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13 March 2025
Methamphetamine Trafficker Sentenced to over 30 years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Erik Jeovany Garcia Brizuela, a Mexican national illegally living in the United States, was sentenced to over 30 years in federal prison for his role in a drug-trafficking conspiracy that involved approximately 92.4 pounds of methamphetamine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.
On March 11, 2025, United States District Judge Jane J. Boyle sentenced Garcia Brizuela, 35, to 365 months’ imprisonment. According to court documents, in December 2023, Garcia Brizuela pled guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine in 2021, during which he sold methamphetamine to a confidential human source and enlisted a co-conspirator, Melissa Enit Alvarado, to translate between Spanish and English drug-price negotiations and other details such as meeting times and places with methamphetamine purchasers.
At Garcia Brizuela’s sentencing hearing, a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation testified that Garcia Brizuela cooked liquid methamphetamine into crystal form for his suppliers from Mexico. Testimony further revealed that, after he stopped cooking methamphetamine, he sold methamphetamine for $3,200 to $7,000 per kilogram. On one occasion, Garcia Brizuela received as much as 40 kilograms of methamphetamine. In all, the methamphetamine for which Garcia Brizuela was held responsible had a wholesale value ranging from $134,000.00 to $296,100.00. Sentencing testimony also revealed that Garcia Brizuela sold heroin, at a price of $14,000 per kilogram, aided by Alvarado’s translation assistance.
Melissa Enit Alvarado pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine in September 2022 and was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment on June 23, 2023 by United States District Judge Jane J. Boyle.
“Multiple law enforcement agencies worked together to hold the defendant accountable for his leadership role in an organization that distributed a large amount of methamphetamine,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “Drugs inflict our communities with crime and addiction. The FBI thanks our partners for their continued collaboration in disrupting criminal organizations that threaten the well-being of our residents.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Chad E. Meacham praised the joint efforts of all law enforcement agencies involved in the case, including the Dallas Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration Dallas Field Division, the Dallas Police Department, the Department of Homeland Security, the North Richland Hills Police Department, the Grand Prairie Police Department, the Coppell Police Department and members of the North Texas Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force. Assistant United States Attorney George Leal prosecuted the case.
This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Mason City Man Found Guilty of Distribution of Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking CrimeRead the Press Release
Darius Stackhouse, age 33, from Mason City, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, four counts of distribution of a controlled substance, and one count of possession of a firearm during and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, by a jury on March 12, 2025, after a 3-day trial in federal court in Sioux City. The verdict was returned following about 3 1/2 hours of jury deliberations.
The evidence at trial showed that between June 2021 and March 2023, Stackhouse was part of an ongoing drug conspiracy based in Mason City, Iowa to distribute methamphetamine. Stackhouse sold more than 3 pounds of methamphetamine to sources working with law enforcement. During the execution of several search warrants, more than $30,000 cash was located in Stackhouse’s residence, as well as additional methamphetamine and a firearm he admitted belonged to him.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Stackhouse was taken into custody by the United States Marshal after the verdict was returned and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Stackhouse faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 5-years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case was investigated Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Department and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-3001.
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Man Sentenced to over 21 Years for $3,128,400.00 of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Gerardo Barraza-Ortiz, a Mexican national illegally living in the United States, was sentenced to more than 21 years in federal prison for his role in trafficking over 48 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.
On March 10, 2025, Barraza-Ortiz, 42, was sentenced to 262 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge David C. Godbey. According to court documents, Barraza-Ortiz pled guilty on September 5, 2023, to possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
Testimony at sentencing revealed that in June 2022, after two controlled methamphetamine purchases of approximately one ounce each, officers with the Duncanville, Texas police department executed a search warrant at an auto body shop located on South Cockrell Hill Road in Dallas, Texas. As officers entered the building, Barraza-Ortiz fled from officers but was soon apprehended.
A Duncanville police officer testified that a search of the building revealed approximately 48.66 kilograms (107.05 pounds) of crystalized methamphetamine. Most of the methamphetamine was located in 1,022 small packages hidden in buckets and pallets. A further search of the auto body shop also revealed a freezer, burners, coolers, storage bins, and barrels that were being used to store, cook, and clean liquid methamphetamine into a crystalized form. Officers also located three firearms and several pounds of marijuana during the search.
According to the Duncanville Police Department, the 48.66 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, if sold in ounce quantities, has a street value of approximately $3,128,400.00 in the Dallas, Texas area.
“This conviction sends a clear message that our community will not tolerate the distribution of dangerous narcotics. The successful prosecution of this case is a testament to the dedication and hard work of personnel of the Duncanville Police Department and the United States Attorney’s Office. Removing over $3 million worth of methamphetamine from our streets is a significant victory in our ongoing fight against drug trafficking, and we remain committed to protecting our neighborhoods from the devastating impact of illegal drugs,” said Chief of Police Matthew Stogner.
Acting U.S. Attorney Chad E. Meacham praised the joint efforts of all law enforcement agencies involved in the case, including the Duncanville Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys George Leal and Sarah Douglas prosecuted the case.
Man Arrested, Accused of $270,000 Fraud Involving False Concert ClaimsRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man was arrested Tuesday in Nashville on an indictment that accuses him of fraudulently obtaining $270,000 from a talent booking agency in St. Louis, Missouri with false claims about a concert appearance by a national recording artist.
Joshua Adam Eldridge, 37, was indicted February 26 in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on one count of wire fraud. The indictment says that in March and April of 2024, Eldridge made a series of claims, starting with a false claim that he had an existing relationship with the artist and was talking to her about performing at the Afro Nation Detroit 2024 concert. Eldridge sent the booking agency fake screenshots of texts with the artist’s creative director, the indictment says. Although Eldridge did make a request to the artist through a third party, the offer was rejected, the indictment says. After the victim wired $270,000 for the artist to Eldridge, he used the money for living expenses, including airline tickets, clothing and accessories, the indictment says.
When the victim confronted Eldridge about a planned concert by the artist the same month in Detroit, Eldridge promised a return of the deposit, bolstering the false claim with a fabricated refund agreement between Eldridge and the artist’s creative director, the indictment says.
Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both.
A charge set forth in an indictment is merely an accusation and does not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Bateman is prosecuting the case.
Louisiana man sentenced for trafficking methamphetamine through East TexasRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A Shreveport, LA, man has been sentenced to over 21 years in federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr.
Darren Tremaine Jackson, 41, was convicted at trial in March 2024 of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Jackson was sentenced to 260 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker on March 12, 2025.
According to information presented in court, on February 13, 2020, Jackson, and co-defendant Gary Wayne Sepulvado, were stopped by law enforcement officers for a traffic violation in Smith County. After observing a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, a search was executed, and a kilogram of methamphetamine was discovered. Sepulvado pleaded guilty to related charges on November 15, 2023, and is awaiting sentencing.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Locker and Dustin Farahnak.
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Long Island Bloods Member Charged with Gang-Related Shooting and Selling Fentanyl Resulting in Death and Two Non-Fatal PoisoningsRead the Press Release
Earlier today, a 12-count superseding indictment was unsealed in federal court in Central Islip charging Bloods gang member Joshua Crowell, also known as “Twiggy,” and Bloods associate Bruce King, also known as “Brucey,” with assault in aid of racketeering. Crowell was also charged with distributing fentanyl resulting in death, distributing fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury and other gang related crimes committed in Suffolk County between 2021 and 2024. Crowell and King were arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Lee G. Dunst and ordered detained pending trial.
John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Raymond A. Tierney, Suffolk County District Attorney, Michael Alfonso, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York) and Kevin Catalina, Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), announced the charges.
“The charges in the superseding indictment highlight the extreme danger that violent gangs like the Bloods pose to the people of Long Island, ranging from shootings that injure bystanders to dealing lethal drugs that claim lives and destroy families,” stated United States Attorney Durham. “My Office is working closely with our federal and local partners to make our communities safer by dismantling and eradicating street gangs that have zero regard for human life and holding gang members and associates accountable for their crimes.”
Mr. Durham thanked the Nassau County Police Department and the Southampton Town Police Department for their assistance.
"These alleged gang members represent a grave threat to the safety and stability of our community. Their willingness to engage in brazen acts of violence - as demonstrated by the shooting of three victims in Southampton - shows a complete disregard for human life. Equally disturbing, is the distribution of fentanyl, a lethal substance that has devastated countless families across Suffolk County,” stated District Attorney Tierney. “The charges announced today send a clear message that such dangerous criminal activity will not be tolerated in our neighborhoods and I thank the EDNY for their leadership on this investigation. This case exemplifies why partnerships between local, state and federal law enforcement agencies are essential in our fight against organized crime. These collaborative efforts ensure that violent offenders face the full weight of the law, and they provide us with the tools needed to dismantle criminal organizations from top to bottom.”
“As alleged, the defendants had blatant disregard for human life through their brazen violence and deadly distribution of fentanyl into our Long Island neighborhoods. HSI and its law enforcement partners will continue to identify, disrupt, and dismantle violent gangs operating within our community. I commend our law enforcement partners for their relentless effort and professionalism to make our communities safer,” stated HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Alfonso.
“For years, these individuals have been a scourge on our community through the distribution of fentanyl and vicious gang-related shootings,” stated SCPD Commissioner Catalina. “While their activities often targeted rival gang members, their recklessness could very easily have injured innocent victims. The Suffolk County Police Department will continue to work with its partner law enforcement agencies to put violent gang members behind bars and ensure the safety of Suffolk County residents and visitors.”
As set forth in the superseding indictment and court filings, the defendants engaged in multiple acts of violence on behalf of the Bloods, including a March 2, 2021 shooting in which they traveled to a party hosted by rival gang members at a rented home in Southampton, New York. Upon arrival, the defendants began shooting into the residence with three guns, including an AK-47 style assault rifle, wounding three partygoers who were not gang members.
Additionally, Crowell and co-conspirators operated a longtime drug trafficking network during which Crowell sold fentanyl and other illegal substances. In May 2022, Crowell sold fentanyl that caused serious injury to a female customer. Less than one month later, Crowell sold fentanyl that caused a male customer to stop breathing and die from ingesting the fentanyl. In June 2023, Crowell distributed fentanyl that was ingested by a male customer and caused him to stop breathing. In this instance, life-saving efforts were successful, and he survived.
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Crowell and King each face up to life imprisonment.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Bradley T. King and James R. Simmons and Special Assistant United States Attorney Donald N. Barclay are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendants
JOSHUA CROWELL (also known as “Twiggy”)
Age: 31
Huntington, New YorkBRUCE KING (also known as “Brucey”)
Age: 26
Huntington, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-257 (S-1) (GRB)
Leader of Meth Smuggling Conspiracy Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A Maypearl man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 210 months in prison for his role as an organizer and leader in a conspiracy to import methamphetamine into the U.S. from Mexico.
According to court documents, Stetson Lee Spearman, 36, provided his pickup truck to be used to import 3.422 kgs of 100% pure methamphetamine on July 25, 2020 through the Del Rio Port of Entry. Spearman also arranged for co-defendant Linnette Rodriguez-Potter to be the driver and recruited another co-defendant, Joshua Keith Stewart, to drive to Del Rio in order to monitor the drug smuggling operation.
Spearman was arrested Dec. 10, 2021 and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to import methamphetamine on April 25, 2022.
Rodriguez-Potter was sentenced Dec. 16, 2024 to 168 months imprisonment; Stewart was sentenced Oct. 4, 2024 to 235 months; and Sally Renae Smith, who had coordinated logistics with Rodriguez-Potter through cell phone calls and text messages, was sentenced Feb. 5, 2024 to 292 months imprisonment.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
HSI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rex Beasley prosecuted the case.
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Kyle Man Sentenced to Six Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in the Pine Ridge Reservation and in Rapid CityRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Kyle, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
Milo Shot With Arrow, age 51, was sentenced on March 7, 2025, to six years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Shot With Arrow was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2024, and pleaded guilty on November 13, 2024.
Shot With Arrow’s conviction stemmed from the large-scale distribution of methamphetamine in the Pine Ridge Reservation and in Rapid City, South Dakota. Misty Hornbeck and Nathan Tobacco-Clifford were the source of supply for Shot With Arrow and codefendants Malcom Shot With Arrow, Ruben Clifford, and Tasha Rooks. During the course of the conspiracy, Shot With Arrow and several of his codefendants made trips to Colorado to pick up substantial amounts of methamphetamine from Misty Hornbeck and others. Other times Hornbeck would deliver the drugs to Tobacco-Clifford and others in South Dakota. Once the methamphetamine was in South Dakota, it would be further distributed by multiple individuals, including Shot With Arrow. Between 500 grams and 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine was distributed during the course of this criminal enterprise.
The codefendants’ cases are pending.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Badlands Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, which is comprised of agents from the FBI, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement, Martin Police Department, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.
Shot With Arrow was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following sentencing.
Keene Man Pleads Guilty to His Role in the Production of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Keene man pleaded guilty today in federal court in connection with his role in the production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.
Paul Baird, 44, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the production of child pornography. Judge Steven J. McAuliffe scheduled sentencing for June 25, 2025.
According to the charging documents and statements made in court, on January 29, 2024, Baird took at least one sexually explicit photograph of the minor victim’s genitalia and posted sexually explicit images of the minor victim on a dark website dedicated to CSAM. During the investigation, law enforcement found images and videos that constitute CSAM on the defendant’s phone.
At the time of his arrest, the defendant was employed as a bus driver by the Student Transportation of America, which is a school transportation company that services the Contoocook Valley (ConVal) School District.
The charge of aiding and abetting the production of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, maximum penalty of up to 30 years in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation. The Keene Police Department provided valuable assistance with this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski is prosecuting the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
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Kansas man sentenced for possession of child sexual abuse materialsRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 188 months in prison after federal law enforcement officers discovered child sexual abuse materials at his home.
According to court documents, Scott Warren Vass, 57, of Arkansas City pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.
In April 2023, while executing a search warrant at Vass’ home, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents seized multiple devices belonging to Vass containing child sexual abuse materials. Further investigation revealed several of Vass’ Google accounts also contained sexually explicit depictions of minors under 12 years of age.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gordon prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Childhood
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.###
Jury Convicts Ohio Man of Multiple Drug Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – An Aberdeen, Ohio, man was convicted on Thursday by a federal jury in Covington for multiple drug trafficking charges.
After slightly over one hour of deliberation, following a four-day trial, the jury convicted 37-year-old Gary Cunningham, Jr. of one count of conspiracy with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and eight counts of distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to testimony at trial, law enforcement identified Frederick Overly III, as a source of supply for methamphetamine, and used a confidential informant to make eight controlled purchases from Overly. Each purchase was arranged by the informant calling Overly, who in turn indicated that he would need to get the methamphetamine from his supplier, Cunningham. Each time, Cunningham sold Overly the methamphetamine that Overly subsequently sold to the informant, totaling more than 50 grams.
Cunningham was previously convicted of three counts of first-degree trafficking of a controlled substance in Mason County Circuit Court in 2013, and second-degree robbery in Mason County Circuit Court in 2014.
Cunningham and Overly were indicted in July 2023. Overly pleaded guilty to his charges in August 2024.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; jointly announced the conviction.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tony Bracke and Drew Spievack.
Cunningham will appear for sentencing on May 29, 2025. He faces a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of life in prison. However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing a sentence.
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Johnstown Man Sentenced to over Four Years in Prison for Narcotics TraffickingRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 50 months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, on his conviction of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on Joshua Edmonds, 31. According to information presented to the Court, from in and around February 2021 to in and around April 2021, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Edmonds conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine, and a quantity of a mixture of heroin. Edmonds was intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining quantities of the drugs that he distributed to other members of the drug organization in Johnstown.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Edmonds. Additional agencies participating in the investigation included the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, Cambria County District Attorney’s Office, Indiana County
District Attorney’s Office, Cambria County Sheriff’s Office, Cambria Township Police Department, Indiana Borough Police Department, Johnstown Police Department, Upper Yoder Township Police Department, Richland Police Department, Ferndale Police Department, and other local law enforcement agencies.This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Johnstown Man Pleads Guilty to Narcotics Trafficking and Unlawful Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal narcotics and firearms laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
James Dotson, 46, pleaded guilty to Counts One, Three, Four, Five, and Nine of the Superseding Indictment before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from in and around April 2019 to in and around July 2021, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Dotson conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, 500 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine, 28 grams or more of a mixture of crack, 40 grams or more of a mixture of fentanyl, and quantities of heroin and cocaine. Dotson was one of the targets of a federal wiretap and was intercepted obtaining quantities of the drugs that he distributed to others. Further, in and around June 2021, Dotson unlawfully possessed a firearm as a convicted felon. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for July 24, 2025. The law provides for a total maximum sentence of not less than 15 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $20 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Dotson. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, Cambria County District Attorney’s Office, Indiana County District Attorney’s Office, Cambria County Sheriff’s Office, Cambria Township Police Department, Indiana Borough Police Department, Johnstown Police Department, Upper Yoder Township Police Department, Richland Police Department, Ferndale Police Department, and other local law enforcement agencies.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Johnstown Man Pleads Guilty to Narcotics TraffickingRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Azheem Ellis, 49, pleaded guilty to Count One of the Superseding Indictment before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from in and around April 2019 to in and around July 2021, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Ellis conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine, and quantities of heroin, cocaine, and crack. Ellis was one of the targets of a federal wiretap and was intercepted obtaining quantities of the drugs that he distributed to others.
Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for July 24, 2025. The law provides for a total maximum sentence of not less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Ellis. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, Cambria County District Attorney’s Office, Indiana County District Attorney’s Office, Cambria County Sheriff’s Office, Cambria Township Police Department, Indiana Borough Police Department, Johnstown Police Department, Upper Yoder Township Police Department, Richland Police Department, Ferndale Police Department, and other local law enforcement agencies.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Indictment Returned on Unprovoked Attack at Smithsonian MuseumRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Kelly Williams, 52, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was indicted by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on a seven-count indictment stemming from an armed attack on January 12, 2025, in front of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
A grand jury indicted Williams on March 12, 2025, on charges of assault with intent to kill while armed, malicious disfigurement while armed, aggravated assault while armed, and other related offenses. Arraignment is scheduled for March 27, 2025.
According to the government’s evidence, on January 12, 2025, Williams followed the victim, a tourist from New Zealand, as the victim was walking past the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. Williams approached the victim from behind, pulled her to the ground, and began punching the victim in the face. During the course of the attack, Williams pulled out a knife and repeatedly attempted to slash the victim’s neck, as the victim struggled to protect herself. During the attack, Williams stabbed the victim in the face, causing a serious wound requiring roughly 40 stitches. Williams reportedly ended the attack only after bystanders intervened.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmanuel Hampton.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Illinois Man to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm in HumboldtRead the Press Release
Marcus Fair, 28, from Dolton, Illinois, was sentenced on March 12, 2025, to 57 months’ imprisonment for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Evidence showed that on September 21, 2022, law enforcement responded to a Humboldt, Iowa, residence for a report of domestic disturbance and animal cruelty involving Fair and others. After conducting interviews, law enforcement learned there was a discarded backpack in a nearby woods. Officers located the backpack and found items that belonged to Fair, including a loaded Taurus G3C 9mm pistol with an obliterated serial number, an extended magazine, and marijuana. As a user of marijuana, Fair was prohibited from possessing firearms.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Fair was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment and must serve a three-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Fair remains in custody of the United States Marshal Service until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, Humboldt Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-3042. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Illegal Immigrant Sentenced to 12 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
According to court documents, Kenny Fernando Castillo, 29, was arrested by Foley Police Department on December 14, 2024, for drunken driving. Foley Police suspected that Castillo was not a United States citizen, so they contacted law enforcement personnel with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE was able to determine that Castillo had previously been removed from the United States in 2018. Castillo had also previously been convicted of DUI in 2017.
At sentencing, Judge Moorer imposed the 12-month sentence of incarceration and a 1-year term of supervised release upon his future release. Upon his release from prison, Castillo is to be referred to immigration officials for deportation proceedings. Castillo was ordered to pay $100 in special assessments.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, and Foley Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kacey Chappelear prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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.
Hugo Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm and Child Sex Abuse Materials ChargesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Chayse Anthony Beard, age 24, of Hugo, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Possession of an Unregistered Firearm and one count of Possession of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
The Information alleged that on July 17, 2024, Beard knowingly possessed one Remington, model SPR100, 20ga, with a barrel of less than 18 inches in length, and one Aero Precision, model X15, 300 Blackout caliber, with a barrel of less than 16 inches in length and an overall length less than 26 inches, which were not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
Additionally, the Information alleged that on July 17, 2024, Beard knowingly possessed, and accessed with intent to view, visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Durant Police Department.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Beard was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.
Hugo Resident Pleads Guilty to Failure to Register as A Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Donovan Tyler Ray, age 33, of Hugo, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Failure to Register as Sex Offender.
The Indictment alleged that Ray received a felony conviction of Rape—Second Degree from the State of Oklahoma in 2020 and was required to register as a sex offender. From November 21, 2024, until January 3, 2025, Ray failed to register and update his registration despite entering, leaving, or residing in Indian country, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the United States Marshals Service.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Ray will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Pippin represented the United States.
Hot Springs Man Sentenced to More Than 12 Years for Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
HOT SPRINGS – A Hot Springs, Arkansas man was sentenced yesterday to 151 months in Federal Prison for Distribution of Methamphetamine. The Honorable Chief Judge Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing hearing, which took place in the United States District Court in Hot Springs.
According to court records, while conducting narcotics investigations in the Hot Springs, Garland, County area, the 18th East Judicial District Drug Task Force identified Antwon Lakeith Burns, age 41, as an area drug dealer. On April 10, 2024, Investigators conducted a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Burns. The methamphetamine purchased was sent to the DEA crime lab for analysis, and it was confirmed to be 52.9 grams of pure methamphetamine.
On October 7, 2024, Burns pleaded guilty to Distribution of a more than fifty (50) grams of Methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes made the announcement.
The 18th Judicial District East Drug Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations Little Rock investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Daniels prosecuted the case for the United States.
Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov.
Honduran National Guilty of Re-entry of a Deported AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ActingU.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that EVIN ENRIQUE FUNEZ-CRUZ (“FUNEZ-CRUZ”), age 22, a native of Honduras, plead guilty on March 12, 2025, to reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Sections 1326(a) and (b)(1).
According to court documents, FUNEZ-CRUZ, was apprehended in St. Tammany Parish on or around January 6, 2025. He had been previously deported to Honduras on June 21, 2024.
FUNEZ-CRUZ faces a maximum penalty of ten years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.
Heroin Dealer Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who sold heroin and cocaine on the street near Loras College in 2017 and 2018 was sentenced today to more than two years in federal prison.
Willie Smith, age 27, from Chicago, Illinois, received the prison term after a September 25, 2024, guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and heroin within 1000 feet of Loras College, and one count of distribution of heroin within 1000 feet of Loras College. At the guilty plea, Smith admitted he worked with others to sell cocaine and heroin out of a house near Loras College.
Smith was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Smith was sentenced to 33 months’ imprisonment and he must also serve a six-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Smith is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick J. Reinert and Nicole Nagin and was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department
of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Iowa Medical Examiner’s Office and the Dubuque Drug Task Force, comprised of Dubuque Police Department, Dubuque Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-01021.
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Hamburg man going to prison for selling fentanyl and possessing a gunRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Michael Burnett, 40, of Hamburg, NY, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, was sentenced to serve 96 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan K. Glaberson, who handled the case, stated that in September 2022, the New York State Police and Hamburg Police Department began investigating Burnett’s fentanyl trafficking operation. On February 1, 2023, investigators searched Burnett’s Holiday Lane apartment, seizing four bags of fentanyl, a loaded firearm, drug paraphernalia, $9,797 in cash, and a 4.8 carat gold and diamond necklace appraised at $23,900, which represents proceeds from his drug trafficking activities. Burnett was previously convicted of felonies in Erie County Court in 2010 and 2019 and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
The sentencing is a result of an investigation by the Hamburg Police Department, under the direction of Chief Peter Dienes, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarentino, New York Field Division.
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Guatemalan National Charged with Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Guatemalan national residing in West Springfield has been arrested and charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.
Jose Martinez-Lopez, also known as “Amalio Mendez-Molina,” 33, was charged with one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Martinez-Lopez was arrested on March 11, 2025 and was ordered detained until trial following an initial appearance in federal court in Springfield yesterday.
According to the charging documents, Martinez-Lopez is a national of Guatemala. On Aug. 28, 2009, Martinez-Lopez was removed from the United States to Guatemala after he entered the United States illegally at an unknow prior date.
Sometime after his removal, Martinez-Lopez unlawfully reentered the United States and was subsequently deported on May 10, 2011.
It is alleged that Martinez-Lopez then re-entered the United States illegally for a third time. On Aug. 8, 2011, he was found guilty in Phoenix, Ariz. of human smuggling conspiracy and sentenced to a one-year probationary period. He was subsequently removed from the United States on Aug. 23, 20211.
Martinez-Lopez allegedly re-entered the United States illegally for a fourth time. On Nov. 25, 2022 and June 17, 2023, Martinez-Lopez was twice arrested by the Cook County, IL Sherriff’s Office for domestic battery/bodily harm.
On June 18, 2023, federal immigration authorities lodged a detainer for Martinez-Lopez. On March 10, 2025, Martinez-Lopez (using the name Amalio Mendez-Molina) was arrested in West Springfield by local law enforcement for assault and battery on a police officer. Fingerprints taken during his arrest allegedly with Martinez-Lopez’s biometrics from his prior encounters with law enforcement.
The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. 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 and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Guatemalan Fugitive Living in the United States Illegally Under Fake Identity Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Gun TraffickingRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Ricardo Fermin Sune-Giron (34) to 14 years in federal prison for conspiracy to traffic in firearms, gun trafficking, dealing in firearms without a license, and possessing firearms as an illegal alien. The court also ordered Sune-Giron to forfeit all the firearms and ammunition seized from his residence. Sune-Giron pleaded guilty on December 11, 2024.
According to the plea agreement, between 2023 and April 2024, Sune-Giron was a member of a large-scale firearms trafficking operation. He recruited individuals, known as “straw purchasers,” to illegally buy firearms—including Glocks, rifles and AK-47s—from licensed federal firearms dealers across Florida. After obtaining the firearms, Sune-Giron and his co-conspirators smuggled them overseas, shipping them to countries including the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Between 2023 and 2024, Sune-Giron and his co-conspirators trafficked more than 1,000 firearms. Several of these firearms were later recovered at crime scenes.
On April 18, 2024, ATF and HSI agents in Tampa and Orlando executed three coordinated search warrants at three residences in the Orlando area, including Sune-Giron’s residence. Agents recovered approximately 57 firearms, 30 empty gun boxes, approximately $16,000 in cash, ammunition, and money counters.
At the time of the search, Sune-Giron was living in the United States illegally under an assumed name.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes and Noah P. Dorman.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
Guatemala Resident Pleads Guilty and is Sentenced for Illegal Reentry into U.S.Read the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Guatemala pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of illegal reentry of a removed alien and was sentenced to time served on his conviction, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV imposed the sentence on Eric Estuardo Hernandez-Ramos, 19.
According to information presented to the Court, on January 25, 2025, immigration officials encountered Hernandez-Ramos, who was illegally present in the United States. It was determined that Hernandez-Ramos previously had been removed from the country on December 18, 2023, after illegally entering the United States near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, a few days prior. Hernandez-Ramos remained in immigration custody until February 20, 2025, after he was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service on this charge at his initial appearance in federal court. Hernandez-Ramos will remain detained and be returned to immigration custody.
Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Hernandez-Ramos.
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, combat illegal immigration, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Georgian Organized Crime Boss and Associates Convicted and Sentenced for Extortion OffensesRead the Press Release
Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the sentences imposed on VAZHA GABADADZE, TEIMURAZ TAVBERIDZE, KAKHA KATSADZE, and DAVIT TIKARADZE for extortion offenses. The defendants include the leader of a criminal enterprise from the Republic of Georgia and his associates. The last of the defendants to be sentenced, TAVBERIDZE, was sentenced to 21 months in prison today by U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff after having been convicted on December 9, 2024, following a one-week jury trial. The remaining three defendants were previously sentenced to terms of prison ranging from 12 to 30 months.
Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said: “Vazha Gabadadze and his associates threatened to mutilate and kill a victim if he did not provide them with money. They intimidated the victim, relying on their connections to violent organized crime, to obtain thousands of dollars. But thanks to the dedication of the FBI and the career prosecutors of this Office, all four defendants have been brought to justice and will serve federal prison time for their crimes.”
According to the Indictment, public court filings, and statements made in court:
GABADADZE is a crowned “vor v zakone” and the leader of a criminal enterprise from the Republic of Georgia. A vor v zakone, which is a Russian phrase that translates to “thief-in-law” or “thief within the code,” is part of a fraternal order of criminals that dates back to the time of the czars. The vor stands at the highest level of Russian and Georgian organized criminal groups. Traditionally, vory demand and receive tribute from criminals and laypersons, license criminal activity by others, and resolve disputes between members of the criminal community. Payment demands are enforced by violence and threats of violence. TAVBERIDZE, KATSADZE, and TIKARADZE each worked under GABADADZE’s supervision and control.
In 2017, in Georgia, GABADADZE approached an individual (the “Victim”) and demanded $15,000, claiming that the Victim’s friend owed GABADADZE the money. The Victim subsequently moved to the U.S.
In 2022, GABADADZE followed the Victim to the U.S. and reinitiated the extortion. GABADADZE and the other defendants pursued, harassed, and threatened to kill and maim the Victim and his family if he did not pay. Those threats were particularly violent and included, among others, that one or more of the defendants would “break [the Victim’s] spine over his knee,” “peel out [the Victim’s] eyes,” that the Victim would be beaten beyond recognition to his family, and that the Victim’s dead body would be found “when the snow melts.”
Each of the defendants played a particular role in executing the extortion. GABADADZE was the leader of the scheme and ultimate beneficiary of the extortion payments. TAVBERIDZE was primarily responsible for pursuing and communicating with the Victim and, in that capacity, personally threatened the Victim and collected extortion funds from the Victim. KATSADZE managed the collection of the extortion payments, receiving such payments from TAVBERIDZE and passing them along to GABADADZE. TIKARADZE served as GABADADZE’s secretary and threatened the Victim on at least one occasion. In total, the defendants received approximately $19,000 during the course of the extortion.
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GABADADZE and KATSADZE each pled guilty to one count of Hobbs Act extortion. TIKARADZE pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act extortion. TAVBERIDZE was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act extortion and one count of Hobbs Act extortion after trial. A chart containing the sentences that each of the defendants received is set forth below.
DefendantAgeSentence of ImprisonmentVazha Gabadadze4230 MonthsTeimuraz Tavberidze5521 MonthsKakha Katsadze4621 MonthsDavit Tikaradze5412 MonthsMr. Podolsky praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Podolsky also thanked U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the New York City Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Getzel Berger, Varun Gumaste, Chelsea Scism, and Daniel Richenthal are in charge of the prosecution.
Georgia Man Guilty of Hate Crime Attack Against Letter CarrierRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A Washington County, Georgia, man who made threats and racial slurs against a letter carrier and then six months later escalated his threats when he hit the letter carrier’s vehicle with his tractor was found guilty of aggravated assault and other charges.
William Charles Franklin, 36, of Tennille, Georgia, was found guilty on all counts charged against him in the indictment: obstruction of the mails (Count 1), assault upon a federal officer (Count 2), aggravated assault upon a federal officer (Count 3) and retaliating against a witness (Count 4) on March 11, following a two-day trial. In addition, on March 12, Franklin was found guilty of a hate crime enhancement for Counts 2-4, an increased penalty. Franklin faces a maximum sentence of six months in prison and a $100,000 fine for Count 1 and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for Counts 2-4. U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell is presiding over this case. The Court will determine a sentencing date. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Violent, hate-filled attacks against federal employees and residents of the Middle District of Georgia will not be tolerated,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker. “I want to thank the Washington County Sheriff’s Department and the United States Postal Inspection Service for their dedication to ensuring justice and in helping us hold the defendant accountable for harming a letter carrier.”
“As Washington County Sheriff, I am proud that the diverse citizenry of Washington County works together for the good of our community. I am disappointed when I learn of criminal behavior motivated by racial animus,” said Washington County Sheriff Joel Cochran. “I hope this conviction and sentence sends a clear message that those who commit such crimes will be held accountable and such behavior will not be tolerated.”
“The safety and security of postal employees is core to the mission of the Postal Inspection Service,” said Jessica L. Wagner, Acting Inspector in Charge of the United States Postal Inspection Service, Atlanta Division. “The partnership between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office has been mutually beneficial to quickly and safely resolve this incident, which resulted in bringing this individual in this case to justice.”
According to court documents, evidence and statements referenced in Court, the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) received a complaint on June 11, 2024, and began an investigation into threats and obstruction made by Franklin to a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier serving the Washington County, Georgia, area. Under the advice of the supervisor, the letter carrier recorded the end of a confrontation between him and Franklin, arguing about moving the letter carrier’s vehicle. Franklin was recorded using racial slurs against the letter carrier and stated that his free speech was protected. The letter carrier was recorded stating that if he was off duty, such statements and threats would lead to a fight. Franklin responded that they could “square up” right then. The letter carrier said no because he would lose his job. Franklin can be heard getting agitated and aggressive with the letter carrier and issuing more salacious racist slurs about him and the community where he lives. The letter carrier told investigators that Franklin threatened to punch his face, run him over with Franklin’s tractor and call someone else to come to the location to bring a rope so that Franklin could “drag” him away. A family member corroborated that Franklin called to request a rope.
On Dec. 3, 2024, the letter carrier’s vehicle was involved in a hit-and-run with a green tractor in Washington County. The letter carrier observed the tractor come towards the USPS vehicle, and he pulled over to allow the tractor to pass. The tractor hit the letter carrier’s vehicle, destroyed a stop sign and fled the scene. Soon afterward, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the USPIS discovered a tractor matching the description in a nearby field, its engine still warm with fresh damage. The tractor was registered to Franklin. In addition, two witnesses reported seeing a vehicle registered to Franklin’s wife come to the area immediately following the incident at a high rate of speed. Warrants for Franklin’s arrest and the seizure of his and his wife’s cell phones were issued on Dec. 5. After reviewing Franklin’s phone, agents found where Franklin had saved the letter carrier’s picture following the incident on June 11. They found additional evidence that supported the finding that Franklin’s crimes were motivated, at least in part, by the race and color of the letter carrier. Franklin was taken into custody on Dec. 6. At his arrest, agents found two AR-15 styled rifles inside his truck and Franklin was carrying a loaded pistol.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the GBI and the United States Marshals Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sonja Profit and Elizabeth Howard are prosecuting the case for the Government.
Georgia Businessman Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud and Making False Statements to the Department of Veterans AffairsRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Spencer Askew, the founder and former CEO of E-Freight Solutions Worldwide, LLC, a Georgia-based logistics and supply chain company, pleaded guilty to defrauding Vinings Bank in connection with obtaining a $1 million line of credit. Askew also pleaded guilty to making false statements to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in June 2020, falsely claiming that he had a relationship with 3M and could supply the VA with KN95-like masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Askew can no longer avoid the consequences of engaging in a fraudulent scheme that resulted in the loss of millions of dollars and of aggravating his criminal conduct by making false statements to law enforcement,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. “This prosecution underscores our commitment to work with agency partners to combat all forms of fraud and deception.”
“The defendant in this case was brought to justice for submitting falsified financial information about his companies to financial institutions in order to fraudulently obtain millions of dollars in loans and lines of credit,” said Special Agent in Charge Kyle A. Myles, of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General, Atlanta Region. “The FDIC OIG will continue to work diligently with our law enforcement partners to investigate and hold accountable those who commit such fraudulent offenses that threaten the safety and soundness of our Nation’s financial institutions.”
“This guilty plea holds the defendant accountable for his egregious attempt to exploit VA programs and services during a global pandemic,” said Special Agent in Charge David Spilker, Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General’s Southeast Field Office. “The VA OIG is dedicated to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure schemes like this are uncovered, investigated, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Moultrie, the charges, and other information presented in court: Askew started E-Freight Solutions Worldwide, LLC in March 2010. E-Freight Solutions was a logistics and supply company that provided a network for carriers and suppliers of goods to partner and arrange the transportation of goods. In May 2015, Askew founded another entity, Techknowlogi Holdings, LLC d/b/a Teknowlogi. Teknowlogi conducted little or no actual business. Between February and April 2018, Askew executed a scheme to defraud Vinings Bank to obtain financing on behalf of Teknowlogi.
Initially, Askew falsely claimed to Vinings Bank that he was seeking the financing to acquire another logistics company, SaaS Transportation. But ultimately he obtained the financing by submitting materially false information regarding the nature of Teknowlogi’s business and financial condition. Also, several years later, in June 2020, Askew repeatedly lied to a federal special agent about his ability to provide protective personal equipment – KN-95-like masks – to the VA during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In April 2023, a federal grand jury returned a sealed indictment against Askew, charging him with bank fraud and money laundering. In April 2024, Askew was arrested in Arizona after crossing the border from Mexico. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Askew agreed to pay more than $6 million in restitution.
On March 6, 2025, Spencer Askew, 46, of Newnan, Georgia, pleaded guilty to a criminal information charging him with one count of bank fraud and one count of making false statements to a federal agency. His sentencing is scheduled on May 15, 2025, at 10:00 am, before Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten, Sr.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General, and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex R. Sistla is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6280. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Former High School Athletic Trainer Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WACO, Texas – A Moody man who had worked as a high school athletic trainer was sentenced in a federal court in Waco to 84 months in prison for possession of visual depictions of sexual activities by minors.
According to court documents, Trevor Swift, 57, was employed as an athletic trainer at Lake Belton High School in May 2022 when students, through his office window, observed him viewing images depicting child sexual abuse material on his cell phone. Students recorded Swift’s activities and reported his conduct to administrators. Swift admitted to Temple Police Department investigators that he had viewed sexually explicit images but said they were of adult males and females. He was dismissed from campus and placed on administrative leave. Swift was arrested May 26, 2022 and was convicted in a bench trial July 31, 2024.
The investigation included seizure of an SD memory card from Swift’s office at the high school, which revealed pornographic images depicting prepubescent and pubescent children—males and females as young as 5 years of age or younger—engaged in sexual acts.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The FBI and the Temple Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Kucera prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Former Harford County Sheriff’s Office Detective Facing Federal Charges for Sexual Exploitation of two ChildrenRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has indicted Ryan Christopher Hall, 50, of Woodstock, Maryland, charging him with Sexual Exploitation of a Child and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material. Hall is a former domestic violence detective who served 27 years with the Harford County Sheriff’s Office.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Carroll County State’s Attorney Haven N. Shoemaker, Jr.; Sheriff James T. DeWees, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office; and Sheriff Jeff Gahler, Harford County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the 10-count indictment, from May 2017 thru October 2024, Hall sexually abused two minor children. Authorities discovered that Hall installed cameras to produce child sexual abuse material and possessed child sexual abuse material.
If convicted, Hall faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for each count of Sexual Exploitation of a Child. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.
A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Hall’s initial appearance in federal court is set for Wednesday, March 19, before Magistrate Judge A. David Copperthite.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.
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 www.justice.gov/psc. Learn more about Internet safety education by clicking 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, the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office Special Victims Unit, and Carroll County Sheriff’s Office Crimes Against Children Unit for their combined effort and work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn 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, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Former Federal Task Force Agent Found Guilty of CorruptionRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – After a five-day jury trial, a federal jury convicted Antonio Pizarro Adorno, a former Puerto Rico Special Investigations Bureau (“NIE” as known in Spanish) officer who was assigned to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (HSI), for corruptly concealing $170 during a law enforcement seizure. United States District Court Judge Camille Vélez-Rivé presided over the trial.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on April 27, 2023, Pizarro Adorno, took $170 in cash seized by the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB), with the intent to impair its integrity and availability for use in an investigation being conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives related to drug trafficking in a community in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
“The vast majority of law enforcement officers serve the community with honor and valor,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico. “Those who do not, will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Every act of corruption, big or small, weakens the foundation of justice, and we will not tolerate it,” said Devin J. Kowalski, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “The FBI remains focused on holding accountable those who betray that trust, no matter the amount, no matter the circumstances.”
The FBI San Juan Field Office, Public Corruption Unit is investigating the case, with the collaboration of the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Pizarro Adorno is facing up to 20 years in prison. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 10, 2025.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie Christine Amy prosecuted the case.
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Former Dog Care Employee Pleads Guilty in the Death of a DogRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jovon Hawkins, 25, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty to felony animal cruelty, for causing the death of Appa, a 4-year-old Shih Tzu mix, on May 27, 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr.
According to the government’s evidence, two local DC residents boarded their dog, a 4-year-old white Shih Tzu named Appa at City Dogs, a dog day care and boarding facility located at 301 H Street NE, Washington, D.C., over Memorial Day weekend in 2024. Hawkins, an employee of City Dogs, was alone in the facility on May 27, 2024. At approximately 7:40 p.m., Hawkins cornered Appa and a tan chihuahua that were sitting on a dog bed. Hawkins leaned over and reached towards the dogs. One of the dogs reacted by barking and the chihuahua fled from Hawkins. Hawkins then moved the dog bed out of the corner with his left foot and used his hands to brace himself against the wall and kicked Appa. As Appa yelped, Hawkins stomped on him, then kicked him again. Appa went silent. As a result of Hawkins’s actions, Appa died that night from blunt force trauma.
Hawkins admitted guilt on March 3, 2025, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Robert Salerno scheduled sentencing for May 5, 2025. Hawkins faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
This case was investigated by the Washington Humane Society and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Hanley.
Former Baltimore City Council Candidate Convicted of Bank Fraud and False Statements in Connection with Scheme to Obtain Nearly $1.7 Million in Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Paycheck Protection Program LoansRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – After a one-week trial, a federal jury found Nichelle Henson, age 38, of Baltimore, Maryland, guilty of making false statements and for bank fraud in connection with fraudulent applications Henson filed to obtain Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans in the names of multiple purported businesses that she had previously incorporated in the state of Maryland.
The trial conviction was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Kelly O. Hayes; Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Brian D. Miller, Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery (SIGPR).
According to the evidence presented at trial, Henson incorporated several businesses with the State of Maryland, including Crowns Construction, LLC; Nichelle Henson Campaign, LLC; One Stop for Services, LLC; Your Friendly Tax Preparation Services, LLC; Women Entrepreneurs Can Succeed, LLC, and Peace of Mind Services, Inc. The Defendant opened bank accounts in the names of some of her businesses and obtained Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for the businesses.
In 2020 and 2021, she submitted six fraudulent EIDL applications to the SBA for her various businesses that contained false information concerning each business’s gross receipts, costs of goods sold, and number of employees. At the time of the submissions, none of the businesses were operating, and none of the businesses had any employees. As a result of the applications, Henson received $18,000 in United States Treasury funds from the SBA.
Financial assistance offered through the CARES Act included forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through the PPP, administered through the Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA also offered an EIDL and/or an EIDL advance to help businesses meet their financial obligations. An EIDL advance did not have to be repaid, and small businesses could receive an advance, even if they were not approved for an EIDL loan. The maximum advance amount was $10,000.
During this same period, Henson submitted 12 fraudulent PPP loan applications to three SBA-approved lenders for her various purported businesses. Each of these applications contained false information about each business’s number of employees and average monthly payroll, and each was supported by purported IRS tax forms listing employees and wages that were, in fact, never filed with the IRS.
Between April 30, 2020 and June 29, 2020, Henson submitted six PPP applications for her various businesses. One of these businesses was called Nichelle Henson Campaign (the “Campaign”), an entity that was meant to fund Henson’s run for Baltimore City Council. However, at the time of the submission of the application for the Campaign on May 10, 2020, Henson had withdrawn her candidacy – approximately six months earlier, on November 19, 2019.
Another entity was called Crowns Construction, a purported construction business located in Baltimore City. This business did not exist in any capacity, and the address used on the PPP loan application was nothing more than a vacant lot. In support of the application for this business, Henson included a fabricated Baltimore Gas & Electric that purported to be for Crowns Construction but was in fact a bill belonging to a neighbor of Henson’s that she had scanned and then doctored using a PDF editing tool.
Henson ultimately obtained $998,590 as a result of these six fraudulent applications. On January 19, 2021, Henson submitted six more fraudulent PPP loan applications—this time to M&T Bank—for each of her six purported businesses. Each of these applications contained lies about the existence of each business, the number of their employees, and payroll paid. And each application was supported by fabricated tax documents never filed with the IRS. M&T funded five of the six loans, transferring $676,250 in PPP funds to Henson. Shortly thereafter Henson went to an M&T branch in Baltimore and withdrew $5,000 cash from each of her five M&T accounts where the PPP funds flowed. M&T thereafter froze Henson’s accounts and notified law enforcement about the suspected fraud.
Henson used the EIDL and PPP loan funds to support businesses other than the borrowers, such as Wyse Rides, a used car business Henson attempted to open in Dundalk, Maryland. The business never opened. Henson used the PPP funds she received in multiple ways impermissible under the PPP, including for cosmetic surgery, for extensive renovations to her home and a family member’s home, to pay a year’s rent for her personal home, to pay a year’s rent for a new business venture, and to fund other new business ventures, including a used car dealership—which never opened—and to create a cryptocurrency called Subina Coin and, relatedly, to fund an entity called the “Adageyhdi Indian Nation.”
In total, Henson obtained $1,694,451 in connection with her scheme to defraud.
Henson faces a maximum possible sentence of 30 years in federal prison for each count of Bank Fraud, and a maximum possible sentence of 5 years in prison for each count of False Statements. U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox has scheduled sentencing for August 5, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. She will be required to pay restitution to the SBA and the victim financial institutions.
The District of Maryland Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act. The CARES Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.
For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
United States Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended the FBI and the Office of the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery, which conducted the investigation on behalf of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Fraud Task Force, for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Riley and Joseph Wenner, who are prosecuting the federal case, and Paralegal Specialist Julie Jarman.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Foreign National Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Salvador Diaz-Hermosillo, age 38, entered a guilty plea to one count of Illegal Alien in Possession of a Firearm.
The Indictment charged Diaz-Hermosillo, an alien illegally and unlawfully in the United States, and who knew of his status, with knowingly possessing a .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle. According to investigators, Diaz-Hermosillo was found in possession of the firearm during the course of being investigated and arrested by the Sallisaw Police Department for Driving Under the Influence.
Illegal aliens are prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(5).
The charge arose from an investigation by the Homeland Security Investigations of the United States Department of Homeland Security, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Sallisaw Police Department.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Diaz-Hermosillo will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dak T. Cohen represented the United States.
Florida Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Traveling to have Sex with ChildRead the Press Release
A Florida man who traveled from Florida to the Northern District of Texas to have sex with a minor was sentenced on March 11, 2025 to 30 years in federal prison, announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.
Carlos Robles, 31, was indicted in May 2020 and pleaded guilty in August 2022 to Interstate Travel with Intent to Engage in a Sexual Act with a Minor. He was sentenced on March 11, 2025 to the statutory maximum of 360 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Karen G. Scholer, who also ordered him to 24 years of supervision following his release and registration as a sex offender.
According to court documents, on or about January 31, 2020, the defendant traveled via commercial airline from Florida to the Northern District of Texas for the purposes of engaging in sexual conduct with the victim, who was under the age of 18. In handing down the sentence, the court emphasized the need to protect society from further crimes of the defendant. Specifically, the Court noted multiple facts of the case when imposing the sentence, including the age of the victim, the fact the defendant had over 5,000 messages with the victim in a four-month span, and that the defendant traveled from Florida four times to meet the victim, including once at a roller-skating rink.
“The sentence today is a message to anyone who even thinks about traveling to the Northern District of Texas to prey on children – you will go to prison for a very long time,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Meacham.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Garland Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jongwoo Chung and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Camille Sparks prosecuted the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Florida Man Sentenced for Biofuel Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MIAMI – The General Manager of a company that produces and sells renewable fuel and fuel credits was sentenced today to serve 37 months in prison to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release for his role in a scheme that generated over $7 million in fraudulent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) renewable fuels credits and sought over $6 million in fraudulent tax credits connected to the purported production of biodiesel.
Royce Gillham worked at a biofuel company based in Fort Pierce, Florida, that claimed to turn various feedstocks into biodiesel. However, when reporting the number of gallons they produced to the IRS and EPA, Gillham and his employer vastly overstated their production volume in an effort to generate more credits. When auditors sought more information from the company, Gillham and his co-conspirators provided false information about their fuel production and customers.
Gillham previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and to file false claims.
U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) made the announcement.
EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division and IRS Criminal Investigations investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Funk for the Southern District of Florida and Senior Trial Attorney Adam Cullman of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section prosecuted the case.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-cr-14046.
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Florida Man Sentenced for Biofuel Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
The General Manager of a company that produces and sells renewable fuel and fuel credits was sentenced today to serve 37 months in prison to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release for his role in a scheme that generated over $7 million in fraudulent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) renewable fuels credits and sought over $6 million in fraudulent tax credits connected to the purported production of biodiesel.
Royce Gillham worked at a biofuel company based in Fort Pierce, Florida, that claimed to turn various feedstocks into biodiesel. However, when reporting the number of gallons they produced to the IRS and EPA, Gillham and his employer vastly overstated their production volume in an effort to generate more credits. When auditors sought more information from the company, Gillham and his co-conspirators provided false information about their fuel production and customers.
Gillham previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and to file false claims.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) and U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida made the announcement.
EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division and IRS Criminal Investigations investigated the case.
Senior Trial Attorney Adam Cullman of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Funk for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
Five Members of Drug Trafficking Organization SentencedRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that five members of a drug conspiracy were sentenced for federal crimes arising from the distribution of methamphetamine in the Holdenville area.
On April 30, 2024, Winston Levert Hanks, Jr., age 44, of Holdenville, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Drug Conspiracy. On March 13, 2025, he was sentenced to 324 months in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.
On April 10, 2024, Christian Eugene Dewayne Duckworth, age 24, of Holdenville, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Money Laundering Conspiracy. On February 11, 2025, Duckworth was sentenced to 18 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years supervised release.
On April 10, 2024, Zechariah Odie Hanks, age 42, of Holdenville, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Drug Conspiracy. On February 11, 2025, he was sentenced to 210 months in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.
On April 10, 2024, Jolene Rogers a/k/a Jolene Copeland, age 47, of Holdenville, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Drug Conspiracy. On February 11, 2025, Rogers was sentenced to 70 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.
On May 1, 2024, Alberto Rafael Mendez Lizarraga, age 35, of El Centro, California, pleaded guilty to one count of Misprision of a Felony. On March 13, 2025, Mendez Lizarraga was sentenced to 24 months in prison, to be followed by 1 year supervised release.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Bureau Narcotics, the United States Postal Service Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, and the United States Marshals Service.
According to investigators, beginning in November 2022 and continuing through October 2023, the defendants conspired to acquire and distribute large amounts of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
In February 2023, U.S. Postal Inspectors intercepted a parcel containing approximately 1.6 kilograms of methamphetamine addressed to a residence in Holdenville, Oklahoma.
This initial parcel was followed by five more shipments. Between February 2023 and July 2023, U.S. Postal Inspectors documented six parcel drops, tracked the parcel deliveries to Oklahoma co-conspirators, and documented defendants’ activities after delivery of the parcels.
For each shipment, Winston Hanks Jr. first ordered large quantities of methamphetamine from a supplier in Mexico. In turn, Zechariah Hanks and Christian Duckworth transferred U.S. currency through wire services to the supplier completing the purchase for delivery of product. From that point, Lizarraga and others then shipped parcels from Calexico and El Centro, California, through the U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail, complete with a unique identifying tracker, to addresses in Holdenville, Oklahoma. Once the parcels reached their destination addresses, Rogers, Duckworth, and others retrieved the parcels and delivered them to Winston Hanks.
When law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on Winston Hanks on July 17, 2023, he was in possession of multiple firearms.
“Today, we take a significant step in our ongoing fight against the distribution of illegal drugs in our communities with the sentencing of these five defendants, who exploited the U.S. mail system to facilitate their criminal activities in Oklahoma,” said Kai Pickens, Inspector In-Charge, Fort Worth Division. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and our law enforcement partners will not tolerate the use of our nation's postal service for illegal purposes. We are committed to protecting public safety and holding accountable those who threaten it.”
“Investigations such as this cannot be successful without DEA McAlester’s relationship with numerous law enforcement partners in Eastern Oklahoma,” said Eduardo A. Chávez, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Dallas Field Division. “Drugs and those who distribute them have no place in our neighborhoods. The DEA will never waver in our resolve to identify and hold those responsible for their actions.”
“I cannot overstate the critical nature of these collaborative investigations with our federal and local law enforcement partners,” stated OBN Director Donnie Anderson. “The defendants in this case are directly tied to drug trafficking organizations responsible for pouring meth into our state and devastating rural communities due to meth-related crime, addiction, and overdose deaths. My agency is committed to targeting organized crime that threatens the safety of our citizens.”
“Identifying and dismantling drug trafficking organizations remains a priority of the United States Attorney’s Office, and this case is a prime example of the impact cooperative law enforcement can have in combatting the distribution of illegal narcotics,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings. The defendants 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 Richard J. Lorenz and Patrick M. Flanigan represented the United States.
Financial Advisor Indicted, Arraigned on Fraud ChargeRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A man formerly from Cranston who falsely represented himself as a financial advisor worth a “million dollars in clients” has been indicted and arraigned in federal court on a charge of wire fraud, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
According to an indictment unsealed in U.S. District Court on Wednesday, in December 2017, a Rhode Island couple invested $140,000 with Jason Johnson, 51, the then proprietor of the now defunct W.S. Solutions LLC. It is alleged that within a week, Johnson diverted the funds into two bank accounts that he opened and controlled without the couple’s knowledge. It is alleged that over the next 12 months, Johnson withdrew and spent most of the couple’s invested funds to pay for his own personal expenditures.
It is alleged that, over lengthy periods of time, Johnson failed to respond to repeated inquiries from the investors. Additionally, he failed to provide them with any statements of investment activity, tracking reports, or summaries. Instead, he sent them electronic communications assuring them that their accounts were being serviced and that they would receive distributions of profits at some later date.
The Certificate of Organization/Registration for W.S. Solutions LLC was revoked by the Rhode Island Secretary of the State on July 22, 2019, for failure to file an annual report.
Johnson appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge on Wednesday and was released on unsecured bond. A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lee H. Vilker.
The matter was investigated jointly by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the FBI.
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Final Defendants Sentenced in Large-Scale Retail Theft SchemesRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE - Sentencing hearings for all four individuals convicted for their roles in a large-scale scheme to steal and re-sell high-value products from home improvement stores and other retailers in multiple states were completed today in U.S. District Court in Providence, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
The defendants, all Guatemalan nationals present in the United States illegally, detained in federal custody since their arrest in April 2024, have been convicted and sentenced for their roles in the conspiracy that targeted the theft of building supplies, tools, and clothing.
According to charging documents and information presented to the court, the four men were part of an organized group of as many as fifteen Guatemalan nationals who participated in 35 documented incidents of thefts at national home improvement and clothing retail outlets in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. Members of the conspiracy stole, and at times re-sold, goods such as electrical wire, flooring, power tools, and other items of high value. However, it is believed that not all members of the group regularly participated in each of the theft operations.
The intended loss of the conspiracy is at least $280,000. Court-authorized search warrants were executed on April 12, 2024, at residences in Cranston and Providence, resulting in the seizure of $11,000 worth of stolen goods and $83,000 in cash.
Abraham Dayger-Enrique, 25, and Jonathan Jose Amperez-Perez, 32, of Providence, were sentenced today by U.S. District Court Senior Judge William E. Smith to time served (eleven months). Judge Smith also entered judicial orders of removal for both defendants, ordering them promptly removed from the United States to Guatemala.
Marvin Estuardo Morales De Paz, 30, of Cranston, a twice-deported Guatemalan national described in court documents as being “the most consistent member” of the conspiracy was sentenced in January to 30 months in federal prison. An immigration detainer has been lodged against Morales- de Paz by ICE.
Sebastian Lajuj-Solomon, 31, of Providence, was sentenced in January to time served (nine months). Judge Smith also ordered Lajuj-Soloman removed from the United States and he was deported to Guatemala in January 2025.
Abraham Dayger-Enrique, 25, and Jonathan Jose Amperez-Perez, 32, of Providence, were sentenced today by U.S. District Court Senior Judge William E. Smith to time served (eleven months). Judge Smith also entered judicial orders of removal for both defendants, ordering them promptly removed from the United States to Guatemala.
Marvin Estuardo Morales De Paz, 30, of Cranston, a twice-deported Guatemalan national described in court documents as being “the most consistent member” of the conspiracy was sentenced in January to 30 months in federal prison. An immigration detainer has been lodged against Morales- de Paz by ICE.
Sebastian Lajuj-Solomon, 31, of Providence, was sentenced in January to time served (nine months). Judge Smith ordered Lajuj-Soloman removed from the United States. He was deported to Guatemala in January 2025.
The cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John P. McAdams.
The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations agents in Providence, with the assistance of HSI agents in Boston, and Allentown, Pennsylvania, and the Providence, Coventry, Warwick, Smithfield, and Johnston, RI Police Departments; Boston, Norwood, Bellingham, Marlboro, Seekonk, Avon, Auburn, MA Police Departments; Montville and Fairfield, CT Police Departments; and the Parkesburg, Downingtown, Lebanon, Wyomissing, and Reading, PA, Police Departments; Nashua, NH Police Department; and Marlboro, NJ Police Department.
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Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism to Visit Leadership of Four Big Cities Rocked by Incidents of AntisemitismRead the Press Release
Today, the Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism notified the local leaders of New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Boston that it wanted to meet soon to discuss their responses to incidents of antisemitism at schools and on college campuses in their cities over the last two years. The Task Force, created pursuant to President Trump’s Executive Order on Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism, told the cities it wanted to engage with local leadership, including the mayors, district or city attorneys, and local law enforcement.
Leading Task Force member and Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Leo Terrell informed Eric Adams of New York, Karen Bass of Los Angeles, Brandon Johnson of Chicago, and Michelle Wu of Boston that the Task Force was aware of allegations that the schools in their respective cities may have failed to protect Jewish students from unlawful discrimination, in potential violation of federal law. Mr. Terrell said he intends for the Task Force to meet with city leadership, impacted students, local law enforcement, and community members as it gathers information about these incidents and considers whether federal intervention is warranted.
“Too many elected officials chose not to stand up to a rising tide of antisemitism in our cities and campuses following the horrific events of October 7, 2023,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Actions have consequences – inaction does, too.”
“The Task Force looks forward to meeting with the mayors and other municipal leaders in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Boston to quickly and effectively identify ways that, working together or apart, we return safety, civility, and sanity to our nation’s schools,” said Mr. Terrell. “These meetings, in conjunction with our visits to university campuses around the country, are just two of the many actions President Trump and Attorney General Bondi are taking to end this scourge of anti-Semitism.”
If you have been discriminated against, you can file a complaint with the Civil Rights Division, at civilrights.justice.gov. President Trump’s Executive Order can be found here: Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism – The White House.
Federal Jury Convicts Georgetown Man of Unauthorized Archaeological Digging of Arrowheads and Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a federal jury in Alexandria has returned a guilty verdict against Roy Everett Jordan, Jr., 57, of Georgetown, Louisiana, for the unauthorized removal of archaeological resources and illegal possession of a firearm. United States District Judge Dee D. Drell presided over the trial. It took just 30 minutes for the jury to find Jordan guilty of the crimes.
According to information presented in court, in 2022, U.S. Forest Service agents learned that there had been unauthorized digging at four Native American archaeological sites in the Kisatchie National Forest in the Grant Parish, Louisiana. The digging had been done in places where arrowheads and other human-altered stones were known to be present. Through their investigation, agents obtained photo evidence of Jordan being in the area where the digging was taking place. Just a few hours after photo evidence was taken of him conducting unauthorized digging, Jordan made a post on social media about a find that he had made that day in that location and the piece of pottery he found.
A search warrant was obtained for Jordan’s residence and upon execution of that warrant, agents found numerous arrowheads and pottery shards. A table covered in a camouflage cloth was found which matched the photo Jordan had posted on social media. In addition, there was an outbuilding/shed on the property that was full of Jordan’s belongings and numerous arrowheads and pottery shards in multiple places. Agents found clothing in the shed that matched what Jordan had worn in the photo evidence that was obtained by law enforcement agents. In addition, agents found and seized a loaded ISSC semi-automatic .22 caliber pistol. Jordan has three prior felony convictions prohibiting him from possessing any firearm or ammunition.
Testimony by an archaeologist at trial established that the value of the restoration and repair of the disturbed archaeological sites at the Kisatchie National Forest will be greater than $500.
Jordan faces a sentence of not more than 2 years in prison, a $20,000 fine, or both, on the conviction for removal of archaeological resources, as well as restitution for the damage caused at the archeological sites. He also faces a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000, for the firearms conviction.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Forest Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police and Grant Parish Sheriff's Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys William C. Gaskins and Mike Shannon.
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Federal Grand Jury Indicts Franklin, Kentucky Man for Child Sexual Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY –A federal grand jury in Bowling Green returned an indictment on March 12, 2025, charging a Franklin, Kentucky man with distributing child pornography, possessing child pornography, and sexually exploiting children.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of Homeland Security Investigations Nashville, and Sheriff Jere Hopson of the Simpson County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement.
According to the indictment, Joseph N. Roush, 27, was charged with one count of distribution of child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of sexual exploitation of children.
The defendant previously made an initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. The Court ordered the defendant detained pending trial. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 70 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Simpson County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, 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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Federal Grand Jury Indicts Bullitt County Felon for Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an indictment on February 4, 2025, charging a local man with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Acting Special Agent in Charge A.J. Gibes of the ATF Louisville Field Division.
According to the indictment, Craig Smith, 60, was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On November 16, 2024, Smith possessed a Smith and Wesson, model T/C Compass, .308 caliber rifle, bearing serial number TJE4848, and ammunition. Smith was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.
On April 19, 2018, in Bullitt Circuit Court, Smith was convicted of complicity to theft by unlawful taking $500 or more but under $10,000.
On October 15, 2007, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Smith was convicted of theft by unlawful taking over $300.
On September 12, 2007, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Smith was convicted of illegal possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, cocaine.
On January 3, 2006, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Smith was convicted of complicity to burglary in the second degree and complicity to burglary in the third degree.
The defendant made his initial court appearance this week before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Mount Washington Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia P. Gomez is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce 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.
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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Federal Grand Juries in Bowling Green and Paducah Indict 4 Illegal Aliens for Immigration OffensesRead the Press Release
Bowling Green and Paducah, KY – Federal grand juries in Bowling Green and Paducah, Kentucky, returned indictments on March 11th and 12th, 2025, charging 4 individuals with illegal reentry after deportation or removal.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of Homeland Security Investigations, Nashville, and Sam Olson, Field Office Director for Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Chicago, U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement made the announcement.
According to the indictments:
Pablo Felipe Baltazar, age 26, a citizen of Guatemala, was charged in Bowling Green with reentry after deportation or removal. On or about February 14, 2025, Baltazar was an alien found in United States after having been denied admission, excluded, deported, and removed from the United States on or about July 16, 2018, June 17, 2024, and August 4, 2024. If convicted he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. This case is being investigated by HSI, ICE/ERO.
Roman Cornejo-Melchor, age 50, a citizen of Mexico, was charged in Bowling Green with reentry after deportation or removal. On or about March 13, 2023, Cornejo-Melchor was an alien found in the United States after having been denied admission, excluded, deported, and removed from the United States on or about February 22, 2012, March 15, 2013, and April 13, 2013. If convicted he faces a maximum sentence of 2 years in prison. This case is being investigated by HSI, ICE/ERO.
Arcenio Perez-Martinez, age 49, a citizen of Mexico, was charged in Paducah with reentry after deportation or removal. On or about February 28, 2025, Perez-Martinez was an alien found in United States after having been denied admission, excluded, deported, and removed from the United States on or about September 13, 2019 and April 4, 2020. If convicted he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. This case is being investigated by HSI, ICE/ERO.
Oscar Rene Rodriguez, age 38, a citizen of El Salvador, was charged in Paducah with reentry after deportation or removal. On or about February 28, 2025, Rodriguez was an alien found in United States after having been denied admission, excluded, deported, and removed from the United States on or about July 9, 2009. If convicted he faces a maximum sentence of 2 years in prison. This case is being investigated by HSI, ICE/ERO.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
There is no parole in the federal system.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark J. Yurchisin II, of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office, and Raymond McGee, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, are prosecuting the cases.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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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El Paso Man to Spend Nearly 22 Years in Federal Prison for Producing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – An El Paso man was sentenced in federal court today to 262 months in prison for production of a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
According to court documents, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received information that a video depicting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) had been uploaded to a Dropbox account. NCMEC referred the file to Homeland Security Investigations, which traced the account information to Jose Eduardo Larin, 36. A review of the Dropbox account also revealed additional CSAM images and videos as well as documents displaying Larin’s name and image.
A forensic review of Larin's cellphone, obtained from a search warrant in August 2024, revealed 3,207 files containing CSAM. Of these, there were 31 pictures and 31 videos depicting CSAM that had been produced by Larin at this residence involving a five-year-old child. Larin was arrested Aug. 13, 2024 and pleaded guilty Nov. 21, 2024.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Micaela Glass prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Eight Alleged Members and Associates of the “GoodFellas” Gang Indicted on Federal Racketeering ChargesRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Frank Hubbert, Montavis Jones, Darian Sheppard, De’Andre Jackson, Ephram Marshall, Tahj Rankine, Leonunte Carson, and Ahday Nelson-George, alleged members and associates of the street gang GoodFellas, have been indicted on federal charges including Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon in Aid of Racketeering. A federal grand jury seated in the Northern District of Georgia returned the 12-count indictment on March 4, 2025, and it was unsealed earlier today, on March 13, 2025.
“This indictment reflects the collective determination of our Office and law enforcement partners to confront the deadly cycle of gang violence perpetrated by criminal organizations like GoodFellas whose violence and disregard for public safety threaten the security of our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. “The alleged gang members and associates charged in this case were allegedly involved in three shootings, including one that injured a child. While the offenses occurred several years ago, these charges are intended to demonstrate that our Office, and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, never cease to seek justice on behalf of victims and their family members impacted by crimes of violence.”
“These are not victimless crimes. Communities are hurting and will continue to be impacted as long as violent gangs engage in bloody street wars,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “The FBI will continue to work with it’s local, state, and federal partners in this fight to identify, disrupt, and dismantle violent criminal organizations.”
“This case shows the importance of law enforcement collaboration successfully targeting violent gang members, said Special Agent in Charge Benjamin Gibbons. This indictment sends a direct message to criminals that ATF and our law enforcement partners will investigate and protect our citizens.”
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Moultrie, the indictment, and other information presented in court: The GoodFellas are an Atlanta-based gang that primarily recruits members in Atlanta neighborhoods and jails and prisons within the state of Georgia. The GoodFellas generate money for the gang through, among other criminal activities, drug trafficking, robbery, carjacking, fraud, and firearms trafficking. The gang protects its operation, turf, and reputation through violence and threats of violence, including murder, attempted murder, and obstruction of justice. Defendants Frank Hubbert, Montavis Jones, Darian Sheppard, De’Andre Jackson, Ephram Marshall, Tahj Rankine, Leonunte Carson, and Ahday Nelson-George, are alleged members and associates of the GoodFellas who committed multiple violent crimes in this district, including Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon in Aid of Racketeering.
Specifically, the indictment alleges, among other allegations, that, on or about January 17, 2021, Hubbert and Nelson-George allegedly accosted three individuals who were filming a music video at an Atlanta apartment complex. Hubbert and Nelson-George allegedly demanded the keys to their vehicle at gunpoint which led to an exchange of gunfire.
On or about February 2, 2021, Sheppard, Jackson, Marshall, Rankine, and Carson allegedly fired dozens of rounds at an Atlanta gas station, wounding a patron. The five members were attempting to target members of another gang.
And further, on or about February 10, 2021, Sheppard, Jackson, and Marshall, aided and abetted by Hubbert and Jones, allegedly fired approximately 50 rounds at a woman, severely wounding her and two bystanders, including a child. Hubbert was incarcerated when he allegedly ordered, and aided and abetted, the charged offense.
The following defendants are charged in the case as follows:
- Frank Hubbert, also known as “Capo Frank,” 38, of Atlanta, Georgia, an alleged leader of GoodFellas, is charged with three counts of Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering, three counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon in Aid of Racketeering, one count of Attempted Carjacking, and three counts of Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence.
- Montavis Jones, also known as “Nigel Woods,” “Jitt,” and “Git,” 37, of Union City, Georgia, an alleged leader of GoodFellas, is charged with three counts of Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering, and three counts of Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence.
- Darian Sheppard, also known as “Lil D,” 27, of Atlanta, Georgia, is charged with four counts of Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and four counts of Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence.
- De’Andre Jackson, also known as “Glock,” “Gen,” and “Glizzy,” 22, of Atlanta, Georgia, is charged with four counts of Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and four counts of Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence.
- Ephram Marshall, also known as “Lil E,” 24, of Atlanta, Georgia, is charged with four counts of Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and four counts of Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence.
- Tahj Rankine, also known as “Biggz,” 26, of Atlanta, Georgia, is charged with one count of Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and one count of Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence.
- Leonunte Carson, also known as “Lil Tae,” 22, of Atlanta, Georgia, is charged with Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and one count of Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence.
- Ahday Nelson-George, also known as “Baby K,” 25, of Atlanta, Georgia, is charged with three counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon in Aid of Racketeering and one count of Attempted Carjacking.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with valuable assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia Department of Corrections, and Atlanta Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Renaud of the Northern District of Georgia and Trial Attorney Sarah J. Rasalam of the Department of Justice’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case. Northern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Spritzer and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Macon also contributed to the prosecution.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6280. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Ecuadorian national pleads guilty to making a false claim regarding citizenship, sentenced to six months in prisonRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Luis Mauafrewiny Aviles Matias, a/k/a Leiver Artur Ponce Leon, a/k/a Juan Perez Chavez, 57, a citizen of Ecuador, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to making a false claim of United States citizenship. Judge Sinatra then sentenced Matias to serve six months in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Rudroff, who handled the case, stated that on November 12, 2024, Matias was a passenger in a vehicle attempting to enter the United States at the Peace Bridge Port of Entry. He presented a fraudulent Puerto Rican driver’s license as identification. When asked if he was a United States citizen, Matias nodded in the affirmative. Matias is a citizen and national of Ecuador.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The plea and sentencing are the result of an investigation by Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy.
Ecuadorian Citizen Sentenced to 18 Months for Alien SmugglingRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Edgar Placencia-Guaillas, age 22, and a citizen of Ecuador, was sentenced yesterday to 18 months in prison for alien smuggling and conspiracy to commit alien smuggling. Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon and Chief Border Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia of the United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector, made the announcement.
As part of his earlier guilty plea, Placencia-Guaillas, an illegal alien who entered the United States unlawfully in 2022, admitted that on August 25, 2024, he traveled to the northern border in Chateaugay, New York, where he smuggled two people – one from Mexico, the other from the Dominican Republic – into the United States for profit. Placencia-Guaillas admitted that he had smuggled other people across the border in the past.
Placencia-Guaillas will be taken into Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody for deportation proceedings following his release from prison.
Border Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Paulbeck prosecuted the case.