Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Wednesday 8 July 2026
Lynchburg Man Sentenced to More Than 23 Years on Fentanyl and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
LYNCHBURG, Va. – A Lynchburg man, who distributed thousands of fentanyl pills, pounds of methamphetamine, and kilograms of cocaine, among other drugs, while possessing a firearm, was sentenced to 280 months in federal prison.
This investigation was brought as part of the revamped Project Safe Neighborhoods, a combined law enforcement initiative that aims to provide a rapid response to violent crime, conduct strategic federal, state, local, and tribal partnerships, and increase accountability and deterrence to promote public safety.
John Coleman, III, 35, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl, more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, and more than a half kilo of cocaine, one count of distributing more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, one count of distributing more than 40 grams of fentanyl, and one count of using a firearm during and in relation to drug trafficking crimes.
“This office will aggressively target fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine traffickers in the Western District of Virginia,” First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci said today. “I commend the outstanding work of our DEA partners for their outstanding work on this.”
“This sentence is a true testament of the efforts made by federal, local, and state law enforcement agencies to combat violent and unscrupulous criminals who endanger our communities and affect the quality of life in our neighborhoods. We will not rest until we arrest and prosecute all of them. The communities belong to our people, not to the criminals,” commented Christopher Goumenis, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Washington Division.
According to court documents, in 2024, Coleman was known to law enforcement as someone who sold marijuana, methamphetamine, and cocaine while possessing firearms. As a result, officers performed several controlled purchases of ounces of methamphetamine from Coleman in June and July 2024. Subsequently, Coleman was stopped by law enforcement after making a trip to Atlanta, Georgia to pick-up drugs. At the time of the traffic stop, Coleman was found to be in possession of 23 pounds of marijuana and a firearm. At that time, he was arrested and released on bond.
However, he continued to sell narcotics and law enforcement continued to investigate.
On September 30, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Coleman’s residence and found $47,711 in cash, an additional firearm, 1,004 grams of cocaine, 118 grams of fentanyl, approximately, 40 grams of Oxycodone, and almost 20 grams of MDMA.
First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Christopher Goumenis, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Washington Division made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Lynchburg Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Welsh is prosecuting the case.
Long Beach Man Sentenced to 26½ Years in Federal Prison for Armed Robbery Spree that Ended in Fatal Car Crash During Police PursuitRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Long Beach man was sentenced today to 318 months in federal prison for committing armed robberies of three Los Angeles County businesses in September 2023, a crime spree that ended in a high-speed police chase that resulted in the defendant hitting and killing an innocent bystander with a stolen car.
Kaelenn Sinaukoko Maea, 29, was sentenced by United States District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald. Restitution will be determined at a later date.
Maea pleaded guilty in April 2025 to one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act), one count of Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of possessing, using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a short-barreled rifle in furtherance, and during and in relation to, a crime of violence.
According to his plea agreement, Maea and his accomplices committed three armed robberies during a one-week span in late September 2023: specifically, a Downey liquor store, a Compton gasoline station, and a South El Monte convenience store, netting a total of approximately $5,050 in stolen cash.
Inside the Downey liquor store, Maea discharged a short-barreled rifle. While inside the Compton gasoline station, he brandished a short-barreled rifle at an employee and stood in the doorway to prevent the customers or employees inside from escaping. He also brandished the rifle at the South El Monte convenience store.
On October 9, 2023, Maea drove a stolen Range Rover used in the latter two robberies and fled from law enforcement, driving recklessly and at a high rate of speed. Shortly after fleeing, Maea crashed the stolen getaway car into a civilian motorist, killing the victim. Nevertheless, he continued that dangerous flight, hitting even more cars and injuring another civilian motorist. Maea then fled on foot and hid underneath a house until law enforcement arrested him.
The three co-defendants charged in this case have pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges.
- Isaiah Villasana, 27, of Carson, is serving a 10-year federal prison sentence after pleading guilty in April 2025 to a firearms charge for holding a victim at gunpoint during the Downey liquor store robbery.
- Mathew Salanoa, 32, of Placentia, is serving a 49-month federal prison sentence for participating in the Compton robbery after pleading guilty in August 2025 to one count of Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy.
- Salagi Iakopo, 26, of Compton, pleaded guilty in August 2025 to one count of Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy and is scheduled for sentencing on August 19.
The FBI and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department investigated this matter. The Los Angeles Police Department, the El Monte Police Department, and the Downey Police Department provided assistance.
Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Butler and Jena A. MacCabe of the Major Crimes Section prosecuted this case.
Ledyard Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Child Exploitation OffenseRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JASON GIBSON, 46, of Ledyard, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to 120 months of imprisonment and 20 years of supervised release for possession of child pornography.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in February 2020, Gibson was convicted in state court of possession of child pornography and sentenced to 10 years of incarceration, suspended after 30 months, and 10 years of probation. He was released from state custody in January 2021. In April 2023, Gibson’s probation was revoked for violating the conditions of his release and he was sentenced to 90 months of incarceration, suspended after six months, and 94 months of probation. He was released from state custody in August 2023.
On March 6, 2024, state probation officers made a routine home visit to Gibson’s residence and seized an unapproved cellphone that also contained a dark web application. Subsequent analysis of the phone revealed more than 200 child sex abuse images and videos, and numerous text messages with links to access child pornography on the dark web. On April 2, 2025, probation officers made another home visit to Gibson’s residence and seized an external hard drive. Analysis of the hard drive revealed more than 18,000 images and 1,400 videos depicting child sex abuse. Gibson has been detained since that date.
Judge Williams ordered Gibson to pay a total of $181,500 in restitution to 24 victims depicted in the images and videos he possessed.
On January 13, 2026, Gibson pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. The penalties in this matter were enhanced because of Gibson’s prior state convictions.
This investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the New Haven Police Department, with the assistance of the Town of Groton Police Department, the Watertown Police Department, the Westport Police Department, and the Connecticut Court Support Services Division – Adult Probation Services.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Gordon through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
Las Cruces Teenager Sentenced for Shooting That Left Victim Permanently Paralyzed During RobberyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Las Cruces teenager was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison for shooting an 18-year-old victim during a robbery, leaving the victim permanently paralyzed.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 25, 2022, Matthew James Aguilar, who was 16 years old at the time, and two other individuals arranged to meet with the victim to purchase marijuana. During the transaction, Aguilar and the other individuals decided to rob the victim instead of paying for the marijuana. As the victim attempted to drive away, Aguilar fired multiple rounds from a firearm into the passenger side of the victim’s vehicle. One of the bullets struck the victim in the back, causing a collapsed lung and permanent paralysis. The victim, who was 18 years old at the time, suffered injuries that left him a quadriplegic.
After the shooting, Aguilar initially denied involvement when interviewed by law enforcement. Investigators later obtained social media messages in which Aguilar admitted he had shot and paralyzed someone while attempting to rob him. In subsequent jail calls, Aguilar again described shooting a drug dealer in the back and causing the victim’s paralysis.
“Protecting the public requires a criminal justice system that can respond appropriately to serious acts of violence, regardless of the offender’s age,” said F.A. United States Attorney Ryan Ellison. “Our office will continue working with our law enforcement partners to pursue justice and use every available tool to address violent crime in New Mexico.”
"Violence in our communities is never justified, and we will continue working alongside our law enforcement partners to hold violent offenders accountable and keep our communities safe-regardless of the offender's age; said Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office. "This sentence reflects the unwavering commitment of law enforcement and prosecutors to pursue justice for victims and remove dangerous criminals from our neighborhoods. Together, we will continue using every available resource to protect the public and ensure those who resort to violence face the consequences of their actions."
“Today’s sentencing is the result of outstanding collaboration between the Las Cruces Police Department, the FBI and the United States Attorney’s Office,” said Jeremy Story, Chief of the Las Cruces Police Department. “This offender committed serious acts of violence that endangered our community and devastated the lives of his victims. Today’s outcome demonstrates what can be accomplished when local and federal law enforcement work together with a shared commitment to justice.”
Aguilar was initially charged as a juvenile under the Federal Juvenile Delinquency Act. He later agreed to be prosecuted and sentenced as an adult and pled guilty to Interference with Commerce by threats and violence. Upon his release from prison, Aguilar will be subject to three years of supervised release.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Las Cruces Police Department and Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria Y. Armijo and Devon Aragon Martinez prosecuted the case.
Instagram highlights from sentencing
Indian National Sentenced to 121 Months for Transportation and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On July 8, 2026, ASHISH KAPOOR, a/k/a “Romy Kapoor,” (“KAPOOR”) age 28, a national of India, was sentenced for Transportation of Child Pornography, and Possession of Child Pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(1), (a)(4)(B), (b)(1), and (b)(2), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, KAPOOR traveled from Bombay, India to New Orleans, Louisiana on or about February 21, 2024, with a cellular phone containing digital videos and computer images containing visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. In addition, on April 11, 2024, KAPOOR downloaded a video depicting the sexual abuse of a child from an Internet Protocol address at his residence in New Orleans. On December 20, 2024, Special Agents with the United States Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, and officers with the New Orleans Police Department arrested KAPOOR. In a recorded statement, KAPOOR confessed that he had seen and received child pornography using Whatsapp on his cellular phone.
KAPOOR also admitted to possessing more than 600 images depicting the sexual abuse of minors and further admitted that these items contained sadistic or masochistic conduct, as well as depicting the sexual abuse of infants and toddlers.
United States District Judge Greg G. Guidry sentenced KAPOOR to one-hundred and twenty-one (121) months in prison, five (5) years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $200.00. Judge Guidry also ordered KAPOOR to pay restitution in the amount of $3,000 to a victim. KAPOOR will also be required to register pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act upon release from prison.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by the United States Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Customs and Border Protection, and the New Orleans Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney and Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force Leader Maria M. Carboni of the Public Integrity Unit.
* * *
Illegal alien living in Garland sentenced to federal prison as part of Homeland Security Task Force investigation for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas – An illegal alien has been sentenced to over 11 years in federal prison as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Nestor Molina Molina, also known as Chocoalte, 37, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 140 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on July 8, 2026.
According to information presented in court, Molina Molina, a Mexican national illegally living in Garland, was part of a cartel affiliated drug trafficking organization that distributed methamphetamine imported from Mexico into Dallas and the North Texas area. Molina Molina negotiated the sale and delivery of multiple kilogram quantities of crystal methamphetamine in the Eastern and Northern Districts of Texas. During the execution of a search warrant at his residence in Garland, agents discovered a methamphetamine conversion laboratory along with large amounts of methamphetamine in the conversion process.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Dallas Field Office; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations - Dallas (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Field Division; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CD; United States Postal Service, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Transportation Security Administration, Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS); United States Secret Service (USSS); Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS); TEXOMA HIDTA; and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas with the prosecution being led by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorney William R. Tatum.
###
Illegal alien and Guatemalan national extradited to U.S. admit to roles in 2021 alien smuggling mass casualty event in Chiapas, MexicoRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – Two foreign nationals have pleaded guilty to smuggling charges related to the crash of a tractor-trailer packed with at least 160 illegal aliens which resulted in the deaths of more than 50 people, including unaccompanied children, and injured over 100 more. These two are part of a group of six who were charged in this case. Five have now admitted to their role in a conspiracy to bring illegal aliens from Guatemala into the United States.
Agapito Jorge Ventura, 34, an illegal alien from Guatemala, and Oswaldo Manuel Zavala Quino, 26, a Guatemalan national extradited in 2025, acknowledged they conspired with other smugglers to transport illegal aliens, both adults and unaccompanied minors, from Guatemala through Mexico to the United States.
Aliens paid Ventura, Zavala Quino and their co-conspirators to be smuggled into the United States, with Ventura coordinating from the Houston area. During the previous administration’s policy to parole illegal aliens into the United States, Ventura also facilitated the release of Guatemalan aliens who were smuggled illegally into the United States from U.S. immigration authorities, to include unaccompanied minors. Ventura provided co-conspirators, including Zavala Quino, with falsified scripts and instructions to provide to adults and unaccompanied minors on what to say to immigration officials if apprehended to secure their release. Ventura would also provide a person who would falsely pose as a relative of the apprehended alien to gain the alien’s release.
On Dec. 9, 2021, Ventura, Zavala Quino and others arranged for the aliens they were smuggling to the United States to be loaded into a tractor trailer that was to transport them through Mexico. Over 150 illegal aliens, including adults and unaccompanied minors, were crammed into the trailer. The vehicle ultimately crashed north of the Guatemala/Mexico border near Tuxtla Guiterrez, Chiapas, Mexico, resulting in deaths and serious bodily injury.
“With today’s guilty pleas, five defendants charged in this case have now been held accountable for one of the deadliest human smuggling tragedies in recent memory,” stated Marck. “These defendants treated more than 150 people as cargo, packing them into a tractor-trailer for profit with total disregard for human life. The Southern District of Texas will continue to hunt down smugglers wherever they hide, because there is no place on earth safe enough to escape justice for the lives lost on that Chiapas roadside.”
“This crime shows that human smugglers care only about profiting from their crimes, not about the illegal aliens they transport and the life-and-death risks to which they expose them” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These defendants worked together to exploit vulnerable people by breaking the immigration laws of this country, with deadly consequences that followed. Robust border enforcement avoids deadly results like this. The Criminal Division will continue to pursue those who put profit over people and ensure our nation’s immigration laws are enforced.”
“This case underscores U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations’ relentless pursuit of transnational criminal organizations that profit from the exploitation of vulnerable individuals,” said Acting Executive Associate Director John A. Condon of HSI. “The guilty pleas of these defendants send a clear message: those who orchestrate and facilitate dangerous human smuggling operations — placing lives at grave risk — will be held accountable. HSI remains committed to working with our domestic and international partners to dismantle these criminal networks, protect our borders and uphold the rule of law.”
Ventura and Zavala Quino pleaded guilty to conspiracy to bring and attempt to bring an illegal alien into the United States, placing life in jeopardy, causing serious bodily injury and resulting in death. U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo has set sentencing for Oct. 6. At that time, all face up to life in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Daniel Zavala Ramos, 42, Josefa Quino Canil de Zavala, 44, and Alberto Macario Chitic, 33, all of Guatemala, previously pleaded guilty to the same charges.
Canil De Zavala, Macario Chitic, Zavala Ramos, Zavala Quino and Tomas Quino Canil were extradited from Guatemala in 2025 to face charges. U.S. authorities arrested Ventura at his residence in Cleveland in December 2024.
HSI’s Washington, D.C. Field Office conducted the investigation in partnership with HSI Guatemala and HSI Mexico. Valuable assistance was provided by HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C.; HSI Houston; HSI Laredo; U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s International Interdiction Task Force; U.S. Border Patrol; Liberty County Constable, Precinct 6; ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston; U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas; and the Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the arrests and extraditions. Guatemalan prosecutors from the Office of Public Ministry and Mexican prosecutors from the Republic of Mexico’s Federal Prosecutions Office, with the support of law enforcement officials from both countries, were also instrumental in furthering the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary Lou Castillo and Jennifer Day are prosecuting the case along with Senior Trial Attorney Danielle Hickman of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section with substantial assistance from HRSP Latin American Specialist/Historian Joanna Crandall.
The investigation and charges are supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha, the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking cartels and transnational criminal organizations commit. A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s HRSP Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section; Office of International Affairs and Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant United States Attorney-detailees from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 464 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 414 U.S. convictions; and more than 360 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
This case is also part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Illegal Alien from Mexico Charged by the District of Utah After Allegedly Possessing a Large Quantity of Fentanyl Powder in the District of UtahRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment today charging an illegal alien from Mexico with drug and immigration crimes after 171 grams of fentanyl powder was allegedly found in his vehicle during a traffic stop.
Martin Erubiel Algandar Castro, 25, who was found illegally in Salt Lake City, Utah, was charged by complaint on June 30, 2026.
According to court documents, on June 25, 2026, law enforcement stopped a Jeep Cherokee driven by Castro for a traffic violation. During the traffic stop, a K-9 officer alerted positive for the presence of drugs and the vehicle was searched. In the vehicle, law enforcement located and seized approximately 171 grams of suspected fentanyl powder, which field-tested positive for fentanyl. During the search, law enforcement also located and seized $1,513 on Castro and several wire transfer receipts sending money to Mexico.
As alleged in court documents, a brief search of Castro’s phone revealed evidence of distribution. Additionally, Castro is not a citizen of the United States, and the government is unaware of any ties that Castro has to Utah and to the United States.
Castro is charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute. His initial appearance on the indictment is scheduled for July 9, 2026, at 10:45 a.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Pete Reichman for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Illegal Alien and Guatemalan National Extradited to the U.S. Admit to Roles in 2021 Alien Smuggling Mass Casualty Event in Chiapas, MexicoRead the Press Release
An illegal alien from Guatemala and a Guatemalan national have pleaded guilty to human smuggling charges related to the crash of a tractor-trailer packed with at least 160 illegal aliens which resulted in the deaths of more than 50 people, including unaccompanied children, and injured over 100 more. These two defendants are part of a group of six who were charged in this case. Five of six defendants have now admitted to their role in a conspiracy to bring illegal aliens from Guatemala into the United States.
Agapito Jorge Ventura, 34, and an illegal alien from Guatemala, and Oswaldo Manuel Zavala Quino, 26, a Guatemalan national extradited to the United States in 2025, acknowledged that they conspired with other smugglers to smuggle and transport illegal aliens, both adults and unaccompanied minors, from Guatemala through Mexico to the United States.
“This crime shows that human smugglers care only about profiting from their crimes, not about the illegal aliens they transport and the life-and-death risks to which they expose them” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These defendants worked together to exploit vulnerable people by breaking the immigration laws of this country, with deadly consequences that followed. Robust border enforcement avoids deadly results like this. The Criminal Division will continue to pursue those who put profit over people and ensure our nation’s immigration laws are enforced.”
“With today’s guilty pleas, five defendants charged in this case have now been held accountable for one of the deadliest human smuggling tragedies in recent memory,” said U.S. Attorney John E. Marck for the Southern District of Texas. “These defendants treated more than 150 people as cargo, packing them into a tractor-trailer for profit with total disregard for human life. The Southern District of Texas will continue to hunt down smugglers wherever they hide, because there is no place on earth safe enough to escape justice for the lives lost on that Chiapas roadside.”
“This case underscores U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations’ (HSI) relentless pursuit of transnational criminal organizations that profit from the exploitation of vulnerable individuals,” said Acting Executive Associate Director John A. Condon of HSI. “The guilty pleas of these defendants send a clear message: those who orchestrate and facilitate dangerous human smuggling operations — placing lives at grave risk — will be held accountable. HSI remains committed to working with our domestic and international partners to dismantle these criminal networks, protect our borders, and uphold the rule of law.”
Aliens paid Ventura, Zavala Quino, and their co-conspirators to be smuggled into the United States, with Ventura coordinating from the Houston area. During the previous administration’s policy to parole illegal aliens into the United States, Ventura also facilitated the release of Guatemalan aliens who were smuggled illegally into the United States from U.S. immigration authorities, to include unaccompanied minors. Ventura provided his coconspirators, including Zavala Quino, with falsified scripts and instructions to provide to adults and unaccompanied minors on what to say to immigration officials if apprehended to secure their release. Ventura would also provide a person who would falsely pose as a relative of the apprehended alien to gain the alien’s release.
On Dec. 9, 2021, Ventura, Zavala Quino, and others arranged for the aliens they were smuggling to the United States to be loaded into a tractor trailer that was to transport them through Mexico. Over 150 illegal aliens, including adults and unaccompanied minors, were crammed into the trailer. The vehicle ultimately crashed north of the Guatemala/Mexico border near Tuxtla Guiterrez, Chiapas, Mexico, resulting in deaths and serious bodily injury.
Ventura and Zavala Quino pleaded guilty to conspiracy to bring and attempt to bring an illegal alien to the United States, placing life in jeopardy, causing serious bodily injury, and resulting in death. They will be sentenced on Oct. 6 and each face a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Daniel Zavala Ramos, Josefa Canil De Zavala, Alberto Macario Chitic, Tomas Quino Canil, and Oswaldo Manuel Zavala Quino, were extradited from Guatemala in 2025 to face charges. Authorities arrested Jorge Agapito Ventura, 33, at his residence in Cleveland, Texas, in December 2024.
Zavala Ramos, 42, pleaded guilty on April 7. Canil De Zavala, 44, and Macario Chitic, 33, pleaded guilty on June 11.
HSI’s Washington, D.C. Field Office investigated the case in partnership with HSI Guatemala and HSI Mexico. Valuable assistance was provided by HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C.; HSI Houston; HSI Laredo; U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s International Interdiction Task Force; U.S. Border Patrol; Liberty County Constable, Precinct 6; Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Houston; U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas; and the Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the arrests and extraditions of the defendants. Guatemalan prosecutors from the Office of Public Ministry and Mexican prosecutors from the Republic of Mexico’s Federal Prosecutions Office, with the support of law enforcement officials from both countries, were also instrumental in furthering the investigation.
Senior Trial Attorney Danielle Hickman of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary Lou Castillo and Jennifer Day for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case, with substantial assistance from HRSP Latin American Specialist/Historian Joanna Crandall.
The investigation and charges are supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean, and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 464 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 414 U.S. convictions; and more than 360 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
This case is also part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Illegal Alien Sentenced for Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Luis Virgilio Hilario, a/k/a Virgilio Luis Hilario, a/k/a Virgilio Hilario, a/k/a Agustin Santiagocordovas, a/k/a Liuis Virgiliohilario, a/k/a Luis Hilario Virgilio, a/k/a Luis Hilario-Virgilio, a/k/a Luis Virgilio-Hilario, age 35, a Mexican national unlawfully present in Atoka County, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Stringtown Police Department.
On May 5, 2026, Hilario pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, on March 27, 2026, Hilario, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on November 2, 2018, and July 20, 2018, and after previously being convicted of a felony.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Hilario 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 Olivia Staubus represented the United States.
Illegal Alien Sentenced for Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Raciel Osorio Lopez, a/k/a Raciel Osoriolopez, a/k/a Raciel Osorio-Lopez, age 33, a Mexican national unlawfully present in Atoka, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served for one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Stringtown Police Department.
On April 28, 2026, Osorio Lopez pleaded guilty in federal district court. According to investigators, on March 27, 2026, Osario Lopez, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on April 28, 2015, August 19, 2015, and March 9, 2017.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Staubus represented the United States.
Honduran National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Nearly $500,000 Home Depot Refund SchemeRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Darwin Alberto Corea Calderon, 34, a Honduran national, was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for his role in carrying out a refund scheme and conspiracy that defrauded The Home Depot stores in North and South Carolina of nearly half a million dollars, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
“Those who defraud retailers make prices higher for all of us,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “Corea’s crimes were born out of greed, not necessity. This was a calculated scheme that he repeated over and over, and would continue to repeat, until federal law enforcement brought it to an end.”
According to court records, from 2022 to 2025, Corea conspired to conduct an extensive refund scheme against The Home Depot that caused the retailer to issue hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent refunds. Corea targeted more than a dozen Home Depot stores in the region, including stores in Charlotte, Cornelius, Gastonia, Kannapolis, Matthews, and Statesville, as well as stores in Rock Hill and Spartanburg, South Carolina. In total, the scheme defrauded Home Depot of more than $464,000. In addition to the refund scheme, Corea also committed theft by engaging in a skip-scanning scheme, in which he purposely failed to scan products at Home Depot’s self-checkout registers and walked out with them.
U.S. v. Corea - Corea at the Home Depot in Cornelius, North Carolina on June 14, 2023.
At today’s sentencing hearing, the government also presented evidence of Corea’s 2024 state felony larceny conviction in Cabarrus County for stealing power tools, a vacuum, and a microwave from Lowe’s Home Improvement.
Corea previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals until he is transferred to a federal facility upon placement by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. After serving his prison sentence, Corea will be turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended Homeland Security Investigations for the investigation of the case and thanked The Home Depot for its invaluable assistance throughout the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William Bozin with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Honduran National Charged with Illegally Reentering U.S.Read the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that BELIN ANTONIO GONZALEZ-GARCIA, also known as Belin Garcia and Belin Gonzalez, 39, a citizen of Honduras, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with illegal reentry of a removed alien.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in October 2009, Gonzalez-Garcia, under the name Belin Gonzalez, was convicted in Connecticut state court of assault in the first degree and sentenced to 18 years of imprisonment, suspended after seven years, and three years of probation. In April 2015, Gonzalez-Garcia was removed from the U.S. to Honduras. In September 2016, U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) encountered and arrested Gonzalez-Garcia in Brownsville, Texas. He was subsequently convicted in the Southern District of Texas of illegal reentry of a removed alien and sentenced to 30 months of imprisonment. In December 2018, Gonzalez-Garcia was again removed to Honduras.
The complaint further alleges that, in August 2020, USBP encountered and arrested Gonzalez-Garcia in La Joya, Texas. In January 2021, he was convicted in the Southern District of Texas of illegal reentry of a removed alien and sentenced to 37 months of imprisonment. In June 2023, he was again removed to Honduras. In December 2023, USBP encountered and arrested Gonzalez-Garcia in Eagle Pass, Texas. In January 2024, he was again removed to Honduras.
The complaint further alleges that, on June 7, 2026, Connecticut State Police arrested Gonzalez-Garcia, who identified himself as “Belin Garcia,” in Andover, Connecticut, following a car accident. Gonzalez-Garcia was charged in Connecticut Superior Court in Rockville with illegal operation of motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol/drugs, evading responsibility – injury/property damage, failure to drive in proper lane, and operating a motor vehicle without a license. He was released on a $2,500 bond.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took Gonzalez-Garcia into custody on June 23, 2026.
Gonzalez-Garcia appeared yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish in Hartford and was ordered detained.
If convicted of the charge of unlawful reentry, Gonzalez-Garcia faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Neeraj N. Patel and Michael S. Deel.
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.
Henryetta Resident Sentenced for Making Threatening Interstate CommunicationsRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jason Mance Van Orsdol, a/k/a Jason Mance VanOrsdol, age 47, of Henryetta, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for one count of Interstate Transmission of Threatening Communications.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On March 4, 2026, Van Orsdol pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on September 24, 2025, while on a phone call with an ATF agent, Van Orsdol threatened to kill the agent.
“Threats against law enforcement officers will never be taken lightly,” said ATF Dallas Field Division Special Agent in Charge Brian Garner. “Every ATF special agent puts themselves in harm’s way to protect our communities, and those who threaten violence against them will be investigated and held accountable. This sentence demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protecting our personnel and ensuring that anyone who attempts to intimidate or threaten federal law enforcement faces the full weight of the justice system.”
“Policing is difficult and dangerous work, and threats against the dedicated agents, investigators, and officers who serve is reprehensible and cannot be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office stands firm in its commitment to support law enforcement partners who risk their lives daily securing the rights and safety of the public.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Van Orsdol will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Henderson County man sentenced to federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A Brownsboro man has been sentenced to over 15 years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Bradley Korral Gould, 36, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on July 6, 2026.
According to information presented in court, on October 4, 2024, Henderson County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a shooting in Brownsboro, where they found Gould inside his vehicle with a gunshot wound to his upper thigh. While investigating the shooting, deputies located an abandoned backpack on the roadside between Gould’s vehicle and the location of the reported shooting. Inside the backpack, deputies located 121.3 grams of methamphetamine, 50.86 grams of cocaine, and pills containing fluorofentanyl, a fentanyl analogue. Also, inside the backpack, deputies discovered the title of the vehicle in which Gould was found bearing Gould’s name. Gould admitted that the backpack and its contents belonged to him and agreed to forfeit a pistol found at the location of the shooting.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The case was investigated by the FBI, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and Henderson County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucas Machicek.
###
Hartford Man Charged with Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the FBI, today announced that ABISAI RODRIGUEZ, 38, of Hartford, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with multiple child exploitation offenses.
As alleged in court documents, in December 2010, Rodriguez was convicted in Connecticut state court of possession of child pornography in the first degree. In November 2018, Rodriguez was convicted in Connecticut state court of illegal sexual contact with a minor and, in February 2019, was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment, suspended after five years, and 10 years of probation for the offense. He was released from state custody in January 2023. On March 23, 2026, Rodriguez was arrested by Manchester Police for failure to register as a sex offender. Following Rodriguez’s arrest for this offense and for violating his state probation related to his arrest, investigators searched Rodriguez’s two cellphones and his laptop computer. One of the cellphones contained approximately 211 images and 154 videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. Rodriguez was using encrypted messaging apps to trade and store the child sex abuse material.
The criminal complaint charges Rodriguez with both receipt and distribution of child pornography, offenses that each carry a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, and with possession of child pornography, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. The penalties in this matter are enhanced because of Rodriguez’s prior state convictions.
Rodriguez has been detained since his federal arrest on June 11, 2026.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that a criminal complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, with the assistance of the Connecticut Court Support Services Division – Adult Probation Services, the Connecticut Computer Crimes and Electronic Evidence Laboratory, and the Farmington Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexis L. Beyerlein.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
Guatemalan National Sentenced for Unlawfully Returning to the United StatesRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Guatemalan National was sentenced in federal court for unlawfully returning to the United States for the fifth time after multiple prior illegal reentries.
Edras Leonel Alcides Ramirez-Peralta, 35, pleaded guilty to illegal reentry by a previously deported alien and was sentenced today to one year and a day by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips.
According to court documents, Ramirez-Peralta was driving a vehicle that had been reported stolen when he was stopped by a deputy with the Henry County Missouri Sheriff’s Office on Dec. 8, 2025. During a search of the vehicle, officers located a folded dollar bill containing methamphetamine and a glass pipe with methamphetamine residue. Ramirez-Peralta was subsequently charged with felony possession of a controlled substance in the Circuit Court of Henry County, Mo.
Immigration authorities later determined that Ramirez-Peralta is a native and citizen of Guatemala who had been previously deported from the United States on four prior occasions, most recently on Nov. 15, 2024.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes IV. It was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Operation Take Back America
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.
Four Colombian Nationals Unlawfully Residing in the United States Sentenced to Federal Prison for a Burglary Conspiracy Targeting Asian American Business OwnersRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.— Four Columbian nationals unlawfully residing in the United States were sentenced to federal prison yesterday for a multi-state burglary conspiracy that targeted Asian American business owners in Oregon and Washington. Following the federal hearings, the defendants were also sentenced in their state court cases based on the targeted burglaries.
- Derinson Martinez-Grandas, 34, was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in federal prison and 10 months in state prison;
- Jhon Alexander Quintero, 45, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison and 15 months in state prison;
- Steven Alexander Quiroga-Solano, 28, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison and 18 months in state prison; and
- William Estiven Rodriguez-Gaviria, 27, was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in federal prison and 10 months in state prison.
Each defendant was also sentenced to 3 years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit the stolen proceeds as well as the devices used to coordinate the burglaries.
The defendants traveled from California and proceeded through Nevada, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. In Washington and Oregon, they identified burglary victims by using the internet to research potential Asian American targets and their businesses. They stayed in short-term rentals and identified and surveilled their burglary targets, who were all Asian American small business owners. They then performed reconnaissance on the victims’ residences.
When they carried out the burglaries, the defendants employed signal jamming technology, perimeter countersurveillance, and communicated on seven-way group calls. They then entered their victims’ homes by shattering glass doors. Once inside, they ransacked residences, stealing United States and foreign currency, jewelry, designer handbags, purses, wallets, travel documents, and other valuables. After the burglaries, the crew returned to their short-term rental to package the proceeds for transport, transfer, or transmittal back to California and Colombia.
Following a burglary in Salem, Oregon, detectives learned that the defendants returned to their rental in Eugene, Oregon, and executed a search warrant at the rental that night. Investigators recovered money and property, believed to be stolen from the various residences, more than a dozen cell phones, believed to be used by the burglary crew, evidence of money wires to Bogota, Colombia, and various Colombian travel documentation, including passports.
They also located commercial-grade Wi-Fi signal jammers, seen in the image below, that were plugged in and charging following their suspected use during the burglary that day.
A search of their devices revealed additional evidence of the conspiracy, including sending and receiving coordinates for the houses they burglarized, surveillance communications, and shared messages highlighting the burglary targets from the preceding days.
For instance, Martinez-Grandas secured short term rentals for the crew in Auburn, Washington, and Eugene and mapped the address of the Salem home on the day of that burglary.
Quintero researched the value of jewelry the night of a burglary in Auburn and called a Columbian shipping company two days after the Eugene burglary.
Quiroga-Solano researched Chinese restaurants two days before the burglary crew victimized a family owning a Chinese restaurant. He was in the vicinity of a victim’s home in Gresham, Oregon, the night before it was burglarized, which authorities believe was in preparation for the following day’s burglary.
Lastly, Rodriguez-Gaviria sent a message to a co-conspirator with the address of a burglary victim the day the victim was burglarized and posed as a food delivery person at two homes the day they were burglarized.
On November 20, 2025, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned an indictment charging the defendants with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen goods.
From March through May 2026, Quintero, Rodriguez-Gaviria, Quiroga-Solano, and Martinez-Grandas pleaded guilty to conspiracy.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Eugene Police Department with assistance from the Salem Police Department, the Auburn Police Department, and the Gresham Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. McLaren.
Fort Madison Woman Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Exploitation and Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Fort Madison woman was sentenced on July 8, 2026, to 30 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a child and distribution of child pornography.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Metallie Leigh Gillette, 27, created child sexual abuse material by sexually exploiting a minor child and then distributed the files containing child sexual abuse material. Law enforcement seized an electronic device during a search of Gillette’s Fort Madison residence that Gillette used to distribute and attempt to sell images and videos containing child sexual abuse material. The individual Gillette sent the child sexual abuse material to was David Enrique Remigio, 30 of Burlington, who was sentenced in March 2025 to 16 years in federal prison for receipt of child pornography.
After completing her term of imprisonment, Gillette will be required to serve a seven-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Gillette was also ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Des Moines County Sheriff's Office investigated the case with assistance from the Joint Forensic Analysis Cyber Team, the Burlington Police Department, DCI ICAC, and the United States Marshal Service.
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 the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.
Fort Campbell Soldier Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – Robert Cecilio, [40], of Clarksville, Tennessee, pleaded guilty today to child sexual exploitation and child pornography offenses, announced U.S. Attorney Braden H. Boucek for the Middle District of Tennessee.
Cecilio, a U.S. Army soldier stationed at Fort Campbell, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, four counts of receipt of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography depicting a prepubescent minor.
"Cecilio hid behind a fake name and a screen to prey on young girls across the country. But anonymity on the internet is no shield from accountability,” said U.S. Attorney Braden H. Boucek. “This office will continue to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who exploit children to the full extent of the law. I commend the FBI and Army CID for their outstanding work in identifying these victims and bringing this offender to justice.”
“Robert Cecilio used fear and coercion to sexually exploit numerous minors,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. "There is no safe haven for those who exploit children. The FBI and our partners remain steadfast in our commitment to identify, apprehend, and hold accountable any individual who sexually exploits minors for their own depraved gratification. Protecting children and pursuing those who prey upon them is a top priority."
“Mr. Cecilio's plea is a testament to the diligent work of our special agents, the FBI, and prosecutorial partners at the United States Attorney's Office, Middle District of Tennessee,” said Special Agent in Charge John McCabe of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Mid Central Field Office. “We stand firm in our commitment to protect children. To those who would exploit or harm their innocence: we will find you, we will hold you accountable, and justice will be served. Our children deserve nothing less.”
According to the plea agreement, from at least June 2024 until his arrest in August 2025, Cecilio used Snapchat accounts containing variations of the name "Gabe" to communicate with minor girls, typically claiming he was 19 or 20 years old. He persuaded the girls to produce and send him sexually explicit images and videos of themselves, which he received over the internet and, in some cases, saved. Investigators identified five victims, ranging in age from 13 to 18, who lived in Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Cecilio continued to communicate with one victim even after she turned 18.
The FBI identified one of the victims, a 16-year-old girl in Florida, in June 2025 and traced the Snapchat account she had been communicating with to Cecilio. On August 8, 2025, agents executed a search warrant at Cecilio's Clarksville residence and seized multiple electronic devices. Agents also seized Cecilio's cell phone after stopping him as he entered Fort Campbell. During the search, investigators recognized items inside the residence—including bedding, drapes, and bathroom tile—that matched the backgrounds of photographs and videos Cecilio had sent to his victims.
After waiving his Miranda rights, Cecilio admitted that he had engaged in sexually explicit communications with numerous minor girls over an extended period using multiple Snapchat accounts and cell phones. He further admitted receiving numerous sexually explicit images and videos of minors that he knew constituted child pornography. Four of Cecilio's cell phones contained child sexual abuse material, including a video depicting two prepubescent children.
U.S. District Judge Aleta A. Trauger will sentence Cecilio on October 21, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. Cecilio faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison on each sexual exploitation count; a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years and a maximum sentence of 20 years on each receipt count; and up to 20 years on the possession count. He also faces fines of up to $250,000 on each count and a term of supervised release of at least five years and up to life. Cecilio will be required to register as a sex offender, has agreed to pay restitution to his victims, and has agreed to forfeit four cell phones used in the offenses. As part of the plea agreement, the government will move to dismiss the remaining count of the indictment, which charged transmission of interstate threats, at sentencing.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Nashville Field Office, Clarksville Resident Agency, and the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica R. Morrison is prosecuting the case.
# # # # #
Former Santa Fe Nonprofit Executive Agrees to Pay $735,000 to Resolve HUD Grant Fraud AllegationsRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – The U.S. Attorney's Office announced today that Carolyn Luna-Anderson has agreed to pay $735,000 to resolve allegations that she improperly obtained federal housing assistance funds by concealing conflicts of interest and submitting claims for ineligible rental assistance payments through a HUD-funded program serving individuals experiencing homelessness.
According to the settlement agreement, Luna-Anderson founded and served as Executive Director of The Life Link, a Santa Fe nonprofit that received HUD Continuum of Care grants to provide housing assistance at La Luz Special Needs Apartments. The government alleged that Luna-Anderson simultaneously controlled the nonprofit administering the federal grants and the entity that owned the apartment complex, yet repeatedly certified that no conflicts of interest existed in grant applications and disclosure forms submitted to HUD between 2015 and 2018.
The government further alleged that Luna-Anderson sought HUD reimbursement for rental assistance payments that were not permitted under program rules, including payments for vacant units and amounts exceeding allowable rental assistance limits.
To resolve these allegations, Luna-Anderson agreed to pay $735,000.00 to the United States. The settlement resolves civil claims under the False Claims Act, the Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act, and common law theories including breach of contract, payment by mistake, unjust enrichment, and fraud. As part of the settlement, Luna-Anderson admitted and acknowledged that the conduct underlying the government's allegations involved misrepresentations, fraudulent omissions, and deceptive conduct that caused financial harm to the United States.
“Federal dollars come with accountability. Those entrusted with public funds must meet the obligations that come with that responsibility and ensure those resources serve the purposes for which they were provided,” said F.A. United States Attorney Ryan Ellison. “My office will continue working with our agency partners to protect taxpayer dollars, promote accountability, and ensure that those entrusted with federal resources meet their obligations.”
“Carolyn Luna Anderson exploited her position and insider knowledge to personally benefit from federal funds intended to provide supportive services to help individuals and families experiencing homelessness,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Aaron McCullough. “HUD OIG remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue and hold accountable those who engage in activities that threaten the integrity of HUD programs.”
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
F.A. United States Attorney Ryan Ellison for the District of New Mexico and Aaron McCullough, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, made the announcement today.
The matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico. The settlement was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Ruth F. Keegan and Auditor Philip Stella.
Former Newport News officer indicted on rape chargeRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging a former Newport News Police (NNPD) officer with deprivation of rights under color of law for allegedly raping a woman while he was on duty.
According to the indictment, on March 14, Raheem Massiah Askew and another officer, along with Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) from the Newport News Fire Department (NNFD), responded to a report of a woman lying on the ground in a shopping center parking lot in Newport News. Askew asked the victim if she could stand, and then caught the victim by the arm to keep her from falling forward onto the ground as she attempted to stand up. The officers determined the victim’s identity, that she had been drinking alcohol, and that she was staying at a hotel in Newport News. Askew asked the victim if he could take her to her hotel and she agreed. The other officer explained to the victim that Askew would take her back to the hotel to meet her friends.
Before entering his NNPD patrol vehicle, Askew allegedly deactivated his body worn camera, in violation of NNPD policy. After arriving at the hotel, Askew entered the victim’s room for approximately 17 minutes during which he allegedly engaged in sex with the victim without her consent.
Later that evening, a citizen reported that the victim approached them in a state of undress to request help. Another citizen reported the victim’s condition and stated that police had dropped her off earlier. Officers returned to the scene and found the victim disoriented in the parking lot. The victim collapsed and began vomiting, and she was transported by ambulance to Riverside Regional Medical Center by ambulance for treatment.
If convicted, Askew faces up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Homeland Security Investigations Norfolk investigated this case with assistance from the Special Victims Unit of the NNPD Major Crimes Division.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alyson Yates and Eric Hurt are prosecuting the case.
Anyone with information relating to this matter is encouraged to contact the Newport News Police Department at 757-928-4233.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:26-cr-53.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Attachments:
affidavit_in_support_of_criminal_complaint_as_to_raheem_massiah_askew.pdf askew_indictment_ecf_10.pdfFormer Milwaukee County Judge Sentenced for ObstructionRead the Press Release
Brad D. Schimel, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on July 8, 2026, United States District Judge Lynn Adelman sentenced Hannah Dugan to pay a $5,000 fine for endeavoring to obstruct a pending proceeding before the United States Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”). The sentence came after a federal jury found Dugan guilty of that felony offense following a four-day trial in December 2025.
The trial evidence established the following: On April 18, 2025, six members of the DHS, Immigration Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (“ICE ERO”) Task Force arrived at the Milwaukee County Courthouse to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz. Flores-Ruiz was charged with three domestic-violence related misdemeanors and was scheduled to appear in front of then Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Dugan. Flores-Ruiz was also previously removed from the United States and was in the country illegally. The ICE ERO task force officers had a lawful administrative warrant for his arrest, which directed that he be taken into custody for immigration proceedings. The task force officers intended to arrest Flores-Ruiz in the public hallway after his hearing, communicated the same to Dugan’s courtroom deputy prior to Dugan’s arrival, and identified themselves to courthouse security. They then waited quietly and unobtrusively in the public hallway. They were wearing plain clothes and were not wearing masks.
The trial evidence further established that when Dugan learned that federal agents were in the public hallway, she left her courtroom, directed another judge to leave her robe on and accompany her to the public hallway, and confronted five federal agents most of whom were sitting on public benches. She told one agent that an administrative warrant was insufficient, initially told some of them to leave the building, and ultimately directed the five agents she identified to leave the public hallway to go to the Chief Judge’s office. After directing those agents out of the public hallway, Dugan went back into her courtroom, immediately addressed Flores-Ruiz’s case off the record, scheduled it for a later date, instructed his attorney that the next hearing could be done via Zoom, and directed them to exit the courtroom through a side door that led to a non-public hallway.
Evidence at trial showed that the non-public hallway led to a door to a stairwell and a door into the public hallway. Dugan’s court reporter offered to show Flores-Ruiz and his attorney where to leave because they might go through the door that led to the public hallway, which her court reporter referred to as the “wrong door.” Dugan declined her offer and responded, “I’ll do it. I’ll get the heat.” Agents were able to ultimately arrest Flores-Ruiz outside the courthouse after he fled on foot in front of moving traffic in the rain. At the sentencing hearing, Judge Adelman found that Dugan had abused a position of public trust and that the conviction in this case “affirms that no one is above the law.”
“Law enforcement officers need to be able to carry out their lawful responsibilities in the manner that is safest for them, the public and the individual they are attempting to detain,” said First Assistant U. S. Attorney Brad Schimel. “Dugan’s reckless and illegal actions interfered with that goal and created unnecessary risks for all involved. For that there needed to be serious consequences.”
“As a judge, Hannah Dugan was in a position of trust. However, on April 18, 2025, she chose to place the public and law enforcement officers in danger when she helped Eduardo Flores-Ruiz evade arrest on a lawfully issued administrative warrant. While in the country illegally, Flores-Ruiz was charged with domestic violence misdemeanors which was why he was in the courthouse,” said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Alan Karr. “Law enforcement officers sought to effect an arrest in the safest manner possible. However, based on Dugan’s actions, Flores-Ruiz was able to leave the building initially evading officers and make it onto the street. Law enforcement officers—to include agents from the FBI—quickly gave chase in front of moving traffic in the rain placing themselves in harm’s way to catch Flores-Ruiz. The jury verdict and today's sentencing reflect how Dugan endeavored to obstruct an official proceeding and betrayed the trust placed in her as a judge.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with assistance from the United States Department of Homeland Security.# # #
For further information contact:
Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
Follow us on XFormer McCurtain County Jail Shift Supervisor Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy Against Rights and Deprivation of Rights Under Color of LawRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Joseph Nelson Ebert, 35, a former shift supervisor at the McCurtain County Jail in Idabel, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to a one count Information of Conspiracy Against Rights, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine, and to a one-count Information of Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law, also punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.
An Information filed against Ebert on July 2, 2026, alleged that on or about September 15, 2021, Ebert, while acting pursuant to his authority as a shift supervisor at the McCurtain County Jail, knowingly and willfully conspired with others to injure, oppress, threaten, and intimidate an arrestee in the free exercise and enjoyment of the right, protected by the Constitution and laws of the United States, to be free from unreasonable seizure, which includes the right to be free from the use of unreasonable force by a person acting under color of law.
A second Information filed against Ebert on July 2, 2026, alleged that on or about January 4, 2022, while acting under color of law as a shift supervisor in the McCurtain County Jail, Ebert willfully deprived a pretrial detainee of the right, secured and protected by the Constitution and laws of the United States, not to be deprived of liberty without due process of law, which includes the right to be free from the use of unreasonable force by a correctional officer. Ebert physically assaulted the detainee, who was restrained and not posing a threat to anyone. The assault resulted in bodily injury to the detainee.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Ebert will remain free on bond with conditions pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Paladino represented the United States.
Former Hudson County Parks Department Director Admits to Participating in a Bribe and Kickback SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Former Hudson County Parks Department Director Russell Fallacara (Fallacara) pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, United States Attorney Robert Frazer announced today.
Fallacara, 59, of Bayonne, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi to an Information charging him with conspiring to defraud Hudson County of the right to officials’ honest services.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From 2019 through 2024, the conspiracy involved more than $1.5 million in bribes and kickbacks. The payments were made by business owner William A. Murray (Murray), so that Murray’s company would be awarded contracts to work on various Hudson County Parks Department projects, including but not limited to landscape maintenance, paving, and general contracting projects. The bribes and kickbacks often came in the form of cash payments to Hudson County officials, including Fallacara and former Parks Department Director Thomas DeLeo (DeLeo). Fallacara received over $400,000 in cash bribes and kickback payments. At other times, the bribes and kickbacks came in the form of free home repairs and renovations for both DeLeo and Fallacara. In exchange for these bribes and kickbacks, at the time that each served as Parks Department Director, DeLeo and Fallacara each took official action to approve contracts awarded to Murray’s company by Hudson County.
On March 3, 2026, DeLeo pleaded guilty before Judge Cecchi to a two-count Information charging him with conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. On March 17, 2026, Murray pleaded guilty before Judge Cecchi to an Information charging him with conspiracy to commit honest services fraud.
The conspiracy to commit honest services fraud charge that Fallacara pleaded guilty to carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment.
United States Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the FBI’s Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy, and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region, under the direction of Anthony D’Esposito, Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Labor, with the investigation leading to today’s conviction.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francesca Liquori of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Special Prosecutions Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Goldberg, Chief of the Narcotics and International Trafficking Unit.
###
Defense counsel: Jeffrey Garrigan, Esq.
fallacara.information.pdfFormer Department of Energy Employee Sentenced for Bribery of a Public OfficialRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former Security Specialist with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for trying to bribe a DOE employee in order to secure government contracts for a private company.
Edward Doherty, 35, of Washington, D.C. and Weymouth, Mass., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to three years’ probation with first six months in home confinement and a $10,000 fine. The government recommended a sentence of 24 months in prison.
In March 2026, Doherty pleaded guilty to honest services fraud, payment of illegal gratuities and bribery of a public official. In July 2025, Doherty was indicted by a federal grand jury.
Doherty worked for the DOE as a Security Specialist until he agreed to participate in the deferred resignation program in February 2025. Just before he started working with the DOE, in November 2024, Doherty started a company in Massachusetts called MAE Systems, LLC (MAE). In February 2025, Doherty offered a DOE employee money in exchange for the DOE employee ensuring that MAE received DOE contracts. The DOE employee reported the incident to law enforcement. Between February and June 2025, Doherty was recorded offering to pay the DOE employee at least $10,000 in exchange for the DOE employee awarding a DOE contract to MAE. In June 2025, Doherty made two downpayments on the bribe, totaling $2,500, to the DOE employee.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Department of Energy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Lewe Sessions made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina E. Barclay of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit prosecuted the case.
Former Accountant for Middle Eastern Jewelry Exporter Sentenced to Prison for Evading More Than $1.89 Million in U.S. Customs DutiesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A former accountant for a gold jewelry exporter in the United Arab Emirates has been sentenced to ten months in federal prison for conspiring to avoid United States Customs duties on gold jewelry shipments imported by a suburban Chicago company.
RAVI KAPADIA conspired with the owner of a UAE exporter and others to fraudulently import gold jewelry from certain countries, including India, and avoid the payment of customs duties by falsely declaring that the jewelry originated in Oman. When agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection inquired about one of the UAE company’s shipments bound for the Northern District of Illinois and asked for information about the jewelry’s country of origin, Kapadia and others created and obtained false documentation to substantiate that the jewelry was purportedly manufactured in Oman. The false documentation included the creation of a list of purported employees with fictitious roles and salary information. The false documentation was then furnished to CBP.
Kapadia, 46, a citizen of India who most recently resided in Jersey City, N.J., pleaded guilty in October 2025 in U.S. District Court in Chicago to a charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States and enter goods by means of false statements. On June 26, 2026, U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey sentenced Kapadia to ten months in federal prison and ordered him to pay restitution to the United States. Kapadia was held accountable at sentencing for evading more than $1.89 million in U.S. Customs duties from June 2019 to April 2020.
The conviction subjects Kapadia to removal from the United States.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of Homeland Security Investigations. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Kelly.
The Department of Justice recently selected the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office to be the lead prosecutorial partner to the Trade Fraud Task Force, which vigorously pursues enforcement actions against parties who seek to evade federal customs, trade, and adjacent laws. When U.S. Attorney Boutros served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Chicago from 2008 to 2015, he led what still stand as the Department of Justice’s largest-ever criminal trade fraud prosecutions, spanning 27 corporate and individual defendants across multiple indictments, with losses totaling approximately $260 million.
“Trade fraud, like the conspiracy perpetrated in this case, deprives the United States government of vital revenue and undermines consumer confidence,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “Trade compliance is critically important to not only our region’s economic security and public safety, but also that of our entire nation’s. I can assure the citizens of the Northern District of Illinois that the U.S. Attorney’s Office will be strongly committed to holding parties accountable for evading applicable duties and tariffs, which undermine the rule of law, harm American industry, and create a two-tier pricing structure: higher prices for buyers and sellers unwilling to transact in illegally-entered goods and cheaper prices for those willing to do so or who are otherwise indifferent.”
“Protecting the integrity of our nation’s borders and trade systems is a core mission for Homeland Security Investigations,” said HSI SAC Scarpino. “This case demonstrates HSI’s commitment to working alongside our partners to identify and disrupt complex schemes that threaten the U.S. economy and undermine lawful commerce. We will continue to pursue those who attempt to defraud the government and ensure that individuals and businesses are held accountable for violating federal customs laws.”
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Felon Indicted for Unlawful Possession of Stolen FirearmRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A felon with multiple prior convictions made his initial appearance in court today for allegedly possessing stolen firearms and suppressors.
According to allegations contained in the indictment, on July 1, 2025, Erik Robert Rasmusson unlawfully possessed a Remington 870 shotgun and a Ruger 10/22 rifle. Later, on July 11, 2025, he unlawfully possessed two rifles and five suppressors. The Ruger 10/22 rifle and suppressors were stolen.
Rasmusson has prior felony convictions, all in Clark County, Nevada, including attempt racketeering; conspiracy to commit robbery and ownership or possession of firearm by prohibited person; stop required on signal of police officer and possession of firearm by ex-felon; possession of stolen property; possession of controlled substance with intent to sell; and burglary. He is prohibited from possessing a firearm by law.
Rasmusson is charged with two counts of felon in possession of a firearm and two counts of possession of a stolen firearm. A jury trial is scheduled for September 14, 2026. If convicted, the statutory maximum penalty is 50 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge John Wester of the San Francisco Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
This case was investigated by ATF and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Weidhaas is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
###
Federal Jury Finds Charlotte Man Guilty of Sex Trafficking a MinorRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal jury in Charlotte returned a guilty verdict today against Marvin Qualls, 42, of Spencer, N.C., for sex trafficking a 16-year-old female victim, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Qualls was convicted of conspiracy to sex traffic a minor and sex trafficking of a minor. Qualls’s co-defendant, Out Ekong, 22, previously pleaded guilty to sex trafficking a minor.
“Those who prey on vulnerable teenagers deserve to be in prison,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “I am proud of the prosecutors in my office who worked night-and-day to make sure Qualls and Ekong’s days of preying on children are over.”
“This guilty verdict reflects the strength of the FBI’s partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office who together worked tirelessly on this case. Combating the trafficking of children requires a unified response, and we will continue to identify victims, pursue offenders, and ensure that those who exploit the most vulnerable are brought to justice,” said Reid Davis, the FBI Charlotte Special Agent in Charge.
According to filed documents, evidence presented at trial, and witness testimony, between December 2023 and January 2024, Qualls and Ekong engaged in a conspiracy to sex traffic a 16-year-old victim, who had run away from home. Trial evidence established that Qualls met the minor at work, and soon after began to sex traffic the victim with Ekong, knowing she was underage. In trafficking the victim, the two men posted advertisements of the minor on commercial sex websites, set prices and arranged the minor victim’s sexual encounters with customers, booked hotels rooms where the encounters took place, and acted as security while the victim engaged in commercial sex transactions. Qualls and Ekong traveled with the victim across North and South Carolina for her to engage in commercial sex transactions, and the two men kept the money the victim earned from these commercial sexual encounters.
Both Qualls and Ekong will both remain in federal custody until they are sentenced at a later date. The conspiracy to conspiracy to sex traffic a minor carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. The charge of sex trafficking of a minor carries a minimum term of 10 years and a maximum term of life in prison.
In making the announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the FBI’s Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes the FBI, the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office, and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Spaugh and Timothy Sielaff are prosecuting the case.
If you are the victim of human trafficking or may have information about a potential trafficking situation, please call the FBI, local law enforcement, or the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) at 1-888-373-7888. NHTRC is a national, toll-free hotline, with specialists available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year related to potential trafficking victims, suspicious behaviors, and/or locations where trafficking is suspected to occur. To submit a tip to the NHTRC online please visit https://humantraffickinghotline.org/report-trafficking.
Eleven Charged in Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy Allegedly Directed from Inside Tennessee PrisonRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – A federal grand jury has returned a 17-count superseding indictment charging eleven defendants with participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine throughout the Middle District of Tennessee, announced Braden H. Boucek, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee.
According to the superseding indictment and other court filings, Corey Byrd, who is currently serving a sentence in the custody of the Tennessee Department of Correction, allegedly directed much of the conspiracy from inside prison by using contraband cell phones to coordinate methamphetamine trafficking through a network of associates operating throughout southern Middle Tennessee.
The superseding indictment, returned on June 17, 2026, charges:
- Corey Byrd, 38, currently in custody of the Tennessee Department of Correction;
- Tiffany Byrd, 35, also known as "Tiffany Harris," of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee;
- Robert Miles, 52, also known as "Smiley," of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee;
- Demond Garrett, 42, also known as "Jerry," of Pulaski, Tennessee;
- Jason Bost, 45, of Pulaski, Tennessee;
- Haylee Groover, 26, of Pulaski, Tennessee;
- Chelsie Dickson, 31, of Pulaski, Tennessee;
- Alyssa Whitsett, 22, of Pulaski, Tennessee;
- Sherri Holder, 49, of Pulaski, Tennessee;
- Stacy Taylor, also known as "Stacy Ramsey," 45, of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee; and
- Lila Chester, 28, of Pulaski, Tennessee.
"Serving a prison sentence is not a license to continue running a criminal enterprise. This indictment alleges that the lead defendant attempted to turn a prison cell into the command center for a large-scale methamphetamine trafficking operation,” said U.S. Attorney Braden H. Boucek. “Our office and our law enforcement partners are committed to dismantling drug trafficking organizations at every level and holding accountable those who profit from poisoning our communities, regardless of where they operate."
According to the superseding indictment, the conspiracy operated from at least 2023 through August 2025. Byrd, who is serving a 45-year sentence in the Tennessee Department of Correction, allegedly used contraband cell phones smuggled into the prison to coordinate the acquisition and distribution of large quantities of methamphetamine. Court documents allege that Corey Byrd’s sister, Tiffany Byrd, served as one of the organization's primary outside coordinators, distributing methamphetamine to sub-distributors, directing runners, and maintaining money taken in by the organization.
"Drug trafficking, whether in or out of prison walls, will not be tolerated," said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. "This case should serve as a warning to every drug trafficker: justice will pursue those who threaten the safety of our communities. The FBI and our partners will continue to aggressively investigate those who pollute our communities with dangerous drugs."
“When criminals build an empire on addiction, we don’t settle for cutting off a branch. We remove the roots,” said Tennessee Bureau of Investigations Director David Rausch. “This investigation dismantled the conspiracy from top to bottom, strengthened the safety of our communities, and proved that united law enforcement is stronger than organized crime.”
The superseding indictment alleges that members of the conspiracy distributed 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. It also charges Robert Miles with multiple counts of distributing methamphetamine and with possessing, on August 28, 2025, more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, a quantity of fentanyl, and a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The indictment further seeks the forfeiture of six firearms allegedly connected to those offenses.
If convicted, the defendants charged with conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine face penalties of up to life in prison, depending on the quantity of controlled substances attributable to each defendant and other applicable sentencing factors. The firearm charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, to be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Nashville Field Office – Columbia Resident Agency, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Pulaski Police Department, the Giles County Sheriff's Office, and the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Zachary T. Hinkle is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
#####
Defendant Sentenced for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Christopher Bradley Gonzales, a/k/a Christopher Bradley Robison, 32, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Ada Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On April 13, 2026, Gonzales pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on June 21, 2025, Gonzales attacked the victim from behind, stabbing the victim multiple times with a knife. Gonzales fled on foot but was quickly apprehended by officers. The victim sustained multiple injuries and was life-flighted for emergency medical care.
The crime occurred in Pontotoc County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Gonzles 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 Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
D.C. Felon Who Fled from Officers Sentenced in Possession of a Loaded Glock 9mm PistolRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – James Gaskins, 30, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 26 months in prison in connection with his possession of a loaded Glock 9mm pistol that was recovered after he attempted to flee from police in Southeast Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Gaskins pleaded guilty on Sept. 12, 2025, before Judge Amir H. Ali to one count of felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. In addition to the 26-month prison term, Judge Ali ordered Gaskins to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 41-month prison term.
According to court papers, on Oct. 4, 2025, officers from the Metropolitan Police Department observed Gaskins and a co-defendant attempting to get into a building on the 2800 block of 28th Street SE and attempted to stop them. Gaskins fled and ran into an alley between two residences. As officers chased him, Gaskins tossed a firearm. Officers later recovered a Glock 17 9mm semiautomatic pistol from along Gaskins’ flight path. The firearm was loaded with one round in the chamber and an additional 16 rounds of ammunition in a 17-round capacity magazine. A forensic test of the Glock linked Gaskins’ DNA to the firearm.
Following his arrest, officers searched a Honda Odyssey that matched keys found on Gaskins’ co-defendant and found a satchel with Gaskins’ identification inside. In the satchel with the ID, officers found a plastic bag containing 11 green “zips” with a powder-like substance, and a separate rock-like substance broken up into a plastic bag. The substances later tested positive for cocaine base.
Gaskins has a prior felony conviction and was therefore legally barred from possessing any firearm. In March 2023, he was convicted in Superior Court for unlawful possession of a firearm.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department with the valuable assistance of the FBI Washington Field Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Caelainn Carney.
This case was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative. Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump’s Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
25cr39
Court Agrees with Justice Department that Environmental Groups Lack Standing to Challenge Deepwater PortRead the Press Release
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit yesterday denied a petition for review in a legal challenge to the Maritime Administration’s issuance of a deepwater port license to Delfin LNG. In denying the petition, the court held that three environmental groups failed to establish standing. The court did not rule on the merits of the case because the petitioners did not show any injury that might be traced to the challenged project.
“This project is an important part of the President’s energy dominance agenda, as evidenced by the President’s directives to the Maritime Administration about this project in his Unleashing American Energy Executive Order,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “The Fifth Circuit’s ruling will make it harder for environmental groups — who have no stake in important energy projects — to challenge projects that will bring jobs and prosperity to Americans.”
“This commonsense ruling ensures that this vital energy infrastructure project won't be derailed by Far Left climate activists,” said Maritime Administrator Stephen M. Carmel. “Under the President's directive, the Maritime Administration is proud to support the Delfin LNG Deepwater port’s operations and the good-paying jobs it'll create while unleashing America’s energy dominance.”
The Delfin deepwater port will export liquefied natural gas (LNG). The Maritime Administration first authorized the port in 2017. In 2024, the Biden Administration told Delfin that more environmental review was necessary and declined to issue a license for the port. In the January 2025 Unleashing American Energy executive order, President Trump directed the Maritime Administration to consider again whether additional environmental review was necessary and then to issue the license. The Maritime Administration licensed the project in March 2025.
Attorney Rebecca Jaffe of ENRD argued the case before the Fifth Circuit. Deputy Assistant Attorney General Robert Stander and Appellate Deputy Chief Robert Lundman of ENRD also worked on this matter.
Corporate controller admits to embezzling fundsRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A small business’s former financial controller, who engaged in a pattern of embezzling funds from his employer, pleaded guilty yesterday, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of Federal Bureau of Investigation and Robert Kuszynski, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations.
Jacob Wise, age 29, from Riverview, Michigan, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud for orchestrating a scheme that caused over $1.1 million in losses to the business where he worked. He also pleaded guilty to one count of laundering the proceeds of his crimes.
At the hearing, Wise admitted to devising and executing a scheme to order and to divert the company’s funds to bank accounts he controlled. The accounts appeared to be legitimate vendors for the company. In reality, Wise himself controlled the accounts and used the diverted funds to make purchases, including a Ford F-150 pickup truck, which agents seized as part of the investigation.
Sentencing before United States District Judge Judith Levy will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Wise faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine of not more than $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly Fasbinder and Philip A. Ross
Convictions through Guilty Pleas in Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) Prosecutions (June 29 through July 2, 2026)Read the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, Héctor Ramírez-Carbó, Acting United States Attorney, in conjunction with our partner agencies in the Homeland Security Task Force (“HSTF”) announce the following prosecutorial results for the week of June 29 through July 2, 2026. The HSTF is a permanent, interagency law enforcement task force created by executive order to combat transnational criminal organizations—including cartels, trafficking networks, and foreign terrorist organizations.
Convictions through Guilty Pleas:
- On July 1, 2026, José González Herrera pleaded guilty to Counts One and Seven of the Indictment in Criminal Case 24-453 (MAJ). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. Defendant was arrested on December 11, 2024. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for November 17, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz González and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On July 1, 2026, Ángel Agosto Andino pleaded guilty to Count One of the Indictment in Criminal Case 24-453 (MAJ). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Defendant was arrested on December 11, 2024. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for September 29, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz González and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On July 1, 2026, Bernardo De la Cruz Pizarro pleaded guilty to Count One of the Indictment in Criminal Case 24-453 (MAJ). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Defendant was arrested on December 11, 2024. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for September 29, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz González and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On July 1, 2026, Alex Encarnación Febus pleaded guilty to Count One of the Indictment in Criminal Case 24-453 (MAJ). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Defendant was arrested on December 11, 2024. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for September 29, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz González and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On July 1, 2026, Victor Sifonte Rivera pleaded guilty to Count One of the Indictment in Criminal Case 24-453 (MAJ). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Defendant was arrested on December 11, 2024. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for September 29, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz González and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On July 2, 2026, Carlos Pereira Cruz pleaded guilty to Counts One and Seven in Criminal Case 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for September 30, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz González and Andres Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On July 2, 2026, Miguel Antonio Galva-Tavárez pleaded guilty to 8 U.S.C. 1326(a) in Criminal Case 26-158. According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with Reentry of a Removed Alien. Defendant was arrested on April 17, 2026. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for September 30, 2026. SAUSA Cody A. McKinney is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
These prosecutions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
HSTF San Juan comprises agents and officers from the following federal partners: FBI, ICE-HSI, CBP (OFO, AMO and Border Patrol), the U.S. Marshals Service for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, DEA, ATF, IRS, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of State, and the U.S. Secret Service, the Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA, TSA, FAA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The HSTF also has the following state and local law enforcement partners as participating agencies: the Puerto Rico Police Department; the San Juan, Carolina, Guaynabo, Barceloneta, and Ponce Municipal Police Departments, the Puerto Rico National Guard – Counter Drug Program; the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Service (Hacienda); the Puerto Rico Port Authority; and the Virgin Islands Police Department.
###
Convicted Murderer Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A drug trafficker with a prior murder conviction has been sentenced on gun and drug charges, announced U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr.
U.S. District Judge Corey Maze sentenced Francis Williams also known as “Mookie,” 33, of Birmingham, Alabama, to 240 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release for distribution of methamphetamine and using and carrying a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime. Williams pleaded guilty to the charges in March.
“Violent individuals who continue to commit crimes in our communities will be met with the fullest extent of the law,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams. “We will continue working aggressively with our federal, state and local law enforcement to bring the most dangerous offenders to justice.”
“The presence of illegal firearms, particularly those equipped with machinegun conversion devices, significantly elevates the danger to our communities,” said Steven N. Schrank, the Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI is relentless in our pursuit of individuals who disregard the law and pose a threat to public safety. This sentence sends a clear message: those who choose to engage in drug trafficking while illegally arming themselves with stolen weapons will be identified, investigated, and held accountable.”
According to court documents, in April and May 2023, Williams sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant on two occasions. During one of the drug sales, Williams displayed a black pistol. In September 2023, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) issued arrest warrants for Williams for trafficking methamphetamine. On January 26, 2025, United States Marshals Service (USMS) Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested Williams after he left a residence on Worchester Court in Birmingham. A state search warrant was obtained and executed at the residence. During the search, ALEA agents recovered a SCCY 9mm pistol and a Glock 9mm pistol with a machinegun-conversion device, commonly referred to as a “Glock switch.” Both pistols had been reported stolen—the SCCY from Homewood in November 2023 and the Glock from Birmingham in September 2021.
Williams is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of multiple prior felony convictions, including a 2013 murder conviction in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case along with USMS and ALEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer prosecuted the case.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Prison for Possessing Sawed-Off ShotgunRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Daquan Devonte Jeter, 34, of Charlotte, and a previously convicted felon, was sentenced yesterday to 78 months in prison for possessing a sawed-off shotgun, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
“This defendant’s violent conduct endangered multiple victims, including a young child,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “Those who illegally possess firearms and use them to terrorize others should expect to face significant federal prison time.”
According to court records, on March 23, 2025, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) received a 911 call for service at approximately 1 a.m. about a potential assault involving Jeter and a firearm. Officers responding to the scene met a woman who had visible injuries to her mouth. The victim told officers that Jeter had fired a shotgun. Jeter was not on scene, but officers recovered several live shotgun shells from the ground. The victim also told law enforcement that Jeter had struck her in the mouth with the firearm.
Court documents show that approximately an hour and a half after the Charlotte 911 call, the Mint Hill Police Department received a call reporting that an SUV was stopped in the middle of the road. Responding officers found Jeter behind the wheel of the SUV, with the vehicle still running and in drive. Jeter was unconscious in the driver’s seat holding the firearm in his hands. A toddler was also in the back seat of the SUV. Jeter was arrested and taken to a nearby hospital. While at the hospital, Jeter was combative and threatened to sexually assault family members of the arresting officers upon his release from custody.
In September 2025, Jeter pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon. He is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation to a federal facility.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, CMPD, and the Mint Hill Police Department investigated the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A convicted felon has been sentenced for illegally possessing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr.
Chief United States District Judge Madeline H. Haikala sentenced Darrie Dewayne Ziegler, 32, of Birmingham, to 92 months in prison. In July 2025, Ziegler pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
“Violent offenders who continue to disregard the law will be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. “I commend the outstanding work of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners for their dedication to protecting the citizens of the Northern District of Alabama and ensuring that repeat offenders like Ziegler are removed from our communities.”
“This sentence for a multi-convicted federal defendant found with firearms and drugs is a reminder that repetitive criminal conduct carries serious consequences,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy Peoples.
“The details in this case are particularly alarming - a violent felon, armed with stolen firearms and a machinegun, and distributing narcotics at a local motel,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge James VanVliet. “This combination of criminal activity represents a huge concern for public safety. The ATF will continue to work together with our law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate and charge individuals such as Ziegler who make our neighborhoods unsafe.”
During the week of August 6, 2024, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Birmingham Police Department received a tip from Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama related to Ziegler possessing firearms and selling drugs at a motel in Birmingham. On August 15, 2024, ATF located Ziegler at the Budgetel Inn and Suites in Fairfield. Officers recovered from Ziegler’s hotel room a Shadow Systems MR920 9mm pistol with a green dot sight, an extended magazine, marijuana, and ammunition. The Shadow Systems 9mm pistol and several other guns had been reported stolen a week earlier from a vehicle in Tuscaloosa. The next day, hotel staff found a backpack in the laundry room and reported the discovery to law enforcement. From the backpack, officers recovered a Glock 9mm pistol that had been converted to a machinegun using a machinegun-conversion device, commonly referred to as a “Glock switch,” two 50-round drum magazines, a regular magazine, 28 grams of methamphetamine, 6 grams of fentanyl, alprazolam, digital scales, and cash.
At the time of the incident, Ziegler had one arrest warrant with the Irondale Police Department and nine warrants with the Birmingham Police Department.
In 2018, Ziegler was convicted in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama for being a felon in possession of a firearm. In 2019, he was sentenced to 70 months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised release. Ziegler was released from federal prison in January 2022. Ziegler violated his supervised release after he failed to report to his United States Probation Officer for four months and after he was arrested for Domestic Violence Assault. His supervised release was revoked in 2023, and he served 15 more months in federal prison for the revocation. He was released in January 2024.
The ATF investigated the case along with the Birmingham Police Department and Irondale Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristy M. Peoples and Ryan S. Rummage prosecuted the case.
Cole County Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charges Involving Multiple VictimsRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Cole County, Mo., resident Anthony Dale Pitts-Fugate, 33, pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of production of child pornography in two separate cases.
According to court documents filed in this case, in March 2023, the defendant communicated with a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Task Force Officer who was acting in an online undercover (UC) capacity as part of the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force operating out of a satellite office in Washington, D.C. The UC was monitoring a public online group to include members actively involved in the distribution, possession, receipt and production of child exploitation material (CSAM.) During his communication with the UC, the defendant sent CSAM depicting a pre-pubescent child to the UC. The defendant produced the CSAM image he sent to the UC.
In April 2023, a witness reported to the Cole County Sheriff’s Department that the defendant contacted her when she was 16 years old and requested sexually explicit photos. FBI agents applied for and received search warrants for the defendant’s SnapChat accounts. A review of the SnapChat records showed the defendant used a false persona of a 16-year-old male and to cause at least two minor females to produce CSAM.
Under federal statutes, the defendant is subject to a sentence of up to 60 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley S. Turner It was investigated by The Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Jefferson City Police Department.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
The defendant will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.
Clinton Man Charged with Attempted Sex Trafficking of a MinorRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Clinton man has been arrested and charged for allegedly attempting to pay $150 to have sex with a purported 15-year-old minor.
James Gill, 39, was charged with one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor. Gill was arrested by state authorities in April 2026 and is currently in federal custody. He will appear in federal court in Worcester at 4 p.m. today.
According to the charging documents, Gill allegedly responded to an advertisement posted by undercover law enforcement on a website commonly used to advertise commercial sex. During subsequent text messages and a phone call with an undercover agent posing as the sister of a purported 15-year-old girl, the agent stated that the minor was available to engage in commercial sex acts. Gill allegedly agreed to pay $150 to have sex with the minor and stated that he intended to video record the sexual encounter. It is further alleged that Gill requested photographs of the purported minor and sent a nude photograph of himself to be shown to her. Gill was arrested upon his arrival at a prearranged hotel to meet the purported minor.
The charge of attempted sex trafficking of a child provides for a sentence of no less than 10 years and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please contact [email protected].
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Worcester Police Chief Paul B. Saucier made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen M. Noto of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Citizen of Mexico Sentenced to 54 Months for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Alfredo Juarez-Perez, 55, Monterey, Mexico, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Conley to 54 months in federal prison for illegally reentering the United States. Juarez-Perez pleaded guilty to this charge on April 9, 2026.
In March of 2025, the Wisconsin Department of Corrections Sex Offender Registry received an anonymous tip that Juarez-Perez was in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, and had failed to register as a sex offender as required. Following his arrest on that charge, law enforcement discovered that he had been deported twice before – once in 2018 and again in 2021 – following convictions for illegal reentry in the Western District of Wisconsin and the Southern District of Texas. Juarez-Perez also has a prior federal conviction for distribution of cocaine and has been convicted of sexual assault twice in Dane County, Wisconsin.
“Today’s sentence underscores that repeated criminal behavior, especially serious offenses like unlawful reentry, narcotics trafficking, and violent assault, will be met with decisive consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Elgersma. “Juarez-Perez has shown a clear disregard for our laws and for the safety of the community. My office remains committed to working with our partners to ensure that those who persist in endangering the public are identified, apprehended, and held fully accountable.”
At the sentencing, Judge Conley noted that since Juarez-Perez first entered the United States in 1990, he had been convicted of multiple drunk driving offenses, distribution of cocaine, sexual assault, and had failed to maintain his sex offender registry. Judge Conley stressed that these behaviors, along with Juarez-Perez’s criminal thinking, made him a danger to the community.
The charge against Juarez-Perez was the result of an investigation conducted by the Department of Homeland Security. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie Pfluger and Louis Glinzak prosecuted this case.
Checotah Resident Sentenced for Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jason Duane Henrichs, age 47, of Checotah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics.
On October 9, 2025, Henrichs pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, on November 22, 2022, Henrichs distributed 111.9 grams of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Henrichs 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 Rob Wallace represented the United States.
Carjacking and Firearms Offense Leads to Guilty Plea from D.C. ManRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Dominick Carter, 22, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty Tuesday for a carjacking and firearms offenses committed in January 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Carter pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to one count of carjacking and one count of carrying a pistol without a license. The sentencing guidelines for carjacking are 36-84 months with a 7-year mandatory minimum. For the charge of carrying a pistol without a license, the guidelines are 6-24 months. Carter’s co-defendant, De’Shean Dean, accepted a guilty plea last year for carjacking and carrying a dangerous weapon. Dean was sentenced to seven years.
Superior Court Judge Robert Salerno scheduled sentencing for October 2, 2026.
According to the government’s evidence, on the afternoon of January 21, 2025, the two victims drove from Maryland to an apartment building located at 1641 W Street, SE, to purchase marijuana. When they arrived at that location, the victims met with the defendant and entered an apartment unit. Once inside, co-defendant De’Shean Dean, emerged from the kitchen with a firearm, pointed it at the victims and told them not to move. Shortly thereafter, Carter and Dean made the decision to drive the victims to the Anacostia Metro Station. Carter got into the driver’s seat of victim 1’s car, victim 2 sat in the passenger seat, victim 1 sat in the rear driver’s seat, and Dean sat in the rear passenger seat.
Once they arrived at the Anacostia Metro Station, the two co-defendants ordered the victims out of the car. The victims complied and exited the car, at which point the co-defendants fled the scene in the victim’s car.
On the day of the offense, Carter was in possession of a firearm. The defendant was not licensed to carry the firearm in the District of Columbia. Carter was arrested on February 28, 2026, and has been in custody since.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Katerina Qesari.
2026 CF3 003005
Canton Man Sentenced to 13+ Years in Prison for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
AKRON, Ohio – A Stark County man has been sentenced to federal prison for receiving, distributing, and possessing materials that depicted the sexual abuse of children.
Brian Dazey, 38, of Canton, has been sentenced to 160 months (13.3 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent, after pleading guilty to Receipt and Distribution of Visual Depictions of Real Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct, and Possession of Child Pornography, also known as Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM). Dazey was also ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release after imprisonment and is required to register as a sex offender.
In May of 2025, law enforcement in the Canton area were investigating suspected CSAM activity. Investigators learned that the child pornography was downloaded from both a church and a grocery store where Dazey was employed. On June 30, 2025, agents executed a search warrant on Dazey’s person and residence and seized his cellphone. Dazey admitted to downloading, viewing, and trading child pornography on several social media platforms. During forensic examination of his electronic devices, investigators located more than 130,000 videos and images depicting child sexual abuse.
The case was investigated by the FBI Canton Resident Agency, the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Jackson Township Police Department, and the Canton Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Joseph P. Dangelo for the Northern District Ohio led the prosecution.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and 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, visit justice.gov/PSC.
To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Callaway County Man Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation Offense After Paying for Live Child Porn Videos in the PhilippinesRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Holts-Summit, Mo. man, David Lee Maddox, 60, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of attempted production of child pornography.
The investigation began on Aug. 8, 2023 when the St. Louis Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) office received a referral from HSI Portland, Maine pertaining to the defendant’s communication via Microsoft Skype with known traffickers/sellers of live and recorded child sexual abuse videos operating in the Philippines. The investigation showed defendant used Skype to receive “shows” from minor victims in the Philippines and paid for the shows by sending money via various money transmittal services. From on or about Sept. 20, 2021, through Dec. 23, 2023, the defendant received “shows” depicting underage females on approximately 20 occasions.
Under federal statutes, the defendant is subject to a sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley S. Turner. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
The defendant will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.
California Drug Trafficker and Money Launderer Sentenced to over Seven Years in Prison for Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Conspiracy in Homeland Security Task Force InvestigationRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Dylan Tai Dang, 55, of Garden Grove, California, was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Shanlyn A.S. Park to 87 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Judge Park ordered Dang remanded into custody immediately following his sentencing.
According to court records, between April 2023 and April 2025, Dang and his coconspirator, Bill Van Nguyen, sold and distributed over thirty-four and a half pounds of methamphetamine and eleven and a half pounds of fentanyl and fentanyl-laced pills from their base of operations in California to a Hawaii purchaser, who was an undercover law enforcement employee (the “undercover”). The undercover operation involved over $100,000 in payments for drugs intended to be distributed in Hawaii. Dang flew from California to Hawaii on two occasions to pick up over $41,000 in cash drug proceeds from the undercover. He also laundered payments for other drug transactions through bank accounts of five shell corporations that he set up and controlled. For three completed drug transactions in the conspiracy and one attempt, Dang acted as the frontman and negotiated the transactions with the undercover presenting an array of drugs for sale and using coded drug language in their communications.
Separate from the conspiracy, Dang flew to Hawaii to meet with the undercover to discuss Dang’s money laundering activities. Dang agreed to launder $25,000 in drug proceeds for the undercover for a 5% fee. Dang directed the undercover to transfer the funds to bank accounts tied to shell corporations that Dang controlled and then Dang returned the money back to the undercover less his fee. During the investigation, the government identified nine shell corporations set up by Dang, who facilitated the transfer of millions of dollars through the shell corporations’ associated bank accounts.
At sentencing, Judge Park emphasized the “immense burden” that drug trafficking places on the community and the harm its causes families. She noted that Dang’s conduct involved bringing an “extraordinarily high” amount of methamphetamine and fentanyl into a community that Dang did not even live in yet was “willing to destroy.” In arriving at her sentence, Judge Park also pointed to Dang’s “degree of sophistication and planning” in laundering drug money through multiple shell corporations as a significant aggravating factor.
Dang’s coconspirator, Nguyen pleaded guilty to distributing, attempting to distribute, and conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and was sentenced to 220 months in prison by Senior United States District Judge Helen Gillmor on June 22, 2026.
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Honolulu Police Department, and Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca A. Perlmutter prosecuted the case.
This prosecution was part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Hawaii comprises agents and officers from ICE-HSI, FBI, ATF, CBP, CGIS, DCIS, DEA, DSS, IRS-CI, NCIS, USMS, USPIS and HHIDTA with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii.
Broome County Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Possession and Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK – Neil Wesley, 47, of Broome County, New York, was sentenced on June 25, 2026 to 25 years in prison for receipt and possession of child pornography.
First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James and Broome County District Attorney F. Paul Battisti made the announcement.
As part of his guilty plea, Wesley admitted he had been previously convicted of rape in New York in 2001. He also admitted that from at least December 2024 through February 2025 he received and distributed child pornography. Further, he admitted that in February 2025 he possessed over 200 images and 18 videos of child pornography.
In addition to the 25-year imprisonment term, United States District Judge Anthony J. Brindisi imposed 15 years of supervised release, forfeiture and directed restitution to victims of the offense.
“Another child predator is behind bars, thanks to the diligent work of the FBI, New York State Police and Broome County District Attorney’s Office, said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III. “This defendant failed to correct his behavior the first time and has now been sentenced to 25 years in prison for his continued depravity. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, together with our federal and local law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively pursue those who prey on our children and use every resource available to bring them to justice.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig Tremaroli said, “Mr. Wesley, already a convicted rapist, horrifically exploited our most vulnerable by both possessing and distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). This 25-year sentence illustrates just how depraved his behavior was, but it also highlights how impactful law enforcement can be when we leverage our collective resources to hold these sick predators accountable. The FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force is wholly committed to working with every level of law enforcement to investigate these dangerous predators and send them to prison where they belong.”
New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “The State Police and our law enforcement partners have zero tolerance for those who prey on children, and this sentencing reflects the severity of these crimes and our commitment to finding justice for the victims. We will remain dedicated to intercepting the lengths child predators go through to exploit and harm children. I commend our State Police members, United States Attorney’s Office, Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Broome County District Attorney’s Office for their steadfast work in keeping innocent children safe.”Broome County District Attorney F. Paul Battisti said, “This sentence reflects the unwavering commitment of our law enforcement partners to protecting children and holding those who exploit them fully accountable. Cases involving the sexual exploitation of children require seamless collaboration between federal, state, and local agencies, and this investigation is a testament to what can be accomplished when we work together toward a common goal. I commend the FBI, the New York State Police, the United States Attorney's Office, and the dedicated members of our office whose coordinated efforts helped ensure this dangerous offender will no longer pose a threat to our community or to vulnerable children."
FBI-Albany, the New York State Police, and the Broome County District Attorney’s Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Gadarian and Kristen Grabowski prosecuted it.
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.
Bronx Man Charged with Sex Trafficking of A Minor and Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, announced today the unsealing of a six-count Indictment charging SEAN CHISOLM, a/k/a “Slutty,” with the sex trafficking of a 16-year-old victim (“Minor Victim”), coercion and enticement of the Minor Victim, transportation of the Minor Victim from another state to New York for unlawful sexual activity, sexual exploitation of a child, and two counts of receipt and distribution of child pornography. CHISOLM was arrested today and will be presented at a later date. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge George B. Daniels.
“As alleged, Sean Chisolm lured a 16-year-old girl to New York so that he could sexually exploit and traffic her,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Chisolm then had her engage in dangerous sex work, from which he financially profited. Crimes like these, which target and exploit our most vulnerable, are among the worst crimes in our society. The message from our Office and the NYPD is clear: if you sexually abuse a minor, we will find you and you will go to prison.”
“This defendant targeted a minor, coerced her into traveling out of state, and cruelly exploited and trafficked her for money,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. “These crimes are not only illegal, they are absolutely reprehensible, and the NYPD is committed to protecting children from predators like this defendant. I thank our NYPD investigators and law enforcement partners for their work on this case to bring this criminal to justice and prevent other children from being victimized by him.”
As alleged in the Indictment and other public filings:(1)
Beginning around January 2026, CHISOLM enticed the Minor Victim to travel from out-of-state, where she lived with her family, to New York so that the Minor Victim could engage in commercial sex work at CHISOLM’s direction. Before the Minor Victim traveled to the Bronx, CHISOLM obtained from the Minor Victim a photograph and two videos that depicted the Minor Victim naked. CHISOLM also talked with the Minor Victim about the sex acts that he wanted to engage in with her when she arrived.
Between approximately February 2026 through March 2026, CHISOLM acted as Minor Victim’s self-described “pimp,” arranging for multiple acts of commercial sex for the Minor Victim and requiring the Minor Victim to provide him with her earnings. CHISOLM also posted an advertisement on an online classifieds website, featuring naked photos of the Minor Victim, which advertised the Minor Victim as, among other things, “Fetish Friendly.” In addition, during this time, CHISOLM filmed a video of the Minor Victim engaging in a sex act, which he told her he was planning to post online to expand her customer base.
As early as their first conversation, CHISOLM was aware that the Minor Victim was 16 years old and frequently discussed with the Minor Victim the precautions that they would need to take as a result of the Minor Victim’s age. For example, CHISOLM told the Minor Victim, “We just have to move correct ma[.] Because of ya age feel me? Never let anyone know ya real age but me NOBODY.” CHISOLM also instructed the Minor Victim, “My rules is listen to me nd don’t tell nobody your real age nobody but daddy should know that.”
* * *
CHISOLM, 33, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with sex trafficking of a minor, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; coercion and enticement of a minor, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; transportation of a minor for unlawful sexual activity, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; sexual exploitation of a child, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison; and two counts of receipt and distribution of child pornography, each of which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The statutory minimum and maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the NYPD SVU Citywide Human Trafficking Squad and the Special Agents, Task Force Officers, the Digital Forensics Unit, and the Complex Analytics and Social Media Enhancement Team at the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York in connection with this investigation. Mr. Clayton also thanked the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office and the FBI-NYPD Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force in New York.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights and Human Trafficking Unit in the Criminal Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ariel Cohen and Meredith Foster are in charge of the prosecution.
The charge contained in the Indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
^
As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth in this release constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Boone County Woman Pleads Guilty to Theft of Government BenefitsRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Barbara Ferrell, 63, of Seth, pleaded guilty today to theft of government monies. Ferrell admitted that she stole approximately $160,394.02 in veterans and Social Security benefits meant for a family member by abusing her position overseeing those funds.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from October 20, 2021, through March 11, 2024, Ferrell served as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) appointed fiduciary for the family member. Ferrell also served as the Social Security Administration (SSA) representative payee for the family member from approximately August 2021 to November 2024.
As part of her guilty plea, Ferrell admitted that from April 13, 2022, through February 29, 2024, she knowingly and fraudulently took VA fiduciary benefits meant for the family member totaling approximately $114,660.82. Ferrell further admitted that from June 1, 2022, through July 9, 2024, she knowingly and fraudulently took approximately $45,733.20 in SSA benefits that were for the family member’s benefit. Ferrell stole the benefit funds by periodically withdrawing the money once it had been electronically deposited for the family member in a joint checking account. Ferrell admitted that she spent the funds meant to benefit the family member for her own use and enjoyment.
“Stealing from veterans is a particularly disgraceful form of greed,” said United States Attorney Moore Capito. “These are men and women who put on our nation’s uniform and sacrificed in service to this country — and the idea that someone would deliberately prey on them for personal profit is disgusting. Our veterans deserve our gratitude and protection, not to be treated as targets. I commend the dedicated investigators of the VA Office of Inspector General for uncovering this fraud and relentlessly pursuing accountability. Together, we will continue to protect those who served and aggressively prosecute anyone who tries to exploit them.”
Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs-Office of Inspector General (VA OIG) and the Social Security Administration-Office of the Inspector General (SSA OIG).
“Today’s guilty plea sends a clear message that the VA OIG will vigorously investigate those who steal from vulnerable veterans who are unable to manage their financial affairs,” said Special Agent in Charge Nate Landkammer with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG), Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “The VA OIG appreciates the support of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their efforts to stop fraud within VA’s Fiduciary Program.”
“This defendant intentionally exploited a family relationship to steal more than $45,000 in Social Security benefits intended for a relative,” said Amy Connelly, Special Agent-in-Charge, Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General (SSA OIG), Boston–New York Field-Philadelphia Division. “We remain committed to investigating those who misuse benefits for personal gain and ensuring they are held accountable.”
Ferrell is scheduled to be sentenced on November 16, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Ferrell also owes $160,394.02 in restitution.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes is prosecuting the case.
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within federal benefit programs.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-80.
###
Binghamton Man Indicted for Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK – Robert Scott, age 60, of Binghamton, New York, was indicted on a charge of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and crack cocaine.
First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) made the announcement.
According to the indictment, on October 30, 2025, Scott possessed with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 28 grams or more of crack cocaine. Scott was also on federal probation at the time of the offense. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
First Assistant United States Attorney John Sarcone stated: “The allegations in this indictment remind us that our efforts to stem the tide of deadly drugs into our communities remains an ongoing endeavor. I thank the Special Agents at the FBI and their partners at the Binghamton Police Department and Broome County Special Investigations Unit Task Force for their never‑ending pursuit of tracking down and holding accountable individuals such as this defendant, who, as alleged, sought to profit from selling deadly substances in our community.”
“This indictment perfectly illustrates the FBI’s commitment to working with our law enforcement partners throughout Broome County to leverage our collective resources and aggressively investigate and hold accountable anyone allegedly trafficking dangerous drugs into our communities,” said Craig Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI–Albany Field Office.
The charge filed against Scott carries a minimum sentence of 5 years in prison and a maximum sentence of up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000,000, and a period of supervised release of at least 4 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The FBI is investigating the case, with assistance from the United States Probation and Pretrial Services Office for the Northern District of New York, the Binghamton Police Department, and the Broome County Special Investigations Unit Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Cheung is prosecuting the case.