conspirators worked together to install skimmers on gas pumps, including gas stations in Alabama, Louisiana, and Northern Florida. The conspirators used the skimmers to illegally obtain credit and debit card account numbers involved with the purchase of fuel by customers at the gas pump. Using the account numbers stolen by the skimmers, they subsequently made counterfeit credit and debit cards and then, used them to purchase large amounts of diesel fuel.
During the conspiracy the conspirators drove vehicles that contained a fuel bladder system. This system allowed the conspirators to fake pumping gas into the vehicle’s gas tank when in fact the diesel fuel was being pumped into the fuel bladder system. Analysis by law enforcement of fuel purchases, vehicle tracker data, gas station video surveillance, and real time surveillance of the conspirators determined that the conspirators drove to multiple gas stations throughout Northern Florida. After obtaining the gas, the conspirators offloaded the stolen fuel into 9,500-gallon tanker trucks at a fuel yard. The tanker trucks were arranged in part by Hernandez who was part owner of a gas station in south Florida. Hernandez coordinated the sale of the stolen diesel fuel to locations designated by him to include in south Florida.
Deonelky Tabares Cid (36, Tampa) previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy, four counts of wire fraud, six counts of access device fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. Luis Edel Trujillo Pena (29, Miami) previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. No sentencing date has been set for either defendant.
Co-defendants Luis Ernesto Vigil Ochoa (32, Miami) and Isvaldo Guerra Perdomo (38, Jacksonville) are scheduled for trial in May 2025.
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 was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. General Services Administration - Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Secret Service – Jacksonville Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
Tewksbury Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Tewksbury man was sentenced yesterday for sex trafficking and the interstate transportation of seven separate victims for the purposes of prostitution.
Jermall Anderson, 45, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 15 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In November 2024, Anderson pleaded guilty to seven counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, one count of coercion and enticement, and one count of interstate transportation for the purpose of prostitution. Anderson was indicted in August 2023, along with two co-conspirators.
“Jermall Anderson preyed on vulnerable women, targeting and sexually exploiting homeless and drug addicted women for his own benefit. He controlled his victims with fear, violence and drugs all so that he could profit off of them,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley “The U.S. Attorney’s office will continue to fight for sex trafficking victims and hold accountable those who victimize them. I applaud the brave victims who stood up against Jermall Anderson. In doing so, they took back control of their lives and assured that a violent and depraved predator is no longer a threat to the community.”
“Anderson and his co-conspirators weaponized addiction to control women and force them into sex trafficking. Through violence, threats, and addiction, he trafficked women through several states for his financial benefit. After today’s sentence, he is facing the consequences of his cruelty and greed – serious federal prison time,” said Homeland Security Investigations New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol. “With the final resolution of this case, those that Anderson victimized can now move forward with renewed dignity and independence.”
From 2012 through 2016, Anderson, along with his co-conspirators, used physical violence, threats and the giving and withholding of heroin and cocaine to force seven different victims to prostitute on their behalf. Anderson and his co-conspirators targeted vulnerable victims, specifically those struggling from drug addiction, homelessness and lack of economic resources. Anderson recruited women struggling with drug addiction directly from detox and drug rehabilitation facilities and forced and coerced them into providing commercial sex for his financial benefit. The defendant trafficked these victims throughout New England, New York and New Jersey.
Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274 or contact [email protected].
U.S. Attorney Foley and HSI SAC Krol made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the HSI Office in New Haven, Conn., the Lynn and Tewksbury Police Departments (Mass.) and the Hampden (Conn.) Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen W. Hassink of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
Terry Cole Nominated to Key Post at the Drug Enforcement AdministrationRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice congratulates Terrance C. “Terry” Cole on his nomination to be the next Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Terry Cole (DEA Administrator Nominee)
Mr. Cole has a distinguished record with over 28 years in law enforcement, most recently serving as Virginia’s Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security. Before this post, Mr. Cole served for over 20 years at the DEA, with tours in Oklahoma, New York, Texas, and Washington, D.C. While at the DEA, Mr. Cole also received several foreign assignments to Colombia, Afghanistan, Mexico, and the Middle East. Before joining the DEA, Mr. Cole served as a Naval Academy Blue and Gold Officer.
Mr. Cole graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a B.A. in Criminal Justice and holds certificates in Leadership from the University of Viginia and the University of Notre Dame Mendoza School of Business. Mr. Cole has also pursued continuing education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan Executive School for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.
Tampa Man Arrested for Stealing More Than Half A Million Dollars in COVID Relief FundsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the indictment and arrest of Terrence Bradford (46, Tampa) for eight counts of wire fraud related to COVID relief funds. If convicted, Bradford faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each count. In addition, he faces a forfeiture order of $533,648.32, which represents the alleged proceeds he obtained through these offenses.
According to the indictment, between April 2020 and March 2021, Bradford devised a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration by submitting multiple false and fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications. These programs were some of the sources of economic relief provided for by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
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.
In May 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The task force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Merrilyn Hoenemeyer.
Tennessee Couple Plead Guilty to Federal Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney April M. Leon announced that Haskell Knight, a/k/a “Trey Knight,” age 61, and Emily Knight, a/k/a “Emily Ricciardelli,” age 41, both of Franklin, Tennessee, pled guilty before U.S. District Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick to federal felony fraud charges related to Trey Knight’s Udoxa business and their bankruptcy filings.
According to admissions made as a part of their guilty pleas, in 2016 Trey Knight began to look for investment capital for his new business, Udoxa, which claimed to market nutritional supplements. Yet, Udoxa never conducted any actual sales. He and others on his behalf solicited and received $50,000 loans from several victims under false pretenses and then did little to follow through with starting the business. Trey Knight misrepresented the existence of a rich investor, available formation capital for the business, and the strength of the startup, among other things, to get the victims’ money and then failed to use it in the agreed upon manner. Based on the promises made to them, the victims also expected to be paid back with interest and to have the option to gain an ownership stake in a legitimate company. This did not happen. Instead, the money loaned was used in part to pay Trey Knight’s old business debt and his personal expenses. In May of 2017, the Knights filed for bankruptcy in the Middle District of Florida and listed the victims as unsecured Udoxa creditors.
In filing for bankruptcy, Trey Knight failed to provide a truthful and complete statement of income, assets and liabilities, as required by law and made numerous false statements under oath at the creditors’ meeting regarding this information. Specifically, Trey Knight failed to disclose significant income from network marketing businesses as well as liabilities owed from prior business ventures and then gave false information under oath about his finances and more during the creditors’ meeting. The Knights both lied under oath at the creditors’ meeting claiming to be unemployed, despite both being employed at the time.
These actions prevented the bankruptcy trustee from properly executing the bankruptcy proceeding, leaving the creditors, like the Udoxa victims, with less money than they should have received and allowing the Knights to walk away from debts while keeping significant funds they were not entitled to keep.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica M.P. Thornhill, who also serves as the Deputy Chief of Economic Crimes Unit.
Swanzey Man Convicted for Stealing Firearms from a Federal Firearms Licensee in WinchesterRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Swanzey man pleaded guilty today in federal court for stealing 18 firearms from Trader John’s Gun Shop, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.
Khale Guillou, 19, of Swanzey, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee. Judge Samantha D. Elliott scheduled sentencing for June 24, 2025.
According to the charging documents and statements made in court, on July 6, 2024, the defendant forced entry into Trader John’s Gun Shop and stole 18 firearms from the store. Investigators recovered four of the stolen firearms from his vehicle on July 15, 2024, and recovered two of the stolen firearms from his home on July 20, 2024.
The charge of theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Keene Police Department, Swanzey Police Department, Winchester Police Department, and Tewksbury Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski is prosecuting the case.
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Stephenson County, Ill. Man Indicted for Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A Stephenson County, Ill. man was indicted on Tuesday by a federal grand jury in Rockford for sexual exploitation of children.
COLLIN T. ZIER, 39, of Lena, Ill., was charged with one count of producing child pornography, one count of transporting child pornography, one count of receiving child pornography, and one count of possessing child pornography.
The count of producing child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum of 30 years. The counts of transporting and receiving child pornography each carry a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years. The count of possessing child pornography carries a maximum sentence of ten years.
The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting 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. The Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Kim.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, while also providing critical services to victims.
If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to https://www.missingkids.org/ or calling 1-800-843-5678. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
zier_indictment.pdfStamford Felon Sentenced to 57 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RICARDO GEORGES, 35, of Stamford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 57 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for unlawfully possessing a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made court, while investigating a shooting incident in Stamford in March 2022, Stamford Police learned that Georges was in possession of a handgun. On May 7, 2022, investigators encountered Georges as he was leaving a gym in Stamford. He was arrested after a search of his backpack revealed a loaded Para USA .45 ACP caliber, semi-automatic pistol, as well as a quantity of fentanyl.
Georges’ criminal history includes felony convictions in Connecticut and New York for assault on public safety personnel, robbery in the first degree, criminal possession of a firearm, and multiple drug offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
Georges has been detained since his arrest. On April 24, 2024, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
This matter was investigated by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, the Stamford Police Department, and the Office of the State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Stamford-Norwalk. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn.
Six Leaders of Transnational Maritime Drug Trafficking Organization Indicted for Distributing Multi-Ton Quantities of CocaineRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed yesterday in federal court in Brooklyn charging Elkin Armando Alomia Quinones, Diego Luis Obregon Aguirre, Edwin Obregon Castro, Juan Matias Obregon Castro, also known as “Mauricio,” Rodrigo Obregon Saavedra, also known as “Don Ricky” and Narjel Paredes, also known as “Nacho,” with conspiring to violate and violating the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act and with an international cocaine distribution conspiracy that resulted in the seizure of over 5,000 kilograms of cocaine for distribution in the United States. The indictment was returned under seal by a grand jury in November 2024. The six defendants were arrested yesterday in Colombia. The United States is seeking the defendants’ extradition to face charges in the Eastern District of New York.
John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division (DEA New York) and Michael Alfonso, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York), announced the arrests and charges.
“As alleged, the defendants are members of a Colombian transnational maritime drug trafficking organization that specializes in building semi-submersible vessels and using the vessels to transport multi-ton quantities of cocaine to Mexico and Central America, for ultimate distribution in the United States,” stated United States Attorney Durham. “With today’s arrests, the defendants’ conspiracy has been torpedoed. The United States will not tolerate the export and distribution of dangerous drugs into our homeland. My Office is determined to prosecute these defendants in a federal courtroom in Brooklyn where they will be held accountable for their crimes.”
Mr. Durham praised the outstanding investigative work of DEA New York’s Strike Force, DEA Bogota and HSI New York’s El Dorado Task Force. Mr. Durham also expressed his appreciation to Colombia’s Cuerpo Técnico de Investigación, DEA Puerto Rico, DEA Madrid and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico for their substantial assistance. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of the Judicial Attaché in Bogotá provided significant assistance in this matter.
“The removal of over 5,000 kilograms of cocaine from international waters, destined for the United States, illustrates the DEA’s global pursuit to identify and target those international drug traffickers and Transnational Criminal Organizations that are using semi-submersible fleets to poison our city streets,” stated DEA New York Special Agent in Charge Tarentino. “Today’s indictment against these six individuals is a reminder of the reach and unity of effort the DEA and our law enforcement partners demonstrate when pursing those criminals looking to profit from the illicit drug trade.”
“As alleged, investigators repeatedly intercepted the defendants' attempts to transport cocaine via semi-submersible vessels traveling through international waterways. While their ill-intended ingenuity knows no bounds, the unified strength and versatility of the U.S. federal law enforcement system has once again stopped a dangerous, allegedly cartel-aligned drug trafficking organization in its tracks. Securing the homeland from dangers posed by foreign organizations and threats is among HSI’s top priorities. We are relentlessly prepared to confront bad actors seeking financial gain by whatever means necessary,” stated HSI New York Acting Special Agent in Charge Alfonso.
As alleged in the charging document and other court filings, the defendants led a maritime transnational criminal organization that specialized in building self-propelled semi-submersible vessels in remote locations in Colombia and South America and used those semi-submersible vessels to transport multi-ton quantities of cocaine from Colombia to Central America and Sinaloa Cartel controlled areas of Mexico, for ultimate distribution in the United States.
Using intelligence from multiple sources, including lawfully intercepted calls and communications, the investigation revealed that the defendants led a sophisticated maritime drug distribution operation consisting of multiple inter-connected phases. First, members of the conspiracy sought investors to finance multi-ton cocaine loads, including financing the construction of the semi-submersible vessels and payments to crew members and co-conspirators. Then, members of the conspiracy built and hired engineers and workers to assist in building self-propelled semi-submersible vessels capable of carrying thousands of kilograms of cocaine. They also hired crew members to transport the narcotics in the vessels. Before launching the cocaine-laden vessels from the Pacific coast of Colombia towards areas controlled by the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico, members of the conspiracy conducted countersurveillance on the high seas by strategically positioning fishing vessels on the same route that the semi-submersible would navigate in order to detect the presence of law enforcement in the area.As a result of the investigation, law enforcement seized multiple thousand kilograms of cocaine traced to this transnational criminal organization, including two seizures charged in the indictment:
- The June 27, 2023, seizure of approximately 2,312 kilograms of cocaine aboard a semi-submersible vessel built by the defendants’ criminal organization; and
- The October 7, 2023, seizure of approximately 3,300 kilograms of cocaine aboard a semi-submersible vessel built by the defendants’ criminal organization.
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 (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 New York Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Strike Force is a Federal Task Force comprised of Federal, State and Local law enforcement officers who enforce the narcotic laws of the United States Government and bring those to justice who break these laws relating to large scale drug and money laundering operations that reach all corners of the globe. This Task Force includes members of the DEA, HSI, Internal Revenue Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Marshals Service, New York City Police Department, New York State Police and multiple other local police departments in the tri-state area.
HSI New York leads and directs all operational and administrative activities of the El Dorado Task Force (EDTF). The EDTF is comprised of more than 200 law enforcement personnel representing approximately thirty-five (35) federal, state, and local law enforcement and regulatory agencies. The mission of the EDTF is to disrupt, dismantle, or render ineffective, organizations involved in the laundering of proceeds of narcotics trafficking and other financial crimes.
The charges in the indictments are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, all defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and up to life in prison.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section, and as part of the work of the Office’s Transnational Criminal Organizations Strike Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Lorena Michelen and Katherine Onyshko are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendants:
ELKIN ARMANDO ALOMIA QUINONES
Age: 39
ColombiaDIEGO LUIS OBREGON AGUIRRE
Age: 46
ColombiaEDWIN OBREGON CASTRO
Age: 40
ColombiaJUAN MATIAS OBREGON CASTRO (“Mauricio”)
Age: 48
ColombiaRODRIGO OBREGON SAAVEDRA (“Don Ricky”)
Age: 68
ColombiaNARJEL PAREDES (“Nacho”)
Age: 55
ColombiaE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-462 (EK)