Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
19 March 2025
Albany County Man Sentenced to 151 Months in Prison for Distribution and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Joshua White, age 47, of Albany County, was sentenced yesterday to 151 months in prison, to be followed by 20 years of post-imprisonment supervision. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.
During his previously entered guilty plea, White admitted that he distributed sexually explicit images of a minor known to him to another person over text message, and that when he met with police in July 2023, he possessed, on his phone, child sexual abuse material depicting other victims that he obtained from the Internet and social media messaging applications.
White was also ordered to forfeit the property he used to commit the offense, and pay a special assessment and restitution of $5,000 to the victim known to him. He is required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
HSI and the New York State Police investigated this case, and Assistant United States Attorney Michael D. Gadarian prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s 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.
18 March 2025
Wilbraham Man Indicted for Violent Threats Targeting Public Officials, Private Individuals and ChildrenRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Wilbraham man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mass. for allegedly making numerous violent threats on social media targeting public figures, private individuals, children in Wilbraham and Boston, and an elementary school in Springfield.
Funwayo Mbilini Nyawo, also known as “Jonathan Funwayo Nyawo,” “Michael Jacobs” “Robert, Jacobs,” and “Carl Fields,” 36, was indicted with 13 counts of interstate transmission of threatening communications and one count of stalking through facilities of interstate commerce. Nyawo was previously arrested on Feb. 5, 2025 in the Southern District of Florida and ordered detained until his appearance in federal court in Springfield, which will be scheduled at a later date.
According to the Indictment, between July 30, 2024 and Oct. 1, 2024, Nyawo posted various communications on X (formerly known as Twitter) threatening to kill an elected United States official (and their family), a former United States official (and their family), a former member of a Massachusetts police department (and their family), a private individual, local officials and their family members; the children of Wilbraham and Boston; members of the Wilbraham Police Department and Wilbraham Fire Department (and their families); and an elementary school in Springfield, among others.
In addition, between Aug. 17, 2024 and on or about Oct. 1, 2024, Nyawo used X to engage in a course of conduct with the intent to harass and intimidate the elected United States official, their spouse, their child, their child’s spouse, and their grandchildren.
All of the charges provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three 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.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and J. Thomas Manger of the United States Capital Police made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Wilbraham Police Department, the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, and the Miami-Dade Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield 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.
West Virginia Residents Sentenced for Roles in Drug Trafficking OperationRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Two Monongalia County residents have been sentenced for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy operating in the Northern District of West Virginia.
Jennifer Clapper, 37, of Morgantown, West Virginia, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison. Jamie Purtee, 33, of Morgantown, West Virginia was sentenced to 60 months.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Clapper and Purtee were part of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) operating in Monongalia County, unlawfully distributing kilograms of controlled substances for more than six years. The drug organization originated in Philadelphia, PA from which its members transported 5 to 10 pounds of methamphetamine to Morgantown per trip. Clapper and Purtee were distributors for the DTO.
Following their prison sentences, Clapper and Purtee will serve three years of supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda Wesley prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government.
The Mon Metro Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Wealthy Miami Man Pleads Guilty to Decades-Long Scheme to Defraud the IRSRead the Press Release
A Miami man pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring with others to defraud the United States by concealing millions of dollars in assets and income in undisclosed Swiss bank accounts.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between 1985 and 2020, Dan Rotta hid more than $20 million in assets in dozens of secret Swiss accounts at five different Swiss banks, including UBS, Credit Suisse, Bank Bonhôte, and Bank Julius Baer. The accounts were held in his own name, in the names of sham structures, and, in one instance, a pseudonym. Over the years, Rotta earned tens of millions of dollars of income from these assets that he did not report on his tax returns and that he used to fund his lavish lifestyle. He caused a substantial tax loss to the IRS.
Rotta employed increasingly elaborate schemes to keep his accounts hidden. Over the years, he kept his accounts open, in part, by falsely representing that he was not a U.S. citizen, leveraging his Brazilian citizenship to claim he was a Brazilian citizen residing in Brazil.
Starting in 2008, after it was reported publicly that UBS and its bankers were under criminal investigation for helping U.S. taxpayers evade their taxes, Rotta closed his UBS account and moved his funds to Credit Suisse and Bank Bonhôte.
In 2011, after the IRS obtained records related to one of Rotta’s Swiss accounts, Rotta nominally changed the documentation of his accounts at Credit Suisse and Bank Bonhôte to make it appear that his co-conspirator, a Brazilian national and resident, owned the assets in the accounts. Despite the change, Rotta continued to control the assets and transferred millions of dollars out of those accounts for his use.
Shortly after Rotta changed the account documentation, the IRS began auditing Rotta. During the audit, Rotta falsely denied that he owned the assets in the foreign financial accounts and, instead, claimed that the millions of dollars he withdrew from the accounts were non-taxable loans from foreign nationals. Rotta provided the IRS with fake promissory notes and false affidavits from the foreign nationals to corroborate his claims. During the audit, Rotta continued to use the funds in his foreign accounts to fund his lifestyle in the United States, but to conceal his use of the funds from the IRS, he often routed transfers from his foreign accounts through nominee accounts and attorney trust fund accounts in the United States.
The IRS did not believe Rotta’s story and assessed millions of dollars of additional taxes as well as penalties and interest against him. Rotta sought to reverse the assessments by filing a false petition in U.S. Tax Court. In that petition, Rotta, through his attorney, falsely denied having any foreign accounts and attached fictitious loan documents. Furthermore, the nominee account owners traveled to the United States to retell the false loan story to IRS attorneys.
In 2017, after Rotta presented evidence that the purported loans had been repaid, the IRS reversed the deficiencies and agreed that Rotta owed no additional tax. Unbeknownst to the IRS, however, the “loan repayments” were fake: the funds that Rotta purportedly repaid went back into accounts that Rotta controlled shortly after the IRS dismissed the suit. Also as part of the conspiracy, Rotta had his U.S.-based attorneys create sham trust structures that he used to transfer his assets to the United States without alerting the IRS. On paper, it appeared that Rotta’s co-conspirator funded the trusts for Rotta’s benefit. In reality, Rotta funded the trusts with transfers from Swiss accounts.
In 2019, Rotta became aware that the IRS would receive additional account records from Switzerland that contradicted the false claims that he had previously made. To avoid criminal liability, Rotta applied to participate in the IRS’s voluntary disclosure practice. Under that practice, taxpayers who failed to comply with their tax and reporting obligations can make timely, accurate, and complete disclosures of their conduct, which may offer a path to resolve their non-compliance and limit their criminal exposure. Rotta made false statements in his submission, including falsely claiming that the assets in the Swiss accounts mostly belonged to others, and that any funds provided to Rotta were non-taxable gifts. Rotta also claimed that the nominee account owner gifted Rotta money because the nominee had no children to benefit from the funds. In fact, the nominee had two children.
Rotta is scheduled to be sentenced on June 4. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, and Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI)’s Washington, D.C., Field Office made the announcement.
Special Agents from IRS-CI’s International Tax & Financial Crimes specialty group, a team based out of Washington, D.C., and dedicated to uncovering international tax crimes, is investigating the case.
Senior Litigation Counsels Sean Beaty and Mark Daly and Trial Attorneys Patrick Elwell and William Montague of the Tax Division, as well as Senior Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Clark for the Southern District of Florida, are prosecuting the case.
Wealthy Miami Man Pleads Guilty to Decades-Long Scheme to Defraud the IRSRead the Press Release
Defendant Hid Millions in Swiss Accounts
MIAMI – A Miami man pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring with others to defraud the United States by concealing millions of dollars in assets and income in undisclosed Swiss bank accounts.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between 1985 and 2020, Dan Rotta hid more than $20 million in assets in dozens of secret Swiss accounts at five different Swiss banks, including UBS, Credit Suisse, Bank Bonhôte, and Bank Julius Baer. The accounts were held in his own name, in the names of sham structures, and, in one instance, a pseudonym. Over the years, Rotta earned tens of millions of dollars of income from these assets that he did not report on his tax returns and that he used to fund his lavish lifestyle. He caused a substantial tax loss to the IRS.
Rotta employed increasingly elaborate schemes to keep his accounts hidden. Over the years, he kept his accounts open, in part, by falsely representing that he was not a U.S. citizen, leveraging his Brazilian citizenship to claim he was a Brazilian citizen residing in Brazil.
Starting in 2008, after it was reported publicly that UBS and its bankers were under criminal investigation for helping U.S. taxpayers evade their taxes, Rotta closed his UBS account and moved his funds to Credit Suisse and Bank Bonhôte.
In 2011, after the IRS obtained records related to one of Rotta’s Swiss accounts, Rotta nominally changed the documentation of his accounts at Credit Suisse and Bank Bonhôte to make it appear that his co-conspirator, a Brazilian national and resident, owned the assets in the accounts. Despite the change, Rotta continued to control the assets and transferred millions of dollars out of those accounts for his use.
Shortly after Rotta changed the account documentation, the IRS began auditing Rotta. During the audit, Rotta falsely denied that he owned the assets in the foreign financial accounts and, instead, claimed that the millions of dollars he withdrew from the accounts were non-taxable loans from foreign nationals. Rotta provided the IRS with fake promissory notes and false affidavits from the foreign nationals to corroborate his claims. During the audit, Rotta continued to use the funds in his foreign accounts to fund his lifestyle in the United States, but to conceal his use of the funds from the IRS, he often routed transfers from his foreign accounts through nominee accounts and attorney trust fund accounts in the United States.
The IRS did not believe Rotta’s story and assessed millions of dollars of additional taxes as well as penalties and interest against him. Rotta sought to reverse the assessments by filing a false petition in U.S. Tax Court. In that petition, Rotta, through his attorney, falsely denied having any foreign accounts and attached fictitious loan documents. Furthermore, the nominee account owners traveled to the United States to retell the false loan story to IRS attorneys.
In 2017, after Rotta presented evidence that the purported loans had been repaid, the IRS reversed the deficiencies and agreed that Rotta owed no additional tax. Unbeknownst to the IRS, however, the “loan repayments” were fake: the funds that Rotta purportedly repaid went back into accounts that Rotta controlled shortly after the IRS dismissed the suit. Also as part of the conspiracy, Rotta had his U.S.-based attorneys create sham trust structures that he used to transfer his assets to the United States without alerting the IRS. On paper, it appeared that Rotta’s co-conspirator funded the trusts for Rotta’s benefit. In reality, Rotta funded the trusts with transfers from Swiss accounts.
In 2019, Rotta became aware that the IRS would receive additional account records from Switzerland that contradicted the false claims that he had previously made. To avoid criminal liability, Rotta applied to participate in the IRS’s voluntary disclosure practice. Under that practice, taxpayers who failed to comply with their tax and reporting obligations can make timely, accurate, and complete disclosures of their conduct, which may offer a path to resolve their non-compliance and limit their criminal exposure. Rotta made false statements in his submission, including falsely claiming that the assets in the Swiss accounts mostly belonged to others, and that any funds provided to Rotta were non-taxable gifts. Rotta also claimed that the nominee account owner gifted Rotta money because the nominee had no children to benefit from the funds. In fact, the nominee had two children.
Rotta is scheduled to be sentenced on June 4. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI)’s Washington, D.C., Field Office made the announcement.
Special Agents from IRS-CI’s International Tax & Financial Crimes specialty group, a team based out of Washington, D.C., and dedicated to uncovering international tax crimes, is investigating the case.
Senior Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Clark for the Southern District of Florida; Senior Litigation Counsels Sean Beaty and Mark Daly, and Trial Attorneys Patrick Elwell and William Montague of the Tax Division, are prosecuting the case.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-cr-20113.
###
Villa Rica Man Sentenced for Stealing Social Security BenefitsRead the Press Release
NEWNAN, Ga. - Timmy S. Stephens has been sentenced for stealing money intended as disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. For approximately 20 years, Stephens claimed that he was disabled in order to receive benefits all while he worked at a local funeral home.
“Stephens perpetrated a two-decades long fraud on the Social Security Administration,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. “The disability program is a wage replacement program for those members of our society who cannot work due to a physical or mental health condition. Stealing benefits from the Social Security trust fund betrays the Social Security Administration and the people the program is designed to help.”
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Moultrie, Jr., the charges and other information presented in court: The evidence uncovered during the investigation showed that Stephens began receiving disability benefits due to a cardiac condition in or about August 2002. At that time and regularly thereafter, the Social Security Administration (SSA) informed him that if his condition improved or if he returned to work, he must report any change in his condition or work activity to the SSA. Despite notice of these reporting requirements, Stephens began working at a local funeral home in January 2003 and did not report the work activity to SSA. Instead, to conceal his work activity from SSA, Stephens arranged with the funeral home for his earnings to be reported to the Internal Revenue Service using a relative’s social security number.
SSA later learned of this arrangement and about Stephen’s work activity. Stephens then submitted a false work activity report claiming that he had not worked since 2001. In response, federal special agents interviewed Stephens about his work activity. During the interview, he lied to the agents and also produced falsified time sheets to the funeral homeowner, directing her to give the false records to law enforcement. In total, Stephens received more than $360,000 in disability benefits when he was in fact able to work and not disabled.
Timmy Stephens has been sentenced to nine months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a fine of $5,500.00 and restitution in the amount of $126,560.50. Stephens was convicted on these charges on October 17, 2024, after he pleaded guilty.
This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration - Office of the Inspector General.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Diane C Schulman prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6280. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Venezuelan Man Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Migrant Smuggling ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Cesar David Martinez-Gonzalez, 40, a native of Venezuela who had been residing in Chester, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Gerald A. McHugh to 36 months’ imprisonment and $20,560 in restitution, in connection with a conspiracy to help smuggle and encourage and induce dozens of migrants from South America to enter the United States illegally so that he could profit from their labor.
The defendant was charged by indictment in July of last year and pleaded guilty in November to one count of conspiring to illegally bring aliens to the United States and to encourage and induce aliens to enter the United States for private financial gain, five counts of encouraging and inducing aliens to illegally enter the United States for private financial gain, and four counts of transfer of an unlawful identification document.
The object of the conspiracy, for the personal financial gain of Martinez-Gonzalez and others, was to illegally smuggle citizens of South American countries into the United States across the U.S.-Mexico border, and to encourage and induce them to enter the United States without prior authorization.
Martinez-Gonzalez entered the United States illegally. He then launched a scheme and wired money to migrants in South America and fronted money to “coyotes” in Mexico, who guided migrants across the Rio Grande and through holes in the U.S.-Mexico border wall. He also provided migrants with information to give to Customs and Border Protection so that they could be released — on parole — to his residences. Martinez-Gonzalez then paid for airplane flights to bring the migrants to Philadelphia, and, once they arrived, transported them to houses in and around Chester, Pa.
At this point, Martinez-Gonzalez and his associates would impose upon the migrants thousands or tens-of-thousands of dollars in “debts” owed to him, which the migrants would have to pay off through working long hours at factories and other worksites and forfeiting half of their weekly wages to the defendant. Martinez-Gonzalez also helped the migrants obtain false identification documents and hourly work through various staffing agencies. The debts imposed by the defendant were well in excess of what it cost to get the individuals to Chester and house them there.
During the two-year period that the defendant operated his scheme, he induced and helped to illegally bring over 100 aliens to the United States, all for his private financial gain. The defendant imposed a daily pressure campaign on the migrants to keep working, for whatever hours they could get from the staffing agencies, so that they could keep making “debt” payments to him. He kept careful records of the debts migrants had paid to him and still owed to him, demonstrating that the illegal scheme was, for him, about making money. The defendant’s steady, calculated scheme entailed a pervasive abuse of the nation’s immigration system, as well as of the many migrants he induced to come to the United States. Moreover, the defendant was granted Temporary Protected Status in the United States in March 2024, which he took advantage of by continuing to perpetrate his scheme after being granted status to remain in the country.
“Martinez-Gonzalez committed an egregious offense against the citizens of our country as well as the illegal immigrants he smuggled into it,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “Our office intends to combat illegal immigration in all forms — including by pursuing the offenders who orchestrate and facilitate schemes that compromise our border security and the rule of law. In this case, Martinez-Gonzalez not only betrayed our country after entering it illegally and receiving status, but he also imposed onerous ‘debts’ on unlawful migrants and effectively coerced them to work long and monotonous hours to pay him back. My office and our partners will continue to target human smugglers for prosecution. They exploit their victims and make a mockery of our lawful immigration system.”
“Driven by personal greed, Martinez-Gonzalez not only smuggled individuals into the United States but also continued to exploit them for profit,” said Wayne A. Jacobs. “The FBI, in collaboration with HSI, the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Attorney's Office, remains committed to holding accountable those who engage in human smuggling and exploitation.”
“This case highlights the critical role that Homeland Security Investigations plays in dismantling human smuggling networks that exploit vulnerable individuals for personal profit. Martinez-Gonzalez not only violated our nation's immigration laws but also preyed on the hopes and dreams of those seeking a better life, forcing them into a cycle of debt and exploitation,” said Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia Edward V. Owens. “HSI remains committed to working with our partners to investigate and prosecute those who engage in such reprehensible acts.”
“Mr. Martinez-Gonzalez helped illegal migrants obtain false identification for employment, forcing them to work off so-called thousands of dollars in debts, but in reality, it was for his own personal gain,” said Assistant Inspector General for Audit performing the duties of the Inspector General, Michelle L. Anderson. “I thank our law enforcement partners, the FBI and HSI, for their efforts in this investigation, as well as the United States Attorney’s Office for prosecuting the case.”
The case was investigated by the FBI, HSI, and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sara A. Solow, Louis D. Lappen, Eileen Castilla Geiger, and J. Andrew Jenemann.
Van Zandt electrical contractor sentenced in wire fraud conspiracyRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A Canton man has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a wire fraud conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr.
James Derr, 55, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy Kernodle on March 18, 2025. Derr was also ordered to pay $2,615,585.93 in restitution.
According to information presented in court, Derr, an electrical contractor with J&D Electric, was involved in a conspiracy with Rebekah Mitchell and Brittany Burton to divert equipment for their own financial gain. Between March of 2017 and May of 2021, Mitchell used her position at Schneider Electric in Athens to steal Schneider Electric circuit breakers from their inventory and direct the shipment of the stolen circuit breakers to locations where Derr could take possession of them. Mitchell paid Burton to use her position at J&K Storage in Flint to receive shipments of stolen Schneider Electric circuit breakers at J&K Storage. Mitchell created fraudulent documentation in the purchase order and/or bill of lading logistics systems depicting fictional customers that resulted in the shipment of Schneider Electric circuit breakers to locations that she and Derr agreed upon, which included, on approximately 11 occasions in 2017 and 2018, J&K Storage. Derr took possession of the Schneider Electric products at various locations and sold them to various buyers. Derr shared the proceeds of these sales with Mitchell in consideration for her role in the conspiracy. As a result, Derr, Mitchell and Burton caused Schneider Electric to suffer a financial loss of approximately $2,615,585.93.
On February 18, 2025, Mitchell was sentenced to 34 months in federal prison and was also ordered to pay $2.6 million in restitution to Schneider Electric. Burton pleaded guilty to her role in the conspiracy and is currently awaiting sentencing.
This case was investigated by the FBI Tyler Field Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James Noble.
###
Undercover operation sends drug dealing sex offender to prisonRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 27-year-old Corpus Christi resident has been sentenced for possession with intent to distribute over 11 grams of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Sunny Ray Garcia pleaded guilty Nov. 21, 2024.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now ordered Garcia to serve 60 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by four years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence of Garcia’s extensive criminal history that includes convictions for aggravated sexual assault of a child, burglary and possession of a controlled substance.
In January 2023, authorities had identified Garcia as a target involved in drug distribution. On Jan. 25, they conducted an operation and purchased drugs from Garcia. The narcotics were later tested and confirmed to be methamphetamine.
When authorities arrested Garcia in February 2023, they also discovered a stolen firearm in his vehicle.
Garcia will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of Corpus Christi Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Izaak Bruce prosecuted the case.
U.S. Files Civil Forfeiture Complaint Against Aircraft Used by Nicolás Maduro Moros in Violation of U.S. Sanctions and Export Control LawsRead the Press Release
Note: View the forfeiture complaint.
MIAMI – The United States today filed a civil forfeiture complaint in the Southern District of Florida against a Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft, bearing tail number T7-ESPRT, which was smuggled from the United States under false pretenses and operated for the benefit of Nicolás Maduro Moros (Maduro) and his representatives in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (the Maduro Regime) in violation of U.S. sanctions and export control laws. The aircraft was seized last year in the Dominican Republic at the request of the United States.
Today’s filing alleges that the Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft was purchased and maintained in violation of U.S. sanctions against Maduro and the Maduro Regime. According to the complaint, the aircraft is forfeitable based on violations of U.S. law, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and money laundering violations.
Since 2014, the United States has imposed sanctions against targeted individuals, entities, and sectors in Venezuela to address the increasing political oppression and corruption in Venezuela by the Maduro Regime. On March 8, 2015, the President found that the situation in Venezuela constituted an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States and declared a national emergency pursuant to IEEPA to deal with that threat. See Executive Order (E.O.) 13692.
In 2017, 2018, and 2019, President Trump took additional steps regarding the national emergency declared in E.O. 13692. On Aug. 5, 2019, the President issued E.O. 13884 “in light of the continued usurpation of power by Nicolás Maduro and persons affiliated with him, as well as human rights abuses, including arbitrary or unlawful arrest and detention of Venezuelan citizens, interference with freedom of expression, including for members of the media, and ongoing attempts to undermine Interim President Juan Guaidó and the Venezuelan National Assembly’s exercise of legitimate authority in Venezuela.”
E.O. 13884 prohibits the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to the order, including the Government of Venezuela and the Maduro Regime; the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person; and, any transaction that evades or avoids, has the purpose of evading or avoiding, causes a violation of, or attempts to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in the order.
The complaint alleges that on or about Jan. 23, 2023, a company purportedly based in the Caribbean island country of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (Foreign Company 1) entered into a contract to purchase the Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft from a company in Florida for $13,250,000. The complaint further alleges that the individual in charge of purchasing the aircraft purportedly on behalf of Foreign Company 1 was a Venezuelan national (Foreign Principal 1), who concealed the fact that he was representing or associated with the Maduro Regime.
The complaint further alleges that Foreign Company 1 merely acted as a nominee owner of the Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft as it was formed shortly before the purchase, in June 2022, and was struck from the register of St. Vincent companies for failure to pay annual fees two years later, in May 2024.
The complaint further alleges that funds used to purchase the Dassault Falcon 900EX aircraft were sent via multiple wire transfers from different countries, including Malaysia, using both U.S. dollars and euros, and that Foreign Company 1 used an email address with a “.ae” domain from the United Arab Emirates to correspond with the Florida-based seller even though Foreign Company 1’s representatives allegedly had Spanish names and some of the emails contained the phrase “Enviado desde mi iPhone,” or Spanish for “Sent from my iPhone.”
The complaint further alleges that the Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft was flown from the United States to St. Vincent on or about April 3, 2023, and approximately five hours later, it departed for Caracas, Venezuela, piloted by two members of the Venezuelan Presidential Honor Guard, and accompanied by a second aircraft that operates out of a Venezuelan military base.
The complaint further alleges that, since May 2023, the Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft has flown to and from Venezuela at least 21 times and Maduro has been seen traveling with the aircraft on official visits to other countries, including for a December 2023 prisoner exchange with the United States.
As alleged, in March 2024, the Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft was flown to the Dominican Republic for service and maintenance where Foreign Company 1 held itself out to be the owner, concealing from the Dominican-based jet maintenance company that the aircraft had been purchased and operated for benefit of the Maduro Regime.
The complaint further alleges that on at least two occasions in May 2024, Foreign Principal 1, purportedly acting on behalf of Foreign Company 1, and other Venezuelan individuals, including military personnel, attempted to retrieve the Dassault Falcon aircraft from the Dominican Republic.
Following the attempts by the Venezuelan individuals to retrieve the Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft, the U.S. government obtained a seizure warrant and requested that the Dominican Republic seize, detain, and transfer the Dassault Falcon aircraft. Pursuant to U.S. request, the aircraft was transported back to the United States on Sept. 2, 2024. That same day, the Maduro Regime issued a statement admitting the Dassault Falcon aircraft “has been used by” Maduro.
A second Dassault Falcon aircraft identified by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) as blocked property of Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA), the sanctioned Venezuelan state-owned oil and natural-gas company, and illegally serviced and maintained in violation of U.S. sanctions, also was seized in the Dominican Republic at the request of the United States government on Feb. 6, 2025.
The Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security Miami Field Office is investigating the case, along with the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Santo Domingo.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Paster and Jorge Delgado for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Ahmed Almudallal of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are handling the matter.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and HSI El Dorado Task Force Miami provided significant assistance in working with authorities in the Dominican Republic. The United States thanks the Dominican Republic for its assistance in this matter.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cv-60516.
###
U.S. Files Civil Forfeiture Complaint Against Aircraft Used by Nicolás Maduro Moros in Violation of U.S. Sanctions and Export Control LawsRead the Press Release
Note: View the forfeiture complaint.
The United States today filed a civil forfeiture complaint in the Southern District of Florida against a Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft, bearing tail number T7-ESPRT, which was smuggled from the United States under false pretenses and operated for the benefit of Nicolás Maduro Moros (Maduro) and his representatives in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (the Maduro Regime) in violation of U.S. sanctions and export control laws. The aircraft was seized last year in the Dominican Republic at the request of the United States.
Today’s filing alleges that the Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft was purchased and maintained in violation of U.S. sanctions against Maduro and the Maduro Regime. According to the complaint, the aircraft is forfeitable based on violations of U.S. law, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and money laundering violations.
Since 2014, the United States has imposed sanctions against targeted individuals, entities, and sectors in Venezuela to address the increasing political oppression and corruption in Venezuela by the Maduro Regime. On March 8, 2015, the President found that the situation in Venezuela constituted an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States and declared a national emergency pursuant to IEEPA to deal with that threat. See Executive Order (E.O.) 13692.
In 2017, 2018, and 2019, President Trump took additional steps regarding the national emergency declared in E.O. 13692. On Aug. 5, 2019, the President issued E.O. 13884 “in light of the continued usurpation of power by Nicolás Maduro and persons affiliated with him, as well as human rights abuses, including arbitrary or unlawful arrest and detention of Venezuelan citizens, interference with freedom of expression, including for members of the media, and ongoing attempts to undermine Interim President Juan Guaidó and the Venezuelan National Assembly’s exercise of legitimate authority in Venezuela.”
E.O. 13884 prohibits the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to the order, including the Government of Venezuela and the Maduro Regime; the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person; and, any transaction that evades or avoids, has the purpose of evading or avoiding, causes a violation of, or attempts to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in the order.
The complaint alleges that on or about Jan. 23, 2023, a company purportedly based in the Caribbean island country of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (Foreign Company 1) entered into a contract to purchase the Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft from a company in Florida for $13,250,000. The complaint further alleges that the individual in charge of purchasing the aircraft purportedly on behalf of Foreign Company 1 was a Venezuelan national (Foreign Principal 1), who concealed the fact that he was representing or associated with the Maduro Regime.
The complaint further alleges that Foreign Company 1 merely acted as a nominee owner of the Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft as it was formed shortly before the purchase, in June 2022, and was struck from the register of St. Vincent companies for failure to pay annual fees two years later, in May 2024.
The complaint further alleges that funds used to purchase the Dassault Falcon 900EX aircraft were sent via multiple wire transfers from different countries, including Malaysia, using both U.S. dollars and euros, and that Foreign Company 1 used an email address with a “.ae” domain from the United Arab Emirates to correspond with the Florida-based seller even though Foreign Company 1’s representatives allegedly had Spanish names and some of the emails contained the phrase “Enviado desde mi iPhone,” or Spanish for “Sent from my iPhone.”
The complaint further alleges that the Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft was flown from the United States to St. Vincent on or about April 3, 2023, and approximately five hours later, it departed for Caracas, Venezuela, piloted by two members of the Venezuelan Presidential Honor Guard, and accompanied by a second aircraft that operates out of a Venezuelan military base.
The complaint further alleges that, since May 2023, the Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft has flown to and from Venezuela at least 21 times and Maduro has been seen traveling with the aircraft on official visits to other countries, including for a December 2023 prisoner exchange with the United States.
As alleged, in March 2024, the Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft was flown to the Dominican Republic for service and maintenance where Foreign Company 1 held itself out to be the owner, concealing from the Dominican-based jet maintenance company that the aircraft had been purchased and operated for benefit of the Maduro Regime.
The complaint further alleges that on at least two occasions in May 2024, Foreign Principal 1, purportedly acting on behalf of Foreign Company 1, and other Venezuelan individuals, including military personnel, attempted to retrieve the Dassault Falcon aircraft from the Dominican Republic.
Following the attempts by the Venezuelan individuals to retrieve the Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft, the U.S. government obtained a seizure warrant and requested that the Dominican Republic seize, detain, and transfer the Dassault Falcon aircraft. Pursuant to U.S. request, the aircraft was transported back to the United States on Sept. 2, 2024. That same day, the Maduro Regime issued a statement admitting the Dassault Falcon aircraft “has been used by” Maduro.
A second Dassault Falcon aircraft identified by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) as blocked property of Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA), the sanctioned Venezuelan state-owned oil and natural-gas company, and illegally serviced and maintained in violation of U.S. sanctions, also was seized in the Dominican Republic at the request of the United States government on Feb. 6, 2025.
The Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security Miami Field Office is investigating the case, along with the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Santo Domingo.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Paster and Jorge Delgado for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Ahmed Almudallal of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are handling the matter.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and HSI El Dorado Task Force Miami provided significant assistance in working with authorities in the Dominican Republic. The United States thanks the Dominican Republic for its assistance in this matter.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Immigration Violation Charges for the Northern District of OhioRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – The U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) has announced that federal grand juries in the Northern District of Ohio have returned indictments for the following individuals on charges of immigration law violations. These are separate and unrelated cases filed during the months of January and February 2025.
Yeixon Brito-Gonzalez, aka Yiexon Maikenedy Brito-Gonzalez, 21, a citizen of Venezuela, was indicted on two counts of possession of a fraudulent identification document. He possessed counterfeit Legal Permanent Resident and Social Security cards. Brito-Gonzalez was arrested Jan. 30, 2025, in Sandusky, Ohio. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Sandusky Bay Station.
Juan A. Cabrera-Claros, 42, a citizen of El Salvador, was indicted on one charge of illegal re-entry into the United States. He has been previously removed three times: July 13, 2011; Nov. 23, 2011; and Feb. 22, 2013. Cabrera-Claros was arrested Feb. 15, 2025, in South Euclid, Ohio. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Mardoqueo Hernandez-Gomez, aka, Gabino Toj-Chac, 31, a citizen of Guatemala, was indicted on one charge of making a false claim of citizenship to obtain a federal or state benefit, and one count of misuse of a Social Security number. On April 17, 2023, the defendant is alleged to have attempted to obtain an Ohio Driver’s License by providing a Social Security card issued to another individual. Hernandez-Gomez was arrested Jan. 16, 2025, in the state of Kansas. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by CBP Sandusky Bay Station.
Angel Baltazar Lux-Santay, 32, a citizen of Guatemala, was indicted on one charge of illegal re-entry into the United States after having previously been removed on Sept. 12, 2019 and Jan. 20, 2020. Lux-Santay was arrested in Ashland County, Ohio, on Feb. 2, 2025. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by ICE.
Jorge Marrero-Padilla, 36, a citizen of Mexico, was indicted on one charge of illegal re-entry into the United States. He has been previously removed four times: July 9, 2008; June 29, 2010; Nov. 13, 2010; and Dec. 26, 2012. Marrero-Padilla was arrested in Painesville, Ohio, on Jan. 15, 2025. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by ICE.
Raul Montes-Rodriguez, 52, a citizen of Mexico, was indicted on one charge of illegal re-entry into the United States after having been removed twice from the U.S. on Jan. 21, 2014 and April 23, 2013. Montes-Rodriguez was arrested Jan. 29, 2025 in Lorain, Ohio. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by CBP Sandusky Bay Station.
Alando Roach, 24, a citizen of Jamaica, was charged with being an undocumented alien in possession of a firearm. Roach was arrested March 3, 2025, in Youngstown, Ohio. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and ICE.
Mariano Tomas-Aguilar, 44, a citizen of Guatemala, was indicted on one charge of illegal re-entry into the United States. He was previously removed from the U.S. five times: Aug. 14, 2008; Sept. 8, 2009; Oct. 26, 2018; Feb. 19, 2019; and March 12, 2020. Tomas-Aguilar was arrested Dec. 9, 2024, in Eastlake, Ohio. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by ICE.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Each defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
A team of Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the USAO’s criminal division are prosecuting these cases.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Two Mexican Nationals with Prior Convictions Charged for Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – Two Mexican nationals residing in Las Vegas made their initial court appearances Monday to face charges of illegally reentering the United States after previously being removed from the country.
Jose Miguel Gutierrez-Chavarria, 40, and Luis Abel Soto-Rodriguez, 33, are both charged with one count of deported alien found in the United States. Preliminary hearings for both defendants are scheduled for March 31, 2025, before United States Magistrate Judge Brenda N. Weksler.
According to allegations contained in the criminal complaints and statements made during court proceedings, Gutierrez-Chavarria and Soto-Rodriguez are both citizens and nationals of Mexico. They were previously deported and removed from the United States and reentered the United States illegally.
On February 20, 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Gutierrez-Chavarria in Las Vegas, Nevada. Gutierrez-Chavarria had previously been deported on or about April 5, 2022, and again on September 6, 2022. Gutierrez-Chavarria has prior felony convictions from 2007 for two counts of Trafficking a Controlled Substance. He was sentenced to 10 to 25 years in the custody of the Nevada Department of Corrections. On December 13, 2024, Gutierrez-Chavarria was arrested by officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for three counts Sell/Transport Controlled Substance and Trafficking Controlled Substance. If convicted, Gutierrez-Chavarria faces the maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison, a three-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.
On March 5, 2025, ICE arrested Soto-Rodriguez who had previously been deported on four occasions between May 9, 2017, and June 1, 2022. The United States District Court, District of Arizona, convicted Soto-Rodriguez of reentry of removed alien on May 1, 2020, and again on February 24, 2022. Soto-Rodriguez faces the maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison, a three-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.
Acting United States Attorney Sue Fahami for the District of Nevada and Salt Lake City Field Office Director Michael Bernacke made the announcement.
The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated the case; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada is prosecuting the case.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
A complaint is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
###
Two Men Convicted and a Third Extradited from Guatemala to the United States for Involvement in 2022 Mass Casualty Alien Smuggling Event in San Antonio, TXRead the Press Release
Two men were convicted today by a federal jury for their roles in a 2022 mass casualty alien smuggling event in San Antonio, Texas, that resulted in 53 deaths and 11 aliens injured. A third man allegedly involved in the same fatal smuggling incident was extradited from Guatemala to the United States to face justice in the case.
“These convictions and extradition represent the Justice Department’s commitment to prosecuting the leaders, organizers, and key facilitators of alien smuggling networks that bring people illegally — at significant risk to life — into the United States,” said Supervisory Official Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “It is a powerful example of the crucial work of Joint Task Force Alpha, which has been enhanced and empowered to go after cartels and transnational criminal organizations and to eliminate the scourge of human smuggling and trafficking.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Felipe Orduna-Torres, also known as Cholo, Chuequito, and Negro, 30, and Armando Gonzalez-Ortega, also known as El Don and Don Gon, 55, conspired with others as part of an alien smuggling organization that loaded approximately 66 aliens into a tractor trailer, which lacked functioning air conditioning, and drove the aliens north across the U.S.-Mexico border and on a Texas interstate. On June 27, 2022, as the temperature rose, some of the migrants inside the trailer lost consciousness, while others clawed at the walls, trying to escape. By the time the tractor-trailer reached San Antonio, according to the evidence presented at trial, 48 migrants had already died. Another five migrants died after being transported to local hospitals. Six children and a pregnant woman were among the deceased. The defendants conspired with others to facilitate the travel of the aliens from Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras to the United States, charging the aliens and their families approximately $12,000 to $15,000 for the perilous journey.
Orduna-Torres and Gonzalez-Ortega were each convicted of one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death, resulting in serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy, one count of transportation of illegal aliens resulting in death, and one count of transportation of illegal aliens resulting in serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy. For both counts resulting in death, they each face a maximum penalty of life in prison at their sentencing on June 27. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
In addition, extensive coordination and cooperation between U.S. and Guatemalan law enforcement authorities resulted in the extradition of Rigoberto Ramon Miranda-Orozco, 48, an alleged leader of a Guatemala-based alien smuggling organization, for his alleged role in the San Antonio mass casualty incident.
“The extradition of Miranda-Orozco to U.S. custody is a major step in the takedown of a large and complex human smuggling organization he is alleged to be a part of,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “Just as we’ve shown throughout the trial of Orduna-Torres and Gonzalez-Ortega, we will continue to prosecute this case aggressively — seeking justice for those who have perished, and holding accountable those who illegally value profit over human life.”
“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) aggressively targets human smugglers, no matter where they operate or how far they think they can hide,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio. “These verdicts reflect the scope and depth of our human smuggling investigations. From country of origin to final destination, our special agents have worked tirelessly to track these criminals down and dismantle their entire smuggling network. One by one we are seeing the consequences of human smuggling as the justice system prevails.”
According to court documents, Miranda-Orozco conspired with other smugglers to facilitate the travel of four aliens from Guatemala through Mexico, and ultimately, to the United States, charging the families approximately $12,000 to $15,000 for the deadly journey. In particular, Miranda-Orozco is alleged to be responsible for smuggling three migrants who perished in the tractor trailer.
In August 2024, Miranda-Orozco was arrested in Guatemala pursuant to a U.S. request for his extradition. His arrest was part of a large-scale takedown during which Guatemalan law enforcement executed multiple search and arrest warrants across Guatemala. Miranda-Orozco was indicted under seal in the Western District of Texas (WDTX), and his indictment was unsealed after he was arrested. Miranda-Orozco made his initial appearance Monday in federal district court in San Antonio and was arraigned on the indictment charging him with one count of conspiracy to bring an alien to the United States resulting in death, three counts of aiding and abetting bringing an alien to the United States resulting in death, one count of conspiracy to bring an alien to the United States causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy, and one count of aiding and abetting bringing an alien to the United States causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy.
The convictions and extradition are the result of the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded with a mandate to target cartels and transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border, including the Southern District of California, District of Arizona, District of New Mexico, and Western and Southern Districts of Texas. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Office of Enforcement Operations, and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, DEA, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 355 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 315 U.S. convictions; more than 260 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.
HSI San Antonio led U.S. investigative efforts, working in concert with HSI Guatemala’s invaluable team members, and the HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. HSI received substantial assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center/Operation Sentinel; U.S. Border Patrol; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the San Antonio Police Department; the San Antonio Fire Department; and the Palestine Police Department. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Guatemala to secure the arrest and extradition of Miranda-Orozco and, along with the Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT), provided crucial assistance in this matter.
The case against Orduna-Torres and Gonzalez-Ortega is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric Fuchs, Sarah Spears, and Amanda Brown for the Western District of Texas. The case against Miranda-Orozco is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Alexandra Skinnion of the Criminal Division’s HRSP Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney/JTFA prosecutor Jose Luis Acosta for the Western District of Texas, with assistance from HRSP Historian/Latin America Specialist Joanna Crandall.
The Justice Department thanks its Guatemalan law enforcement partners, who were instrumental in arresting Miranda-Orozco, and the Guatemalan Attorney General’s Office and Anti-Human Smuggling Unit for making the extradition possible.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Grey Hills Man Charged with Assault After Threatening Family with HandgunRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Two Grey Hills man has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon following an alleged altercation with family members at a residence on the Navajo Nation.
According to the criminal complaint, on February 28, 2025, James Smiley, Jr., 55, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, allegedly entered a residence within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation and threatened several family members with a small black handgun without provocation. Witnesses reported that Smiley discharged the firearm into the ceiling, pointed it at multiple individuals, and threatened to kill them. During the incident, Smiley allegedly stated that he was a felon and acknowledged that he would go to jail before leaving the residence.
The incident lasted approximately 20 minutes, during which time the victims felt like hostages.
Navajo Nation Police responded to the scene but were unable to make contact with Smiley that evening.
Smiley, who was previously convicted of aggravated sexual abuse, battery upon a peace officer, and resisting or obstructing an officer, is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Smiley will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been set. If convicted, Smiley faces up to 10 years in prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mia Ulibarri-Rubin is prosecuting the case.
View the Complaint (Smiley).pdfA criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Three men arrested for illegally re-entering the U.S.Read the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that three individuals were arrested and charged in separate criminal complaints with immigration related charges:
- Hector Noel Soto-Villalta, 29, a citizen of Honduras, is charged with illegal reentry after deportation, with a prior felony conviction, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
- Isaias Fernando Diego-Lucas, 39, a citizen of Guatemala, is charged with illegal reentry after deportation, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison.
- Manuel Juan Mateo, 52, a citizen of Guatemala, is charged with possession of a counterfeit alien resident card, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sasha Mascarenhas and Andrew J. Henning, who are handling the case, stated that according to the complaints, on February 24, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Buffalo Field Office conducted a targeted enforcement action in Dunkirk, NY, to locate and arrest a final order alien. ICE ERO special agents observed a male subject exit a Dunkirk residence and get into the back of a vehicle. Agents then conducted a vehicle stop and questioned the passengers:
- A records check determined that Hector Noel Soto-Villalta is a citizen and national of Honduras illegally residing in the U.S. Previously, he had been deported from the U.S. three times.
- During questioning, Isaias Fernando Diego-Lucas provided a Guatemala Identification Consular card bearing the same name. A records check determined that Diego-Lucas is a citizen and national of Guatemala illegally residing in the U.S.
- Manuel Juan Mateo presented a permanent resident card which he told agents was real. A subsequent check determined that the car was fraudulent.
The defendants made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and were detained.
The complaints are the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Emergency Removal Operations, under the direction of Acting Field Office Director Steven Kurzdorfer, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
# # # #
Texas Man Indicted for Violation of the Federal Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that EDDIE MARTINEZ (“MARTINEZ”), age 44, of Texas, was indicted on March 13, 2025 for Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B).
According to the filed indictment, MARTINEZ allegedly possessed with intent to distribute five hundred (500) grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine. If convicted, MARTINEZ faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and up to a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, a fine of up to $5,000,000.00, and at least four years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
The defendant also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Louisiana State Police. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Briana Williams of the Narcotics Unit.
South Sioux City Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Joshua Rysavy, age 35, from South Sioux City, Nebraska, pled guilty on March 18, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City, Iowa, to conspiring to distribute fentanyl.
At the plea hearing, evidence showed that from 2022 through June 2023, Rysavy and others conspired to distribute more than 8.5 pounds of fentanyl in Nebraska and Iowa.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Rysavy was taken into custody by the United States Marshal after the guilty plea and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Rysavy faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life years’ imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-3027.
Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
South Carolina man pleads guilty to sexually exploiting two children in VirginiaRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A South Carolina man pled guilty today to sexually exploiting two children to whom he had access while residing in Reston.
According to court documents, from at least July 2019 through July 2022, Christopher George Schoenmann, 43, of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, created sexually explicit images of two minor victims, identified as MV1 and MV2, and distributed the images to a man in Minnesota, in exchange for sexually explicit images of the Minnesota man’s minor children.
Schoenmann and the Minnesota man used WhatsApp to discuss their sexual interest in young girls, and to trade images of their victims. Between July 2019 and July 2022, Schoenmann created at least eight images depicting MV1 engaged in sexually explicit conduct. MV1 was between six and eight years old when Schoenmann sexually exploited her. Schoenmann also created at least eight sexually explicit images of MV2, who was between less than a year old and two years old when Schoenmann sexually exploited her. Schoenmann distributed the sexually explicit images of his victims to the Minnesota man.
Schoenmann also stored on 4 different electronic devices more than 1,400 images and videos depicting children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including approximately 39 images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of infants or toddlers.
Schoenmann is scheduled to be sentenced on June 24. He faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Christopher Heck, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI) Washington, D.C. made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alessandra Serano and Lauren Halper are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-22.
Smoking Marijuana in a Parked Car Leads to 6-Year Sentence for Massachusetts Felon Found with a GunRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Massachusetts man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Jermaine Gillespie, 31, to 72 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Gillespie pleaded guilty on August 26, 2024.
According to court records, in September 2022, Biddeford police officers responded to a report that an individual was smoking marijuana in a parked vehicle. Responding officers identified Gillespie and learned that he had existing bail conditions that prohibited the use or possession of marijuana. After a search of the vehicle, the officers recovered a 9 mm pistol. Gillespie is prohibited from possessing firearms due to his conviction history which includes a 2013 conviction in Massachusetts for assault and battery with serious bodily injury, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and carrying a dangerous weapon.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case with assistance from the Biddeford Police Department.
Project Safe Neighborhoods: This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psn.
###
Sixteen Defendants Charged in Escondido Takedown of Drug Trafficking NetworkRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Two indictments were unsealed in federal court today charging 16 alleged members of an Escondido-based drug trafficking organization with distributing large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and Adderall.
In a coordinated takedown this morning, more than 150 federal, state and local law enforcement officials arrested all 16 defendants and executed 16 search warrants in Escondido, San Diego, Orange County, and Roanoke, Virginia.
Including seizures today and throughout this 16-month investigation, authorities have confiscated more than 2 kg of fentanyl; more than 53 kg (over 116 pounds) of methamphetamine; substantial quantities of cocaine and Adderall; nine firearms; body armor; large capacity magazines; and ammunition.
Crimes charged in the indictments include drug trafficking, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and conspiracy to commit money laundering offenses.
“This group was flooding our community with methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl and prescription pills—drugs that tear families apart and put lives at risk,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden. “Thanks to this law enforcement effort, we’re taking a major step in making our streets safer and holding traffickers accountable.”
“This case is a direct hit against a dangerous drug trafficking network that has been flooding our communities with deadly narcotics,” said Special Agent in Charge of HSI San Diego Shawn Gibson. “Let this serve as a stern warning to those looking to profit from trafficking illicit substances -We are seeking to dismantle these criminal organizations and committed to bringing all of those involved to justice.”
Escondido Police Lieutenant Ryan Hicks stated, “The Escondido Police Department works aggressively to identify and hold accountable anyone who chooses to participate in the poisoning of our community through illicit fentanyl distribution. We can successfully conduct these investigations through crucial support from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our other federal partnerships.”
“The San Diego Sheriff’s Office has dedicated personnel and resources to the Fentanyl Abatement Suppression Team (FAST) since it began,” said San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez. “We value the collaboration with our federal, state and local partners to combat the fentanyl crisis in San Diego. These enforcement efforts increase the safety of our communities and save lives.”
According to search warrants unsealed today, through numerous undercover operations and court-authorized wiretaps, agents conducted a number of controlled purchases and traffic stops of personal vehicles. These wiretap intercepts showed that defendants Hector Armando Espinoza and Demetrius Collins, AKA “Demo” held leadership roles in the organization and coordinated the distribution of kilogram quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl.
In January 2024, an undercover agent conversed with Collins about purchasing methamphetamine and fentanyl, according to the search warrants. Collins agreed to sell the undercover agent four pounds of methamphetamine and 1,500 fentanyl pills for $10,500. Collins directed the agent to send the money to Alexis Amezquita’s address. Several days later, Collins retrieved the money from Amezquita’s mailbox. Collins then mailed a package to the undercover agent that contained approximately four pounds of methamphetamine and a half pound of fentanyl pills that were provided by Espinoza.
In February 2024, Collins agreed to sell the undercover agent five pounds of methamphetamine and 5,000 fentanyl pills for $20,000. Collins again retrieved the money from Amezquita’s mailbox and shipped the drugs, that were provided by Espinoza. The package was found to contain approximately 5.68 pounds of methamphetamine and 1.21 pounds of fentanyl pills.
Agents installed a tracking device on Espinoza’s car that he later discovered, according to the search warrants. Espinoza took the tracker off his car and put it on another random vehicle. Espinoza then began to rely heavily on others to distribute drugs on his behalf. During numerous wiretap intercepts, agents heard Espinoza set up drug sales with customers and then direct others such as Detavius Jones Corteze, AKA “Tay Tay,” Tracie Shean, and Collins to meet with the customers and distribute them on his behalf.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Van Demark and Sarah Akhtar and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sterling Winchester. Special agents and task force officers with the Fentanyl Abatement and Suppression Team (FAST) led this investigation.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 25cr0628-JAH
Hector Armando Espinoza 29 Escondido, CA
Demetrius Collins, AKA “Demo” 34 Escondido, CA
Rigoberto Agraz, AKA “Rigo” 31 Escondido, CA
Detavius Jones Corteze, AKA “Tay Tay” 21 Escondido, CA
Oscar Abeleida 26 Cardiff, CA
Bradly Tran 21 San Diego, CA
Jason Hai Duong 20 Irvine, CA
Alexis Amezquita 26 Escondido, CA
Tracie Shean 51 Escondido, CA
Oscar Martinez 32 National City, CA
Evelyn Janet Caballero 31 Escondido, CA
Brianna Isabel Martinez 21 Oceanside, CA
Carlos Vargas 29 Escondido, CA
Celia Veronica Espinoza 46 Escondido, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances - Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1), and 846
Maximum penalty: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine
Distribution of Controlled Substances – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a) and (b)(1)
Maximum penalty: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine
Distribution of Controlled Substances – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a) and (b)(1)
Maximum penalty: Forty years in prison with a mandatory minimum of five years and a $5 million fine
Distribution of Controlled Substances – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a) and (b)(1)
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and a $1 million fine
Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1956(h)
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and a fine of not more than $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater
DEFENDANTS Case Number 25cr0626-JAH
Juan Carlos Gallegos, AKA “Donut” 25 Escondido, CA
Yatzel Hernandez 34 Escondido, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances - Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1), and 846
Maximum penalty: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
HSI San Diego
Escondido Police Department
US Postal Inspection Office
San Diego Sheriff’s Department
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Border Patrol
U.S. Marshall’s Service
Drug Enforcement Administration
California Department of Justice
San Diego Imperial Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area
*The charges and allegations contained the indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
HSI San Diego FAST is a multiagency task force comprising state, local, and federal partners and was first established in August 2022 focusing on the disruption and dismantlement of criminal organizations that smuggle and distribute fentanyl within San Diego County. HSI’s FAST targets fentanyl smuggling and distribution networks to counter the rising overdose rate and decrease the availability and accessibility of fentanyl.
This case is the result of ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership that brings together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, dismantle and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations and enterprises.
This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. [use if applicable] Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program, created by Congress with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, provides assistance to Federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States. This grant program is administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). There are currently 33 HIDTAs, and HIDTA-designated counties are located in 50 states, as well as in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.
Schenectady Man Sentenced to Prison for Selling Fentanyl PillsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Omar Wynn, age 32, of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced to 60 months in prison today for distribution of a controlled substance. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, made the announcement.
Wynn admitted to selling 1,500 fentanyl pills and 8.6 grams of cocaine base to another person. The fentanyl pills were stamped “M30” to make them appear as if they were oxycodone. At the time, Wynn was on state probation for two felony cocaine convictions. United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also ordered Wynn to serve 4 years of supervised release and forfeit the $3,000 profit he made.
The DEA conducted the investigation with assistance from the Schenectady Police Department, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner prosecuted the case.
Salvadoran national sentenced to three years in prison for illegally reentering the United States after attempted murder convictionRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Salvadoran national was sentenced today to three years in prison for illegally reentering the United States.
According to court documents, Melvin Mauricio Valencia Gil first illegally entered the United States before 2017. On July 29, 2017, Valencia Gil engaged in an argument with another person, then brandished an illegally possessed firearm, which he pointed at the victim’s head and pulled the trigger. The gun did not fire. Valencia Gil retreated to his vehicle to reload the firearm, then fired at the victim but missed.
On Aug. 20, 2018, Valencia Gil was convicted in Nassau County, New York, of attempted murder, criminal possession of a weapon, and reckless endangerment. On Dec. 9, 2020, Valencia Gil, a member of the Latin Kings gang, was ordered removed from the United States. After completing his state sentence, on Nov. 26, 2021, Valencia Gil was removed to El Salvador and was informed that he was prohibited from reentering the United States.
Less than a week after his removal, Valencia Gil left El Salvador and illegally reentered the United States. On March 18, 2023, Valencia Gil was involved in a car accident on 1-95 South near Spotsylvania. Valencia Gil provided a Salvadorian identification card with a home address in Richmond. Valencia Gil was issued two traffic citations and released.
On May 2, 2023, Valencia Gil was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of illegal reentry. On Sept. 10, 2023, he was charged with assault on a law enforcement officer, violent felon in possession of a weapon, and brandishing a firearm. On Nov. 23, 2023, he was convicted of assault and battery and sentenced to one year with six months suspended. In December 2023, Valencia Gil completed his state sentence and entered the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Liana Castano, Field Office Director for Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shea M. Gibbons prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-54.
Salt River Man Convicted of Murder and ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – On Wednesday, March 12, 2025, a jury found Clifton Nez Hamalowa, 47, of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, guilty of First-Degree Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, and Discharging a Firearm During, In Relation to, and in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence. The guilty verdict followed a seven-day jury trial before United States District Court Judge John J. Tuchi.
During trial, evidence showed that Hamalowa became angry with the victim one evening and then shot the victim in the head multiple times the following morning, August 29, 2020. Hamalowa dumped the victim’s body in a remote area of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Reservation. Meanwhile, Hamalowa’s brother disposed of the victim’s car in Parker, Arizona, and Hamalowa’s sister made her daughter clean the victim’s blood from the crime scene on the Gila River Indian Reservation. Over the next two weeks, Hamalowa and his sister also intimidated witnesses into silence. Eventually, a witness was able to contact the Gila River Police Department so that officers could rescue the victim’s minor child who was still in the victim’s home.
Hamalowa’s brother, Thomas Leon Hamalowa, pleaded guilty to Accessory-After-the-Fact to Murder and was sentenced to 108 months in prison on October 23, 2023. Hamalowa’s sister, Devonne Beth Hamalowa, pleaded guilty to Accessory-After-the-Fact to Murder and was sentenced to 84 months in prison on April 1, 2024.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Gila River Police Department jointly investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer E. LaGrange and Travis L. Wheeler, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-00751-PHX-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-037_Hamalowa# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Road Rage Shooting Lands Oklahoma County Man in Federal Prison for More Than Seven Years for Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – JESUS FLORES, 42, of Oklahoma County, has been sentenced to serve 92 months in federal prison for illegal possession of a firearm after a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public record, on May 30, 2024, officers with the Oklahoma City Police Department responded to a reported assault. Officers learned a driver, later identified as Flores, had been cut off on the highway while driving. Flores chased down the car that cut him off and shot the driver in the head, though the victim recovered from their injuries. Officers later recovered two firearms in Flores’s child’s diaper bag. On September 5, 2024, a federal Grand Jury charged Flores with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Public record further reflects that Flores has a lengthy criminal history, with previous felony charges in the California Superior Court that include carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and inflicting corporal injury on an intimate partner.
On December 17, 2024, Flores pleaded guilty and admitted he knowingly possessed two firearms despite his criminal record.
At the sentencing hearing on March 17, 2025, U.S. District Judge David L. Russell sentenced Flores to serve 92 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Russell noted the need to protect the public from further crimes by Flores.
This case is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Oklahoma City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacquelyn M. Hutzell prosecuted the case.
This case is part of “Operation 922” and Operation “Shots Fired,” the Western District of Oklahoma’s implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. “Operation 922” prioritizes prosecution of federal firearms violations connected to domestic violence. “Shots Fired” targets cases involving individuals who discharge firearms as part of their criminal activity, such as drive-by shootings or when shots are fired during robberies, domestic disputes, or other incidents. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Rhode Island Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trafficking Kilos of CocaineRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Rhode Island man who provided kilos of cocaine that made its way to mid-level distributors and street-level drug dealers in Rhode Island and Massachusetts has been sentenced to five years in federal prison, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Jonathan Masa-Gonzalez, 29, is among more than a dozen individuals charged in federal court in September 2021 during a multi-agency Project Safe Neighborhoods investigation into a wide-ranging street-level drug trafficking conspiracy. Many of the individuals charged had previously been convicted of violent crimes such as firearm, robbery, assault, and domestic violence charges.
According to court documents and information presented to the court, Masa-Gonzalez was responsible for brokering the sale of multiple kilograms of cocaine to a leader of the conspiracy.
Masa-Gonzalez pleaded guilty on June 5, 2024, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possesses with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. He was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to 60 months of incarceration to be followed by four years of federal supervise release.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey A. Erickson.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The matter was investigated by the FBI Rhode Island Safe Street Task Force, DEA, and the Providence Police Department’s Narcotics Bureau.
###
Queens Man Sentenced to 15 Months for Alien SmugglingRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Atikur Razzaque, age 28, of Ozone Park, New York, was sentenced today to 15 months in prison for alien smuggling and conspiracy to commit alien smuggling. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Chief Border Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia of the United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector, made the announcement.
As part of his earlier guilty plea, Razzaque admitted that on September 21, 2024, he traveled to the northern border near Westville, New York, where he smuggled three Bangladeshi citizens into the United States for profit. Razzaque admitted that he smuggled other aliens across the border in the past.
United States Border Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Paulbeck prosecuted the case.
Providence Man Admits to Trafficking Fentanyl-Laced Counterfeit PillsRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Providence man admitted to a federal judge today that he trafficked more than 2,000 fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Michael Sellers, 64, pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of fentanyl. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 18, 2025. The sentence imposed will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
In pleading guilty, Sellers admitted that on at least two occasions in November 2023, he sold more than 1,000 counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills to an individual while under surveillance by FBI agents.
On November 16, 2023, Sellers provided an individual with 1,027 fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills in exchange for $2,500 in cash. On November 24, 2023, he provided the same individual with 1,024 fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills in exchange for $2,500. In each instance, the pills were quickly seized by law enforcement.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Peter I. Roklan and Stacey A. Erickson.
The matter was investigated by the FBI.
###
Previously convicted sex offender pleads guilty to child pornography crimes after masturbating nude near school bus stopRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A previously convicted sex offender who, on multiple occasions, stood fully nude at the glass door of his Obetz residence and masturbated while school-aged children were getting off the bus and walking to their homes, pleaded guilty in federal court here today to federal child pornography crimes.
Joshua Bock, 32, of Edgeview Road in Columbus, pleaded guilty to distributing and possessing child pornography. As a convicted sex offender, he faces 15 to 40 years in prison for distributing child pornography and 10 to 20 years in prison for possessing the child sexual abuse material.
According to court documents, in September 2024, law enforcement officials contacted the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force regarding several civilian complaints about Bock. Multiple children witnessed him nude and masturbating while they walked from their school bus near Hamilton Local Schools.
Bock was arrested on local charges of public indecency, and law enforcement agents interviewed Bock and searched his electronic devices. He described the location of numerous devices and child pornography in his home, including a self-described “treasure chest” of material in his bedroom under the stairs. Law enforcement seized multiple laptops, hard drives, flash drives and cell phones from Bock’s residence.
His devices contained more than 3,500 images and videos of child sexual abuse, many including “bondage” of females ranging from toddler age to teenagers with gags in their mouths. Some of the video files depicted adults sexually abusing infants.
In his prior offense, Bock was charged as a hands-on sexual offender to a victim who was approximately 9 years old at the time.
Bock was charged federally in September 2024 via a criminal complaint. He has remained in custody since that time.
Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and other members of the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Portage Woman sentenced to 21 months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Kathelia Hopkins, 48 years old, of Portage, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to wire fraud announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.
Hopkins was sentenced to 21 months in prison and was ordered to pay $424,250 in restitution for her role in submitting dozens of fraudulent applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to the Small Business Administration (SBA) on behalf of herself and others.
According to documents in the case, between June and August 2020, Hopkins submitted applications to the SBA claiming that the Covid-19 epidemic was creating an economic hardship on her business and other businesses owned by her family, friends, and others. The investigation revealed that these applications were falsified and the businesses that Hopkins claimed were entitled to funds either did not exist or did not qualify for EIDL loan funds. In total, Hopkins sought to extract over $1,250,000 from the disaster loan program and the SBA disbursed over $420,000 relying on her false claims. Hopkins’ personal profit from the fraud scheme was estimated to be $185,040.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas M. McGrath.
Pocatello Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – Steven Greenleaf Blodgett, 67, of Pocatello, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced today.
According to court records, in July 2024, officers with the BADGES Task Force executed a search warrant on Blodgett’s rental car as he returned to Bannock County from a trip to Utah. Officers found and seized approximately four pounds of methamphetamine. Officers then executed a second search warrant on Blodgett’s residence in Pocatello, where they found a loaded firearm and evidence of drug distribution at the home.
A federal grand jury indicted Blodgett in August 2024. Blodgett entered a guilty plea on November 19, 2024. Chief United States District Judge David C. Nye sentenced Blodgett to 10 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release on March 17, 2025.
Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott commended the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Idaho State Police, the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office, the Pocatello Police Department, and the Chubbuck Police Department, which participated as part of the BADGES Task Force. The Bingham County Sheriff’s Office and the Blackfoot Police Department also participated in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Blythe H. McLane prosecuted the case.
This case was investigated through the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program. HIDTA is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multiagency drug enforcement initiatives, including the BADGES Task Force.
The BADGES Task Force is a collaboration of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies that focuses primarily on drug trafficking crimes in Bannock County and throughout the region.
###
Pawtucket Man Pleads Guilty to a Charge of Wire FraudRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Pawtucket man has admitted to a federal judge in Rhode Island that he used fraudulent information when he applied online and received financing for the purchase of $95,713 vehicle from a New Hampshire dealership, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Roy Sweets, 27, pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He will be sentenced on June 10, 2025. The sentence imposed will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Sweets admitted to the court that in May 2022, he participated in a scheme that used the personal information of another person without their permission when submitting an online loan application to a New Hampshire automobile dealership for the purchase of a 2022 Range Rover. As part of this submission, a co-conspirator provided a copy of a fraudulent New Hampshire driver’s license that depicted Sweet’s image and the personal information of a New Hampshire resident.
On May 10th, 2022, Sweets presented the fraudulent driver’s license to the car dealership as he completed the process of purchasing and taking possession of a 2020 Range Rover Sport HST. The final sales price for the purchased vehicle including finance charges was $111,183.00. The sales price of the vehicle without finance charges was $95,713.00.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr., with the assistance of Assistant United States Attorney Sandra R. Hebert.
The matter was investigated by Warwick, RI, and Bedford, NH, Police Departments, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.
###
Ontario Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Carjacking Victims at GunpointRead the Press Release
MEDFORD, Ore.—An Ontario, Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison Friday for carjacking three victims at gunpoint.
Gregory Escobedo, Jr., 31, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release.
The first 100 months of Escobedo’s federal sentence will run concurrent to a 180-to-360-month state prison sentence previously imposed in Canyon County, Idaho, and will be served in Idaho state prison. Escobedo will serve the remaining 80 months of his federal sentence in federal prison following the completion of his state prison sentence. Following his release from federal prison, Escobedo must also complete a three-year term of federal supervised release.
According to court documents, on March 3, 2021, at an apartment complex in Ontario, Escobedo ordered a victim to exit their vehicle at gunpoint and drove away in the stolen vehicle. The following day, Escobedo approached a vehicle parked on the side of the road and carjacked another victim while brandishing a firearm. The stolen vehicle was out of gas which caused Escobedo to quickly return to the vehicle he arrived in and flee the area.
Later the same day, on March 4, 2021, in Caldwell, Idaho, Escobedo stole an unattended truck at a gas station. The owner pursued Escobedo, who eventually stopped the truck, and was confronted by the victim. Escobedo shot the unarmed victim in the chest and fled. The victim was taken to a hospital and survived. Shortly after the shooting, Escobedo was stopped by law enforcement and arrested.
On May 20, 2021, a federal grand jury in Medford returned a five-count indictment charging Escobedo with carjacking, possessing a firearm during a crime of violence, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
On July 7, 2024, Escobedo pleaded guilty to two counts of carjacking.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Judith Harper, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Norman Man Sentenced to Serve 18 Months in Federal Prison after Tossing Molotov Cocktail at Norman BusinessRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, TIM RIXT BRENS, 31, of Norman, was sentenced to serve 18 months in federal prison for possession of an illegal Molotov cocktail, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On October 1, 2024, a federal Grand Jury charged Brens with possession of an unregistered destructive device, a Molotov cocktail. According to public record, on May 16, 2024, a crew with the Norman Fire Department (NFD) responded to a reported grass fire in the city. On scene, NFD observed a grass fire that had partially burned a building belonging to a towing and recovery business. NFD crews extinguished the fire and located evidence that indicated the fire was started by a Molotov cocktail. NFD reviewed surveillance footage taken from a business across the street, and observed an individual arrive in a black sports car, get out of the vehicle, and toss a Molotov cocktail at the building before fleeing in the car. An investigation into the vehicle led authorities to Brens. NFD authorities learned that Brens had another vehicle which had recently been towed to the business, that Brens was angry at the amount of money the business required to retrieve his vehicle, and that the vehicle had been sold by the towing company.
On November 26, 2024, Brens pleaded guilty and admitted to possessing the illegal Molotov cocktail.
At the sentencing hearing today, U.S. District Judge David L. Russell sentenced Brens to serve 18 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Russell noted that the circumstances of the crime were dangerous and could have resulted in far more extensive damage than was ultimately caused. The judge then emphasized the need to promote deterrence to those who might engage in similar activity and highlighted the need to promote respect for the rule of law.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Norman Fire Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stan J. West and Daniel Gridley prosecuted the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Non-Profit Executive Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison for Conspiring to Defraud Federal Government and to Obstruct Federal Administrative InvestigationRead the Press Release
Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ARIE RANGOTT was sentenced today to 27 months in prison for conspiring to defraud the federal Head Start program, to submit a false document to the federal government, and to obstruct a federal administrative investigation. RANGOTT was convicted following a two-and-a-half-week trial before U.S. District Judge Jennifer H. Rearden, who also imposed today’s sentence.
Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said: “Arie Rangott defrauded a vital federal childcare program that aims to serve one of society’s most vulnerable populations. This Office is committed to bringing to justice those who place greed above their responsibility to be stewards of federal funds, and I commend our law enforcement partners and the dedicated team of career prosecutors for their outstanding work.”
According to the Indictment, public court filings, and the evidence presented at trial:
Between 2021 and January 2023, RANGOTT was the shadow executive director of a non-profit entity, Project Social Care Head Start Inc. (“PSCHS”), that operated in the New York City area. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”), which administers the federal Head Start program, annually granted to PSCHS millions of dollars that were supposed to be overseen by an independent board of directors, to be used exclusively on the Head Start program, and from which earning a profit is prohibited by law. RANGOTT and others conspired to submit numerous fictitious documents to HHS that fraudulently asserted PSCHS had an independent board of directors and had in place controls to guard against fraud, waste, and abuse. In truth, PSCHS had neither an independent board nor sufficient controls in place. RANGOTT and his co-conspirators used their control over PSCHS to impermissibly direct PSCHS’s Head Start funding to for-profit companies owned by co-conspirators through rampant undisclosed self-dealing.
In December 2021, HHS sent a letter to PSCHS detailing several complaints about self-dealing at PSCHS, among other things. In response, RANGOTT and his co-conspirators prepared and submitted to HHS a report that falsely denied the self-dealing and made other misstatements. Then, in August and September 2022, the HHS Office of the Inspector General opened an investigation into related issues at PSCHS. RANGOTT and his co-conspirators agreed to obstruct that investigation by lying to the investigators, coordinating stories, and submitting false documents.
Several of RANGOTT’s co-conspirators have pled guilty and been sentenced. Among others, Martin Handler and Menachem Lieberman, each of whom secretly controlled PSCHS and directed PSCHS to steer federal funds to their own for-profit companies, pled guilty in March 2024, and Martin Handler was sentenced in October 2024 to 58 months in prison. Isidore Handler, who played a significant role in falsifying documents submitted to HHS, pled guilty in September 2023 and was sentenced in December 2024 to 18 months in prison. Lieberman is awaiting sentencing.
* * *
In addition to today’s prison sentence, RANGOTT, 54, of Toms River, New Jersey, was sentenced to two years of supervised release.
Mr. Podolsky praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the HHS Office of the Inspector General. Mr. Podolsky also thanked the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General and the New York City Department of Investigation for their assistance.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacob R. Fiddelman, Catherine Ghosh, Stephanie Simon, and Daniel H. Wolf are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Jayda Foote.
Nogales Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possessing with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. –Sergio Humberto Ramos, 73, of Nogales, was sentenced last week by United States District Court Chief Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 120 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Ramos pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, admitting that he was paid to store the drugs at a trucking yard near Nogales until they could be transported.
Ramos admitted he was storing methamphetamine at a trucking yard he maintained near Nogales. Ramos further admitted that he was keeping the drugs for later transportation for someone else, and that he intended to be paid for storing them.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, and the Arizona Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney, David Petermann, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR 21-01798-TUC-JGZ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-038_Ramos# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.New York Man Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Multiple Child Sex OffensesRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A New York man was sentenced to life in prison on charges stemming from his travel to have sex with a 13-year old New Jersey minor, his coercion and enticement of a minor, and his production and possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney John Giordano announced.
Zachary Williams, 37 of New York, New York, was previously convicted of two counts of interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, production of and possession of child pornography, and coercion and enticement of a minor, following a 13-day trial before U.S. District Judge Christine P. O’Hearn.
According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:
In or about September 2020, Williams met the minor via Snapchat. He lied about his age, telling her that he was 17-years old, when in actuality, he was 33-years old. Williams asked the minor for nude photographs of herself and, after receiving them, began to “sextort” the minor by threatening to send the nude photographs to the minor’s friends and family. He ultimately convinced the minor to meet him at a hotel in Atlantic County, New Jersey, and agreed to allow her to delete the nude photographs from his phone. On October 2, 2020, Williams traveled to a hotel in Atlantic County and, two days later, engaged in sexual intercourse with the minor in his hotel room. Afterward, despite his earlier promises, Williams continued to send messages to the minor threatening to expose the minor’s nude photographs.
Law enforcement officers arrested Williams in March 2021 in a sting operation through which they lured him to the same Atlantic County hotel by posing as the minor victim. Williams’ phone contained numerous images of child pornography, which have led to the identification of additional child victims in both the Eastern District of New York and the District of Connecticut where additional charges remain pending against Williams.
In addition to the life sentence on the coercion and enticement charge, the Court sentenced Williams to 30 years’ imprisonment on each of the two counts of interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, and the count of manufacturing child pornography, and 20 years’ on the possession of child pornography count, all to run concurrent to the life sentence.
“Zachary Williams is a callous sexual predator whose crimes against children were especially cruel,” said U.S. Attorney John Giordano. “First and foremost, the Court’s imposed sentence will forever protect our children from further abuse by Williams. My office, and our law enforcement partners, are steadfast in our commitment to protecting our nation’s young people.”
"A 13-year-old by any normal definition is a child. Children can't fend for themselves, needing adults to provide food, shelter and security. Williams, and other sexual deviants, prey on helpless children for reasons most of us can't fathom. However, it is easy to see why monsters view an innocent and defenseless child as an easy and appealing target,” said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly. “At FBI Newark, alongside our law enforcement partners, we are relentless in our mission to track down and remove these dangerous predators from our communities—because every child deserves to grow up safe and free from harm."
U.S. Attorney Giordano credited special agents of the FBI, Newark Division, Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly; officers from the Galloway Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Richard D. Barber, and also recognizes the efforts of the Atlantic City Police Department, under the direction of Chief James A. Sarkos and the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor William Reynolds with the investigation leading to today’s conviction.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Diana Vondra Carrig and Patrick C. Askin of the Criminal Division, Camden.
###
Defense counsel:
Mark W. Catanzaro, Esq. (Mt. Holly, NJ)
New Orleans Man Sentenced for Being Felon in Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that on March 12, 2025, WILLIE SYLVESTER (“SYLVESTER”), age 29, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment, after previously pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of ammunition, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2), by Chief U.S. District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown. Following his imprisonment, SYLVESTER will be placed in supervised release for 3 years. SYLVESTER was also ordered to pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
According to filed court documents, between April and September of 2020, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives (JPSO) investigated SYLVESTER for an April 2020 shooting. In so doing, JPSO observed SYLVESTER post several social media messages with weapons. SYLVESTER also acknowledged, in a separate message, that he fired a gun during the April 2020 shooting, before sustaining a gunshot wound to his own hand.
Federal law prohibits convicted felons, such as SYLVESTER, from possessing ammunition. On May 1, 2013, SYLVESTER was convicted of simple robbery, a felony offense, in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court and, on November 6, 2014, SYLVESTER was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm and controlled dangerous substances, and possession of a stolen firearm, all felony offenses in the 24th Judicial District Court of the State of Louisiana.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brittany Reed of the Violent Crime Unit.
New Orleans Man Indicted for Federal Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that SHELDON SMITH SR. (“SMITH”), age 59, of New Orleans, was charged in a recently unsealed three-count indictment on March 13, 2025 with violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act and Federal Gun Control Act.
According to the filed indictment, on or about December 17, 2024, SMITH possessed with intent to distribute, a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of oxycodone. SMITH was also charged with possessing two firearms, a Glock Model 19, nine-millimeter handgun and a Taurus Model G2C, .40 caliber handgun, in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Additionally, SMITH was previously convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year in the Eastern District of Louisiana, that prohibited him from possessing those firearms.
SMITH was indicted in Count 1 for Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances, in violation of Title 21 United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). If convicted of Count 1, SMITH faces up to 30 years imprisonment ; a fine of up to $2,000,000, and up to six years of supervised release, following any term of imprisonment.
SMITH was indicted in Count 2 for Possession of a Firearm, in furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A). If convicted of Count 2, SMITH faces a minimum term of imprisonment of five years up to life imprisonment, to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed, a fine of up to $250,000 and up to five years of supervised release following imprisonment.
SMITH was indicted in Count 3 for possessing firearms including, a Glock 19, nine-millimeter handgun, a Taurus Model G2C, .40 caliber pistol, two Daniel Defense M4 Carbine, multi-caliber pistols, an Adler Silah Sanayaii Centurion BP12 12 Gauge shotgun, a Tennessee Arms .223 caliber rifle, a Ruger Mini 14 rifle, a FN 509, nine-millimeter handgun, and a Bryco 58, nine millimeter handgun, having previously been convicted of a felony. If convicted, SMITH faces up to 15 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.
The defendant also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee for each count.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Briana Williams of the Narcotics Unit.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
New Haven Gang Member Sentenced to 22 Years in Federal Prison for Murders, Additional ShootingsRead the Press Release
TYJON PRESTON, also known as “TJ,” 22, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 264 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for his involvement in a violent New Haven street gang, including two murders and additional shootings.
Today’s announcement was made by Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; John P. Doyle, Jr., State’s Attorney for the New Haven Judicial District; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; Anish Shukla, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England; and New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in an effort to address violence in New Haven, the ATF, FBI, DEA and New Haven Police Department, working closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office, have been investigating a gang war between members and associates of the Exit 8 street gang and rival gangs in the Hill section and other areas of the city. The Exit 8 gang is named after the geographic area accessed by exiting Interstate 91 at Exit 8 in New Haven. Recently, younger members of Exit 8 are identifying themselves with the word “Honcho,” which is derived from the street name of an Exit 8 member who was murdered on Quinnipiac Avenue in February 2020.
The investigation revealed that Preston and other members of the Exit 8 gang engaged in drug trafficking, used and shared firearms, and, since June 2018, have committed at least three murders and 16 attempted murders. Exit 8 members and associates also stole vehicles, at times from outside of the state, and used those stolen vehicles when committing acts of violence. Gang members also promoted, coordinated, facilitated, and celebrated their narcotics distribution and acts of violence through text messaging and the use of social media applications and websites including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube.
On April 24, 2024, Preston pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity, and specifically admitted that on April 27, 2021, he and other Exit 8 members attempted to kill a rival gang member and shot him in the leg; on May 19, 2021, he and other Exit 8 members conspired to kill rival gang members, and shot and killed an associate of a rival gang; on May 20, 2021, he and other Exit 8 members shot and attempted to kill rival gang members; and on July 5, 2021, he and another Exit 8 member shot and killed a 22-year-old woman after she made a rap song containing derogatory comments about Exit 8.
Preston has been detained since September 9, 2021.
This investigation has been conducted by the ATF, the FBI, the DEA, the New Haven Police Department, the Hamden Police Department, and the New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the Connecticut State Police and the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
PSN is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn.
Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Miami Registered Nurse Headed to Federal Prison for Swapping Medical Fentanyl with SalineRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A federal district judge in South Florida has sentenced a registered nurse to prison for more than two years for tampering with medical-grade fentanyl meant to treat patients’ pain during their cardiac catheterization procedures at a Miami hospital.
Emmanuel Valentin, 40, of Miami, admitted the conduct on December 13, 2024, pleading guilty to tampering with consumer products.
Valentin worked as a registered nurse at a Miami hospital’s cardiac catheterization lab. While on duty from July 10 to August 18, 2023, Valentin used a syringe to extract liquid painkillers (medical-grade fentanyl and midazolam) from their vials for his personal use. He replaced them with saline solution, knowing that the liquid in the vials would be dispensed to hospital patients for pain relief during medical procedures, such as cardiac catheterization and stent placement. In addition, Valentin retrieved empty and discarded vials from the biohazard waste disposal bin, filled them with saline, and used them to replace vials that he stole. This waste disposal bin contained other contaminated medical waste. Valentin’s conduct not only exposed patients to the risk of unnecessary pain, it also put them at risk of contracting Hepatitis C and other blood-borne disease infections.
The hospital fired Valentin, notified patients of possible contamination, and offered patients free blood testing. No acute infections were discovered.
On May 15, 2024, in a separate state prosecution, Valentin admitted to stealing fentanyl from another Miami area hospital in March 2023.
U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge Kerry Mannion of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA-OCI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
FDA-OCI Miami and Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office (formerly Miami-Dade Police Department) investigated this case. AUSA Timothy Abraham prosecuted it.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under 24-cr-20435.
###
Mexican National Sentenced for Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Basilio Antonio-Hernandez, a/k/a Basilio Hernandez, a/k/a Basilio Antonio Hernandez, a/k/a/ Basilio Antoniohernandez, a/k/a Antonio Hernandez Basilio, a/k/a Alexander Hernandez Hernandez, age 41, of Mexico, was sentenced to eight months in prison for one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Heavener Police Department and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations.
On September 12, 2024, Antonio-Hernandez pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on May 26, 2024, Antonio-Hernandez, an alien, was found in the United States after having been previously deported and removed on three prior occasions without having obtained the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Antonio-Hernandez 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 Patrick M. Flanigan represented the United States.
Mescalero Man Charged with Sexual Assault of MinorRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Mescalero man is facing charges in federal court for an alleged sexual assault incident involving a minor.
According to court records, John Albert Carrillo, Jr., 35, an enrolled member of Mescalero Apache Tribe, is accused of sexual assault against a minor under the age of 16. After being caught in the act by witnesses, Carrillo reportedly became agitated, denied being a pedophile, and attempted to leave the scene.
Carrillo is charged with Aggravated Sexual Abuse and Sexual Abuse of a Minor and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been set. If convicted of the current charges, Carrillofaces up to life in prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jackson K. Dering V is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Member of Violent Gang Sentenced to over Eight Years in Prison for Racketeering Involving Drugs and Firearms TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston area man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in Cameron Street, a violent Boston gang.
Jose Afonseca, 32, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 100 months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release. In October 2024, Afonseca pleaded guilty to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise, conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and dealing in firearms without a license.
According to court documents, Afonseca was identified as member of Cameron Street, a violent gang based largely in the Dorchester section of Boston that uses violence and threats of violence to preserve, protect, and expand its territory, promote a climate of fear, and enhance its reputation. During the investigation, Afonseca worked with other Cameron Street members to distribute hundreds of grams of cocaine and cocaine base, more commonly referred to as “crack” cocaine, from a stash house in Somerville. Afonseca was also recorded discussing his ability to acquire illegal firearms and was recorded selling two firearms and over 30 rounds of ammunition to a cooperating witness.
On Aril 15, 2022, 398 grams of cocaine, along with packaging materials, two hydraulic presses, a digital scale, a cell phone, and $14,986 in U.S. currency were seized during a search of a stash house.
This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office; Suffolk, Plymouth, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorney’s Offices; and the Canton, Quincy, Randolph, Somerville, Brockton, Malden, Stoughton, Rehoboth and Pawtucket (R.I.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Charles Dell’Anno of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
The remaining defendants named in the indictment are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Los Angeles Director and Writer Charged with $11 Million Fraud in Connection with Streaming Science Fiction Television ShowRead the Press Release
Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Leslie Backschies, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced the unsealing of a seven-count Indictment charging CARL ERIK RINSCH for engaging in a scheme to defraud a subscription video on-demand streaming service (“Streaming Company-1”) in connection with a planned science fiction television show called “White Horse.” RINSCH was arrested today in West Hollywood, California, and will be presented later today in the Central District of California. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff.
Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said: “As alleged, Carl Erik Rinsch orchestrated a scheme to steal millions by soliciting a large investment from a video streaming service, claiming that money would be used to finance a television show that he was creating. But that was fiction. Rinsch instead allegedly used the funds on personal expenses and investments, including highly speculative options and cryptocurrency trading. Rinsch’s arrest is a reminder that this Office and our partners at the FBI remain vigilant in the fight against fraud and will bring those who cheat and steal to justice.”
FBI Assistant Director Leslie Backschies said: “Carl Rinsch allegedly stole more than $11 million from a prominent streaming platform to finance lavish purchases and personal investments instead of completing a promised television series. The FBI will continue to reel in any individual who seeks to defraud businesses.”
As alleged in the Indictment:[1]
RINSCH is a film and television writer and director who partially completed a science fiction television show called “White Horse.” In 2018, RINSCH reached an agreement with Streaming Company-1 in which Streaming Company-1 would both pay RINSCH for the existing episodes of White Horse and also fund completion of the rest of the show. Between 2018 and 2019, Streaming Company-1 paid approximately $44 million for White Horse.
Between late 2019 and early 2020, RINSCH demanded even more money from Streaming Company-1 to complete White Horse. Streaming Company-1 ultimately agreed to pay another $11 million, and transferred those funds to a company RINSCH controlled on or about March 6, 2020. The entirety of those funds was to be spent on the completion of White Horse.
But RINSCH did not use those funds to complete White Horse. Instead, within days, RINSCH began transferring the funds he received through a number of different bank accounts before consolidating them in a personal brokerage account. RINSCH then used those funds to make a number of personal and speculative purchases of securities. His trading was unsuccessful, and in less than two months after receiving $11 million from Streaming Company-1, RINSCH had lost more than half of those funds.
Even after losing most of the $11 million, RINSCH still did not spend the remaining funds he had stolen on White Horse. Instead, he used the money to speculate on cryptocurrency, and on personal expenses and luxury items, including approximately $1,787,000 on credit card bills; approximately $1,073,000 on lawyers to sue Streaming Company-1 for even more money, and for lawyers related to his divorce; approximately $395,000 to stay at the Four Seasons hotel and at various luxury rental properties; approximately $3,787,000 on furniture and antiques, including approximately $638,000 to purchase two mattresses and approximately $295,000 on luxury bedding and linens; approximately $2,417,000 to purchase five Rolls-Royces and one Ferrari; and approximately $652,000 on watches and clothing.
* * *
RINSCH, 47, of Los Angeles, California, is charged with one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and five counts of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Podolsky praised the outstanding work of the FBI and Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jackie Delligatti, David A. Markewitz, and Kevin Mead are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
u.s._v._rinsch_indictment.pdf[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitutes only allegations, and every fact described therein should be treated as an allegation.
Lawrence County Man Sentenced to More than Five Years in Prison for Mail FraudRead the Press Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A Lawrence County man has been sentenced for his role in a scheme to steal agricultural chemicals from his employer, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples.
U.S. District Court Judge Liles C. Burke sentenced Christopher Michelfelder, 56, of Moulton, Alabama, to 63 months in prison. In December 2024, Michelfelder pleaded guilty to mail fraud.
According to the plea agreement, Michelfelder was the facility manager of the local branch of an international agricultural company that sells chemicals to customers. Over the course of a decade, he executed a scheme in which stole products from his employer. He sold them to a third-party broker under the false pretense that the products belonged to his personal farm business, Midway Farms. Michelfelder shipped the products via FedEx to an address that the broker would provide to him. The loss amount was over $6 million.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John M. Hundscheid prosecuted the case.
Justice Department Files Statement of Interest Supporting Equal Access to Educational Opportunities and Facilities for Jewish UCLA StudentsRead the Press Release
The Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism announced that the Justice Department filed a statement of interest in the Central District of California to advance the appropriate interpretation of federal laws that prohibit colleges and universities from discriminating against students because of their religion or national origin. The statement of interest is part of the Task Force’s nationwide effort to combat antisemitism in all of its forms.
According to the allegations in Frankel et al. v. Regents of the University of California et al., in the spring of 2024 administrators of the University of California system allowed members of a protest encampment to physically prevent University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) students and faculty from accessing portions of the UCLA campus if they were wearing articles reflective of their Jewish faith or if they refused to denounce Israel.
The plaintiffs are Jewish students and a Jewish professor at UCLA who allege that the university knowingly acted in concert with or allowed members of the protest encampment to prevent them from accessing a central campus space and adjacent classrooms and library on the basis of their Jewish faith or national origin in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause, and California state law. The United States’ statement of interest addresses the sufficiency of plaintiffs’ claims that defendant administrators violated Title VI and the Equal Protection Clause.
The Justice Department recently announced the formation of a multi-agency task force coordinated by the Civil Rights Division to combat antisemitism, which is visiting 10 university campuses that have experienced antisemitic events. The Department also recently announced its investigation into the University of California to assess whether the university system engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination based on race, religion and national origin against its professors, staff and other employees by allowing an antisemitic hostile work environment to exist on its campuses, including UCLA. The Task Force also recently announced that the Department, together with other federal agencies, would cancel $400 million in federal contracts and grants to Columbia University due to the school’s inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students.
“The President, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and the Task Force know that every student must be free to attend school without being discriminated against on the basis of their race, religion or national origin,” said Leading Task Force member and Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Leo Terrell. “The Department of Justice is working to combat antisemitism using all of the tools at our disposal.”
“Discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated in our community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph McNally for the Central District of California. “Our office will enforce anti-discrimination laws to address the issue of antisemitism affecting our residents.”
To learn more about the Civil Rights Division visit www.justice.gov/crt, and to report possible violations of federal civil rights laws go to www.civilrights.justice.gov or call toll-free at 800-253-3931.
Judge Sentences Man to 17 Years in Prison for June 2024 Killing in Northeast D.C.Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Antonio Johnson, 33, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on March 18, 2025, to 204 months in prison for shooting Marcellus Jackson in Northeast Washington D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter while armed in December 2024, in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia.
According to the charges, on June 20, 2024, Johnson and Mr. Jackson were outside of an apartment building at 4400 Hunt Place, Northeast, having a verbal argument, when Johnson pointed a loaded firearm at Mr. Jackson, told him to stop playing with him, and then shot him. The defendant then fled the scene.
He was arrested on June 20, 2024, and has been in custody since.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Martin and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case form the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Grazy Rivera and Victim/Witness Advocate Christie Bloodworth.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Ganjei, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Jacksonville Convicted Drug Dealer Indicted on Federal Charge of Escaping from Halfway HouseRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that Brian Keith Speights (67, Jacksonville) has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Jacksonville for escaping from custody at a halfway house in Jacksonville. If convicted, Speights faces up to five years in prison and a maximum of three years’ supervised release.
According to court documents, in 2019, Speights was sentenced to seven and a half years in federal prison after being convicted of using his Jacksonville residence to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine, and for possessing several firearms in furtherance of illegal drug trafficking. On January 2, 2025, he knowingly and willfully escaped from custody at the Bridges Federal Reintegration Center in Jacksonville, where he was lawfully confined serving the sentence imposed in 2019. Speights was arrested on this new federal charge on March 17, 2025, and his arraignment and detention hearing are set for March 19, 2025.
An indictment is only an allegation, and every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
Indictment Charges Hartford Man with Drug Distribution and Firearm Possession OffensesRead the Press Release
Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Anish Shukla, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford has returned an indictment charging RAMON LUIS GUZMAN, 54, of Hartford, with drug possession and firearm possession offenses.
The indictment was returned on March 13, 2025, and Guzman was arrested yesterday. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish in Hartford, pleaded not guilty to the charges, and was ordered detained.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, on September 27, 2024, a court-authorized search of Guzman’s residence on Haddam Street in Hartford revealed distribution quantities of fentanyl, phencyclidine (“PCP”), and cocaine; a Sig Sauer .40 caliber pistol; a Glock 9mm pistol affixed with a laser site; a Springfield Armory .45 caliber pistol; and three loaded firearm magazines. Hartford Police arrested Guzman on state charges on that date.
It is further alleged that Guzman’s criminal history includes state felony convictions in Connecticut for multiple drug offenses and a robbery offense. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
The indictment charges Guzman with one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and quantities of PCP and cocaine, an offense that a carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, and one count of possession of firearms and ammunition by a felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years.
Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hartford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean P. Mahard.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).