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28 March 2025
Woburn Men Sentenced to Prison for Migrant Smuggling ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Father and son owners of two Woburn, Mass. restaurants, Taste of Brazil—Tudo Na Brasa and The Dog House Bar and Grill, were sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for conspiring to smuggle migrants into the United States from Brazil. One defendant was also sentenced for money laundering conspiracy.
Jesse James Moraes, 67, and Hugo Giovanni Moraes, 45, both of Woburn, were sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs. Jesse Moraes was sentenced to eight months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release; and Hugo Moraes was sentenced to five months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, with the first five months in home confinement, and ordered to pay a $15,000 fine. In November 2024, the defendants pleaded guilty to conspiring to encourage and induce an alien to come to, enter, and reside in the United States, knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that such coming to, entry, or residence is or will be in violation of law, for commercial advantage or private financial gain. Jesse Moraes also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder the proceeds of the migrant smuggling conspiracy.
The conspiracy involved recruiting undocumented migrants in Brazil to come to the United States through Mexico without authorization in exchange for fees of between $12,000 and $22,000 per person. The migrants were encouraged to make fraudulent claims of asylum and familial relationship (e.g., parent and minor child) in the United States and were given fraudulent information about U.S. points of contact to give to immigration authorities when they were caught in the United States. Once migrants were in the United States, Jesse Moraes and Hugo Moraes helped them secure long-term housing, including in apartments owned by relatives of Hugo Moraes. The defendants arranged for some of the migrants to work at Tudo Na Brasa/Taste of Brazil and The Dog House Bar and Grill and paid the migrants either entirely or partly in cash unless and until the migrants obtained identification documents, at which point they would be paid at least partly by check.
The defendants encouraged the migrants working for them to obtain false identification documents and referred them to a co-defendant, Marcos Chacon Gil, a/k/a Marquito,” to obtain such false identification documents. The co-conspirators agreed that some of the migrants could pay off some of their smuggling fee once they reached the United States, which they did by direct payment, having their wages withheld, or by collection by relatives and other associates within and outside the United States.
The money laundering conspiracy to which Jesse Moraes was sentenced involved transferring funds into and out of the United States with the intent to promote the migrant smuggling conspiracy and conducting financial transactions with the proceeds of the smuggling conspiracy that were designed to conceal the ownership and control of the proceeds.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and Woburn Police Chief Robert F. Rufo, Jr., made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Norwood Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James D. Herbert, Kelly Lawrence and Samuel R. Feldman of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Violent Drug Dealers Who Attempted to Shoot and Kill a Spokane Police Officer Sentenced to Decades in PrisonRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington - Acting United States Attorney Richard Barker announced today that United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke sentenced Ray Anthony Wynecoop, age 24, to 30 years in prison and Isaac Anthony Ott, age 23, to 25 years in prison on federal drug and firearm charges. Judge Dimke also imposed 8 years of supervised release for both Wynecoop and Ott.
According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, on December 11, 2021, an officer with the Spokane Police Department (SPD) observed Wynecoop, who was driving a white Dodge Charger with no license plates, fail to use a turn signal. SPD attempted to conduct a traffic stop using the patrol car’s lights and siren. Instead of stopping, Wynecoop began driving erratically in attempt to elude SPD, including by driving at excessive speeds on residential streets. SPD stopped the chase when it became too dangerous.
A short time later, SPD located the Dodge Charger and observed that it had been involved in a crash. Wynecoop attempted to run from the scene but was arrested.
During a search of the Charger, law enforcement located a loaded 9mm pistol with a black laser mounted on the end of the barrel, a backpack with Wynecoop’s ID and two more lasers for the pistol. Officers also located a .380 semi-automatic pistol inside the vehicle, as well as a fanny pack that contained once ounce of heroin and fentanyl-laced pills.
Approximately six months later, on June 26, 2022, Wynecoop was armed with a .22 caliber pistol that had a loaded drum-style high-capacity magazine seated in the firearm. Ott was armed with a shotgun. Armed with these firearms, which neither was permitted possess, Wynecoop and Ott, committed multiple drive-by shootings. During the shooting spree, officers responded to these shootings and were intentionally targeted by Wynecoop and Ott. The two defendants even sat in wait looking for a police officer to kill, while Ott filmed it. An SPD Officer drove by, and they immediately began to pursue to carry out their murderous intent. When a second officer came to their aid, Wynecoop opened fire, shooting the officer in the leg and the head. The officer thankfully recovered from his injuries.
During a search of the vehicle used by Wynecoop and Ott in the shooting, detectives located the two firearms, a large volume of spent shell casings, approximately 10,000 fentanyl pills, a small quantity of heroin, and other drug related items.
The United States Attorney’s Office immediately began to work with the Spokane Police Department, the Spokane County Sheriffs Officer and the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office to provide support and charge relevant federal offenses. This case highlights the importance of those partnerships and the one team approach against such intentional violence targeting the public and law enforcement.
In April of 2024, Wynecoop was sentenced in Washington State Court to more than 65 years in prison and Ott was sentenced to 40 years in prison on multiple charges in connection to the shooting. The federal case was brought during the pendency of those state charges.
“Notwithstanding their prior felony convictions, Wynecoop and Ott illegally possessed firearms with the express purpose of murdering Spokane Police,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Richard Barker. “I am humbled by the dedication of federal, state, and local law enforcement, who put their lives on the line every day to protect Eastern Washington communities. We all are indebted to the officers in this case, who bravely risked their lives to ensure both Wynecoop and Ott were held accountable for these terrible crimes.”
“Drug trafficking and gun violence too often goes hand-in-hand, as Mr. Ott and Mr. Wynecoop emphatically demonstrated,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “Their incarceration clearly makes Spokane a safer place and I am glad that the Drug Enforcement Administration and our partners in the Spokane Police Department, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office could a stop to their spree of violence.”
“Thanks to the quick and meaningful collaboration of local and federal partners, the Spokane community is a safer place with these two behind bars,” stated Preston McCollam, Chief Criminal Deputy for the Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. “The intentional broad daylight assaults on uniformed Spokane Police Officers on June 26, 2022, highlights the gratuitous acts of violence (gang or otherwise) that are all too common in our community and puts into perspective the clear and present danger our brave men and women in law enforcement face every day they suit up and start their shifts. The ready availability of fentanyl and other controlled substances in our community creates a dangerous environment for all Spokane residents to reside and work, and this sad reality is acutely felt by our law enforcement officers who are daily tasked with responding to calls for help no matter when or where that call may come.”
Chief Criminal Deputy McCollam continued, “As it happened here SPD officers were responding to multiple drive-by shootings committed by Ott and Wynecoop in a residential neighborhood, when they were intentionally and violently ambushed by the waiting pair. Both involved officers narrowly escaped fatal consequences thanks to the hard work and partnerships of the Spokane Police Department, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Attorney’s Office, and the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office.”
“The actions of these violent offenders represent the most extreme and calculated threat our officers and community can face,” said Spokane Police Chief Kevin Hall. “Their deliberate attempt to murder a Spokane Police Officer while terrorizing neighborhoods with gunfire and trafficking narcotics is a stark reminder of the dangers our officers confront daily. I am incredibly proud of the bravery, professionalism, and resilience shown by the involved officers, and deeply grateful for the seamless collaboration among our federal, state, and local partners. These lengthy sentences send a clear message: attacks on law enforcement and the endangerment of our community will be met with unwavering resolve and justice.”
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Spokane County Sheriff's Office and the Spokane Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Van Marter in partnership with Preston McCollam with the Spokane Prosecutors Office.
2:22-cr-00151-MKD
Victoria contractor imprisoned for defrauding investors of millions in material schemeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 62-year-old man has been sentenced for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Michael Wayne Galvan pleaded guilty Sept. 26, 2024.
U.S. District Judge Charles Eskridge has now ordered Galvan to serve 27 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay nearly $3 million in restitution. At the hearing, the court considered victim statements regarding the seriousness of Galvan’s offense, including the lasting impact of his crimes and the negative consequences they continue to suffer.
Galvan, operating as a high-end contractor under MWG Ventures LLC dba MGB Builders, fraudulently obtained over $2.8 million from at least six private investors. In some cases, Galvan found future victims when he volunteered as a vice president of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR).
From February 2016 to March 2018, Galvan used his position with HLSR to find victims, many of whom were likewise in volunteer leadership positions. To solicit short-term loans, he offered opportunities to earn 10 to 12 percent interest through his contracting business. Galvan falsely represented he would use the money to purchase materials such as exotic tiles and granite from China and other overseas countries for his construction business.
At the time of his plea, Galvan admitted he did not use the money for its intended purpose. The scheme unraveled when he ran out of victims and money. In total, he defrauded multiple victims of $2,878,661.30 and was ordered to pay restitution in that amount.
He was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christian Latham and Thomas Carter prosecuted the case.
Vicksburg Man Convicted of Falsifying Firearms Documents, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI – A federal jury convicted Zaid Khalaf, 42, of Vicksburg, Mississippi, a former Federal Firearms Licensee (“FFL”) on Thursday, March 27, 2025, for two counts of falsifying records, two counts of aggravated identity theft, and one count of obstruction of justice. The convictions followed a two-day trial.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Khalaf was a Federal Firearms Licensee at a gun shop in Vicksburg, Mississippi since 2022. On April 24, 2024, an ATF firearms compliance inspection found that Khalaf falsified multiple firearms transaction records. Khalaf used the identities including social security numbers of two of his previous customers to forge firearm transaction records in their names. Khalaf presented the forged documents to the ATF investigator during the inspection. It is against federal law to falsify ATF records and to use the identities and private information of citizens without their consent. Khalaf is no longer a Federal Firearms Licensee.
Khalaf is scheduled to be sentenced on July 22 and faces a mandatory minimum of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft consecutive with any other term of imprisonment imposed. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi; and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement.
Universal City Man Will Spend 60 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A Universal City man was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio to 720 months in prison for three charges related to sexual exploitation of children.
According to court documents, Christopher Lee Castano, 44, accessed and transferred child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to and from external devices using his employer’s computer system while at a facility in San Antonio. The employer contacted the FBI in August 2022, after having discovered that Castano possessed files with names associated with child pornography on four removable devices since January 2022. On Aug. 3, 2022, an employee observed the files as Castano connected the external devices to the employer’s computers.
A federal search warrant led to the search of Castano’s work area and his devices, and an investigation revealed CSAM produced by Castano between 2015 and 2018 when the female child victim in the images was 11-14 years old. FBI personnel also located multiple CSAM images and videos depicting another minor female produced around 2016 when that victim was between the ages of five and 26 months old. A graphic CSAM video of Castano’s was produced using his cell phone on July 21, 2018, depicting the second child victim when she was just over two years old.
Castano has remained in federal custody since his arrest on Aug. 10, 2022. He was indicted for 13-counts on Sept. 7, 2022 and pleaded guilty to three counts on Oct. 12, 2023.
In addition to his 60-year prison sentence, Castano was also ordered to pay restitution to two child victims in the amount of $50,000 each and another $5,000 each to five additional victims who were identified through the investigation.
“Unless he lives well into his hundreds, this child predator is rightfully going to serve what is essentially a life sentence for the heinous crimes he has committed against at least half a dozen children,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “I thank Castano’s employer for reporting his actions to our partners at the FBI, who helped us achieve this just sentence. While this does not erase what the child victims endured, we hope that they find some solace in the fact that Castano is no longer a threat to anyone.”
“Castano heinously abused some of the most vulnerable among us. This sentence properly reflects the seriousness of his crimes and will hopefully provide some semblance of justice for his victims. The FBI is committed to protecting our children and relentlessly pursuing those who would cause them harm," said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp for the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office. “We want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their partnership and dedication to this important mission.”
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Thompson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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United States Unseals Charges for Theft of Texas Republican Party DataRead the Press Release
AUSTIN, Texas – The Department of Justice announced the unsealing of charges against Canadian national Aubrey Cottle, 37, of Oshawa, Ontario, in connection with the theft of data relating to the Texas Republican Party in 2021. Canadian authorities arrested Cottle on Wednesday and are pursuing charges under Canadian law.
A criminal complaint filed in the Western District of Texas alleges Cottle gained unauthorized access to a third-party hosting company’s computer system to deface and download a backup of Texas Republican Party’s web server, which contained personal identifying information. The information was distributed and made available for download online. Cottle allegedly claimed responsibility for the attack on social media. A search of Cottle’s electronic devices revealed he was in possession of the data stolen from the Texas Republican Party.
Cottle has been charged with unlawfully transferring, possessing, or using a means of identification with the intent to commit, or aid or abet, or in connection with, unlawful activity under state or federal law. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The FBI Austin Cyber Task Force is investigating the case, with valuable assistance from the Ontario Provincial Police and the Durham Regional Police Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney G. Karthik Srinivasan is prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided significant assistance.
A complaint is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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United States Secures Extradition of More Than a Dozen Fugitives from 10 CountriesRead the Press Release
Extensive coordination and cooperation efforts between the U.S. Department of Justice and law enforcement authorities in Colombia, the Dominican Republic, France, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mexico, Spain, and the United Kingdom resulted in the extraditions this month of alleged murderers, a child rapist, an MS-13 leader, an alien smuggler, Colombian drug traffickers, a Russian cybercriminal, a Nigerian fraudster, and an immigration scammer.
“The dedicated, persistent work of the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs with foreign partners resulted in the extradition of fugitives wanted in the United States for violent crimes,” said Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division Matthew R. Galeotti. “The Justice Department will aggressively pursue and bring to justice in the United States transnational criminals and hold them accountable for the death and violence they have committed here and abroad.”
The fugitives extradited to the United States in March 2025 include:
- Eswin Mejia, 28, was extradited from Honduras to face charges of vehicular homicide and failure to appear in court for the January 2016 killing of 21-year-old Sarah Root in Douglas County, Nebraska. Mejia was arrested and released on bond in February 2016 and subsequently fled the country to evade prosecution by the Douglas County Attorney’s Office.
- Rigoberto Ramon Miranda-Orozco, 48, an alleged leader of a Guatemala-based alien smuggling organization, was extradited from Guatemala to face charges in the Western District of Texas for his alleged role in the June 2022 San Antonio mass casualty incident that resulted in the death of 53 Guatemalan, Honduran, and Mexican nationals, including children, and the injury of 11 others.
- Moises Humberto Rivera Luna, 55, an alleged international leader of the violent gang MS-13, was extradited from Guatemala to face racketeering conspiracy charges in the District of Columbia regarding racketeering activities to include murder, narcotics distribution, extortion, robberies, obstruction of justice, and other crimes.
- Carlos Espino Farfan, 36, was extradited from Spain to face charges of first-degree felony rape of a child and first-degree felony sodomy upon a child filed by the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office.
- Jair Alberto Alvarez Valenzuela, 54, and Luis Carlos Diaz Martinez, 32, former Colombian Navy personnel were extradited to face charges in the Middle District of Florida for their alleged role in selling locations of Colombian Navy drug interdiction vessels to international drug traffickers.
- Louie Hernandez, 61, was extradited from Mexico to face charges in King County, Washington, of first-degree murder in connection with the February 2024 fatal shooting of his alleged estranged partner, Reyna Hernandez.
- Juan Ramirez, 37, was extradited from Mexico to face charges in Santa Clara, California, for the March 22, 2013, fatal stabbing of 29-year-old Sandra Cruzes-Gonsalez.
- Solomon Sincler Gheorghe, 20, an Irish national, was extradited from France to face charges in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, of felony death by motor vehicle and felony serious injury by vehicle. Gheorghe is alleged to have been impaired by alcohol and drugs when he caused a multi-vehicle wreck on Sept. 20, 2023, resulting in the deaths of two adults and a 12-year-old boy, and with injury to others.
- Rostislav Panev, 51, a dual Russian and Israeli national, was extradited from Israel to faces charges in the District of New Jersey for his alleged role as a developer for the LockBit ransomware group from its inception in or around 2019 through at least February 2024. The LockBit group has attacked more than 2,500 victims in at least 120 countries around the world, including 1,800 in the United States.
- Marco Tulio Fernandez-Rodriguez, 24, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, was extradited from the Dominican Republic to face charges in the Southern District of New York of murder, narcotics, and firearms in connection with his alleged role in an attempted gunpoint robbery of a Mount Vernon, New York, warehouse that sold various unlicensed marijuana and nicotine products. Two people — one employee of the warehouse and one member of the roughly 15-man robbery crew — were shot and killed during the failed robbery attempt.
- Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, 41, a Nigerian national, was extradited from the United Kingdom to face charges in the Southern District of Florida for allegedly engaging in a transnational criminal organization that operated an inheritance fraud scheme targeting elder U.S. consumers.
- Bikramjit Ahluwalia, 39, a dual citizen of the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates living in Dubai, was extradited from Spain to face charges in the Western District of North Carolina of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to damage a protected computer, and wire fraud for his alleged role in an extensive tech support fraud scheme.
- Danhong “Jean” Chen, also known as Maria Sofia Taylor, 60, a San Jose, California, immigration attorney, was extradited from the Kyrgyz Republic to face charges in the Northern District of California for allegedly committing visa fraud and related crimes to obtain immigration benefits for more than 100 foreign investors through the government’s Employment-Based Immigration Fifth Preference, or “EB-5,” visa program. Chen is the first extradition from the Kyrgyz Republic to the United States on federal criminal charges.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the defendants’ arrests and extraditions along with the U.S. Marshals Service. The Justice Department thanks and acknowledges the instrumental role of its law enforcement partners in Colombia, the Dominican Republic, France, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mexico, Spain and the United Kingdom for making these extraditions possible.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Files More Than 250 New Immigration Cases This Week in the Western District of TexasRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – Acting United States Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas announced today, that federal prosecutors in the district filed 261 immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from March 21 through March 27.
Among the new cases, Guatemalan national Noe Mardoquero Calel-Cabinal was pulled over March 24 on Highway 85 near Dilley by a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper. The area is known to be commonly used to smuggle undocumented aliens further into the U.S. from Mexico. A U.S. Border Patrol agent stopped to assist with the traffic stop. Calel-Cabinal allegedly presented a Guatemalan identification card, did not have proper immigration documentation to be in the U.S. legally, and could not provide a reason for being in the area that aligned with his travel route. A criminal complaint alleges that Calel-Cabinal later confessed to being in the area to pick up and transport four illegal aliens to San Antonio and would be paid $1,300 per illegal alien. A review of his cell phone allegedly confirmed Calel-Cabinal’s confession and he was charged with one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens.
In El Paso, Mexican national Luis Francisco Alarcon-Sanchez allegedly stated at the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry on March 22 that he was a U.S. citizen born in Albuquerque, New Mexico and was returning to Albuquerque to visit his ex-wife and mother. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer received a system alert for prior deport and further procedures confirmed that Alarcon-Sanchez had been previously removed on May 16, 2024. A criminal complaint alleges that Alarcon-Sanchez admitted he is affiliated with the Paisas Gang. In addition to the 2024 removal, records show he was removed from Texas to Mexico in 2015, 2003, and in 1998 following an aggravated felony conviction.
Mexican national Jesus Barraza-Frias was also arrested in El Paso. He was allegedly located less than a mile east of the Bridge of the Americas Port of Entry without immigration documents allowing him to be or remain in the U.S. legally. Barraza-Frias was just removed from the U.S. on Nov. 27, 2024, after being convicted for illegal re-entry in El Paso. He now has three total removals as well as a domestic violence/harassment conviction in Lamar, Colorado from 2007, a 2002 disorderly conduct conviction as a juvenile in Lamar, and a sexual assault conviction as a juvenile in Prowers County, Colorado from 2001.
In Del Rio, Honduran national Carlos Alejandro Varela-Avila was arrested March 20 and charged with re-entry after deportation from the United States. A criminal complaint alleges that Varela-Avila was previously deported on April 16, 2024 through Alexandria, Louisiana and has five prior removals and a criminal record that includes aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Another Honduran national, Alba Jeannet Medina-Chavez, was arrested March 23 near Del Rio after being previously deported Dec. 29, 2014 through Phoenix, Arizona. A criminal complaint reflects five prior removals for Medina-Chavez as well as a criminal history that includes child cruelty, assault with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment, and assault against an elderly or disabled individual.
Amir Hassan Riley was also arrested March 23 near Eagle Pass. According to a criminal complaint, U.S. Border Patrol agents inspected a vehicle drive by Riley at a Highway 57 checkpoint and allegedly located three illegal aliens from Honduras and Yemen concealed in the rear seat and trunk of the vehicle. Further investigation allegedly led to the discovery of two more illegal aliens at a motel. The complaint alleges that Riley said he responded to a job post on Facebook and coordinated to pick up people at pinned locations in Eagle Pass. Riley is charged with one count of conspiring with others to transport illegal aliens within the United States.
A Mexican national is charged in Pecos with illegal re-entry. Ibrahim Villanueva was arrested by Presidio Border Patrol agents after being previously removed on June 6, 2024 through El Paso. Villanueva’s criminal and immigration history indicate four total deportations and a 2007 felony conviction for aggravated sexual assault of a child in Odessa.
In Austin, Mexican national Cesario Bueno-Figueroa was arrested March 23 and charged with driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of a crash. If convicted, criminal records show that this would be at least his third DWI. He previously served 18 months in jail after he was arrested for driving under the influence of liquor in 2010, and 65 days for the same charge in 2018. Bueno-Figueroa has also served 30 days in jail after being arrested in 2012 for illegal entry and 97 days in 2018 for illegal re-entry. Bueno-Figueroa is federally charged with illegal re-entry.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Filed 90 Border-Related Cases This WeekRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 90 border-related cases this week, including charges of transportation of illegal aliens, reentering the U.S. after deportation, deported alien found in the United States, and importation of controlled substances.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is the fourth-busiest federal district, largely due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district, encompassing San Diego and Imperial counties, shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world’s busiest land border crossing, connecting San Diego (America’s eighth largest city) and Tijuana (Mexico’s second largest city).
In addition to reactive border-related crimes, the Southern District of California also prosecutes a significant number of proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and national security. Recent developments in those and other significant areas of prosecution can be found here.
A sample of border-related arrests this week includes:
- Mexican national Aurora Karina Sanchez Quioano was arrested on March 23, 2025, and charged with illegally entering the U.S. after being previously deported after the U.S. Coast Guard reported a vessel onshore at Dog Beach in Ocean Beach. When a U.S. Border Patrol agent arrived at Dog Beach following the report, citizens pointed him towards a jogging trail where he found Sanchez soaking wet. Sanchez was previously deported on August 8, 2024.
- On March 23, 2025, Angel Alonso Peralta Fuerte and Juan Jose Diaz-Guerena, both citizens of Mexico, were arrested and charged with alien smuggling for financial gain after the vessel they were operating with 19 individuals on board was detained by the U.S. Coast Guard. All 19 passengers on the vessel admitted that they are citizens of Mexico without lawful documents allowing them to enter the United States and were arrested by San Diego based U.S. Border Patrol Agents. Peralta was previously deported on February 26, 2025, less than a month prior to this arrest. Two of the individuals on the vessel were also charged with attempted reentry of removed alien based on their prior criminal and immigration history. According to the complaint, several individuals of the boat stated they were paying between $3,000-15,000 if successfully smuggled into the United States.
- Xavier Garcia, a United States citizen, was arrested on March 26, 2025, when he attempted to cross into the U.S. from Mexico at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry on drug importation charges. According to a federal complaint, he was the driver and registered owner of a vehicle in which Customs and Border Protection officials found 503 packages containing more than 500 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in the engine area, seats, spare tire, doors, roof, tailgate, and center console of his vehicle.
Federal law enforcement has focused immigration prosecutions on undocumented aliens who are engaged in criminal activity in the U.S., including those who commit drug and firearms crimes, who have serious criminal records, or who have active warrants for their arrest. Federal authorities have also been prioritizing investigations and prosecutions against drug, firearm, and human smugglers and those who endanger and threaten the safety of our communities and the law enforcement officers who protect the community.
The immigration cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the support and assistance of state and local law enforcement partners.
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico Weekly Immigration and Border Crimes ReportRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Today, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico announced its immigration enforcement statistics for this week. These cases are prosecuted in partnership with the El Paso Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, along with Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, and assistance from other federal, state, and county agencies.
In the one-week period ending March 28, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office brought the following criminal charges in New Mexico:
- 37 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326)
- 6 individuals were charged this week with Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324)
- 32 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325)
In a significant case, a criminal complaint was filed against David Serrano-Dominguez, a Mexican national illegally present in the U.S., charging him with alien in possession of firearms, possession of an unregistered short-barrel rifle, and reentry of a deported alien. HSI agents arrested Serrano-Dominguez at an apartment complex in Deming, NM, where he had been residing. Agents had identified social media posts showing Serrano-Dominguez in possession of and discharging handguns and rifles. Following his arrest, agents discovered 10 firearms and approximately 500 rounds of ammunition in the apartment. Among the firearms was an unregistered rifle with a barrel length of less than 16 inches.
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.
Protecting law enforcement officers is a key part of border security. During this time period, Enrique Rodriguez-Salazar, was sentenced to 11 months in prison. Border Patrol agents apprehended the defendant on September 26, 2024, near the border wall in Santa Teresa, NM after he illegally reentered the U.S. from Mexico. As he was being arrested, Rodriguez-Salazar grabbed a handful of sand and dirt from the ground, throwing it into the U.S. Border Patrol agents face and eyes in an attempt to escape from the agent.
From the beginning of Fiscal Year 2025 through the end of February 2025, 40 El Paso Sector Border Patrol Agents have been assaulted, following 103 assaults in Fiscal Year 2024. U.S. Border Patrol is collaborating closely with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office to ensure that those who assault federal officers are brought to justice. This interagency cooperation is crucial in protecting the men and women who serve on the frontlines of our nation's border security efforts and in deterring future attacks on law enforcement personnel.
These statistics represent prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico only. The numbers do not include individuals apprehended by immigration enforcement officials and subjected solely to administrative process.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the District of New Mexico. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.
The District of New Mexico consists of 33 counties and shares 180 miles of international border with Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from Albuquerque and Las Cruces work directly with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to prosecute immigration-related and other federal offenses.
U.S. Attorney's Office Charges 260 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct in Arizona This WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During this week of enforcement operations from March 22, 2025, through March 28, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 260 defendants. Specifically, the United States filed 96 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 155 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States also filed 9 cases against 9 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Recent matters of interest include:
United States v. Greiby Melissa Barcelo-Velasquez: On March 25, 2025, Greiby Melissa Barcelo-Velasquez, a Columbian national, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for Conspiracy to Encourage and Induce an Alien to Unlawfully Enter the United States. Since approximately June 2023, Barcelo-Velasquez coordinated the smuggling of over 100 illegal aliens from Columbia to the United States using her travel company, Baul Travel SAS. This case is the result of the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha. Case No. CR-24-00392-PHX-JJT.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-044_March 28 Immigration Enforcement
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.U.S. Attorney John Giordano Thanks President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pamela Bondi Upon His Departure from the District of New JerseyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – John Giordano announced today that he will be stepping down as U.S. Attorney for his new role as U.S. Ambassador.
“I thank President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi for their trust and confidence in me as U.S. Attorney. Serving President Trump and the citizens of my home state of New Jersey has been a great honor. I am particularly proud of the impactful and meaningful work of this office and our law enforcement partners to uphold the rule of law and safeguard our nation. I look forward to continuing to serve the President in my forthcoming role, and I remain committed to advancing the important work of his Administration.”
U.S. Attorney John Giordano
During his tenure, Giordano led the office in prosecuting significant and complex cases for the District of New Jersey. Under his leadership, the office worked closely with the dedicated and talented men and women of our law enforcement community to take back America. Giordano aggressively targeted violent gang activity, human trafficking networks, illegal immigration, and the ability of cartels to flood our streets with fentanyl and other deadly drugs. Giordano made it very clear, notably through both the conviction of individuals attempting to support ISIS and the extradition to the District of New Jersey of a dual Russian and Israeli national on charges he was a developer of the LockBit ransomware group, that if you commit crimes against the United States regardless of where you hide, we will find you and bring you to justice.
As the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Mr. Giordano oversaw all federal criminal prosecutions and civil litigation involving federal interests in the State. With offices in Newark, Camden, and Trenton, he supervised a dedicated staff of approximately 153 federal prosecutors and 104 support personnel.
Following the departure of U.S. Attorney Giordano, Alina Habba will serve as the new U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey.
Traffic Stop in Southeast D.C. Leads to Federal Indictment, Firearm Recovery, and Drug SeizureRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Ikea Gartrell, 35, of Washington D.C., has been indicted on federal gun charges in the latest case to be federally adopted as part of the “Make D.C. Safe Again” initiative, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Gartrell was indicted on one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, following her March 1st arrest in Southeast D.C.
According to court documents, on March 1, 2025, at approximately 4:49 p.m., Metropolitan Police Department personnel conducted a traffic stop in the 900 block of Barnaby Street SE, Washington, D.C. Officers then made contact with the driver, later identified as Ikea Gartrell, who was allegedly found to be operating without a valid license.
During the stop, it is alleged that an open container of alcohol was observed, prompting officers to ask all occupants to exit the vehicle. A subsequent investigation led to the discovery of a loaded, unregistered firearm on Gartrell’s person. Gartrell was placed under arrest for Carrying a Pistol Without a License (CPWL) and no permit.
Records indicated Gartrell had a prior felony conviction.
The investigation is ongoing.
The ATF and MPD are investigating this case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Helfand.
This case is part of Make DC Safe Again, a public safety initiative led by U.S. Attorney Martin that is surging resources to reduce violent crime in the District. This initiative was created to address gun violence in the District, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenders, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Tigard Man Found Guilty of Attempted Murder and Aggravated Assault for Shooting a U.S. Postal Service EmployeeRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A federal judge in Portland found a Tigard, Oregon man guilty Wednesday for shooting a United States Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier.
Kevin Eugene Irvine, 34, was convicted of one count each of attempted murder of a federal employee, aggravated assault on a federal employee with a firearm, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. Irvine raised an insanity defense in the bench trial held before a U.S. District Judge. The District Judge found that Irvine had failed to establish legal insanity and was guilty of all three counts in the indictment.
According to court documents, on December 24, 2022, while driving a white van through a Milwaukie, Oregon neighborhood, Irvine made eye contact with a letter carrier delivering mail on foot dressed in a USPS uniform. Irvine threw his arms in the air, which the letter carrier mistook as waving, and waved back.
A short time later, on an adjacent street, the letter carrier noticed the same van and again made eye contact with driver, later identified as Irvine, as he drove past. Irvine stopped the van several houses away, got out of the van with a rifle, knelt on the street and fired three rounds, striking the letter carrier once as the letter carrier ran for cover. After the shooting, Irvine picked up his shell casings and drove off.
On December 28, 2022, officers spotted the van in Lake Oswego, Oregon, where they stopped the vehicle and arrested Irvine. Later, investigators sought and obtained a search warrant for Irvine’s van and found three rifles, ammunition, spent shell casings, a knife, shooting targets and ballistic gear.
On February 8, 2023, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a three-count indictment charging Irvine with aggravated assault on a federal employee with a firearm, attempted murder of a federal employee, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
Irvine faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release for each count of attempted murder of a federal employee and aggravated assault on a federal employee with a firearm, and a mandatory minimum of ten years of imprisonment with a maximum sentence of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release for discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. He will be sentenced on July 17, 2025.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service with assistance from the Milwaukie Police Department and the Lake Oswego Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Gary Y. Sussman and Eliza Carmen Rodriguez, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.
Three Individuals Charged with Illegal Re-Entry and Other OffensesRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Three individuals were indicted by a federal grand jury in separate cases this week for illegally re-entering the United States after they were previously deported.
Mexican National Indicted for Illegal Reentry
According to an indictment returned this week, Jesus Enriquez-Vasquez, 32, who was previously removed from the United States on January 24, 2019, was charged with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. He has never applied to the Attorney General of the United States and/or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security for permission to reenter the United States. On March 3, 2025, he was found voluntarily back in the United States.
Guatemalan National Charged in Indictment
In addition, Victor Hugo Vasquez Perez, 31, a citizen of Guatemala residing in Independence, Mo., was found illegally present in the United States and charged with possession of a fraudulent immigration document, possession of identification documents unlawfully produced, and improper entry.
Honduran National Charged in Indictment
In addition, Noe Alberto Hernandez-Perez, 31, a citizen of Honduras residing in Kansas City, Mo., was charged with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien and resisting and impeding an officer.
According to the indictment, Hernandez-Perez was previously removed from the United States on June 12, 2015. He has never applied to the Attorney General of the United States and/or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security for permission to reenter the United States. On March 16, 2025, he was found voluntarily back in the United States.
The charges contained in these indictments are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
These cases were investigated by ICE Homeland Security Investigations.
Operation Take Back America
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Thibodaux Resident Guilty of Aggravated Identity Theft, Providing False Statement to Firearms Dealer, and Federal AgencyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that BRETT GABRIEL (“GABRIEL”), age 31, of Thibodaux, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on March 26, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo, to aggravated identity theft, providing a false statement during the acquisition of a firearm, and providing a false statement to an agency of the United States. Sentencing is set for June 18, 2025.
According to court documents, GABRIEL used stolen identity information to purchase an Angstadt Arms UDP-9 firearm, and to obtain fraudulent paycheck protection program loan proceeds, administered by the federal government.
The maximum penalty for the firearm offense is ten years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $250,000, followed by up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. The maximum penalty for the false statement offenses is five years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $250,000, followed by up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. The aggravated identity offense also carries a mandatory minimum term of two years imprisonment to run consecutively to any other term of imprisonment imposed.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the United States Secret Service, and the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Richard R. Pickens, II of the Financial Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The Department of Justice Announces Affirmative Litigation Against the American Federation of Government Employees to Protect National SecurityRead the Press Release
Last night, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit in the Western District of Texas on behalf of eight agencies against affiliates of the American Federation of Government Employees.
Yesterday, the President issued an Executive Order entitled Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs. This order reflected the President’s determination that several federal agencies and subdivisions perform investigative and national security work and that those agencies may not be required to collectively bargain consistent with our national security.
The plaintiff agencies have collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) with the defendants, which are locals, councils, and Division 10 of the American Federation of Government Employees; those CBAs prevent the plaintiffs from implementing workforce policies that would help them further their national security missions. The plaintiff agencies therefore wish to terminate their CBAs. But to avoid unnecessary labor strife and to ensure legal certainty, they filed this declaratory judgment action to confirm that they are legally entitled to do so.
“We are taking this fight directly to the public-sector unions,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “By affirmatively suing in Texas, we are aggressively protecting President Trump’s efforts to ensure unions no longer interfere in the national security functions of the government”
Underscoring this threat to national security, this lawsuit argues that “the President and his senior Executive Branch officials cannot afford to be obstructed by CBAs that micromanage oversight of the federal workforce and impede performance accountability.” This lawsuit also argues that the President “cannot effectively execute the laws or promote national security if his supervision of agents engaged in national security, intelligence, counterintelligence, or investigative missions is stymied by intrusive bargaining agreements and continuous bargaining obligations.”
Texas Man Guilty of Disaster Fraud Costing Georgia Church MillionsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – A Texas man acting as an insurance adjuster cheated an Albany church out of millions of dollars paid out by its insurance company to repair its facilities, which were heavily damaged by Hurricane Michael in 2018 and are still not fully repaired.
Andrew Mitchell aka “Andrew Aga,” 45, of Kemeh, Texas, pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud before U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands on March 27. Mitchell faces a maximum of 30 years in prison, to be followed by at least three years of supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine. The Court will determine a sentencing date. There is no parole in the federal system.
“It is disheartening to see someone willing to defraud a place of worship in the wake of a major natural disaster, especially when its congregation trusted the defendant and all those involved to act lawfully and help them repair their historic downtown facility after Hurricane Michael,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Shanelle Booker. “Together with our federal prosecutorial team, investigators from the Georgia Insurance Commissioner’s Office thoroughly examined years of fraud to ensure that Andrew Mitchell is held accountable for his crime.”
“At a time when victims were still reeling from the devastation of Hurricane Michael, Andrew Mitchell took advantage of that vulnerability for his own personal gain,” said Georgia Insurance Commissioner John F. King. “I am proud of our investigators and their work in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to protect hardworking Georgia families and hold the defendant responsible for his actions.”
According to court documents and statements referenced in court, Friendship Missionary Baptist Church on Pine Avenue in Albany was damaged by Hurricane Michael, a Category 5 hurricane that made landfall near Mexico Beach, Florida, on Oct. 10, 2018. The storm’s eyewall struck the Albany community as a Category 3 hurricane with winds of up to 115 miles per hour and significant rainfall. Friendship Baptist Church sustained damage; an initial inspection revealed at least $216,000 in damages. The facility was insured by Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Brotherhood Mutual issued a check for $183,207.89 on Nov. 15, 2018, to Friendship Baptist to cover partial repairs, which was sent via the United States Postal Service (USPS) and was deposited.
In November 2018, a man identifying as Eric Goldberg and who claimed to be associated with Blue Key Construction, met with the church’s pastor, Carl White, to discuss serving as the contractor. A second meeting was held on Nov. 20, 2018, between Goldberg and White, along with Friendship Missionary Baptist Church’s Board of Directors Co-Chairperson Willie Thomas. Goldberg provided a contract authorizing Mitchell, aka “Aga,” to act as a public adjuster.
In December 2018, Mitchell began emailing Brotherhood Mutual representing himself as a Georgia public adjuster employed by International Consulting Group. He was reportedly associated with several corporate entities including but not limited to International Consulting Group; Texas Wind Consultants, LLC; and Loss Consultants of Texas, LLC d/b/a Texas Claim Consultants. In January 2019, Mitchell emailed Brotherhood Mutual an itemized estimate for repairs at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church totaling roughly $2.1 million on the letterhead of "Georgia Claim Consultants." In February 2019, Mitchell provided Brotherhood Mutual with a second repair estimate for approximately $5 million. On March 4, 2019, Mitchell emailed an adjustor with Syndicate Claims a proof of loss indicating that the damages to Friendship Missionary Baptist Church would cost $7.1 million to repair. On March 13, 2019, Mitchell emailed a follow-up proof of loss indicating the total repair cost was $6.1 million.
On July 10, 2019, the insurance company issued a check to the church and Mitchell for $3,376,102.18, mailed to Albany. Mitchell emailed asking the check be reissued and made jointly payable to Friendship Missionary Baptist Church and Loss Consultants of Texas, LLC, d/b/a Texas Claim Consultants. On July 19, 2019, Brotherhood Mutual issued the check payable to the church and Mitchell, which was mailed to the church. On July 24, 2019, Mitchell emailed Brotherhood Mutual requesting that the payees be changed to Friendship Missionary Baptist Church and Loss Consultants of Texas, LLC d/b/a Texas Claim Consultants. He also asked that the reissued check be mailed to an address in Lake Shores, Texas. On July 24, 2019, Brotherhood Mutual issued the check and mailed it as requested. An endorsement on behalf of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church was forged.
On July 30, 2019, C.W. received and negotiated a check for $50,000 from Texas Wind Consultants, LLC, which Mitchell hand-delivered to C.W. in Albany. On July 31, 2019, Blue Key Construction submitted an invoice totaling $2.4 million for works allegedly performed for Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. On Nov. 26, 2019, Mitchell submitted a proof of loss totaling $7.495 million.
On December 11, 2019, the insurance company issued a check jointly payable to Friendship Missionary Baptist Church of Broad Avenue, Inc. and Loss Consultants of Texas, LLC d/b/a Texas Claim Consultants for $2,762,783.93. This check was mailed to Mitchell in Kemah, Texas. An endorsement on behalf of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church was forged.
On March 4, 2020, C.W. received and negotiated a check for $50,000 from Texas Wind Consultants, LLC, which Mitchell hand-delivered to C.W. in Albany. On June 19, 2020, Friendship Missionary Baptist Church of Broad Avenue, Inc. allegedly signed a contract with Blue Key Construction for $18.6 million. Pastor White denied knowledge of this contract or signing it on behalf of the Church. Representatives of Blue Key Construction denied ever having prepared, signed or entered into this contract.
On Nov. 20, 2020, Mitchell submitted an invoice from a heating and air company for $950,000. A heating and air company representative stated that they did not prepare the invoice. An inspection at the church revealed that the work represented in the invoice was not performed. Mitchell also submitted a certification of completion from Blue Key Construction stating that substantial completion would be reached on March 31, 2021, per a Dec. 19, 2019, contract for over $18 million in repairs.
On Jan. 6, 2021, Brotherhood Mutual issued a check jointly payable to Friendship Missionary Baptist Church and Loss Consultants of Texas, LLC d/b/a Texas Claim Consultants for $544,512.80. This check was mailed to Mitchell in Kemah, Texas. An endorsement on behalf of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church was forged.
On Sept. 30, 2021, Mitchell emailed Brotherhood Mutual the fraudulent $18.6 million contract between Blue Key Construction and Friendship Missionary Baptist Church; the church received less than one-third of the proceeds paid out by Brotherhood Mutual for damages. Blue Key Construction did not fully repair the church facilities, and the company halted construction in Feb. 2021 after receiving approximately $150,000 from Friendship Missionary Baptist Church and approximately $2.3 million from Mitchell. Mitchell lied to Blue Key Construction representatives that the insurance company refused payment beyond approximately $2.5 million.
In June 2022, Mitchell met with Friendship Missionary Baptist Church representatives to voice their concerns about incomplete repairs; the defendant lied that Brotherhood Mutual was withholding further payments. In total, Brotherhood Mutual Insurance issued $6,866,606.80 in payments intended exclusively for the church’s hurricane repairs.
The case was investigated by the Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Fire Safety.
Criminal Chief Leah McEwen is prosecuting the case for the Government.Texas Insurance Broker Sentenced in Scheme to Defraud Paycheck Protection ProgramRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – Shelby Lynn Hill, 54, of Crystal Beach, Texas, was sentenced earlier this week to one year and a day in prison for fraudulently obtaining and misusing Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, announced Robert E. McGuire, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. Hill also was ordered to repay $264,645 in restitution and a forfeiture money judgment, and she will be on supervised release for one year after she serves her sentence. Hill pled guilty in June 2024 to one count of wire fraud.
Hill obtained several fraudulent PPP loans while living in Crossville, Tennessee. According to court documents and evidence presented to the court, Hill fraudulently obtained a $220,645 PPP loan for a fictitious business, Plateau Angus Farms, in 2020. She claimed to be the owner and operator of a cattle farm in Crossville. Hill told the PPP lender that Plateau Angus Farms employed 14 people and that its monthly payroll expenses exceeded $88,000. Hill submitted fake documents, including Forms W-2, and Tennessee Secretary of State records, as proof of her business. Hill received a $42,700 PPP loan for a second fictitious company, Premium Persians of the Plateau. She also misused the PPP loan proceeds awarded to a third company, Shelby Lynn Hill, MD PLLC, using a portion of the PPP loan to begin installation of a personal swimming pool.
Hill was employed as a health insurance broker at the time she applied for the PPP loans. Some of the individuals she listed as employees on the Plateau Angus Farms PPP loan application were potential health insurance customers. Hill admitted that she was not authorized to use their names or personal identifiers to obtain PPP loans.
The Paycheck Protection Program was created under the CARES Act and was intended to incentivize small businesses to keep their employees on payroll during the Covid-19 Pandemic. The PPP program was administered and guaranteed by the Small Business Association, a federal government entity.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cookeville Resident Agency, Nashville Field Office, investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie N. Toussaint prosecuted the case.
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Two Zachary Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Theft of Twelve FirearmsRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney April M. Leon announced that U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles sentenced Keyshawn Newman, age 24, of Zachary, Louisiana, to 39 months in federal prison and Ransom Parker, age 27, of Zachary, Louisiana, to 70 months in federal prison following their convictions for theft of firearms from a business licensed to engage in the business of dealing in firearms. The Court further sentenced both men to serve three years of supervised release following their terms of imprisonment.
According to admissions made as part of their guilty pleas, on June 19, 2023, the owner of Thompson Creek Sporting Goods observed four individuals wearing masks and hoodie-type sweatshirts via live-feed surveillance footage from a camera mounted on the outside rear of his business. The owner contacted the Jackson Police Department, who responded to the store. Prior to police arrival, the owner received an alarm notification indicating that the front door had been breached.
The first responding officer arrived shortly after the alarm notification and observed four suspects run from the business carrying firearms. The suspects were observed running in different directions and were dropping firearms as they ran. As more police officers arrived in the area, they set up a perimeter and began searching the area for the suspects. Twelve firearms were taken from the store’s inventory. A total of ten firearms were located on the ground at various locations in the directions that the suspects fled.
On-scene investigators were notified that a maintenance worker at East Mental Hospital located a suspicious male inside the powerhouse station of the facility, which was approximately six miles from the store. Officers located the individual and identified him as Newman. Newman ultimately admitted to being involved with the burglary.
Parker was subsequently identified by two co-defendants as being involved in the burglary and was the driver of the vehicle used. Parker ultimately admitted to participating in the burglary and driving the vehicle.
The twelve firearms recovered were identified as a CMMG, model MK4, 4.6x30 caliber pistol; Armalite, model M-15, 5.56 caliber rifle; Arsenal, model SAM-5, 5.56 caliber rifle; Diamondback, model DB-15, 5.56 caliber rifle; Diamondback, model DB-15, 5.56 caliber rifle; Hi-Point, model 1095, 10mm caliber rifle; Radom, model Sporter, 7.62x39 caliber rifle; Riley Defense, model RAK74, 5.45x39 caliber rifle; Rock Island Armory, model VR80, 12-gauge shotgun; Ruger, model LC Carbine, 5.7x28 caliber rifle; Ruger, model AR556, 300 Blackout caliber rifle; and a Diamondback, model DB-15, 5.56 caliber rifle.
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Jackson Police Department, and East Feliciana Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eli J. Abad.
Superseding Indictment Charges Fourth Member of Robbery Crew Allegedly Responsible for Eight-Month Robbery Spree in ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal superseding indictment unsealed today charges a fourth member of a robbery crew allegedly responsible for violently robbing multiple liquor stores, convenience stores, and bars in Chicago.
XAVIER HARRIS conspired with his brother, ARDARIES HARRIS, and JORDAN FOX and ROOSEVELT VEAL to rob more than a dozen Chicago businesses in 2023 and 2024, according to the superseding indictment unsealed today in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The robbers used stolen cars as getaway vehicles, wore masks, and brandished firearms in the heists. In some of the robberies, members of the crew fired shots from machine guns, the indictment states.
Ardaries Harris, 27, of Chicago, Fox, 25, of Chicago, and Veal 27, of Rockford, Ill., were originally charged last year with conspiracy, robbery, and firearm offenses in connection with five robberies or attempted robberies. The superseding indictment adds Xavier Harris as a defendant, charges ten additional robberies or attempted robberies, and raises the mandatory minimum sentence for Ardaries Harris, Fox, and Veal to thirty years each. Xavier Harris faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 21 years. The maximum sentence for each of the defendants is life in prison.
Xavier Harris, 26, of Chicago, was arrested on Thursday. He was arraigned today in federal court and pleaded not guilty to the charges in the superseding indictment. The three other defendants were already in federal custody and will be arraigned at a later date.
According to the superseding indictment, the defendants conspired to commit the following robberies or attempted robberies in Chicago:
- Aug. 24, 2023: Ace’s Liquor and Tap, 4400 block of West Armitage Avenue.
- Nov. 24, 2023: Super Saving Food, 4400 block of West Belmont Avenue.
- Jan. 10, 2024: A&R Food Mart, 5900 block of West Grand Avenue.
- Jan. 11, 2024: Central Extra Value Food and Liquor, 2900 block of North Central Avenue.
- Jan. 13, 2024: Buchanas Food & Liquor, 1800 block of West 47th Street.
- Jan. 15, 2024: Mr. P Beverage Depot, 2000 block of West Division Street.
- Jan. 15, 2024: Before You Go Liquor, 1900 block of West Fullerton Avenue.
- Jan. 15, 2024: Clybourn Market, 2800 block of North Clybourn Avenue.
- May 3, 2024: Humboldt Haus Liquor, 2900 block of West North Avenue.
- May 3, 2024: Gladstone Food Mart, 5700 block of North Milwaukee Avenue.
- May 4, 2024: Irish Nobleman Pub, 1300 block of West Erie Street.
- May 7, 2024: Buchanas Food & Liquor, 1800 block of West 47th Street.
- May 7, 2024: El Trebol Liquors and Bar, 1100 block of West 18th Street.
- May 7, 2024: Community Food and Liquor, 5500 block of North Milwaukee Avenue.
- May 9, 2024: Basil Food & Liquor, 7700 block of North Western Avenue.
The superseding indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago, the Illinois State Police, and the U.S. Marshals Service’s Great Lakes Regional Task Force. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily C.R. Vermylen and Stephanie Stern.
This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The case was also conducted in coordination with ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago (CGIC), a centralized law enforcement hub that focuses exclusively on investigating and preventing gun violence in Chicago and throughout northern Illinois.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
harris_et_al_superseding_indictment.pdfStatement of Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky on the Convictions of Charlie Javice and Olivier AmarRead the Press Release
“Today, a unanimous jury found Charlie Javice and Olivier Amar guilty of orchestrating a brazen fraud. Javice, the founder and CEO of Frank, falsely claimed that her company had millions of customers when, in reality, it had just a fraction of that number. She and Amar, the Chief Growth Officer, fabricated data, lied to major financial institutions, and sold their business for $175 million. And while Javice and Amar may have thought that they could lie and cheat their way to a huge payday, their lies caught up with them, and they now stand convicted by a jury of their peers in federal court.
This Office will continue to pursue financial fraud aggressively and hold accountable those who put greed above honesty. I commend the career prosecutors of this Office and our law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to bring this case to trial and secure today’s verdict. Thanks to their efforts, Javice and Amar will now pay a steep price for their lies. ”
St. Joseph Man Charged with Aggravated Identity Theft of Minnesota ManRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A St. Joseph, Mo., man was charged in a federal indictment this week with aggravated identity theft and misuse of a social security number.
Romeo Perez-Bravo, 42, has been charged with using a stolen identity to obtain employment and state issued identification cards since 2009. The Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General received a referral from the St. Joseph, Missouri Police Department that a man had been fraudulently living and working under a Minnesota man’s identity. SSA-OIG identified him as Perez-Bravo who had been living in St. Joseph and working for local area employers under that identity for several years. The victim reported the identity theft when he began to receive unpaid income tax bills from the IRS.
If convicted, Perez-Bravo faces a mandatory two-year prison sentence for identity theft and up to five years for misusing the social security number.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case was investigated by Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG), ICE Homeland Security Investigations, St. Joseph, Missouri Police Department, and the Olivia, Minnesota Police Department.
St. Augustine Doctor Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan today sentenced Scott Andrew Hollington (59, St. Augustine) to 12 years in federal prison following his conviction of 14 counts of unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances not for a legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of professional practice, and 5 counts of obstructing justice. Hollington was found guilty by a federal jury on July 25, 2023.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) first learned of Hollington after receiving a tip from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office (SJCSO) that Hollington was exchanging narcotic prescriptions for sexual favors. Following additional evidence of Hollington’s illegal prescribing practices, the DEA deployed five undercover officers to Hollington’s addiction clinic. These undercover visits took place between February and July 2022, with the purpose of obtaining prescriptions without a legitimate medical need. The undercover officers secured a total of 17 prescriptions of schedule II, III, and IV controlled substances during the five visits, including amphetamines (Adderall), benzodiazepines (Valium and Xanax), and buprenorphine (Suboxone).
During the visits, Hollington asked the officers about their drug preferences and offered prescriptions without proper medical justification. Hollington also admitted that he did not care about urine drug screening results. Physical examinations, vital checks, and proper documentation were omitted during most medical encounters with the undercover officers. The evidence further revealed that Hollington altered medical notes in each of the undercover officers’ medical files following his indictment, leading to the obstruction charges.
Testimony during the trial included statements from three female victims who revealed that Hollington had exchanged, coerced, or solicited sexual favors for prescriptions. One victim described him as a “monster” who took advantage of her vulnerability while seeking help for addiction. A fourth victim recounted Hollington asking if she needed a “sugar daddy” and engaging in conversation of a sexual nature instead of discussing her medical history and need for medication.
This case was jointly investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Ormond Beach Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and State Attorney’s Office – 7th Judicial Circuit. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kirwinn Mike and Ashley Washington.
Spencer Man Pleads Guilty to Meth PossessionRead the Press Release
Dylan Halbur, 32, from Spencer, Iowa, pled guilty March 28, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
At the plea hearing, evidence showed that on August 26, 2024, law enforcement searched a camper in Spencer, Iowa, where Halbur was known to reside and store items. Inside, law enforcement located 45 grams of pure methamphetamine, $2,900 in cash, marijuana, a digital scale and other indicia of drug use and distribution. Halbur admitted the methamphetamine was his and that he intended to distribute some or all of the methamphetamine to another.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Halbur remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. The penalties for this offense are a sentence of up to 20 years’ imprisonment, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Spencer Police Department, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa DCI Laboratory.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-4077.
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Southern District charges 265 individuals in border security-related cases this weekRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A total of 257 cases have been filed in relation to immigration and border security from March 21-27, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Of those, 98 face allegations of illegally re-entering the country with the majority having felony convictions such as narcotics, violent and/or sexual crimes and prior immigration offenses, among others. A total of 132 face charges of illegally entering the country, 23 cases involve various instances of human smuggling, and the remainder relate to firearms and other immigration matters.
Among those charged as part of these new cases include two illegal alien human smugglers who engaged in a dangerous pursuit and crash (pictures attached). Jose Manuel Zamarripa-Torres picked up brush guide Daniel Flores-Hernandez and four illegal aliens who had crossed the Rio Grande in a raft, according to the allegations. Authorities attempted to stop the SUV he was driving, but the charges allege he fled which resulted in a 6.1-mile pursuit with Zamarripa-Torres ultimately crashing into an occupied civilian vehicle, a power pole and fence. If convicted, they both face up to 10 years in federal prison.
Other relevant cases announced this week include a 20-year-old Mexican national affiliated with Cartel Del Noreste (CDN) was sentenced in Laredo for illegally possessing thousands of rounds of ammunition. Charbel Garza Macias admitted it was to be smuggled into Mexico and that it was for the CDN. In handing down the 63-month sentence, the court noted Macias was providing tools of war to a brutal criminal organization.
In Corpus Christi, a jury convicted Cuban citizen Jorge Grimon Maturell for transporting seven illegal aliens in a tractor-trailer. They had been hiding in the corner of the sleeper area and underneath a mattress. Maturell had directed the illegal aliens where to hide when entering his vehicle and to not make any noise when they arrived at the checkpoint. As a result of the verdict, he is now in custody.
The last of five members of an alien smuggling group also learned his fate for leading the conspiracy. Jaquon Davis was a long-time alien smuggler who recruited several people. On March 19, 2024, Davis and four others travelled in three cars using an access road in an attempt to avoid law enforcement. Authorities ultimately pulled them over and discovered a total of 12 illegal aliens in the vehicles. One was concealed in a box located in a truck bed. Davis will now serve 44 months for leading and coordinating the event.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the Southern District of Texas (SDTX). Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.
The SDTX remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.
An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
South Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Fentanyl and Other Contraband into PrisonRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that Jose Santos Pardo (25, Homestead) has pleaded guilty to possession of contraband by a federal inmate. Santos Pardo faces up to 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment against Santos Pardo on March 18, 2025.
According to court records, in 2022, Santos Pardo was an inmate at the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex (FCC Coleman). He was assigned to a low security section of the prison where inmates are not confined by fencing. On the night of November 19, 2022, a correctional officer observed Santos Pardo running along the side of the road toward his housing unit carrying two duffle bags and a trash bag. Federal Bureau of Prisons staff confronted Santos Pardo and searched the bags. The bags contained contraband including drugs, tobacco, several bottles of alcohol, and 14 cellphones. During an interview with law enforcement, Santos Pardo admitted that he had picked up the bags from the road to bring them back to his housing unit. FCC Coleman inmates are prohibited from possessing these items because they threaten the order, discipline, and security of the prison, or the life, health, and safety of federal prisoners and staff.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson.
South African Man Living in Jefferson County Charged with Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Marcell M. Meyer, age 43, and a citizen of South Africa residing in Sackets Harbor, New York was arraigned today in federal court on charges of distribution of child pornography announced United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
According to the criminal complaint, Meyer used an internet-based social networking application installed on his cellular telephone to distribute child pornography to other users of the platform, including some who identified as children. In one such instance, Meyer distributed child pornography to an undercover HSI agent who Meyer believed to be a 13-year-old female child.
The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
If convicted of the charge in the complaint, Meyer faces a term of imprisonment of between 5 and 20 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release between 5 years and life. Meyer would also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and would likely face immigration consequences as a result of his conviction. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The case was investigated by HSI Syracuse and HSI Portland, Maine with the assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol, New York State Police and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle as a part of Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Slovenian Drug Traffickers Sentenced to 10 and 13 Years in Prison for Conspiring to Send Heroin to the United StatesRead the Press Release
Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that GORAZD FILIMONOVIC and GASPER URBANC, were sentenced to 10 years and 13 years in prison, respectively, for conspiring to import hundreds of kilograms of heroin into the United States. FILIMONOVIC and URBANC, who are both Slovenian nationals, were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gregory H. Woods, before whom they previously pled guilty.
Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said: “Gorazd Filimonovic, Gasper Urbanc, and their co-conspirators agreed to send a staggering amount of heroin to the United States. The defendants boasted of their connections to other drug traffickers in Europe, and claimed they had experience in trafficking thousands of kilograms of drugs. But today, all of that comes to an end as Filimonovic and Urbanc will serve lengthy prison sentences. This Office, through its longstanding partnership with the DEA’s Special Operations Division, Bilateral Investigations Unit, will continue to prosecute those who seek to harm our communities by flooding our streets with dangerous drugs.”
As reflected in the Indictment, other filings, and statements made in court:
From at least November 2020 through approximately April 2021, FILIMONOVIC and URBANC conspired to distribute multi-hundred-kilogram quantities of heroin from Austria and elsewhere for importation into the U.S.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) had been investigating FILIMONOVIC, URBANC, and certain of their co-conspirators since at least 2019, when a Confidential Source (the “CS”) identified URBANC as a significant international cocaine trafficker who was responsible for coordinating drug transportation logistics on behalf of a drug trafficking organization (“DTO”). In a subsequent series of meetings and electronic communications, confidential sources (the “CSes”) negotiated the purchase of large quantities of cocaine and heroin for distribution in the U.S. FILIMONOVIC, URBANC, and their co-conspirators explained to the CSes that they had experience in the international trafficking of thousands of kilograms of cocaine and heroin and could act as direct conduits to drug production facilities that they controlled. FILIMONOVIC, URBANC, and their co-conspirators met with the CSes multiple times throughout the world, including in the Czech Republic, Croatia, Slovenia, and Colombia, to coordinate large-scale drug shipments and to discuss alternative routes as they sought methods to evade law enforcement.
After early discussions regarding a potential cocaine shipment, the parties began discussing large scale heroin shipments. When a CS expressed interest in kilogram-quantity samples of heroin for potential future drug transactions, URBANC informed the CS that he could provide heroin immediately from multiple locations throughout Europe. By February 2021, FILIMONOVIC, URBANC, and their co-conspirators agreed to supply the CSes with high-quality heroin to be delivered by the DTO to a location in Austria with the understanding that the heroin would then be flown by the CSes from Europe to New York City for further distribution in the United States.
In March 2021, the parties agreed on a price between €18,000 and €19,000 (approximately $21,600 and $22,800 at the time) per kilogram. Around this time, FILIMONOVIC and a co-conspirator met with one of the CSes and explained how the heroin would be transported, and that the heroin would be exchanged with the CSes in Graz, Austria. By April 2021, FILIMONOVIC, URBANC, and their co-conspirators agreed to provide up to 135 kilograms of heroin in segments of approximately 30 to 40 kilograms to the CSes in exchange for approximately €2.6 million (approximately $3.1 million at the time). During meetings in April 2021 and in ensuing encrypted communications, the CSes showed FILIMONOVIC, URBANC, and their co-conspirators that they had secured payment for the heroin. The parties continued to discuss the proposed heroin transaction until FILIMONOVIC and URBANC were arrested in Croatia on May 21, 2021.
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Mr. Podolsky praised the outstanding efforts of the DEA’s Special Operations Division, Bilateral Investigations Unit as well as the Slovenia National Bureau of Investigation, the Austrian Federal and State Criminal Police, and the Croatian National Police for their assistance.
This prosecution is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sam Adelsberg, Matthew J.C. Hellman, and Nicholas S. Bradley, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Isaacson are in charge of the prosecution.
Rocky Mount Man Sentenced to More Than 18 Years for Armed RobberyRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Rocky Mount man was sentenced today to 218 months in prison for robbing a Dollar General and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of multiple crimes of violence. Kaleb Joseph Coppage, age 23, pled guilty to the charges on September 30, 2024.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, on November 30, 2023, Coppage entered the Dollar General at 2800 W. Raleigh Blvd. in Rocky Mount wearing a facemask. He pointed an AR-style pistol at an employee and demanded money. After stealing more than $2,800 from the store’s safe and cash registers, Coppage fled on foot.
On December 8, 2023, Coppage entered the Circle K at 5102 Dortches Blvd. in Rocky Mount, again wearing a facemask, and pointed an AR-style pistol at an employee and demanded cash. The employee gave Coppage approximately $60 in a shopping bag which also contained a GPS tracker. The Nash County Sheriff’s Office followed the coordinates on the tracker and located Coppage in a stolen car. When they attempted to conduct a traffic stop, Coppage fled. He led law enforcement on a chase that exceeded 120 mph in a 45-mph zone. Coppage ultimately collided with another car and then fled the scene on foot. Law enforcement found the AR-style pistol, which was stolen, in the car Coppage had been driving.
Upon further investigation, the sheriff’s office discovered that Coppage was on probation and monitored by an ankle bracelet. Through the ankle monitor, officers confirmed that Coppage was present at both the Dollar General and Circle K at the times of these robberies. Upon arrest, Coppage admitted to the robberies, and admitted that he stole the vehicle in which he fled from the Circle K.
“Violently robbing our places of business terrorizes our communities and is a serious federal offense with significant consequences,” Acting United States Attorney Daniel P. Bubar stated today. “Today’s sentence demonstrates that we will continue to work tirelessly with our partners to stamp out gun violence. I commend the excellent work in this case by ATF, the Nash County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rocky Mount Police Department.”
“Our Office has strived to take every available action to combat violent repeat offenders from wreaking havoc in our communities. We have focused our attention on illegal guns, gangs, and drugs that have found their way into Nash County,” said Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone. “Our partnerships with our local agencies, the District Attorney’s Office, federal partners, North Carolina Probation and Parole, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, has greatly increased our ability to remove defendants, that engage in these types of crimes away from our citizens. Mr. Coppage not only robbed our local convenience stores, but he also used a firearm to terrorize the clerks and lead our deputies on a pursuit that placed everyone’s life in danger. I am thankful for the hard work, dedication, and professionalism that the Nash County Sheriff’s Office, Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office, ATF, North Carolina Probation and Parole, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office demonstrated in this case. The Nash County Sheriff’s Office will continue its relentless pursuit to stop violent crime and drug trafficking in our county.”
“A firearm in the hands of a prohibited individual is illegal and extremely dangerous,” said ATF’s Acting Special Agent in Charge Christopher Rogers. “ATF is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to identify and apprehend those who try to undermine public safety and threaten our communities.”
Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Nash County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rocky Mount Police Department investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Phil Aubart and Lori Warlick prosecuted the case.Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-CR-84-BO-RJ.
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Rochester woman charged with defrauding Rochester area businesses and charities out of thousands of dollarsRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Jessica Stadt, 43, of Rochester, NY, was charged by criminal complaint with wire fraud and access device fraud, which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas M. Testani, who is handling the case, stated that in March of 2023, law enforcement began investigating Stadt as a suspect in a gift card fraud scheme, which involved Stadt fraudulently acquiring physical and electronic gift cards from and on behalf of Rochester area companies under the guise that they would be used for disadvantaged children and communities. However, instead of using the gift cards for charity, Stadt sold the gift cards to several different individuals using Facebook Messenger. She sold the gift cards under their actual value and indicated to buyers that the money paid be used for charity. Buyers would send money to Stadt’s personal Venmo, Zelle, and Cash App accounts.
In total, Stadt acquired and sold approximately 607 gift cards on Facebook Messenger, with a total combined loss of approximately $88,882.60 to Wegmans, Youth Advocate Programs, and other not for profit organizations.
Stadt made an initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen and was released on conditions.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan and the Monroe County Sheriff’s office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter.
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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Recidivist Receives 7 Years in Prison for Firearms Possession and Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Raleigh, N.C. – A Goldsboro man was sentenced Thursday to 5 years in prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Arraqib Hardy, 33, pled guilty to the charge on December 16, 2024. Hardy received an additional 2 years in federal prison for committing this offense while on federal supervised release for the offenses of possessing a stolen firearm (aiding and abetting) and discharging a firearm in a school zone (aiding and abetting). Hardy received a total sentence of 7 years.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Goldsboro Police officers were conducting surveillance on a convenience store parking lot due to possible drug activity on June 15, 2023. Officers observed Hardy engage in what appeared to be hand-to-hand drug transactions and arrested him. Police located a bag with a loaded 9mm handgun, marijuana, fentanyl, and $365 on Hardy.
According to law enforcement, Hardy was a member of the United Blood Nation gang. Hardy had prior convictions in 2013 for discharging a weapon into an occupied or moving vehicle.
This investigation was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, 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.
Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Goldsboro Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Severo prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:23-CR-00120.
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Ramah Man Faces Federal Charges for Roadside ShootingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Ramah man is facing charges in federal court for allegedly shooting at a vehicle, injuring one person.
According to court documents, on March 18, 2025, a vehicle driven by John Doe swerved to avoid a collision with a blue Jeep driven by Leon Garcia, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. After the near-miss, John Doe followed Garcia's vehicle to a residence on the Ramah Navajo Reservation. There, Garcia allegedly exited his Jeep armed with a rifle and fired multiple shots at John Doe's car. As John Doe attempted to turn the vehicle around, Garcia allegedly shot at it multiple times. Garcia also fired again as the vehicle drove away.
Garcia is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been set. If convicted of the current charges, Garcia faces up to 10 years in prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Ramah-Navajo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany DuChaussee is prosecuting the case.
View the Criminal Complaint (Garcia).pdfA criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Raleigh Man Sentenced to 7.5 Years in Prison for Possession of a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Raleigh man was sentenced Thursday to 90 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Christopher Ivan White, age 58, pled guilty to the charge on December 19, 2024.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, on the afternoon of April 8, 2024, White shot another man in front of Renegade Motors, located at 2621 S. Wilmington Street in Raleigh. Raleigh Police officers responded to the scene of the shooting where the victim was being treated by emergency medical services for a gunshot wound to the left thigh. White fled the scene and attempted to toss away the firearm. Raleigh Police searched the surrounding area and located White and the firearm. White was also found in possession of cocaine.
White was a felon and prohibited to own or possess a firearm. His prior felony convictions include breaking and entering, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and embezzlement.
Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Raleigh Police investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Nokes and Evelyn S. Yarborough prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-CR-00297.
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President of Masonry Contractor Charged with Conspiring to Bribe Amtrak Employee in Exchange for Millions of Dollars in Extra Work on 30th Street Station Project and Making a False ClaimRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Mark Snedden, 69, of Munster, Indiana, was charged by information with conspiracy to commit federal program bribery and making and presenting a false claim.
As presented in the information, on or about December 10, 2015, a masonry restoration contractor (the “Contractor”) was awarded a $58,473,000 contract by Amtrak to be the main contractor on a façade repair and restoration project at Amtrak’s 30th Street Station in Philadelphia.
Federal funding supplied approximately 90 percent of the money Amtrak used to pay the Contractor for the repair and restoration of the 30th Street Station façade.
The defendant was the sole owner and President of the Contractor with responsibility to provide executive oversight of the Vice Presidents of the Contractor and the Contractor’s performance on the 30th Street Station façade project.
Donald Seefeldt, Lee Maniatis, and Khaled Dallo, each charged elsewhere, were Vice Presidents of the Contractor, with responsibility to supervise the Contractor’s performance on the 30th Street Station façade project.
Amtrak Employee #1 was employed by Amtrak as the Project Manager on the repair and restoration project. In that capacity, Amtrak Employee #1 was responsible for communicating with the Contractor about the work being done on 30th Street Station. Amtrak Employee #1 was also responsible for reviewing the invoices, change orders, and requests for payment that the Contractor submitted to Amtrak. Amtrak Employee #1 had the power to approve or reject these invoices, change orders, and requests for payment. Although Amtrak Employee #1 did not have the singular authority to approve Amtrak payments to the Contractor, his approval was a critical step in that process.
The contract between Amtrak and the Contractor prohibited Snedden and other Contractor officials from “offer[ing] to any Amtrak employee, agent, or representative any cash, gift, entertainment, commission, or kickback for the purpose of securing favorable treatment with regard to award or performance of any contract or agreement.”
As alleged in the information, from in or about May 2016 through in or about November 2019, in Philadelphia, in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and elsewhere, the defendant conspired and agreed with others known and unknown to the United States Attorney, including Amtrak Employee #1, Lee Maniatis, Khaled Dallo, and Donald Seefeldt, to commit an offense against the United States, that is, to knowingly and corruptly give, offer, and agree to give, a thing of value to Amtrak Employee #1, intending to influence and reward Amtrak Employee #1 in connection with any business, transaction and series of transactions.
Specifically, the information alleges, Donald Seefeldt, Lee Maniatis, Khaled Dallo, and others known to the United States Attorney, with Snedden’s knowledge and agreement, provided Amtrak Employee #1 with gifts and other things of value totaling approximately $323,686, including, among other things, paid vacations, jewelry, cash, dinners, entertainment, a dog, training for that dog, and transportation, to ensure that Amtrak Employee #1 used his power and influence to benefit the Contractor during the performance of the 30th Street Station Repair and Restoration Project.
In return for these gifts and other things of value, Amtrak Employee #1 used his position at Amtrak to access internal agency information available only to Amtrak employees about the 30th Street Station Project and shared this internal information with the defendant and other officials with the Contractor.
The information further alleges that Amtrak Employee #1 used his position at Amtrak to approve additional, more expensive changes to the 30th Street Station Repair and Restoration Project, thereby increasing the amount and value of the work to be performed by the Contractor. These additional expenses were reflected in a series of change orders or contract modifications. In total, Amtrak Employee #1 approved over $52 million of additional payments from Amtrak to the Contractor. Amtrak Employee #1 and officials with the Contractor falsely inflated the true costs of some of the work to be performed by the Contractor under these change orders, causing Amtrak to be substantially overbilled by over $2 million for the completion of the 30th Street Station Repair and Restoration Project.
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a three-year period of supervised release, a $500,000 fine, and $200 special assessment.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Amtrak Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason Grenell.
An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Ponce Man and Local Business Indicted for Bank FraudRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A Ponce man was arrested on March 25, 2025, on criminal charges related to various schemes involving bank fraud and money laundering. One company that he operated, Rossy Sport Bar Panorámico, LLC, was also indicted for its role in the bank fraud scheme.
According to court documents, in 2020 and 2022, Melvin E. Rivera-Oliveras, 40, executed a scheme and artifice to defraud multiple federally insured financial institutions in Puerto Rico. Rivera-Oliveras attempted to conduct fraudulent refund transactions for more than $7 million using multiple debit cards at various companies that he managed and operated.
After acquiring point of sale (POS) systems, Rivera-Oliveras conducted fraudulent refund transactions and was able to gain temporary access to the funds and to spend a portion of the funds that did not belong to him.
In July 2022, Rivera-Oliveras submitted fraudulent transactions in an attempt to obtain over $270,000 via fraudulent refund transactions using a debit card associated with Rossy Sport Bar Panorámico, which was another company he was managing. The proceeds of that scheme were deposited into an account held by Rossy Sport Bar Panorámico.
With the proceeds of these crimes, Rivera-Oliveras purchased multiple vehicles, including a Cadillac CTS, a Ford Transit Connect XL, and a Mercedes Benz C Class. In addition, Rivera-Oliveras made multiple bank transactions in excess of $10,000.
“The defendant created and executed a complex scheme to defraud banks and businesses,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “I commend the FBI agents and law enforcement partners who uncovered this web of illegal financial transactions.”
“These crimes strike at the heart of public trust and financial stability. Bank fraud may not always leave a specific victim with empty pockets, but make no mistake, it erodes the very systems that uphold our economy,” said Devin J. Kowalski, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “Thanks to the outstanding work of our agents and partners, this scheme was uncovered. To those who believe they can conceal their fraud behind layers of deception, know that the FBI will not rest until you are brought to justice.”
If convicted, Rivera-Oliveras faces the following penalties: up to 30 years in prison for bank and wire fraud; and up to ten years for money laundering. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is in charge of the investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie Christine Amy from the Financial Fraud & Public Corruption Section is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Omaha Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of a ‘Glock Switch’ Machine GunRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Matthew R. Molsen announced that Ty’nell D. Jimmerson, 20, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on March 27, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for illegal possession of a machine gun. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Jimmerson to 32 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Jimmerson’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.
On July 28, 2024, Omaha Police Officers observed a Jeep speeding and driving recklessly near 60th and Ames Streets. As officers approached, the Jeep fled. OPD helicopter Able-1 followed the Jeep to Orchard Park. Officers in Able-1 saw the Jeep enter the park and pull into a public-access parking stall. Ty’nell Jimmerson ran from the Jeep to a nearby group of trees on the edge of the parking lot where he discarded a loaded Glock 21 .45 caliber handgun. The gun contained a high-capacity magazine and was equipped with a ‘Glock switch’ machine gun conversion device (‘MCD’). The device converts the weapon to a fully automatic machine gun. The firearm had previously been reported stolen during a vehicle break-in.
After concealing the firearm, Jimmerson got into the back seat of a waiting Nissan. Both vehicles left the park. Able-1 followed the Nissan to 90th Street and Blair High Road where OPD conducted a traffic stop and arrested Jimmerson.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Omaha Police Department.
Oklahoma Man Sentenced to Serve 45 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – An Oklahoma man was sentenced in a federal court in Midland, Texas, on March 27, 2025, to 540 months in prison for charges related to sexual exploitation of children.
According to court documents, on Jan. 30, 2024, JONATHON CHASE RUSSELL, 36, of Elk City, posted in a messaging app 15 images that depicted two minor females engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The next day, Russell sent three of the images to an undercover federal investigator, stating that the two minors were three and 11 years old. Further investigation led FBI agents to identify Russell’s IP addresses and locate him at a hotel in Midland. On Feb. 8, 2024, agents executed a warrant on his hotel room, where they discovered pairs of children’s underwear and a green tactical backpack that contained sexual devices. Agents also discovered a smartphone, which had been hidden underneath a refrigerator and which forensic examination revealed contained a substantial collection of images depicting sexual abuse of minor children.
The Western District of Texas filed a three-count indictment on Feb. 28, 2024, charging Russell with possession of child pornography, distribution of child pornography, and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. Russell was also indicted in the Western District of Oklahoma on April 3, 2024, for one count of production of visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. His Oklahoma case was transferred to Midland, and on Aug. 19, 2024, Russell pleaded guilty to the count charged in the Western District of Oklahoma indictment and to all three counts charged in the Western District of Texas via a superseding indictment.
“This defendant’s abhorrent behavior has been put to an end thanks to cooperation between federal prosecutors and law enforcement across the country,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma. “The lengthy sentence imposed is yet another example of the Department’s focus on protecting children and serving justice to those who seek to target the most vulnerable in our communities.”
“The lengthy sentence imposed in this case reflects the immense damage this individual inflicted on multiple children, who will be plagued by these experiences for the rest of their lives,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “Along with our law enforcement partners and, when necessary, across districts, we will continue to hold accountable the predators who harm the lives of children through illicit sexual crimes.”
“The significant sentence imposed on Jonathan Chase Russell sends a clear message that there are serious consequences for those individuals who exploit children. Russell will serve the next 45 years in federal prison for his incomprehensible acts,” said John Morales, FBI El Paso Special Agent in Charge. “We remain committed in working with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue those who victimize the most vulnerable members of our society, our children, from infants to toddlers to young children to teenagers, we will hunt you down and serve justice for these horrendous crimes.”
The FBI El Paso and Oklahoma City field offices investigated the case with assistance from the Elk City Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Ganz prosecuted the case for the Western District of Oklahoma, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Haywood prosecuted the case for the Western District of Texas.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Oklahoma Man Sentenced to 45 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
MIDLAND, Texas – An Oklahoma man was sentenced in a federal court in Midland to 540 months in prison for charges related to sexual exploitation of children.
According to court documents, on Jan. 30, 2024, Jonathon Chase Russell, 36, of Elk City, posted in a messaging app 15 images that depicted two minor females engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The next day, Russell sent three of the images to an undercover federal investigator, stating that the two minors were three and 11 years old. Further investigation led FBI agents to identify Russell’s IP addresses and locate him at a hotel in Midland. On Feb. 8, 2024, agents executed a warrant on his hotel room, where they discovered pairs of children’s underwear and a green tactical backpack that contained sexual devices. Agents also discovered a smartphone, which had been hidden underneath a refrigerator and which forensic examination revealed contained a substantial collection of images depicting sexual abuse of minor children.
The Western District of Texas filed a three-count indictment on Feb. 28, 2024, charging Russell with possession of child pornography, distribution of child pornography, and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. Russell was also indicted in the Western District of Oklahoma on April 3, 2024, for one count of production of visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. His Oklahoma case was transferred to Midland, and on Aug. 19, 2024, Russell pleaded guilty to the count charged in the Western District of Oklahoma indictment and to all three counts charged in the Western District of Texas via a superseding indictment.
“The lengthy sentence imposed in this case reflects the immense damage this individual inflicted on multiple children, who will be plagued by these experiences for the rest of their lives,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “Along with our law enforcement partners and, when necessary, across districts, we will continue to hold accountable the predators who harm the lives of children through illicit sexual crimes.”
“This defendant’s abhorrent behavior has been put to an end thanks to cooperation between federal prosecutors and law enforcement across the country,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma. “The lengthy sentence imposed is yet another example of the Department’s focus on protecting children and serving justice to those who seek to target the most vulnerable in our communities.”
“The significant sentence imposed on Jonathan Chase Russell sends a clear message that there are serious consequences for those individuals who exploit children. Russell will serve the next 45 years in federal prison for his incomprehensible acts,” said John Morales, FBI El Paso Special Agent in Charge. “We remain committed in working with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue those who victimize the most vulnerable members of our society, our children, from infants to toddlers to young children to teenagers, we will hunt you down and serve justice for these horrendous crimes.”
The FBI investigated the case with assistance of the Elk City Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Haywood prosecuted the case for the Western District of Texas. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Ganz prosecuted the Western District of Oklahoma’s case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Oklahoma City Father and Son Sentenced to Serve 14 Years Collectively in Federal Prison for Illegal Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – NICOIS MEGALE SMITH, 40, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 84 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm after a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On August 16, 2023, a federal grand jury returned a three-count Indictment, charging Nicois with two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and his father, ALBERT SMITH, JR., 62, with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. On June 10, 2024, Albert pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm in early May 2023, and admitted to possessing a pistol that he had reason to believe had been stolen. Two days later, on June 12, 2024, a federal jury found Nicois guilty on one of his two counts following trial.
Evidence at trial established that on May 21, 2023, officers with the Oklahoma City Police Department were investigating a crime which happened near Nicois’s home. During their investigation, officers searched Nicois’s home pursuant to a search warrant and found a loaded pistol in the bedroom. Evidence presented at trial connected Nicois to that pistol.
Public record reflects that Nicois and Albert both have lengthy criminal records. Nicois has previous convictions in Oklahoma County District Court that include:
- Possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and carrying a weapon in case number CF-2002-4842;
- four counts of burglary and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in case number CF-2003-3046; and
- felon in possession of a firearm in case number CF-2019-2922.
- Larceny of merchandise from a retailer in case number CF-1995-393;
- assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in case number CF-1999-2290;
- possession of cocaine base in case number CF-2005-107;
- first-degree arson in case number CF-2011-122; and
- assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in case number CF-2014-3866.
Albert has previous felony convictions in Oklahoma County District Court that include:
At the sentencing hearing on March 24, 2025, U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton sentenced Nicois to serve 84 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Albert had previously been sentenced on October 31, 2024, to 84 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing the sentences, the Court noted Nicois’s and Albert’s extensive criminal history.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Oklahoma City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Gridley, Elizabeth M. Bagwell, and Travis Leverett prosecuted the case.
This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a Department of Justice program to reduce violent crime. 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.
Okemah Resident Sentenced for Felony AssaultRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Cainen Isaac Shephard, a/k/a Cainen Isaac Shepard, age 23, of Okemah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 22 months in prison for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Okemah Police Department.
On October 9, 2024, Shephard pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on July 2, 2024, Shephard fired upon a pickup truck carrying three passengers in the parking lot of an Okemah apartment complex, intending to cause bodily harm to the driver. No one was injured in the shooting. The crime occurred in Okfuskee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald E. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Shephard will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Robinson represented the United States.
Ohio Man Found Guilty of Using His Tax Prep Clients’ Identities to Defraud the Federal Government of Pandemic FundingRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A federal jury has convicted Mustafa Ayoub Diab, 41, of Ravenna, Ohio, of orchestrating a financial conspiracy that defrauded the U.S. government of pandemic benefits. After an approximately week-long trial, Diab was found guilty on 12 counts of theft of government funds, 12 counts of bank fraud, 11 counts of wire fraud, 6 counts of aggravated identity theft, and 1 count each of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud and to launder monetary instruments.
According to court documents, Diab owned and operated a tax return preparation business in Akron, Ohio. Along with his co-conspirator, Elizabeth Lorraine Robinson, 33, of Ravenna, the couple developed a scheme to take advantage of government programs that expanded unemployment and small business benefits that became available during the COVID-19 pandemic.
One such program, the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program, was expanded to individuals who otherwise did not qualify for regular benefits. Additionally, the Paycheck Protection Program, was administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration and provided resources and assistance to small businesses to cover payroll, utilities, rent/mortgage, accounts payable and other bills incurred which were tied to the COVID-19 pandemic. Diab exploited both of these programs for his benefit.
From around, June 2020 to August 2021, Diab submitted fraudulent applications for pandemic unemployment benefits and small business assistance for many of his tax preparation business clients. Without their knowledge, he lied about their employment, or about being small business owners, on the applications so they would qualify to receive pandemic funds and benefits.
Investigators also discovered that Diab opened bank accounts in his clients’ names to receive the pandemic benefit funds via direct deposit, which the clients did not have access to, along with accounts in the names of Robinson and Diab’s sister. When the pandemic relief funds were deposited into these accounts, he immediately withdrew the funds in cash for his personal use. With the cash, Diab bought real estate, cars and took international trips. In evidence presented to the jury at trial, Diab submitted fraudulent applications in the names of nearly 80 victims, causing the federal government to pay out more than $1.2 million in pandemic benefits that were deposited into the various bank accounts that Diab controlled.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 28, 2025. Diab faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Robinson pleaded guilty to conspiracy, wire fraud, bank fraud, and theft of government funds in February and is currently awaiting sentencing. She also faces up to 30 years in prison.
The FBI Akron Division investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vanessa V. Healy and Brenna L. Fasko prosecuted that case for the Northern District of Ohio.
Norteño Gang Member Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
BOISE – Hector Aguirre, 28, of Caldwell, was sentenced to 7 years in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced today.
According to court records, in June 2023, officers contacted Aguirre during a traffic stop. Officers learned that Aguirre had absconded from supervision with the Idaho Department of Correction’s Probation and Parole. Officers searched Aguirre’s vehicle and found a loaded firearm and 66 fentanyl pills. Aguirre is prohibited from possessing firearms due to previous drug-related felony convictions. The investigation revealed that Aguirre is a Norteño gang member.
Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott commended the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Caldwell Police Department, which led to the charges. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kane Venecia prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Ada County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office with funds provided by the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program. HIDTA is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives, including the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney position.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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Nigerian National Pleads Guilty to Laundering Millions in Criminal Proceeds Linked to Romance Scams and Business Email Compromise SchemesRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Olumide Olorunfunmi, 39, a Nigerian national, appeared in federal court in Charlotte today and pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy for laundering millions in criminal proceeds linked to romance scams and business email compromise schemes, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. According to documents filed with the court and today’s plea hearing, the scheme caused more than 125 victims to transfer over $4.5 million of proceeds stemming from illegal activities.
Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in North Carolina, joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.
Two of Olorunfunmi’s co-conspirators, both Nigerian nationals, have also pleaded guilty to federal charges and are awaiting sentencing. Specifically, Samson Amos, 53, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business. Emmanuel Unuigbe, 42, pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business.
As Olorunfunmi admitted in court today, from 2020 through 2023, Olorunfunmi conspired with Amos, Unuigbe, and others to launder the criminal proceeds of various illegal activities, including romance scams that typically targeted elderly victims, and business email compromise schemes (BECs). Court records show that the victims of the schemes were directed to transfer funds into domestic and international bank accounts controlled by Olorunfunmi and his co-conspirators. Upon receiving the fraud proceeds, Olorunfunmi and his co-conspirators transferred the funds to other bank accounts, in the U.S. and overseas.
Olorunfunmi, Amos and Unuigbe profited by keeping a portion of the criminal proceeds obtained through the schemes. They also profited by agreeing to “pay” for the domestic deposits received by others by transferring Nigerian Naira from accounts the co-conspirators controlled in Nigeria to other accounts in Nigeria, based upon a “black market” exchange rate for United States Dollars to Naira.
The charge of money laundering conspiracy carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. A sentencing date has not been set.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the FBI for the investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Ryan with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is in charge of the prosecution.
Business Email Compromise Schemes
BEC schemes, also referred to as “cyber-enabled financial fraud,” are sophisticated scams that often target individuals, employees, or businesses involved in financial transactions or that regularly perform wire transfer payments. Fraudsters are usually part of larger criminal networks
operating in the United States and abroad. There are many variations of BEC schemes. Generally, the schemes involve perpetrators gaining unauthorized access to legitimate email accounts or creating email accounts that closely resemble those of individuals or employees associated with the targeted businesses or involved in business transactions with the victim businesses. The scammers then use the compromised or fake email accounts to send false wiring instructions to the targeted businesses or individuals, to dupe the victims into sending money to bank accounts controlled by perpetrators of the scheme. Generally, the money is quickly transferred to other accounts in the United States or overseas. More information on BEC schemes can be found here.
Romance Scams
In romance scams, fraudsters use a fake online identity to gain a victim’s affection and trust. The fraudsters then use the illusion of a romantic or close relationship to manipulate and/or steal from the victim. The fraudsters want to establish a relationship as quickly as possible, endear themselves to the victim, and gain trust. Fraudsters may propose marriage and make plans to meet in person, but that will never happen. Eventually, they will ask for money. The fraudsters who carry out romance scams are experts at what they do and will seem genuine, caring, and believable, and are present on most dating and social media sites. They also claim to be in the building or construction industry and/or are engaged in projects outside the U.S. That makes it easier to avoid meeting in person and more plausible when they ask for money for a medical emergency or unexpected legal fees. More information on romance scams can be found here.
If you have been the victim of an online scam or know someone who has been victimized, it is important to report it to law enforcement. Please visit ic3.gov, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), to file a complaint.
New Orleans Postal Worker Indicted for Accepting BribesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – KEITH TONEY (“TONEY ”), age 43, of New Orleans, was indicted on March 7, 2025, for accepting a bribe as a public official, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson.
Specifically, TONEY, a mail carrier employed by the United States Postal Service, was indicted for being a public official who directly, and indirectly, accepted to receive a thing of value in return for being influenced in the performance of an official act in violation of his official duties, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 201(b)(2).
TONEY faces up to 15 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
According to the indictment, beginning at a time unknown but prior to November 21, 2022, and continuing to on or about June 22, 2023, TONEY received monetary payments to facilitate the shipment of drug-filled parcels by coordinating with a drug-distributor to arrange for the delivery of drug-filled parcels, and personally delivering and turning over the drug-filled parcels to a drug-distributor.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that the indictment is merely an allegation and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is being investigated by the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Rachal Cassagne of the Narcotics Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
More Prison Time for the Stabbing of Another Inmate at D.C. JailRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – William Brock, 33, of Washington D.C., was sentenced today to three years in prison, for stabbing a fellow inmate, in D.C. Jail on January 24, 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Brock pleaded guilty on February 24, 2025, to one count of attempted assault with a dangerous weapon. Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe ordered Brock to serve his three-year prison term to be followed by three years of supervised release.
The defendant admitted that on January 22, 2025, inside the D.C. Jail located at 1901 D Street, SE, the victim, an inmate at the jail, was walking with a correctional officer. Brock, also incarcerated there, approached him from behind and started stabbing the victim in the shoulder and back, with what appeared to be a makeshift knife. The correctional officer deployed OC spray at Brock, who then ran up the stairs, and shook off the attempted apprehension of another corrections officer, who was trying to detain him. Brock attempted to give the knife to other inmates, but when they refused to take it, he dropped it on the ground. He was apprehended a short time later.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Martin and Chief Smith commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. They acknowledged the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel Ison and Randy Fultz, who prosecuted the case.
Mississippi Man Guilty of Impersonating Deputy United States MarshalRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that WILLIAM GILCHRIST (“GILCHRIST”), a resident of Greenville, Mississippi pleaded guilty on March 25, 2025 for impersonating a deputy United States Marshal, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 912.
According to the indictment, on or about June 19, 2024, GILCHRISTfalsely assumed and pretended to be a Fugitive Task Force Officer with the United States Marshals Service to evade arrest by a Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office Detective.
At the sentencing hearing, scheduled for June 24, 2025 before U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan, GILCHRIST faces up to 3 years imprisonment, up to 1 year of supervised release, up to a $250,00 fine, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of Homeland Security Investigations and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Paul J. Hubbell of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Midland Felon Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MIDLAND, Texas – A Midland man was sentenced in federal court to 360 months in prison for child pornography production and drug and firearm offenses.
According to court documents, Job Jasso Jr., 27, led a Midland County Sheriff’s Office deputy on a high-speed chase following an attempted traffic stop on March 13, 2024. Jasso crashed the vehicle and fled on foot, leaving a 17-year-old female in the passenger seat. A search of her phone revealed multiple sexually explicit photos of Jasso and the minor female.
On March 25, 2024, the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force and other partnered agencies executed an arrest warrant at a hotel where Jasso was staying. Inside the room, Jasso and the minor victim from the March 13 incident were naked and taken into custody. Two firearms were seized during the arrest. An executed search warrant also revealed additional firearms, along with firearm accessories and ammunition, drug paraphernalia, 63.2 grams of fentanyl pills, and other related items. Review of a recovered smartphone found approximately 44 images and two videos of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), and child exploitative material (CEM) depicting the minor victim. A search warrant return for a cloud storage account also uncovered 12 videos of CSAM and CEM of the minor victim.
Jasso had previously been convicted in the 142nd District Court in Midland for aggravated kidnapping and received a sentence of five years’ confinement.
On Aug. 28, 2024, Jasso was indicted for one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; one count of possession with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl; one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime; and one count of possession of stolen firearms. A federal jury found him guilty of all four counts Nov. 6, 2024.
A second indictment was filed Sept. 25, 2024, for two counts of production of child pornography. Jasso was also found guilty on both of those counts in a federal trial Dec. 10, 2024. U.S. District Judge David Counts sentenced Jasso to 360 months in prison for both child pornography charges, as well as a concurrent 300 months in prison for the other four counts. Judge Counts also ordered Jasso pay $55,000 in restitution.
“Jasso has amassed a troubling criminal record over the years, carelessly placing others—including minors—in grave danger through his illicit actions,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “The 30-year sentence that he will now serve in federal prison is a significant penalty that appropriately fits the multiple offenses for which he was found guilty by a jury.”
“This sentence serves as a reminder to all predators. We will not allow crimes against children to go unpunished,” said John Morales, FBI El Paso Special Agent in Charge. “While this significant sentence cannot repair the damage done, it is a warning to those who engage in this behavior: FBI and our law enforcement partners will be relentless in our pursuit of child predators.”
The FBI, Texas Department of Public Safety, Odessa Police Department, and Midland County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Sloane prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Middlesex County Man Charged for Making False Statement About Terrorist Organization Association on U.S. Citizenship ApplicationRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A federal grand jury in the District of New Jersey returned a two-count indictment against a New Jersey man for falsely stating on an application for naturalization that he had never been associated with a terrorist organization, U.S. Attorney John Giordano announced.
Gafur Abdudzhamilovich Aliev, 44, of Edison, New Jersey, is charged with one count of making a false statement on an application for naturalization and one count of perjury. Aliev is scheduled to appear this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor via videoconference.
According to the indictment, between in or around January 2018 and in or around January 2020, Aliev was a moderator and/or member of numerous channels on a social media application with encryption features that targeted members, associates, supporters, and potential recruits of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (“ISIS”). On or about August 7, 2020, Aliev told Individual-1, in substance, that he previously sent money to ISIS for the purchase of weapons, and on or about August 16, 2020, Aliev additionally told Individual-1, in substance, that sending even a small amount of money ($100 to $400) to ISIS was “ok.” On or about September 28, 2020, Aliev further told Individual-1, in substance, that those who commit jihad in the name of Allah should commit jihad financially and physically and that without financial support, jihad could not be performed, as money was needed to purchase equipment to conduct jihad.
On or about December 26, 2020, Aliev, under penalty of perjury, falsely stated in his application for naturalization that he had never been a member of, or in any way associated with, a terrorist organization.
The false statement on a naturalization application count carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The perjury count carries a maximum potential penalty of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Giordano credited special agents of the FBI and task force officers of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly, deportation officers of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, under the direction of Field Office Director John Tsoukaris, the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone, and the Edison Police Department, under the direction of Chief Thomas Bryan, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanks U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for its assistance with the case.
The government is represented by Joyce M. Malliet, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s National Security Unit, with assistance from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Counterterrorism Section of the National Security Division.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Defense counsel: Naz Ahmad, Esq.
Linda Foster, AFPD, Esq.
aliev.indictment.pdfMexican National Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican National illegally residing in Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced in federal court today for Illegal Re-entry by an Alien Previously Convicted of a Felony. He was also sentenced for violating the terms of his supervised release related to an earlier conviction for the same crime.
Omar Zamora-Guerra, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to six years and two months in federal prison without parole.
On September 11, 2024, Zamora-Guerra pleaded guilty to illegally re-entering the United States after committed a felony. Zamora-Guerra admitted he knew he did not have permission to enter or remain in the United States lawfully.
Under federal law it is illegal for an alien to knowingly re-enter the United States without permission after being convicted of a felony. Zamora-Guerra was previously convicted in the Western District of Missouri of illegal re-entry after a felony in October of 2020 and served 37 months in federal prison. After his release, he was removed from the country to his native Mexico, but returned sometime prior to his arrest on this charge in May of 2024. This is Zamora-Guerra’s third conviction for illegally re-entering the country. He also has a past conviction for assault for which he spent time in state prison.
This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Amanda Hanson. It was investigated by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations.