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Wednesday 8 July 2026
Berwick Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Prison for Child Exploitation CrimeRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Vincent Shaffer, age 46, a resident of Berwick, Pennsylvania, was sentenced yesterday to 180 months’ imprisonment by Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann, for receipt of child pornography.
According to the United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, on December 7, 2023, FBI agents served a federal search warrant at Shaffer’s residence in Berwick, Columbia County, Pennsylvania. Pursuant to the warrant, agents seized and later analyzed his cell phone. The forensic analysis uncovered approximately 54 images and videos of child pornography including a video exceeding one hour in duration that depicts the sexual abuse of multiple children including infants.
The investigation was conducted by FBI – Philadelphia Division, Williamsport RAC. Assistant United States Attorney Tatum Wilson prosecuted 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 the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
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Bend Man Pleads Guilty After Armed Robbery at Cannabis DispensaryRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.—A Bend, Oregon, man pleaded guilty today after robbing a Bend cannabis dispensary.
Russell Ian Boggess, 43, pleaded guilty to interference with commerce by robbery and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
According to court documents, on July 23, 2024, Boggess robbed a Bend cannabis dispensary with a .9 mm handgun. During the robbery, Boggess attempted to fire the gun twice, but the gun jammed. A dispensary employee attempted to call the police, but Boggess struck the employee in the head with the firearm and fled the store with the stolen cannabis. Witnesses outside the store were able to subdue Boggess and secure the firearm until law enforcement arrived.
On September 19, 2024, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned a three-count indictment charging Boggess with interference with commerce by threats or violence, felon in possession of ammunition, and use and carry of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
Boggess faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release for interference with commerce by robbery. For use and carry of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, Boggess faces a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison, a maximum sentence of life in prison, to be served consecutively to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine, and five years of supervised release. Boggess will be sentenced on October 7, 2026, before a U.S. district court judge.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
The FBI and Bend Police Department are investigating the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Nelson and Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. McLaren are prosecuting the case.
Armed Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced on Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Jacquese Dominique Warren, 36, of Charlotte, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for trafficking methamphetamine and illegally possessing firearms, including rifles with high-capacity magazines, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
“Law enforcement in Charlotte has been clear: we are not going to let hotels be turned into havens of crime,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “If you use a hotel room to traffic drugs or guns, your next room will be a federal prison cell.”
According to filed documents and court proceedings, in October 2024, law enforcement began an investigation into Warren after learning he was selling narcotics from his hotel room. During the investigation, law enforcement conducted multiple controlled drug buys from Warren. On at least two occasions, an individual cooperating with law enforcement purchased methamphetamine and firearms from Warren, including two rifles fitted with 30-round high-capacity magazines, as well as boxes of ammunition.
Court records show that, on February 8, 2025, Warren was involved in a shootout outside of the hotel where he was staying. Law enforcement responding to the scene obtained and executed a search warrant for Warren’s room. During the search, law enforcement seized an AR pistol and a revolver reported stolen, quantities of cocaine base, MDMA, and several boxes of ammunition.
In September 2025, Warren pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon and distribution of methamphetamine. He is currently in federal custody pending placement with the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
The ATF and CMPD investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William Wiseman was in charge of the prosecution.
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.
Annville Arsonist Sentenced for Historic Building FireRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – An Annville, Ky., woman, Shelia Clemons, 58, was sentenced to 60 months in prison on Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Robert E. Wier for arson.
On July 30, 2025, Clemons admitted to destroying Lincoln Hall, a historic building located in Jackson County, along with an attached, under-construction elevator shaft by fire. Clemons gained access to Lincoln Hall via a window and used a lighter to start a fire with a stack of paper located inside the window. At the time of the fire, Lincoln Hall was under active construction for improvement and use by the Annville Christian School.
“Lincoln Hall was a cherished historic landmark, and its destruction caused real harm to the Annville community,” said Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of Ms. Clemons’s actions and reinforces that intentionally setting a fire—especially one that destroys property under active renovation for a school—will be met with firm accountability. We are grateful for the investigators and first responders whose work ensured that justice was done.”
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky and John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Pearce Nesbitt prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Amarillo ISD Coach Sentenced to 18 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Abusing a 17-year old StudentRead the Press Release
An Amarillo ISD coach who sexually abused a 17-year-old student was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.
Nicholas Jade Herrmann, 32, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison on June 23, 2026, by United States District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk for enticement of a minor. The Court also ordered that the prison term be followed by 25 years of supervised release, and Hermann will also have to register as a sex offender.
“When parents send their children to school, they place their trust in the school’s staff not only to provide them with an education but also to keep them safe,” said U.S. Attorney Raybould. “This defendant clearly took advantage of the trust he was given, and his sentence should serve as a warning to others.”
“HSI Dallas is committed to protecting children against anyone abusing their power especially in a trusted position at a school,” said HSI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard. “Working together with our local and federal partners, and the school district, we were able to ensure this perpetrator cannot hurt anyone else for many years to come. We will also continue to investigate to identify any other potential victims."
According to court documents, at the time of the offense, Herrmann was an assistant wrestling coach at Tascosa High School in Amarillo, Texas, when he engaged in an inappropriate and sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student. Text messages located on the student’s device revealed that beginning around January 2025, Herrmann began exchanging sexually explicit messages with the student and coerced her to sneak out of her house at night to meet him for sexual activity.
When confronted by law enforcement, Herrmann denied the inappropriate communication and sexual relationship. The student also first lied to law enforcement to protect Herrmann, but later admitted Herrmann had sexual intercourse with her three times on two separate occasions.
At sentencing, the student’s mother detailed how Herrmann’s sexual abuse of her daughter impacted her daughter and their family. Her statement revealed how Herrmann groomed both her daughter and their family to trust him and how his sexual abuse of her daughter completely changed her life’s trajectory.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Amarillo Police Department conducted the investigation with the full cooperation of the Amarillo Independent School District. Assistant U.S. Attorney Callie Woolam prosecuted the case.
The Justice Department is committed to combating child sexual exploitation and brought this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.
Adair County Resident Sentenced for Armed Felony AssaultRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Runningbear Pettit, 24, of Bunch, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Do Bodily Harm, and to 120 months in prison for one count of Use, Carry, Brandish, and Discharge of Firearm During A Crime of Violence. The court ordered the terms to be served consecutively.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, and the Stilwell Police Department.
On June 9, 2025, Pettit pleaded guilty to the charges in federal district court. According to investigators, on January 30, 2025, Stilwell officers responded to an emergency call of shots fired at a Stilwell residence. Witnesses reported that Pettit opened fire on the residence with a semi-automatic rifle. The bullets penetrated the exterior of the building, striking and injuring an occupant. Law enforcement arrested Pettit a short time later, and Pettit confessed to the shooting.
The crimes occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Pettit 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. Attorneys Lewis M. Reagan and Edith A. Singer represented the United States.
63-Year-Old Caguas Man Arrested for Child ExploitationRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Israel Arroyo-Chiqués, a 63-year-old from Caguas, Puerto Rico, was arrested on criminal charges for child exploitation, announced Héctor Ramírez-Carbó, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. Special Agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Arroyo-Chiqués today.
On July 1, 2026, a federal grand jury indicted Arroyo-Chiqués on charges involving the coercion and enticement of a minor, receipt and distribution of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.
According to court documents, from or about December 2025, to April 2026, Arroyo-Chiqués used a cellphone, online instant messaging services, and social media to knowingly persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a 14-year-old male minor to engage in sexual activity. From January to March 2026, the defendant received and distributed images depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct via instant messaging applications using his cellular telephone and other electronic devices. Defendant also possessed and accessed with intent to view child pornography.
Acting U.S. Attorney Héctor Ramírez-Carbó of the District of Puerto Rico; and HSI San Juan Acting Special Agent in Charge Yariel Ramos made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daynelle Álvarez-Lora of the Crimes Against Children, Human Trafficking and Immigration Unit, is prosecuting the case. The Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force led by HSI is in charge of the investigation.
If convicted for the charges the defendant faces the following penalties: (1) coercion and enticement of a minor - a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years up to life in prison; (2) receipt and distribution of child exploitation material – 5 to 20 years in prison; and (3) possession of child pornography –a maximum of 20 years of imprisonment. All charges of conviction are to be followed by a term of supervised release after the term of imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
For more information about HSI’s efforts to protect children from sexual predators, visit Know2Protect.gov. To report suspicious activities, call 787-729-6969 or send an email to [email protected].
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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35-Year-Old Toa Alta Man Arrested for Child Exploitation, Cyberstalking and Online ThreatsRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Gabriel Alfonso Núñez-Robles, a 35-year-old from Toa Alta, Puerto Rico, was arrested on criminal charges for child exploitation, cyberstalking and online threats, announced Héctor Ramírez-Carbó, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. On July 7, 2026, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agents arrested Núñez-Robles.
According to court documents, from February 2026 to May 2026, Núñez-Robles knowingly received, distributed and transported child pornography using a cellular phone. Núñez-Robles was also found to possess child pornography material on his cellular device, including child pornography of a prepubescent minor who had not attained 12 years of age.
Núñez-Robles is further charged with cyberstalking a female minor between the ages of 11 and 16. He is also charged with cyberstalking an adult female from in or about the year 2016, through April 2026, and sending her a communication via an instant messaging application containing a threat to injure.
Acting U.S. Attorney Héctor Ramírez-Carbó of the District of Puerto Rico; and Carlos R. Goris Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emelina Agrait-Barreto of the Crimes Against Children, Human Trafficking and Immigration Unit, is prosecuting the case. The FBI is in charge of the investigation.
If convicted for the charges the defendant faces the following penalties: distribution and receipt of child exploitation material and transportation of child exploitation material - a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; possession of child exploitation material - a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.Cyberstalking carries maximum sentence of five years of imprisonment, and cyberstalking of children, 10 years in prison. Interstate communications – threats, carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years. All charges of conviction are to be followed by a term of supervised release after imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Tuesday 7 July 2026
Woodbridge fentanyl dealer sentenced to seven years in prison after buyer’s fatal overdoseRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Woodbridge woman was sentenced today to seven years in prison for distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents, on Aug. 31, 2021, Qiana Shanal Murry, 28, received a text message requesting 10 fentanyl pills. Murry arranged a price and a time to meet, then traveled and distributed the pills to the buyer. In the early morning hours of Sept. 1, 2021, a family member found the buyer unconscious in a bathroom. The family member called 911 and attempted CPR, but the victim was later pronounced dead on scene.
Investigators found blue powder consistent with crushed fentanyl pills near the body. They also located 15 green Xanax pills in the victim’s bedroom and another Xanax pill at the edge of the victim’s closet. Lab testing confirmed the 15 Xanax pills contained clonazolam and the other Xanax pill contained diazepam, both of which are types of benzodiazepine. On Oct. 21, 2021, the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Medical Examiner determined that that the victim’s cause of death was mixed drug intoxication, specifically due to fentanyl and clonazolam. The amount of fentanyl in the victim’s system was approximately three times the amount typically considered fatal.
Murry, along with Eric Stokes, typically sold fentanyl pills out of an establishment in Dumfries. Stokes, of Woodbridge, was sentenced on April 9, 2024, to 10 years in prison for distributing fentanyl that resulted in the death of another victim.
The FBI Washington Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Prince William County Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher M. Carter prosecuted the case.
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. 1:26-cr-11.
West Bridgewater Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Conspiracy and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A West Bridgewater man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to drug conspiracy and firearm charges, following a series of arrests targeting gangs in the Brockton and Randolph areas.
Lue Andrade, a/k/a “Poncho,” 30, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and four counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Court Judge Brian E. Murphy scheduled sentencing for Oct. 1, 2026. In February 2026, federal complaints were unsealed against seven defendants charged with drug and firearm crimes.
Andrade was arrested on Dec. 17, 2025, after authorities executed search warrants at numerous residences and stash houses associated with the Brockton-based Harvard Street Gang and their Randolph-based affiliates. Two of the places searched were Andrade’s residence in West Bridgewater and his stash house in Brockton. In his residence, two handguns, ammunition, multiple pounds of marijuana and packaging materials were seized. The stash location was a second-floor apartment that was set up as drug repackaging workshop. The apartment contained dozens of pounds of marijuana, some of which was discovered in hidden compartments within the walls. In the basement, two rifles, a pistol, an extended magazine and various ammunition were also seized. Andrade was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior state conviction for drug dealing from 2016.The drug conspiracy to which Andrade pleaded guilty went back to March 2023, when authorities executed search warrants at Andrade’s then-residence in Bridgewater and a different stash apartment in Brockton. In that stash location, a backpack containing hundreds of grams of fentanyl and cocaine was recovered.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, supervised release for at least three years and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, supervised release for up to three years 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; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations, Boston Division; the Abington, Acushnet, Ashland, Boston, Braintree, Bridgewater, Brockton, Chelsea, East Bridgewater, Medford, Quincy, Randolph, Raynham, Stoughton, Taunton and West Bridgewater Police Departments; Plymouth and Suffolk County Sheriff’s Departments; Massachusetts Department of Correction; and the Plymouth, Norfolk and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Cutshall and Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Wabash Man Sentenced to 10 Months in Prison for Interstate Communication of Threats to InjureRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Kayden Bell, 20 years old, of Wabash, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to making an interstate communication with a threat to injure, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Bell was sentenced to 10 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
“The Defendant’s threats to people of Jewish heritage and law enforcement were illegal and stood in direct opposition to our community’s core values. He sought to intimidate them, and his words have earned him a trip to prison and two years of supervised release when he is finished. Thanks to the combined efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Wabash Police Department, and the Wabash County Prosecutor’s Office led by William C. Hartley, AUSA Lydia T. Lucius was able to bring the case in federal court,” said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
"Threats intended to intimidate individuals because of their religion or to target law enforcement officers strike at the safety of our communities," said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “"The FBI takes all threats seriously and will aggressively pursue those who use interstate communications to intimidate, terrorize, or incite violence against others.”
According to documents in the case, between August and October of 2025, Bell posted threatening posts on social media targeting Jewish individuals and law enforcement.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Wabash Police Department and the Wabash County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius.
United States to Pay $180 Million to Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska to Resolve Long-Running Port Litigation that began in 2014Read the Press Release
Today, the United States and the Municipality of Anchorage announced the resolution of Municipality of Anchorage v. United States, No. 14-166C (U.S. Court of Federal Claims), which has been pending since 2014. Under the settlement agreement, the United States will make a payment of $180 million to the Municipality in exchange for concluding this decade-long litigation against the United States for its alleged fault in the uncompleted Port of Alaska expansion project.
“I was honored to visit the Port of Alaska today to announce this settlement,” said Acting Attorney General Blanche. “Reaching this fair and reasonable resolution allows both parties to move beyond many years of litigation and instead focus on what matters most: modernizing and beautifying the Port of Alaska, while lowering costs for consumers.”
The settlement reflects the parties’ shared recognition that continued litigation would consume substantial public resources while delaying the opportunity to focus on the Port of Alaska’s future. Rather than lingering on the past, both parties will instead collaborate and prioritize how the port may best benefit both Alaska and the United States. By ending this long-running litigation, both the United States and the Municipality can redirect time, attention, and taxpayer resources toward their respective public missions rather than continued courtroom proceedings.
“Settlements such as this one reflect a reasoned judgment that certainty and public resource conservation are of greater value than another decade of litigation, which would detract from taxpayer resources and personnel focusing on the Department’s top priorities,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. “Bringing this litigation to a close also creates a welcomed opportunity for collaboration among federal, state, and local partners to better support the long-term functionality and economic vitality of the Port of Alaska for the benefit of the American people.”
Today’s resolution allows both parties to shift their attention toward ensuring that the Port of Alaska continues to meet the needs of Alaska’s residents, businesses, and U.S. military installations for decades to come.
Undercover Operation Leads to Child Exploitation Conviction of Tallahassee ManRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Chandler Brittain Smith, 27, of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of distribution of attempted enticement of a minor and one count of attempted transfer of obscene material to minors. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “The threats our kids face online are growing, but our excellent state and federal law enforcement partners are committed to catching the predators seeking to sexually exploit and victimize children using the internet. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute these sick individuals to ensure they are kept behind bars, off the internet, and away from our kids.”
Court documents reflect that in November 2025, Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Tallahassee Police Department conducted an undercover operation in Leon County focused on identifying individuals using the Internet to sexually exploit children. During the operation, law enforcement acted in an undercover capacity on an online social media platform posing as a minor child. Records show that over a two-day period the defendant sent the undercover investigator multiple sexually explicit messages and an obscene photo in an effort to entice and persuade the fictitious child to meet him for sexual activity. On November 10, 2025, the defendant traveled to a pre-determined meeting location and he was arrested.
Smith faces a minimum of 5 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment on the attempted enticement count. Smith also faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment on the attempted transfer of obscene materials count.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 18, 2026, at 2:00 pm, at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida before United States District Judge Mark E. Walker.
The case is being jointly investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Tallahassee Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit theU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Two Seattle area men charged with string of pharmacy burglaries throughout the Puget Sound regionRead the Press Release
Seattle – Two men have been charged in a 24-count indictment following the investigation of a string of pharmacy burglaries that stretched from Kirkland, Washington, to Chehalis, Washington, announced First Assistant United States Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Koumssa Wakgira, 44, of Seattle and Juston Young, 42, of Renton, Washington, are charged in an indictment alleging conspiracy to commit burglaries involving controlled substances, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, five counts of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, and 17 counts of burglary or attempted burglary involving controlled substances. Young was arraigned on the indictment last month and is detained pending additional hearings. Wakgira was arrested by the U.S. Marshal Service this morning and will appear in U.S. District Court in Seattle at 2:00 today.
“As alleged in the indictment, these defendants were relentless in their attempts to break into pharmacies and steal narcotics,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “I commend local and federal law enforcement who worked together to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice.”
“These defendants fueled the illegal drug market and placed communities at risk by stealing thousands of doses of controlled substances, targeting pharmacies throughout the Puget Sound region for nearly a year.” said Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “This investigation demonstrates the effectiveness of coordinated law enforcement efforts and DEA’s commitment to disrupting the diversion and illegal distribution of prescription medications.”
According to records filed in the case, the two have been linked to a series of pharmacy burglaries where a variety of prescription medications were the target. In some cases, the suspects failed to obtain any pharmaceuticals, but in one case they obtained more than 24,000 doses of restricted medications worth more than $37,000.
The detailed criminal complaint lays out how the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) worked with state and local law enforcement to link the two men to various pharmacy burglaries using surveillance images from cameras at the pharmacies. DNA evidence was linked to one of the suspects from a piece of clothing left at a burglary scene. Court documents outline how investigators linked various cars involved in the scheme to Wakgira and Young, how their phones confirmed their proximity to each other, and how clothing, tools, and narcotics recovered in searches of the men’s home and vehicles tied them to the burglaries.
In all, one or both defendants are allegedly tied to these burglaries or attempted burglaries:
5/2/25, Bob Johnson’s Pharmacy, Seattle - Wakgira
5/8/25, Arow Pharmacy Olympia, WA - Wakgira & Young
5/17/25, Sy Pharmacy, Seattle - Wakgira
9/13/25, Hawks Prairie Pharmacy, Lacey, WA - Wakgira & Young
9/13/25, Good Pharmacy, Tacoma, WA - Wakgira & Young
11/16/25, Navos Pharmacy, Seattle, - Wakgira & Young
11/28/25, Ready Meds Pharmacy, Renton, WA - Wakgira & Young
12/20/25, Evergreen Professional Center Pharm., Kirkland, - Wakgira & Young
12/21/25, Swedish Arnold Pharmacy, Seattle, - Wakgira & Young
12/25/25, Fred Meyer Pharmacy, Seattle - Wakgira & Young
1/1/26, Tukwila Station Pharmacy, SeaTac, WA – Wakgira
2/1/26, Tukwila Station Pharmacy, SeaTac, WA – Wakgira
2/24/26, Sea Mar Pharmacy, Olympia, WA – Wakgira
2/25/26 Purdy Cost Less Prescriptions, Gig Harbor, WA - Wakgira & Young
3/22/26, Panorama Pharmacy, Lacey, WA – Wakgira
3/22/26, Centralia Pharmacy, Centralia, WA – Wakgira
3/22/26, Chehalis Pharmacy, Chehalis, WA – Wakgira
As part of the investigation, in March 2026, law enforcement observed Wakgira engaged in what appears to be drug sales following some of the burglaries.
Conspiracy to commit burglary involving controlled substances is punishable by up to ten years in prison. Burglary and attempted burglary involving controlled substances is punishable by up to twenty years in prison. Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute are punishable by up to twenty years in prison.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by DEA Seattle Diversion Group with assistance from Olympia Special Investigations Response Team (SIRT), the Olympia, Lacey, and Renton Police Departments, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Yemini.
pharmacy_burglary_complaint.pdfTwo Pueblo Men Indicted on Bank Robbery ChargesRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Mario Lucero, 49, Pueblo, and Esai Maestas Torres, 24, Pueblo, were each indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of bank robbery, three counts of using and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, three counts of carjacking, and one count each of possession of ammunition by a prohibited person.
According to the indictment, on March 27, 2026, Lucero and Maestas Torres used firearms to rob a U.S. Bank on Bonforte Boulevard in Pueblo. The indictment alleges that the men then used those firearms to commit several carjackings across the city including stealing a Chevrolet Bolt, an Audi Q5, and a Nissan Rogue. Neither of the suspects are allowed to possess firearms or ammunition due to prior felony convictions.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by the Violent Crime Section of the United States Attorney’s Office.
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.
Case Number: 1:26-cr-00129-SKC
Two Men Charged for Armed CarjackingRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – Two men made their initial appearances in court today for allegedly carjacking with use of using firearms last month in Las Vegas.
According to allegations contained in the indictment, on May 27, 2026, Michael Merryman and Jermaine Francis took a motor vehicle at gunpoint. Allegedly, during the carjacking, Merryman brandished a 9mm firearm and Francis brandished an AM-15 firearm.
Merryman and Francis are each charged with two counts of carjacking and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. They each face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Courtney Strange is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Three-Time Federal Defendant Sentenced to Ten Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
U.S. District Judge Liles C. Burke sentenced Isaiah Ke’Juan Merritt, 27, of Talladega, Alabama, to 120 months in prison. In February, Merritt pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
“My office will pursue repeat federal offenders as often as it takes to keep them out of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. “Thanks to the collaborative efforts of our dedicated law enforcement partners and prosecutors, we have removed this defendant once again from our community.”
“HSI remains steadfast in our mission to protect our communities from repeat offenders who fuel the cycle of drug abuse and violence,” said Ellen Johnson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI in Georgia and Alabama. “This case highlights the impact of strong partnerships among law enforcement partners to continue to pursue those who threaten the safety of our neighborhoods and ensure they are brought to justice.”
According to the plea agreement, on April 16, 2024, deputies with United States Marshals Service (USMS) were conducting surveillance in Talladega, Alabama, as part of their efforts to locate Merritt. Merritt had been convicted in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in November 2018 and had been sentenced to 65 months in prison followed by 120 months of supervised release. While serving the last portion of his custodial sentence at a halfway house, Merritt escaped. For this conduct, he was indicted and convicted of escaping from custody. He was sentenced in November 2022, to 16 months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised release. Because Merritt failed to report and was unresponsive to his probation officer, the Court issued warrants for his arrest, which led to the USMS looking for him on April 16, 2024.
USMS deputies and Task Force Officers observed Merritt getting into the passenger side of a vehicle at the Brentwood Apartment complex located in Talladega, Alabama. Deputies followed the car to A&E Auto Sales in Talladega. Once the vehicle came to a stop, a Deputy U.S. Marshal approached the vehicle to detain Merritt. As Merritt exited the vehicle the Deputy Marshal observed two plastic bags containing methamphetamine on the passenger side floorboard beneath where Merritt had been sitting.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Talladega Drug Task Force investigated the case, along with the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany T. Byrd prosecuted the case.
Three Men Convicted of Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A federal jury convicted three men last week for their participation in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
“This jury verdict is the result of our strong partnership with the DEA to make Nevada’s communities safer and free of dangerous drugs,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “We are relentless in our joint efforts to disrupt and pursue drug traffickers who distribute illicit drugs.”
“These convictions are a testament to the united stand taken by law enforcement partners working to reverse the tide,” said Anthony Chrysanthis, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration Los Angeles Field Division, which oversees Nevada. “Methamphetamine and fentanyl continue to fuel the drug crisis facing Nevada. Identifying and taking drug distributors off our streets is a vital part of our commitment to halt the flow of drugs that continue to devastate communities. DEA will remain at the frontline of this battle, working shoulder-to-shoulder with our federal partners to safeguard the health and safety of all Nevada residents.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from August 2022 to June 20, 2023, Darrell Glen Harris, Joey Lamar McRoyal, and Lamar Deshawn Rosser conspired to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and 40 grams or more of fentanyl — both drugs are Schedule II controlled substances.
As proven at trial, during the course of the conspiracy, Harris supplied McRoyal and Rosser with methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and other controlled substances for distribution in Las Vegas.
Harris was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. McRoyal and Rosser were found guilty of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Sentencing is scheduled on October 1, 2026, before United States District Judge Cristina D. Silva. The statutory maximum penalty is life in prison, lifetime supervised release, and a fine up to $10,000,000.
The DEA Las Vegas District Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Brister is prosecuting the case.
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Stafford woman pleads guilty to embezzling over $1.5M from her employerRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Stafford woman pled guilty today to wire fraud for using her position to embezzle funds from a company where she was employed as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
According to court documents, Cindy Zurawski Babbitt, 57, was the CFO of an audio visual and information technology company in Lorton. As the CFO, Babbitt had access and control of the company’s bank accounts, including a business checking account. From December 2018 through December 2022, Babbitt used fraudulent checks, payroll, and wire transfers to embezzle $1,561,841.30 from the company.
Babbit issued at least 44 checks totaling $82,117 that were drawn on the company’s checking account, made payable to her and her husband, signed by Babbitt as the authorized representative of the company, and deposited by Babbitt into her own bank account. Babbitt fraudulently initiated and approved 49 reimbursements totaling $142,401 through payroll to herself. Babbitt fraudulently caused at least 428 wire transfers totaling $1,337,323.30 from the company’s business checking account to her personal bank account. None of these transactions were made for any legitimate business expenses. Babbitt used the fraud proceeds for purchases at retail stores such as Tiffany & Co., Saks Fifth Avenue, Versace, Burberry, Balmain, Cartier, and Louis Vuitton.
Babbitt is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 10 and faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Secret Service’s Washington Field Office investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Madison Mumma is prosecuting the case.
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. 1:26-cr-39.
St. Louis Area Man Sentenced to 200 Months in Prison for Conspiracy that Led to Overdose of Two TeensRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Cristian M. Stevens on Tuesday sentenced a man who was involved in a drug conspiracy that caused one fatal and one nonfatal overdose to 200 months in prison.
Haeder Jameel, 23, was also ordered to pay $51,005 in restitution to the parents of the teen who died.
Jameel was one of three men charged in the case. He and Zaki Salman, 23, pleaded guilty to one of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises. Jameel also pleaded guilty to one count of possession with the intent to distribute MDMA and fentanyl. Salman pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of fentanyl with a serious bodily injury resulting.
Aeman Ali, 23, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the maintaining of a drug-involved premises.
According to the plea agreements, Salman rented a home in the 4400 block of Ohio Street in St. Louis that was used for selling drugs from August 20, 2022, through Dec. 14, 2022. Salman and Jameel bought drugs in California. Salman advertised the drugs on social media and would “direct” the sale of the drugs. The men sold real Percocet pain pills and fake pills that contained fentanyl. When Salman was not at the home, Jameel or Ali would handle the transactions.
Salman delivered drugs to a minor on Sept. 18, 2022, who thought she was buying Percocet. The minor overdosed but was saved by multiple doses of Narcan. Salman and Jameel also admitted that the fentanyl purchased by a 16-year-old male at the Ohio Street residence on Nov. 19, 2022, resulted in his overdose death. Before his death, the teen exchanged messages with the conspirators regarding the purchase of Xanax or Percocet.
When law enforcement officers conducted a court-approved search of the home on Dec. 14, 2022, they found cocaine, MDMA, fentanyl, amphetamine and prescription pills. Jameel answered the door with a loaded .45-caliber handgun that he left on the kitchen table when he ran for the back door.
The 16-year-old victim was remembered by his mother at Tuesday’s hearing for his many good qualities, including his humility and intelligence. “He lived his life as if every person mattered,” she said.
“One decision, made by two different minors, resulted in a life cut short and another impaired by overdose,” Drug Enforcement Administration St. Louis Field Division Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer said. “Now, families are left to mourn the consequences of those decisions, while Haeder Jameel faces years in federal prison. This is a tragic and grim reminder of the potentially deadly impact of fentanyl. Don’t trust your eyes to determine if a pill is an actual prescription medication or counterfeit. Prescription pills should only be purchased through a licensed pharmacist; anything less puts your life in jeopardy.”
“Today’s sentencing is a warning that those who endanger our communities and tear families apart by distributing fentanyl and other dangerous drugs—especially to vulnerable individuals—will be held accountable,” said Homeland Security Investigations St. Louis Assistant Special Agent in Charge Gregory Paris. “Homeland Security Investigations remains vigilant and steadfast in working with our law enforcement partners to disrupt drug trafficking networks and protect the St. Louis area from the devastating impact of opioid abuse.”
Salman, of Hazelwood, was sentenced June 9 to 20 years in prison and was ordered to pay the same amount of restitution. Ali, of St. Louis, is scheduled to be sentenced on July 28.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the Florissant Police Department, the O’Fallon, Missouri Police Department and the St. Charles County Regional Drug Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Finlen is prosecuting the case.
Soldotna man arrested on child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Soldotna man was arrested last week in Sterling on criminal charges related to his alleged possession and receipt of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, Adam O’Guinn, 29, had allegedly been identified as using PayPal to make approximately 27 purchases from known sources of CSAM. Upon the execution of a search warrant at the defendant’s residence, law enforcement allegedly discovered CSAM on his phone. O’Guinn allegedly purchased CSAM over at least two years.
O’Guinn is charged with one count of possession of child pornography and one count of receipt of child pornography. The defendant made his initial court appearance on July 2 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, O’Guinn faces between five and 20 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 Michael Heyman of the District of Alaska and William Ferrari, Deputy Assistant Director, Diplomatic Security Service – Office of Investigations made the announcement.
The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service is investigating the case, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service’s Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force and the Alaska State Troopers. If anyone has information concerning O’Guinn’s alleged actions, please contact the U.S. Department of State at [email protected].
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Alexander and Jordyn Caldwell are prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
UPDATE: This release has been updated to correct the tip email listed.
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Smith County methamphetamine dealer receives lengthy federal prison sentence for drug trafficking violation in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A Tyler drug dealer has been sentenced to over 15 years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Charles Ray Griffith, Jr., 36, also known as Root, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on July 6, 2026.
According to information presented in court, Griffith was detained while driving vehicles on two separate occasions in July and September 2024, resulting in the discovery of a total of 140.30 grams of methamphetamine. During one attempted traffic stop, Griffith fled recklessly at a high rate of speed on a motorcycle through residential neighborhoods, disregarding stop signs and traffic signals and driving on the wrong side of the road before crashing in the yard of a private residence, where he was apprehended.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The case was investigated by the FBI; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Smith County Sheriff’s Office; and Tyler Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucas Machicek.
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Sixteen Illegal Aliens Convicted of Immigration Offenses in JuneRead the Press Release
Pensacola and Tallahassee – Today, United States Attorney John P. Heekin announced that 16 illegal aliens were convicted of federal immigration crimes in the month of June.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Our citizens deserve to know that our federal government is committed to securing our borders and enforcing our immigration laws, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute criminal illegal aliens who think they can lie, cheat, and steal their way into our country.”
According to court records, 16 previously indicted illegal aliens were convicted of federal offenses in the Northern District of Florida in the month of May. Fifteen of the criminal aliens were convicted of illegal reentry by a removed alien, including:
- Abraham Flores Tercero, 48, of Nicaragua, who was previously removed in July 2009, was encountered in Leon County on October 22, 2025.
- Dualder Velasquez-Granados, 28, of Guatemala, who was previously removed in May 2018, was encountered in Santa Rosa County on March 14, 2026.
- Alcides Miguel Martinez-Martinez, 42, of Honduras, who was previously removed in February 2009 and February 2015, was encountered in Okaloosa County on March 21, 2026.
- Miguel Ico Martinez, 29, of Mexico, who was previously removed twice in January 2024 and once in February 2024, was encountered in Okaloosa County on March 21, 2026.
- Jose Ricardo Hernandez-Perez, 23, of Mexico, who was previously removed in April 2022, was encountered in Escambia County on March 28, 2026.
- Rene Alberto Guerra-Vega, 42, of El Salvador, who was previously removed in October 2012, was encountered in Leon County on March 29, 2026.
- Gabriel Garcia Hernandez, 41, of Mexico, who was previously removed in February 2024, was encountered in Okaloosa County on April 1, 2026.
- Dania Chaver-Pereira, 31, of Honduras, who was previously removed in March 2017, July 2017 and February 2019, was encountered in Okaloosa County on April 4, 2026.
- Wily Antonio Escobar-Canterelo, 29, of Honduras, who was previously removed in April 2016 and December 2016, was encountered in Okaloosa County on April 8, 2026.
- Moises Siquic-Tiul, 39, of Guatemala, who was previously removed in September 2015 and July 2017, was encountered in Walton County on April 13, 2026.
- Jose Mendez Pena, 35, of Mexico, who was previously removed in August 2009, was encountered in Escambia County on April 14, 2026.
- Esteban Hernandez-Muniz, 53, of Mexico, who was previously removed in May 2019, was encountered in Santa Rosa County on April 28, 2026.
- Juan Molina-Hernandez, 36, of Honduras, who was previously removed in July 2023, was encountered in Okaloosa County on May 2, 2026.
- Iran Gomez-Aguilera, 43, of Mexico, who was previously removed in October 2019, was encountered in Okaloosa County on May 4, 2026.
- Juan Contreras-Vilches, 47, of Mexico, who was previously removed in May 2017, July 2017, January 2018, July 2018 and January 2019, was encountered in Okaloosa County on May 7, 2026.
One illegal alien was also convicted of voting by aliens:
- Jacqueline Wallace, 54, of Jamaica.
The cases involved investigations by Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations with the assistance of the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office and the Gulf Breeze Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Thomas S.P. Geeker, Brooke Lindsay, Jessica S. Etherton, Jeffrey M. Tharp, Michelle Spaven, Joseph A. Ravelo, and Eric Welch prosecuted the cases.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Failing to Register as Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a man from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on July 6, 2026.
James Murphy, 34, was sentenced to one year and three months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Murphy was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in February 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 6, 2026.
Murphy was convicted of a federal sex offense in 2014 for soliciting a 13-year-old girl off Backpage for sex in exchange for money. At the time, Murphy was 21 years old. Because of this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender. Murphy was aware of his obligation to register and to keep his registration current. Nonetheless, from early November 2023 through December 2024, Murphy knowingly failed to register and update his registration despite being instructed by law enforcement to do so.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Connie Larson prosecuted the case.
Murphy was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to serve his federal sentence.
This case was brought as a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Unit, 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.
Seattle man sentenced to 20 years in prison for sex trafficking a minor and an adult woman – induced both to travel to Seattle for prostitutionRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 38-year-old Seattle man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 20 years in prison for five federal felonies connected to his sex trafficking of a minor and an adult woman, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. In April 2026, a judge and jury convicted Shante Broady of sex trafficking an adult victim through force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion; sex trafficking a minor; transporting both the adult victim and the minor victim for prostitution; and unlawful possession of a firearm. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour said the twenty-year sentence was justified by “the violence of events in the case” and was in line with other sex trafficking sentences imposed in the Western District of Washington.
“Shante Broady is one of six defendants involved in sex trafficking this office has prosecuted in the last six months. Like many sex traffickers in this district, Mr. Broady took a minor to north Aurora Avenue to sell her to sex buyers. This area – which traffickers refer to as “the track” or “the blade” – is a dangerous hub for commercial sexual exploitation of children and adults and associated violent and dangerous criminal activity,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “This office is working tirelessly with our state and federal partners to assist potential victims, identify traffickers, and reduce crime in that known sex trafficking area. This twenty-year sentence, alongside other federal and state prosecutions, are helping to remove some of the most violent traffickers off the streets for a lengthy period.”
“Mr. Broady scoured the internet and various social media platforms searching for vulnerable children and women to entice into his commercial sex trade,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “He succeeded in coercing a minor victim and an adult victim through false promises of a relationship, protection, and money, to travel across state and country lines to commit commercial sex acts at his instruction. Instead of a lavish lifestyle, the victims were met with anger, threats, and violence. The FBI and our partners are committed to combatting this sexual exploitation and violence to hold these perpetrators responsible."
According to records filed in the case and testimony at trial, Broady had been on law enforcement’s radar since March 2023, when they received a report that Broady had been sex trafficking a victim in Portland, Oregon. In November 2024, a former girlfriend reported being assaulted by Broady.
In April 2025, two adult women in Seattle contacted the FBI regarding Broady’s sex trafficking and threats of violence. One woman said Broady was ultimately unsuccessful in his attempt to force her into prostitution. The other reported that in March 2025, Broady had lured her to travel from Canada, paying for her plane ticket. He then pressured her and forced her into prostitution with false promises, threats, and physical violence, and brandished a firearm at her. Text messages obtained from Broady’s phone document the threats. The victims obtained a civil restraining order to try to keep him away from them. The woman from Canada was ultimately able to return home.
Records in the case and court testimony also detail Broady’s involvement in transporting and harboring a minor victim who had run away from a boarding school in another state. The minor victim was encountered on North Aurora Avenue and taken into custody by law enforcement. She was ultimately safely returned to family members. Information obtained from Broady’s phone demonstrated that he was aware of her age and that he was directing her how to interact with potential sex buyers. Broady was convicted of sex trafficking this minor.
In a second short bench trial after the first, prosecutors presented evidence that Broady possessed a firearm, even though he was prohibited due to convictions in Stafford County, Virginia for Burglary of a Dwelling while Armed with Deadly Weapon, Robbery, Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony, and Attempted Robbery. When police searched Broady’s residence on April 11, 2025, they recovered a black Ruger LCP, .380 caliber firearm with a loaded magazine. Judge Coughenour found he committed that crime.
In addition to the 20-year prison term Judge Coughenour ordered that he be on 15 years of supervised release following his prison term.
In asking for the 20-year prison term and 15 years of supervised release, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Crisham told the court Broady “is a violent man and a sexual predator who targets vulnerable young girls.” Broady will be required to register as a sex offender following his prison term.
The case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Seattle Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kate Crisham and Michael Harder. Ms. Crisham leads the Anti-Trafficking prosecutions in the Western District of Washington.
Saint Charles Parish Man Indicted for Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – On July 2, 2026, DANZELL WASHINGTON (“WASHINGTON”), age 34, of St. Charles Parish, was indicted on two counts charging him with distribution of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B) and (b)(1)(C), announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, on August 14, 2025, WASHINGTON distributed a detectable amount of methamphetamine, and on February 3, 2026, WASHINGTON distributed approximately 50 grams or more of methamphetamine in St. Charles Parish.
If convicted of Count One, WASHINGTON faces a minimum term of 20 years, a fine of up to $1,000,000, at least three (3) years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. If convicted of Count Two, WASHINGTON faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years up to 40 years of imprisonment, a fine up to $5,000,000, at least four (4) years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy L. Bell of the Violent Crime Unit is prosecuting the case.
Repeat Sex Offender Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Child Exploitation OffenseRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY –A Jefferson County man was sentenced this week to 15 years in federal prison for two counts of receipt of child pornography.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
William James Lewis, 34, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by a life term of supervised release, for using a cellular telephone to communicate with other individuals on an application called Telegram to seek out photos and videos of child pornography. At the time Lewis was on state supervision for having been previously convicted of possession of child pornography.
In 2017, Lewis was convicted of ten counts of possession of child pornography in Fayette Circuit Court, Lexington, Kentucky and was sentenced to 8 years in prison followed by five years of sex offender post incarceration supervision.
United States Attorney Kyle Bumgarner stated, “Lewis was undeterred by his previous 8-year state prison sentence for possessing child pornography. Shortly after his release, he reengaged in reprehensible act of seeking out and receiving more child pornography. Because of the incredible investigative work by local and federal law enforcement partners, Lewis will now serve 15 years in federal prison. When he’s released this time, he’ll spend the remainder of his life under the supervision of the federal probation office—ensuring that he does not continue to victimize our most vulnerable.”
Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson stated, “This case is an example of the incredible difference we can make when the FBI and local law enforcement partners work together to protect our most vulnerable citizens. Lewis' repeated attempts to acquire child pornography, despite his prior incarceration, are a stark reminder of the call to remain vigilant. Our children deserve no less."
Louisville Metro Police Chief Paul Humphrey stated, “These crimes are reprehensible and unacceptable. This sentence sends a clear message that those who exploit children will be held accountable. Even after a prior conviction and prison sentence, this offender continued to engage in behavior that fuels the victimization and abuse of some of our most vulnerable citizens. There is no place in our community for child predators. LMPD will continue working with our federal partners to identify offenders, protect children, and pursue justice for victims.”
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by FBI with the assistance of LMPD.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle M. Yannelli prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
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Rapid City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm and Ammunition as a FelonRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on June 26, 2026.
Rudolph Bissonette, 34, was sentenced to 12 months and a day in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Bissonette was indicted for Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in December 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 15, 2026.
On October 15, 2025, law enforcement observed a vehicle committing a traffic violation. Bissonette was the driver. He had been drinking alcohol and had a blood alcohol content of .266%. Bissonette informed law enforcement there was a pistol in the vehicle. Law enforcement also found a round of ammunition in Bissonette’s front-right pants pocket. Bissonette is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition due to prior convictions punishable beyond a year in prison. It is a federal felony to possess firearms or ammunition after a felony conviction.
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). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.
Bissonette is to self-surrender to the U.S. Marshals Service at a date and time ordered by the Court.
Rapid City Man Convicted by Federal Jury of Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a jury has convicted Avery Hawk Wing, age 35, of Rapid City, South Dakota, of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on July 2, 2026.
The maximum penalty is 15 years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
Hawk Wing was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2024.
Evidence at trial showed Hawk Wing handled a rifle that was in a tote bag that belonged to him. Hawk Wing told law enforcement that he touched the firearm when going through his tote bag. Unsurprisingly, forensic examination revealed Hawk Wing’s DNA on several locations of the firearm, consistent with him handling the firearm. Hawk Wing was previously convicted of a crime punishable beyond a year in prison and, as a result, is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date will be set for a later date. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rantoul Man Charged with Making Threatening Interstate CommunicationRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A grand jury today indicted Kevin Baskis, 37, of Rantoul, Illinois, on two counts of allegedly making threatening interstate communications.
The indictment alleges that on June 29 and 30, 2026, Baskis made interstate phone calls from Rantoul to Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, threatening to injure U.S. military personnel and their families.
Baskis was arrested on July 1, 2026, and remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long today ordered that he be detained pending trial.
If convicted, the maximum statutory penalties for each of the charged counts are a maximum five years of imprisonment; maximum $250,000 fine; maximum three years of supervised release; and a mandatory $100 special assessment.
Agencies participating in the investigation include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, and Rantoul Police Department. Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney Eugene Miller is representing the government in the prosecution.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Pearl River Man Pleads Guilty to Theft on ReservationRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Pearl River man pleaded guilty on July 7, 2026, to the charge of theft of a motor vehicle from the Choctaw Indian Reservation, announced U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi, and Sheriff Eric Clark, Neshoba County Sheriff’s Department.
According to court documents, Joshua Hickman, 30, of the Pearl River Community, unlawfully took a motor vehicle from the Silver Star Hotel & Casino of the Pearl River Resort. Court documents also stated that Hickman was driving the vehicle when he was stopped by a Neshoba County Deputy on October 25, 2025, during a routine traffic stop.
In January of 2026, a federal grand jury indicted Hickman on the charge. Hickman pleaded guilty to the charge and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 6, 2026. Hickman faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger commended the work of the Neshoba County Sheriff’s Department and the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, who jointly investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Payne, Brian K. Burns, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Kalleigh McCoy.
Parker Man Sentenced to 28 Years in Prison for Second Degree MurderRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Andre Anthony Miller, 33, of Parker, Ariz., was sentenced on June 23, by United States District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 336 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Miller previously pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder.
On February 18, 2024, on the Colorado River Indian Tribes (“CRIT”) Reservation, Miller shot the victim, who was a former intimate partner, in front of the victim’s minor children. The victim sustained life-threatening injuries from the shooting, including quadriplegia. Approximately eleven months later, the victim died from her injuries. Both Miller and the victim are enrolled CRIT members.
The FBI’s Phoenix Division and the CRIT Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina J. Reid-Moore, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 24-CR-00743-PHX-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-119_Miller# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Panama City Felon Indicted for Federal Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Stephen Miles Bishop, 30, of Panama City, Florida, has been indicted in federal court on two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possession of a short-barreled rifle. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges.
Bishop appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for August 24, 2026, at 8:30 am, before District Judge Mark Walker in Tallahassee, Florida.
The defendant faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment on each possession of a firearm count. He faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment for possession of a short-barreled rifle.
The case was jointly investigated by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Over $2 Million in Stolen Funds Recovered by U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBIRead the Press Release
BURLINGTON – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced today that it had successfully obtained a judgment in forfeiture for $2,270,202.39 in funds stolen from the Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD) in a cyber-enabled fraud scheme. United States District Judge William K. Sessions III signed the order of forfeiture and judgment on July 2, 2026, releasing the funds to the government. According to the settlement agreement in the case, the funds will now be returned to CSWD by the United States Marshals Service.
As explained in documents from the case, in late January 2026, CSWD received an email that appeared to redirect payments owed to a construction company with whom they were engaged in an ongoing project. Pursuant to the email’s directions, CSWD sent two payments, totaling over $3 million, to an account at Citibank. In fact, the account at Citibank did not belong to the construction company but was instead receiving the funds as part of an ongoing fraud scheme. With the assistance of the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office seized the funds from the bank pursuant to a civil seizure warrant and obtained forfeiture of the funds to the government to allow the return to CSWD.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the prompt investigatory efforts of the FBI in identifying and recovering the stolen funds and thanked the United States Marshals Service for their assistance executing the forfeiture. He added: “Recoveries of stolen funds from sophisticated cyber actors are only possible when impacted entities quickly alert law enforcement about their losses. In this case, CSWD swiftly notified law enforcement and coordinated with the FBI. Because of CSWD’s actions in the wake of the phishing scam, we were able to seize and return over $2 million dollars to CSWD, a benefit to all residents of Chittenden County.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli of the Albany Field Office also praised CSWD’s actions and urged rapid reporting saying, "this type of fraud is one of the most pervasive threats facing our communities today, but the FBI is here to help. Thanks to the quick reporting from Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD), our team was able to immediately get to work to recover the transactions and return a substantial portion of the stolen funds. I thank CSWD and the District of Vermont for their swift and strong coordination, and I implore the public to immediately report this type of fraud to law enforcement so we can work together to achieve a similar outcome."
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia A. P. Cowles handled this civil forfeiture matter for the government.
Oswego County Man Pleads Guilty to Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Oswego County Man Pleads Guilty to Receipt of Child Pornography
UTICA, NEW YORK – Robert J. Stachura, age 56, of, Oswego, New York, pled guilty on June 10, 2026, to receipt of child pornography. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
In June 2015, after pleading guilty in the Northern District of New York to using the internet to attempt to entice minors to engage in unlawful sexual contact with him and possessing child pornography, Stachura was sentenced to serve concurrent terms of 135 months in prison, to be followed by 20 years of supervised release. Stachura’s term of supervised release began in December 2023. In March 2025, Stachura admitted to the United States Probation Office to possessing an unreported internet-capable cellular phone, in violation of his conditions of release. The phone was found to contain videos and images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
“This repeat offender has once again been brought to justice thanks to the relentless efforts of the FBI’s Special Agents,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sarcone. “After his release, the defendant chose to continue engaging in this abhorrent conduct, showing a complete disregard for the law and a disturbing willingness to reoffend. He now faces up to 40 years in federal prison. My office, working alongside our partners at the FBI and other law enforcement agencies, will aggressively pursue anyone involved in this behavior. We will not hesitate to bring charges, and we will do everything in our power to ensure that individuals who threaten our communities are removed from our streets.”
“Mr. Stachura was barely out of federal prison before falling back into his sickening cycle of behavior. As he heads back to federal prison for up to 40 years, the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force will continue to prioritize aggressively investigating these depraved individuals who are harming our children,” said Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
As part of his June 2026 guilty plea, Stachura admitted that in March 2025, he received 8 videos and 2 images of CSAM. The receipt charge carries a mandatory minimum term of 15 years in federal prison and maximum sentence of 40 years. Stachura also faces a fine of up to $250,000 and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. Stachura is already a registered sex offender based on his 2015 convictions and will have to continue his registration requirements upon his release from prison. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.Sentencing is currently scheduled for October 14, 2026, in Utica, New York before Senior United States District Judge David N. Hurd.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Albany Division Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, the New York State Police, and the United States Probation Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney A.J. Vickey is prosecuting the 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. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Oklahoma City Man Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearm After Shooting Outside Convenience StoreRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – ANDREA DELAWRENCE JACKSON, 58, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 71 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm after a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public records, on May 3, 2025, officers with the Oklahoma City Police Department responded to a convenience store on the east side of Oklahoma City after receiving reports of a shooting. Witnesses told police that a man, later identified as Jackson, shot at another man outside the store.
Responding officers located Jackson nearby pushing a woman in a wheelchair. Officers recovered a firearm from the seat of the wheelchair.
Public records further reflect that Jackson has prior felony convictions in Oklahoma County District Court, including convictions for possession of cocaine and marijuana in Case No. CF-2003-6301, possession of cocaine and a stolen vehicle in Case No. CF-2006-465, and possession of a firearm after a previous felony conviction in Case No. CF-2007-2435.
On December 16, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Jackson with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Jackson pleaded guilty on February 6, 2026, and admitted that he knowingly possessed a firearm despite his previous felony convictions.
At a sentencing hearing on July 2, 2026, Chief U.S. District Judge Scott L. Palk sentenced Jackson to serve 71 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, Judge Palk noted Jackson’s extensive criminal history and the dangerous nature of the offense.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oklahoma City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Gridley prosecuted the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
New Orleans Man Guilty of Drug Trafficking and Firearms ViolationsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ERSEL HUNT (“HUNT”), age 34, pleaded guilty on July 2, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Barry W. Ashe to a four-count indictment charging him with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, the aforementioned narcotics and firearms charges relate to two separate incidents, as follows. On May 6, 2025, Louisiana State Police (LSP) troopers attempted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by HUNT. HUNT refused to stop and a pursuit ensued. After crashing the vehicle, HUNT was arrested and found in possession of a pistol, marijuana, methamphetamine, a digital scale, clear plastic bags, gloves, and a ski mask. After further investigation, law enforcement officials executed a search warrant at HUNT’s residence located on Allen Street in New Orleans, where they recovered a handgun and an AK47 rifle.
HUNT will be sentenced on September 10, 2026, and faces the following penalties:
Count 1—charging possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances —carries a penalty of up to twenty years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000, at least three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
Count 2—charging the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime—carries a penalty of at least five years up to life that must run consecutively to all other terms of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to five years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
Counts 3 and 4—charging being a felon in possession of a firearm—carries a penalty of up to fifteen years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee, as to each count.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Louisiana State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Liz Privitera of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
New Hampshire Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Fentanyl and Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
HOT SPRINGS – A New Hampshire man has been sentenced to 15 years in Federal Prison to be followed by five years of Supervised Release for Possession of Fentanyl with the Intent to Distribute and Possession of a Firearm in furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense. The Honorable District Judge Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing hearings, which took place in the United States District Court in Hot Springs.
According to court records, in April of 2025 a Trooper with the Arkansas State Police conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being operated by Robert Liles, age 31, of Manchester, New Hampshire. During the course of the traffic stop, the Trooper located and seized over 7,300 fentanyl pills, three (3) firearms, body armor, and a large amount of United States Currency. It was also determined that Liles had previously been convicted of a felony.
On November 18, 2025, Liles pleaded guilty to Possession of Fentanyl with the Intent to Distribute and Possession of a Firearm in furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense. On July 7, 2026, United States District Judge Susan O. Hickey sentenced Liles to a term of imprisonment of 120 months for the fentanyl possession, to a term of imprisonment of 60 months for the weapons possession, to run consecutive to each other, for a total term of imprisonment of 180 months, or 15 years, to be followed by 5 years of Supervised Release.
United States Attorney Kevin R. Holmes made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan A. Achorn prosecuted the case for the United States. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Arkansas State Police investigated the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the U.S. 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.
Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov.
Newly Naturalized Citizen Sentenced for Assaulting Federal Agent with VehicleRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Ruben Dario Loja Castro, age 33, of Irvington, New Jersey, was sentenced to 12 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release, following a guilty plea earlier this year to resisting, impeding, and assaulting a federal officer engaged in official duties and inflicting bodily injury with his vehicle during a lawful traffic immigration enforcement stop along Interstate 90 on October 1, 2025. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Anthony Patrone, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement.
According to the plea and documents previously filed in the case, on October 1, 2025, law enforcement officers with HSI and other federal agencies conducted an immigration enforcement operation targeting an illegal alien residing in Albany who had recently been charged with rape of a minor. The agents observed the suspected individual exit a building in Albany and enter a car being driven by Loja Castro, a native of Ecuador who became a naturalized U.S. citizen in January 2025. Agents followed the car and pulled it over as it traveled westbound on Interstate 90. Loja Castro refused to comply with the agents’ repeated requests that he turn off the ignition and provide identification for his passengers. As agents attempted to gain access to the vehicle, Loja Castro suddenly put the car into gear, slammed it back and forth into law enforcement vehicles, and then swerved in the direction of an HSI special agent who had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit by the car. Loja Castro then fled the scene at a high rate of speed on Interstate 90. The agent suffered a sprained right wrist and other injuries. Loja Castro was located and arrested later that day, and has been detained ever since.
Following his release from prison, Loja Castro will be required to serve 1 year of supervised release.
“Mr. Loja Castro had the opportunity to live the American dream. After receiving his citizenship in 2025, he was on the right path to enjoy the freedom and opportunity that all Americans hold dear. Things took a turn when he began associating with a criminal illegal alien and alleged child rapist,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sarcone. “When law enforcement attempted to apprehend his associate, Mr. Lojas Castro put innocent lives at risk and defied lawful commands from federal agents. He has now come to understand the responsibility that comes with being an American citizen. In America, actions have consequences, and anyone who chooses to resist, impede, or assault a federal agent will be pursued without hesitation and brought to justice.”
HSI Buffalo Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Patrone said “By his own admission, Ruben Dario Loja Castro used his vehicle as a weapon against HSI special agents who were placing their lives on the line for the sake of protecting the public. Attacks and attempted assaults on law enforcement will never be tolerated. I commend HSI Albany, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York and our invaluable law enforcement partners for placing the safety of our neighborhoods, our roadways, and the people above all else.”
HSI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin S. Clark prosecuted the case.Missoula man sentenced to 15 years in prison for drug traffickingRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – A Missoula man who was a local supplier of methamphetamine and fentanyl was sentenced today to 15 years in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Brandon Gregory Genet, 30, pleaded guilty in March 2026 to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Genet was distributing methamphetamine in Missoula, supplying at least one dealer.
The case began on Dec. 10, 2025, when law enforcement used an informant to set up a buy from a suspected meth dealer at Franklin Park in Missoula. The suspect arrived in a vehicle driven by Genet, who sped away from the park when he spotted law enforcement. A tip to law enforcement the next day revealed that Genet was the suspect’s supplier and that he kept his stash in a safe at his home. Officers obtained a warrant and searched Genet’s safe, where they found approximately 96 grams of suspected fentanyl pills and 165 grams of methamphetamine. The DEA lab confirmed the substances were a fentanyl analog and methamphetamine.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI's Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force and DEA conducted the investigation.
Mission Man and Woman Sentenced for LarcenyRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a man and woman, both from Mission, South Dakota, following their convictions for Larceny.
Amelia Bordeaux age 20, pleaded guilty on April 1, 2026. On June 29, 2026, she was sentenced to time served, equal to approximately four months in custody, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $1,000 in restitution and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Andrew Whiting, age 20, pleaded guilty on January 12, 2026. On April 21, 2026, he was sentenced to time served, equal to approximately eight months in custody, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $1,000 in restitution and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Bordeaux and Whiting were indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2025.
The convictions stem from an incident that occurred on February 18, 2025, within the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. On that date, Whiting and Bordeaux stole a pickup truck that was parked at a residence in Mission. They subsequently got the vehicle stuck in a rural area south of Mission and abandoned it. The vehicle was recovered by law enforcement the following day.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Bordeaux and Whiting were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service at the conclusion of their individual sentencing hearings.
Mission Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a man from Mission, South Dakota, convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on July 6, 2026.
Jaret Wooden Knife, age 28, was sentenced to one year and one month in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Wooden Knife was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 9, 2026.
Wooden Knife was convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in U.S. District Court in 2022. Consequently, he is required to register as a sex offender and update his registration within three business days of relocation or changing employment or student status. In July 2025, Wooden Knife began a period of supervised release residing in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and he appropriately updated his sex offender registration. Wooden Knife thereafter relocated from his registered address and updated his sex offender registration to reflect a different residence in Sioux Falls, but he never resided at the new address. An arrest warrant was subsequently issued, and on September 12, 2025, Wooden Knife was arrested in Sioux Falls.
This case was brought as a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Wooden Knife was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Michigan man sentenced to federal prison in the Eastern District of Texas for firearms trafficking conspiracyRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A Michigan man has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms trafficking conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Caleb Timothy Fox, 34, pleaded guilty to attempt or conspiracy to commit firearms trafficking and was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on July 6, 2026.
According to information presented in court, on March 10, 2025, Fox enlisted another individual, commonly referred to as a “straw purchaser,” to unlawfully purchase six firearms on his behalf at a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) gun shop in Tyler. After the firearms purchase was delayed, Fox admitted to federal agents that he knew, as a non-resident of Texas, that he was unable to legally purchase the firearms in Texas. Fox also admitted that he intended to illegally transport the firearms out of the United States to Oaxaca, Mexico, where he had arranged to sell them to others. Further investigation led to cell phone texts that corroborated the plan, including an offer to exchange the firearms for drugs. A search of Fox’s vehicle led to the discovery of another firearm as well as various illegal drugs, including cocaine base and fentanyl.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucas Machicek.
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Mexican National to Spend 27 years in Federal Prison for Trafficking over One Thousand Kilograms of Methamphetamine in Homeland Security Task Force CaseRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A Mexican National was sentenced by a federal court in San Antonio to 27 years in prison for leading an international methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons.
According to court documents, Arturo Leija-Alvarado, 43, led an organization that trafficked well over one thousand kilograms of methamphetamine from Mexico into the United States, for distribution in and around the San Antonio area. The conspiracy involved large quantities of methamphetamine that were smuggled into the United States while hidden in various ways, most commonly in large loads of lettuce.
At the time that Leija led the drug trafficking organization, Leija had already been convicted twice of illegally reentering the United States following a previous removal and had been removed from the United States on at least three separate occasions. Following his most recent removal, Leija illegally reentered the United States during the Spring of 2024, and by May 2024 was already coordinating a load of methamphetamine hidden in 16 pallets of lettuce:
Leija coordinated and oversaw the smuggling of multiple additional large loads of methamphetamine during July, August, and September 2024. These loads were also hidden in shipments of lettuce, and often included hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine at a time:
One load from September 2024 included at least approximately 500 kilograms of methamphetamine by itself:
Evidence in the case also depicted a large number of firearms that were possessed during this conspiracy, including more than twenty that were depicted in these photographs from July 2024:
As the conspiracy continued, law enforcement learned that Leija and his co-conspirators were receiving the shipments of methamphetamine at a secluded property in Atascosa, Texas. After unloading the methamphetamine at the Atascosa property, Leija’s drug organization distributed the methamphetamine into the San Antonio community and surrounding areas.
On October 17, 2024, after obtaining a federal search warrant for the property, law enforcement observed a semi-truck with a flatbed trailer arrive at the ranch. Immediately prior to executing the warrant, law enforcement observed a group of individuals, overseen by Leija, spend several hours using welding tools to cut open hidden compartments on the trailer.
Shortly after midnight on October 18, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant and found dozens of packages of methamphetamine that had been wrapped in tape, covered in grease, and secreted inside of hidden compartments on the flatbed trailer that had been welded shut. Subsequent DEA laboratory testing confirmed that the packages seized on this day alone contained 63 kilograms of 100% methamphetamine hydrochloride, i.e., crystal meth.
Agents arrested Leija inside an RV on the property. Agents found a firearm and $21,646.00 in U.S. currency in that RV, and another firearm elsewhere on the property.
Leija was arrested along with co-conspirators Francis Edward “Eddie” Hilliard and Richard William Aaron Patton. The trio were charged with various offenses, including Conspiring to Possess with Intent to Distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. All three Defendants subsequently pled guilty to that charge.
In addition to Leija’s sentence of 27 years, Hilliard, who is 77 years old, was sentenced last month to 145 months in prison, and Patton is scheduled to be sentenced later this month.
“Mr. Leija ignored our immigration laws, ignored our drug laws, and ignored our gun laws,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons. “However, he cannot ignore the fact that he will now spend the next couple of decades behind walls of steel and concrete. I want to thank our law enforcement partners who helped put this case together and to AUSA John Fedock, who carried this case through to the finish line.”
“Drug traffickers smuggle more than just illegal drugs—they bring violence, fuel crime, and put American lives at risk with every shipment," said DEA San Antonio Field Division Special Agent in Charge Miguel Madrigal. Through the dedicated efforts of DEA San Antonio and its law enforcement partners, thousands of lethal doses of illegal drugs were prevented from reaching San Antonio and communities across the nation. This prosecution is another victory that reflects the DEA’s unwavering commitment to protecting the public, disrupting drug trafficking organizations, and saving American lives.”
“It is our priority to make the community safer, and by removing the leader of a prolific drug trafficking organization, we have gotten one step closer to our goal,” said Daniel Faith, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Antonio Field Office. "Along with our law enforcement partners, we have been able to disrupt the distribution of drugs throughout our community. Let this be a message that we will not back down from our fight against violent organized crime.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, San Antonio Police Department, Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, and Hondo Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Fedock prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF comprises agents and officers from FBI; ICE HSI; DEA; ATF; U.S. Border Patrol; USMS; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Department of Transportation; IRS Criminal Investigation; Texas Department of Public Safety; as well as local police departments and sheriff’s offices, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.
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Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to Decade in PrisonRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – An Ohio man who transported methamphetamine to Wetzel County, West Virginia will spend 10 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
Kyle Thomas Bryan, 33, of Warren, Ohio, was sentenced to 120 months today for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. On January 6, 2025, the Marshall County Drug Task Force acted on information from a confidential informant regarding an alleged drug delivery involving Bryan, who was reportedly traveling from Warren, Ohio, to deliver a substantial quantity of methamphetamine. Later that day, Bryan notified the informant that he had arrived in a black Ford F-150 at the residence in Wetzel County. Task Force officers responded and approached the vehicle. Bryan exited the front passenger seat and was found with a glass pipe containing suspected methamphetamine. A subsequent search of the vehicle uncovered nearly half a pound of methamphetamine inside a green bag on the floorboard, as well as a clear plastic bag hidden beneath the front passenger seat.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton Reid prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
Investigative agencies include the Marshall County Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the West Virginia State Police; and the Wetzel County Sheriff’s Office.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Member of Eleven-Person Meth Trafficking Ring Sentenced to over 24 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT – On June 26, 2026, Perry Willis, 37, of Natchitoches, was sentenced to 292 months in federal prison after his guilty plea to Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine in connection with an eleven-person drug trafficking conspiracy operating in central Louisiana.
“This significant sentence reflects the serious threat this organization posed to our community and the importance of dismantling high-volume illicit drug suppliers lurking in our midst,” said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “This Office remains committed to protecting our communities and bringing these dangerous criminals to justice.”
In 2023, the DEA launched an investigation into this drug trafficking ring operating across Louisiana and Texas. Wire taps and surveillance identified Willis and his co-conspirator, Daniel Efferson, 33, of Natchitoches, as members of the network. The investigation escalated on August 16, 2024, when Louisiana authorities conducted a traffic stop of Efferson near the state line. Efferson, Willis, and Jaquez Flakes, 19, of Natchitoches, fled the stop, initiating a vehicle chase that ended in a crash. Agents recovered approximately nine kilograms of methamphetamine and twenty-four pounds of synthetic marijuana from the vehicle. The crash led to further investigation in Houston, where agents seized 221.5 kilograms of liquid methamphetamine, disguised as bottled water, and discovered a meth conversion lab with burners, pots, and 11 kilograms of processed methamphetamine. These seizures linked Willis, Efferson, Flakes, and 8 other co-conspirators to the same supply network.
Others previously charged and sentenced in the case are:
Daniel Efferson, 33, of Natchitoches — 360 months (30 years)
Christopher Caffey, 37, of Shreveport — 262 months (over 21 years)
Joshua Hardy, 32, of Shreveport — 151 months (over 12 years)
Delannie Lee, 51, of Shreveport — 168 months (14 years)
Crystal Williams, 36, of Mansfield — 60 months (5 years)
Kellie Yates, 50, of Shreveport — 3 years’ probation
Amadeo Penaloza-Meza, 22, of Mexico — 135 months (over 11 years)
Brayan Sandoval, 22, of Mexico — 135 months (over 11 years)
Jeffrey Flack, 51, of Shreveport — 120 months (10 years)The last remaining defendant, Flakes, will be sentenced in August of 2026.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Louisiana State Police, and multiple local law-enforcement partners investigated the case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Moody with assistance from Legal Assistant Amanda Morgan.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer, under Case Number 5:24-CR-00256-10.
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Public Affairs
United States Attorney’s Office
Western District of Louisiana
[email protected]
www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
Twitter @USAO_WDLAMaryland Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Exploiting Minor to Produce CSAMRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A Maryland man pled guilty in federal court to child sex abuse crimes.
Luis Esteban Borunda, 67, of Essex, is charged with sexual exploitation of a child, coercion and enticement of a minor, and distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Akil Baldwin, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland; Colonel Michael A. Jackson, Superintendent, Maryland State Police (MSP); Special Agent in Charge Jacob Cameron, Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division (Army CID) – Washington Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Hanna Porterfield, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) – Washington, D.C. Field Office.
According to his guilty plea, Borunda engaged in sex acts, which he recorded, with a 15-year-old minor. Beginning in at least July 2023 through August 2023, Borunda used Snapchat and text messages to communicate with Minor Victim 1, who he ultimately met during a trip to California. While on the trip, Borunda engaged in sex acts with the victim. Borunda used his cell phone to cause the production of a sexually explicit video of Minor Victim 1.
Additionally, in August 2023, Borunda messaged a law enforcement officer posing as a minor female. Borunda continued communicating with law enforcement until August 30, 2023, when authorities arrested him after he followed through with plans to meet with who he thought was an underage female for sex. Law enforcement also discovered that Borunda owned devices on which he stored CSAM.
Borunda faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a minor.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.
Know2Protect is a Department of Homeland Security national public awareness campaign to educate and empower children, teens, parents, trusted adults and policymakers to prevent and combat online child sexual exploitation and abuse; explain how to report online enticement and victimization; and offer resources for victims and survivors and their supporters. Learn more about Know2Protect at www.dhs.gov/know2protect.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended HSI, MSP, Army CID, and NCIS for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Maryam Zhuravitsky who is prosecuting the federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.
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Man Sentenced to Six and a Half Years in Prison for Extorting Money from Chicago RestaurateurRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — After being convicted by a federal jury, a man has been sentenced to six and a half years in federal prison for threatening and assaulting a Chicago restaurateur to collect a debt.
JAWAD FAKROUNE loaned approximately $405,000 to the restaurateur to develop and open a new restaurant in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago and to pay certain taxes. In November 2024, Fakroune began to threaten the restaurateur about repayment of the loan. On the evening of Nov. 25, 2024, Fakroune confronted the restaurateur and threatened him over the manner and nature of the repayments. Fakroune choked, kicked, and punched the restaurateur, while continuing to demand money and repeatedly threatening the lives of the restaurateur and his family.
A jury in federal court in Chicago earlier this year convicted Fakroune, also known as “Angelino Escobar” or “Anjelino Escobar,” 46, on both extortion counts against him. On June 30, 2026, U.S. District Judge Manish S. Shah sentenced Fakroune to 78 months in federal prison. Fakroune is a foreign national who recently resided in the Chicago area.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Lucas Rothaar, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Marta Grijalva, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago.
“The offenses of conviction reflect defendant’s violent nature, danger to the community, and lawlessness,” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Hennessy and Richard M. Rothblatt argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Business disputes are resolved in courts of law—not through violent confrontations in public restaurants.”
Man Sentenced in $39M Bank Fraud Scheme That Defrauded Seven Financial InstitutionsRead the Press Release
A California man was sentenced today to 78 months in prison and three years of supervised release for perpetrating an elaborate bank fraud scheme that took in approximately $39 million from multiple financial institutions over the course of nearly 10 years. He was also ordered to pay over $19.4 million in restitution and $21.8 million in forfeiture.
According to court documents, Gary Topolewski, 64, of Northridge, engaged in the nearly decade-long scheme to defraud multiple financial institutions through the submission of false and fraudulent commercial loan applications on behalf of his purported companies, Topolewski America Inc., Morrison Knudsen Services Inc., and Metal Jeans Inc. As a result, these entities received more than $39 million in fraudulently obtained loan proceeds, with Topolewski unsuccessfully seeking millions more.
Topolewski falsely represented in the loan applications that the loans were for the purchase of large, industrial earth-moving construction equipment, and for business working capital purposes. In reality, Topolewski and his companies did not use the proceeds as represented and instead diverted, laundered, and misappropriated the proceeds for other purposes, including for the purchase of properties and to make Ponzi-like payments to financial lenders to perpetuate the scheme by using loan proceeds from newer loans to pay down the balance of other loans. Topolewski used several aliases, including the stolen identity of a victim, and company names that were similar to those of established companies in the construction and equipment industries.
In December 2025, Topolewski pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada, and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Delzotto of the FBI Las Vegas Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Sara Hallmark of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Lopez for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case.
Lower Brule Man Sentenced to over 7 Years in Federal Prison for Assaulting a Bureau of Indian Affairs Police Officer with His VehicleRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons, announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Lower Brule, South Dakota man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer. The sentencing took place on July 6, 2026.
Cody Crazy Bull, age 35, was sentenced to seven years and three months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Crazy Bull was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 9, 2026.
This conviction stems from an incident that occurred on May 12, 2025, in Lower Brule, South Dakota. Federal officers with the Bureau of Indian Affairs observed Crazy Bull in the driver’s seat of a vehicle in a parking lot. Aware that Crazy Bull had an active tribal arrest warrant, the officers attempted to place him under arrest. As an officer was standing in an open door of the vehicle, Crazy Bull put the vehicle in reverse and backed up quickly, striking the officer with the vehicle door. The officer then jumped into the moving vehicle to avoid being run over and gave repeated commands for Crazy Bull to stop the vehicle. Crazy Bull eventually stopped the vehicle and fled on foot until he was apprehended a short time later hiding in a mechanical closet of a nearby building.
“The reckless and intentional actions of this fugitive from the law might well have killed this heroic federal officer acting in the line of duty,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “Thank goodness the police lieutenant is safe. Our office backs the blue, and we will do everything we can to put anyone who assaults a law enforcement officer behind bars where they belong.”
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services-Lower Brule Agency and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.
Crazy Bull was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.