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14 February 2025
Undocumented Immigrant Indicted on Child Pornography ChargeRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A undocumented immigrant living in St. Charles County, Missouri was indicted Thursday in U.S. District Court in St. Louis and accused of receiving images containing child sexual abuse material.
Francisco J. Ocana-Talamantes, 46, was indicted on one count of receiving child pornography. The indictment accuses him of receiving those images via the internet between Feb. 11, 2020, and March 14, 2024.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Ocana-Talamantes is already in custody.
A motion seeking to have him held in jail until trial says that Ocana-Talamantes is in the country illegally.
“The FBI and our local law enforcement partners had been investigating Franscisco Ocana-Talamantes for his alleged crimes against children,” said Special Agent in Charge Ashley Johnson of the FBI St. Louis Division. “Because this defendant had entered the country illegally, the FBI was able to expedite his federal indictment and arrest by leveraging our assistance to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s immigration enforcement action.”
The charge carries a potential penalty of at least five years in prison, with a maximum of 20 years.
The FBI, the St. Charles Police Department and the St. Charles County Cyber Crime Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson 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 the Department of Justice 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 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.
U.S. Attorney's Office and ATF File New Charges Against Albuquerque ManRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man, already in custody awaiting trial on federal charges, now faces additional allegations of drug trafficking and firearms offenses.
According to court documents, on or about March 7, 2020, Kyle Majedi, 45, allegedly possessed with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. On the same day, Majedi is accused of possessing with the intent to distribute heroin.
The indictment further alleges that Majedi knowingly possessed a firearm in connection with these alleged drug trafficking activities. Majedi, who was previously convicted of possession for sale of a controlled substance, is prohibited from possessing firearms.
Majedi is currently in custody, awaiting trial on separate charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Trial is scheduled to begin on April 7, 2025. If convicted, Majedi faces up to 10 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
If convicted on the new charges, Majedi faces not less than 15 years and up to life in prison, followed by five years and up to life on supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Brendan Iber, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement today.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from the New Mexico Department of Justice. Assistant United States Attorney Natasha Moghadam is prosecuting both cases.
The indictment is the result of a newly formed Firearms Trafficking Task Force. The New Mexico ATF Firearms Trafficking Task Force works with State and local law enforcement partners, including the New Mexico Department of Justice, the Albuquerque Police Department, Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office, the Bernalillo Police Department, and the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office to identify, deter, disrupt, and dismantle Firearms Trafficking Organizations (FTOs) supplying firearms to individuals and groups engaged in our community’s most egregious acts of violence, as well as any associated, violent offenders.
U.S. Attorney's Office Secures Guilty Plea in Firearms and Drug Trafficking SchemeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man pled to federal charges of firearm and drug trafficking, including the possession and sale of a machine gun.
According to court documents, on March 1, 2024, Micah Maestas, 20, and two accomplices sold 3 grams of cocaine for $100 and a firearm with an attached machinegun conversion device for $1200 to an undercover officer. Maestas also possessed a second firearm during this drug trafficking offense.
In a subsequent incident on May 9, 2024, Maestas and two others met the undercover officer to sell a rifle for $1100 and offered additional firearms for sale, including firearms with machinegun conversion devices. During this interaction, the buyer claimed to be a felon, yet Maestas proceeded with the transaction.
The final incident occurred on July 3, 2024. Maestas met the undercover officer alone and sold him a firearm fitted with an "Invisible Switch" machinegun conversion device for $1300. Maestas admitted to installing the conversion device himself, knowing it would transform the semi-automatic weapon into a fully automatic firearm.
At sentencing, Maestas faces not less than five years and up to 25 years in prison, followed by not less than five years and up to life of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Brendan Iber, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement today.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Letitia Carroll Simms is prosecuting the case.
Machine gun conversion devices and auto sears are illegal devices that transform semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons capable of continuous firing with a single trigger pull. The possession, manufacture, and sale of these devices without proper licensing is a federal offense carrying severe penalties, including up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $250,000.
The proliferation of these devices poses an immediate and critical threat to public safety. Between 2018 and 2023, the ATF recovered thousands of machine gun conversion devices, indicating an alarming trend in their availability and use. Violent street gangs are increasingly employing these devices, devastating communities and neighborhoods with unprecedented firepower.
This dramatic increase in illegal automatic weapons puts both civilians and law enforcement at extreme risk. Officers responding to incidents may find themselves severely outgunned, facing weapons capable of firing hundreds of rounds per minute. The potential for mass casualties in such encounters is staggering.
Law enforcement agencies are racing against time to intercept these devices before they can be used in violent crimes. Public cooperation is crucial in combating this threat. If you have information about illegal firearms or conversion devices, please contact the ATF immediately:
- Call: 1-888-ATF-Tips (1-888-283-8477)
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit: www.atf.gov/atf-tips
Your tip could save lives and prevent these dangerous weapons from falling into the wrong hands. The time to act is now, before our community fall victim to the devastating impact of these illegal automatic weapons.
Three Staten Island Residents and a Florida Man Charged with Firearms Trafficking Conspiracy and Illegal Possession of Machine GunsRead the Press Release
Earlier today, a nine-count superseding indictment was unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn charging Justin Nudelman, his brother Brandon Nudelman, Ronnie Mershon and Michael Daddea with conspiracy to traffic firearms, conspiracy to obstruct justice, possession of machine guns and related firearms counts. Three defendants were arrested this morning. Brandon Nudelman and Mershon are being arraigned this afternoon in Brooklyn before United States Magistrate Judge James R. Cho, and Daddea is making his initial appearance in federal court in Tampa, Florida for removal proceedings to Brooklyn. Justin Nudelman had previously been charged with possession of machine guns and unregistered firearms in the underlying indictment and will be arraigned at a later date.
John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New York Division (ATF), and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the charges.
“The defendants’ use of 3D printers to make untraceable, fully automatic weapons poses an extremely serious threat to public safety,” stated United States Attorney Durham. “My Office and our federal and local partners are working tirelessly to protect our communities by preventing these guns from making their way into the hands of violent criminals.”
Mr. Durham expressed his appreciation to the United States Secret Service and the NYPD Intelligence Division’s Major Case Team and Intelligence Analytical Team for their work on the case.
“Illegally manufacturing and distributing privately made firearms and machine gun conversion devices is a direct threat to public safety,” stated ATF New York Special Agent in Charge Miller. “This indictment underscores our unwavering commitment to identifying, disrupting, and dismantling the flow of illegal firearms that fuels violence in our communities. Through strong collaboration with our law enforcement partners, we are taking proactive action against those who endanger public safety. We commend the work of ATF New York, NYPD Ghost Gun Team, ATF Tampa, United States Secret Service, N.Y. State Police, Pennsylvania State Police, Richmond County DA’s office and EDNY. Every illegal firearm taken off the streets is a step toward protecting innocent lives and ensuring safer neighborhoods. We remain steadfast in our mission to combat gun violence.”
“These individuals thought they could evade law enforcement by using 3D printers to churn out illegal ghost guns and endanger our streets — but they were wrong” stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “The NYPD, along with the ATF, the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and all our partners, will not tolerate criminals wreaking havoc in New York City with untraceable, deadly weapons — and we will bring down anyone brazen enough to try.”
As alleged in the superseding indictment and in court filings, between approximately January 2023 and September 2023, the defendants conspired to illegally manufacture and traffic firearms. Mershon and Justin Nudelman used 3D printers and parts sourced from online retailers to assemble privately made firearms, commonly called “ghost guns.” These 3D-printed firearms included at least 10 devices called “auto sears,” which convert semi-automatic guns into fully automatic weapons and are considered machine guns under federal law. The defendants made the unserialized, unregistered ghost guns that they assembled available for sale without obtaining a license or otherwise notifying government authorities. To date, 23 firearms have already been seized and the investigation has revealed that the defendants made numerous others.
Justin Nudelman and Brandon Nudelman are also charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice. As alleged, on September 7, 2023, law enforcement officers sought to seize Justin Nudelman’s phone pursuant to a judicially authorized search warrant. Both Justin and Brandon Nudelman took steps to conceal the phone and render its contents inaccessible to law enforcement.
The charges in the superseding indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted the defendants each face a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment.
Trial Attorney Arun Bodapati is in charge of the prosecution with assistance from Paralegal Specialist David Harrison.
The Defendants:
JUSTIN NUDELMAN
Age: 30
Staten Island, New YorkBRANDON NUDELMAN
Age: 32
Staten Island, New YorkRONNIE MERSHON
Age: 27
Staten Island, New YorkMICHAEL DADDEA
Age: 29
Tampa, FloridaE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-437(S-1) (AMD)
Three Illegal Aliens Sentenced for Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY –Three illegal aliens were sentenced to federal prison yesterday for unlawfully reentering the United States 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 and Customs, made the announcement.
According to court documents, Jose Alcides Ramirez-Vasquez, age 32, a citizen of El Salvador, was sentenced to seven months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release. Ramirez-Vasquez was found in Warren County, Kentucky on or about December 4, 2021, after having previously been deported and removed from the United States on or about November 4, 2013.
Carlos Mendoza-Zapata, age 35, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to fourteen months in federal prison followed by one year of supervised release. Mendoza-Zapata was found in the Warren County on or about December 1, 2023, after having been previously deported and removed from the United States on or about October 21, 2016, April 22, 2022, and April 7, 2023.
Jenaro Heron Mendoza-Hernandez, age 36, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. Mendoza-Hernandez was found in Warren County on or about May 9, 2024, after having been previously deported and removed from the United States on or about November 30, 2020, and October 6, 2021.
There is no parole in the federal system.
These cases were investigated by ERO-Louisville, and HSI-Bowling Green.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Madison Sewell prosecuted the cases.
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Texas Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Darlene Ruelas Flores, a/k/a Darlene Sheppard, age 44, of San Antonio, Texas, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl.
The Indictment alleged that on May 30, 2024, Flores knowingly and intentionally possessed 400 grams or more of a mixture containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, with the intent to distribute it.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse 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. Flores will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.
Texas Man Guilty of Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that LEROY OTERO (“OTERO”), age 35, a resident of Texas, pled guilty before United States District Judge Wendy B. Vitter on February 4, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with the intent to distribute, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectible amount of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A), and 846.
As to this charge, OTERO faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, up to a maximum of life in prison, up to a $10,000,000.00 fine, at least five years of supervised release, and a 100 mandatory special assessment fee.
His sentencing is set for May 29, 2025.
During the course of this investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents determined that OTERO was supplying large amounts of methamphetamine to local drug dealers, who, in turn, were selling the drugs in Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Houma Police Department, the Louisiana State Police, and the Terrebonne and Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Offices. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maurice Landrieu of the Narcotics Unit.
Summers County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Matthew Harris England, 38, of Meadow Bridge, was sentenced today to one year and eight months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of an unregistered short-barreled shotgun.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 3, 2023, law enforcement responded to reports of a domestic disturbance at England’s residence in Meadow Bridge. When law enforcement entered the residence, they found and seized a Savage model Stevens 94F, 20-gauge shotgun with a modified and shortened barrel and a modified and shortened stock on a chair in the living room. England was arrested, and told officers he knew the firearm was in the residence and that the length of its barrel appeared to be illegal.
The short-barreled shotgun was not registered to England in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record as required by federal law. Federal law also prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. England knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for aiding and abetting the possession of stolen firearms in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on May 9, 2014.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Summers County Sheriff’s Department, the West Virginia State Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin prosecuted 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.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-cr-93.
Suburban Chicago Medical Device Company to Pay $1 Million to Resolve Federal Fraud InvestigationRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago medical device company has agreed to pay a $1 million fine to resolve a federal criminal investigation into the alleged selling of misbranded products imported from overseas.
Mokena, Ill.-based ADVANCED INVENTORY MANAGEMENT, INC. admitted in a Statement of Facts filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago that the company imported medical products from international distributors at cheaper prices than what it would have paid to U.S. distributors. Once the products arrived in the U.S., company employees – under the direction of its sole owner and Chief Executive Officer, ANTHONY IADEROSA, 52, of Mokena, Ill. – used a hair dryer to remove labels that had cautioned the products were only available for resale in a specified country and not in the United States. The company then re-sold the products to customers in the U.S. at a substantial markup, resulting in profit margins of 35% to 50%. In total, AIM admitted that it made profits of approximately $500,000 by employing this tactic.
The investigation of AIM and Iaderosa is being resolved with deferred prosecution agreements, under which the company and Iaderosa admitted that the tactic rendered the products misbranded under the U.S. Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The company and Iaderosa further admitted that they deliberately concealed the tactic from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and caused false statements to be submitted to customs agents.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office filed a one-count criminal information charging AIM and Iaderosa with misbranding of a medical device with the intent to defraud. Under the agreements, the government will defer prosecution on the charge against AIM for three years and the charge against Iaderosa for one year, and then seek to dismiss the charges if the company and Iaderosa abide by certain conditions. Among other things, the company agreed to pay a $1 million fine to the Department of Justice and implement a new compliance and ethics program designed to prevent violations of federal food and drug laws, as well as provide annual reports to the government regarding remediation and implementation of the program. If AIM or Iaderosa fail to completely fulfill each of their obligations during the terms of the agreements, the U.S. Attorney’s Office can initiate prosecution of the charged offenses.
The charges and the deferred prosecution agreements were announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ronne Malham, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FDA, Office of Criminal Investigations. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Hasten.
iaderosa_deferred_prosecution_agreement.pdf aim_deferred_prosecution_agreement.pdf aim_and_iaderosa_information.pdfStarr County felon sentenced for illegally possessing multiple firearmsRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 46-year-old man has been ordered to prison following his conviction of being a felon in possession of firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Rosvel Gonzalez pleaded guilty Nov. 21, 2024.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Gonzalez to serve 36 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.
On Sept. 5, 2024, an undercover law enforcement officer engaged in a controlled sale of a firearm to Gonzalez, a convicted felon. Authorities arrested him following the sale. A subsequent search of Gonzalez’s home revealed eight additional firearms and several amounts of ammunition.
The investigation revealed Gonzalez was previously convicted of felony possession of marijuana. He also had a prior felony conviction for manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms per federal law.
Gonzalez has been and will remain in custody pending his transfer to a Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cahal P. McColgan prosecuted the case as part of the joint federal, state and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, 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.
St. Tammany Parish Man Sentenced for Fentanyl Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ALVAREZ JOSEPH CYPRIAN (“CYPRIAN”), age 23, of Madisonville, Louisiana, was sentenced on February 11, 2025 after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846. CYPRIAN was sentenced to five years probation and a $200 mandatory special assessment fee.
According to court documents, CYPRIAN sold fentanyl pills to an undercover agent on September 8, 2023. CYPRIAN met the undercover agent in Covington and gave the agent 200 fentanyl pills in exchange for $550.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Department. Assistant United States Attorney Rachal Cassagne of the Narcotics Unit oversees the prosecution.
St. Bernard Parish Man Guilty of Federal Gun and Drug ViolationsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ABE JYLES (“JYLES”), age 44, a resident of St. Bernard Parish, pled guilty on February 4, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Wendy Vitter to Counts 1, 2, and 3 of a superseding bill of information that was filed against him. Count 1 charged JYLES with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c). Count 2 charged him with possession, with the intent to distribute, a quantity of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, marijuana, heroin, and cocaine, in violation of Title 21 USC § 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). Count 3 charged him with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, in violation of Title 18 USC § 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). JYLES faces the following sentences as to each count:
As to Count 1, JYLES faces a mandatory minimum sentence of not less than 5 years up to a maximum of life in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000. Any jail sentence imposed in connection with Count 1 must run consecutive to any other count. He will also face up to five years of supervised release. He will also face up to five years of supervised release.
As to Count 2, JYLES faces up to 20 years in prison, up to a $1,000,000.00 fine, and a term of supervised release of not less than three years up to life.
As to Count 3, JYLES faces up to 15 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000.00 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.
Additionally, as to each charged count, JYLES faces payment of a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
On February 29, 2024, JYLES was identified as the driver and sole occupant of a vehicle. involved in a traffic stop by St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office personnel. After law enforcement personnel noticed the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle, they detained JYLES and searched the vehicle. During the search, multiple illegal narcotics, a scale, drug paraphernalia, and four firearms were found inside the vehicle.
At the time of his arrest, JYLES was on federal supervised release due to his 2008 federal drug trafficking conviction.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Maurice E. Landrieu, Jr. of the Narcotics Unit.
Spokane Valley Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Production and Attempted Production of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – On February 13, 2025, United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Nicholas James Thieschafer, age 31, of Spokane Valley, Washington, to 25 years in federal prison on charges of production and attempted production of child sexual abuse material. Judge Rice also imposed a life term of supervised release and restitution of over $63,000, to be paid to Thieschafer’s victims.
According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, a minor disclosed in February 2023 that Thieschafer had been sexually abusing the minor and had at times used his phone to take pictures. When law enforcement executed a search warrant at Thieschafer’s home and seized several electronic devices, investigators located 3,300 image and video files of child sexual abuse material, including 877 files depicting the child who made the initial disclosure. Investigators located several videos in which Thieschafer was readily identifiable as the person sexually abusing the child.
“Those who prey on innocent children will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Rich Barker. “Protecting Eastern Washington communities—especially our most vulnerable among us—is a top priority. Our incredible team of prosecutors and support staff will continue to work tirelessly with federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement partners to ensure justice is served.”
“Thanks to the relentless efforts of our special agents, criminal analysts, and law enforcement partners, Mr. Thieschafer will be held accountable for his heinous crimes,” said ICE HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Murphy. “This case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing need for HSI to stay vigilant in our mission to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Our commitment to the victims of these crimes is resolute, and we will continue to collaborate closely with our partners to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security, Washington State Patrol, and the Spokane Police Department, which make up the Eastern Washington Missing and Exploited Children Task Force (MECTF), a Washington State Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) affiliate. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ann T. Wick.
2:23-cr-00129-TOR
Sexual Assault Aboard Metro Train Yields Prison TermRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Anthony Garner, 37, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 45 months in prison for sexual assault of a woman aboard a Metro train, traveling from Maryland to D.C., in April 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr.
Garner pleaded guilty on July 10, 2024, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to a charge of third-degree sexual abuse. In addition to the sentence, the Honorable Errol Arthur also ordered that Garner will be required to register for 10 years as a sex offender and complete three years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, at approximately, 9:30 a.m., on April 16, 2023, law enforcement officers responded to the Gallery Place Metro station for a report of a sexual assault on a female passenger. Officers spoke with the victim, who stated she had boarded the green line train at Suitland station and sat down. At that time, the defendant also boarded the train and sat directly across from her. Garner then sat next to the victim, when she noticed that his penis was exposed. When the victim motioned to other passengers that the defendant was masturbating, he got up and moved away claiming he was just fixing his pants. As the train continued and approached L’Enfant Plaza Metro station, Garner again sat next to the victim and masturbated, at which time the victim tried to get the attention of another passenger on the train. When the victim and a female passenger attempted to walk past the defendant, he blocked their path and stated “You can get off, but she isn’t going anywhere. You’re not going anywhere until I bust a nut”. The defendant let the unknown female passenger go but held on to the victim, grabbed her butt, and refused to let her leave the train. The victim continued to try to get off the train, but the defendant forced her to stay on board while he continued to assault her.
At one point, when other passengers observed what was happening Garner lied and stated that the victim was his lady. As the train pulled into the Fort Totten metro station, again Garner refused to let the victim leave and, with his penis exposed, ultimately ejaculated on her. When the train pulled into the next station, both the victim and Garner exited the train. The victim immediately reported the assault to the station manager, who called the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD). The defendant boarded a train on the other platform going in the opposite direction. MTPD officers were able to locate Garner on a train at Gallery Place Metro, where he was identified by the victim and placed under arrest, and he has been in custody ever since.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Martin commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Transit Police Department and the Metropolitan Police Department. He acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim Advocate Tracey Hawkins and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard Kelley and Sarah Folse, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
San Diego Woman Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin-Filled Bibles Addressed to California Prison InmatesRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – U.S. District Court Judge Todd Robinson sentenced Lucresia Stone-Rojas of San Diego today to 86 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm on November 12, 2023, and possession with intent to distribute heroin on December 27, 2023. Stone-Rojas previously pleaded guilty in federal court to these charges.
According to court records, police stopped Stone-Rojas on November 12, 2023, after license plate readers identified a stolen Porsche near North Second Street and East Main Street in El Cajon. During the stop, police recovered a loaded 9mm Walther firearm and an additional ammunition magazine. Multiple prior felony convictions prohibit Stone-Rojas from possessing a firearm or ammunition. She was therefore charged with unlawful firearm possession, following investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Stone-Rojas was again arrested by federal investigators on December 27, 2023, for a second offense. This time, Stone-Rojas possessed sealed packages and envelopes addressed to multiple prison inmates in the California Department of Corrections. A search of the packages revealed two Bibles containing approximately 23 grams of heroin; the drugs were concealed in the spine of the Bibles and destined for delivery to two different California prisons.
“Smuggling drugs into our prisons endangers both the inmates and the correctional staff. It will not be tolerated.” said Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden “Hopefully this case will serve as a warning to anyone who would be willing to abuse the tools of faith and rehabilitation to perpetuate addiction and despair.”
“Multi-convicted felons who possess firearms will be held accountable as we work to keep our communities safe and firearms out of the hands of prohibited people,” said ATF Los Angeles Field Division Special Agent in Charge Kenneth R. Cooper. “ATF will continue to work with local and state law enforcement agencies to investigate the violent career criminals who illegally possess firearms.”“Drug distribution, no matter where it occurs, threatens the safety of our community and will not be tolerated,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian Clark.
DEFENDANT Case Number 23CR2622 (TWR)
Lucresia Stone-Rojas Age: 46 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Felon in Possession of a Firearm — Title 18 U.S.C., Section 922(g)(1)
Maximum Penalty: 15 years in prison and $250,000 finePossession with Intent to Distribute Heroin – Title 21 U.S.C., Section 841(a)(1)
Maximum Penalty: 20 years in prison and $1,000,000 fineINVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Drug Enforcement Administration
El Cajon Police Department
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 gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.Saint Vincents Catholic Medical Centers of New York Agrees to Pay $29M to Resolve Alleged False Claims Act ViolationsRead the Press Release
SVCMC Inc., formerly known as Saint Vincents Catholic Medical Centers of New York (Saint Vincent), has agreed to pay $29 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly retaining erroneously inflated payments received from the Department of Defense for healthcare services provided to retired military members and their families.
Saint Vincent is one of six health plans participating in the Uniformed Services Family Health Plan (USFHP) program, which is a federal health insurance program funded by the Defense Health Agency (DHA), a component of the Department of Defense. Under the USFHP program, DHA pays Saint Vincent capitated rates to provide healthcare services to military personnel, retirees, and their families. The complaint alleged that, in 2012, Saint Vincent learned that errors had been made in the calculation of the capitated rates resulting in substantial overpayments to Saint Vincent and the other five USFHP plans over the preceding four years. According to the government’s complaint, instead of notifying the government of the overpayments or repaying the funds, Saint Vincent, along with the other five USFHP plans, took steps to conceal the existence of the overpayments from DHA, continued to submit invoices at the inflated payment rates, and conspired to avoid paying the money back. Today’s settlement resolves the government’s claims against Saint Vincent.
“Those who receive public funds, including participants in government health care programs, must return funds to which they are not entitled,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Together with our partners across the federal government, we will hold accountable those who knowingly violate this obligation to the American taxpayers.”
“I want to thank the Justice Department for resolving this case on behalf of TRICARE and the Defense Health Agency,” said Dr. David C. Krulak, Director, TRICARE Health Plan, DHA. “Providing excellent health care to our 9.5 million beneficiaries worldwide is essential to maintaining force readiness and keeping our promise to our family members and retirees, while being good stewards of taxpayer dollars at the same time.”
The civil settlement resolves claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Jane Rollinson and Daniel Gregorie in the District of Maine. From 2007 to 2015, Ms. Rollinson worked at Martin’s Point Health Care, one of the health plans participating in the USFHP program, including as its Interim Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Gregorie was a consultant to the CEO and Board of Martin’s Point Health Care and later served on its Board of Trustees. Under the False Claims Act’s qui tam provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The United States may intervene and proceed with the case, as it did here. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Rollinson v. Martin’s Point Health Care, Inc., No. 2:16-cv-00447-NT (D. Me.). As part of today’s settlement, Ms. Rollinson and Mr. Gregorie will receive $5.655 million. The United States is continuing to pursue the remaining claims in this case.
The resolution of this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch (Fraud Section) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine, with assistance from the DHA.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The matter was handled by Fraud Section Attorneys Diana Cieslak and Evan Ballan and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Lizotte and Sheila Sawyer for the District of Maine.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Sacramento Man Sentenced to over 13 Years in Prison for Fentanyl and Heroin Trafficking and Illegal Weapons Possession ChargesRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Alberto Gonzalez Salgado, 45, of Sacramento, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta to 13 years and one month in prison and ordered to forfeit $100,000 to the government for drug trafficking and firearms crimes, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.
According to court documents, in 2019 and 2020, Salgado trafficked fentanyl pills, heroin, marijuana, and firearms. On multiple occasions Salgado sold heroin and fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills and illegal short-barreled rifles to a confidential source. Salgado also maintained a stash house in Sacramento where he grew over 100 marijuana plants and also kept a firearm to protect his drug trafficking operation. When law enforcement attempted to stop Salgado’s vehicle to arrest him on the way to a fentanyl pill deal in October 2020, Salgado fled, leading law enforcement on a high-speed vehicle chase on public roadways that lasted over an hour and a half and endangered law enforcement officers and the public.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Sacramento Area Intelligence/Narcotics Task Force, and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney David W. Spencer prosecuted the case.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
Raleigh Man Sentenced to over 10 years in Prison for Drugs and GunsRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Raleigh man was sentenced to 152 months in prison for wire fraud, conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute heroin, possession with the intent to distribute heroin, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. On September 16, 2024, and November 4, 2024, Cory Sean Heard, age 47, pled guilty to the charges.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, on February 8, 2021, Heard was pulled over by the Raleigh Police Department for a routine traffic stop. During a search of Heard’s car, officers located a 9mm pistol, a bag of heroin, and a digital scale. Further investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) revealed that between 2019 and 2021, Heard sold over 100 grams of heroin.
While investigating Heard for drug distribution, the FBI learned that in March 2020, Heard submitted a fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) application and IRS Form Schedule C for a fake business. As a result of this fraudulent EIDL application, Heard received a cash advance. Further investigation revealed that Heard also received PPP funds for an alleged car washing business. As part of the resolution of this case, Heard agreed, and was ordered to pay, $140,000 in restitution to the Small Business Administration.
Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Raleigh Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Warlick and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Labresh prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 5:21-CR-178-M and 5:23-CR-388-M.
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Phoenix Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 151 Months After Agents Seize over 90 Pounds of Fentanyl and over 40 Pounds of Cocaine from Stash HouseRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Miguel Angel Gaytan-Ramirez, 34, an undocumented Mexican National living in Phoenix, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 151 months, followed by three years supervised release. Gaytan-Ramirez pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl on November 5, 2024.
According to court documents, on January 25, 2024, an undercover agent working for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agreed to purchase 150,000 fentanyl pills (approximately 15 kilograms) from a member of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) in Mexico. The individual in Mexico instructed the undercover agent to travel to a parking lot in Phoenix to complete the transaction.
At the parking lot, investigators identified a Dodge Ram pickup truck as the vehicle in which a DTO member was located. A man later identified as Gaytan-Ramirez called the undercover agent and said that he was occupying the Dodge Ram pickup. Thereafter, investigators moved in and detained Gaytan-Ramirez.
After detaining Gaytan-Ramirez, investigators identified a nearby apartment used by Gaytan-Ramirez to store narcotics. Gaytan-Ramirez provided investigators consent to search the apartment. Inside a closet in the apartment investigators seized a black American Tactical Omni Hybrid 5.56 NATO caliber rifle with an AOMEKIE Scope, approximately 34 kilograms (74.9 pounds) of blue pills stamped M30 which contained fentanyl, 8 kilograms (17.6 pounds) of fentanyl powder, and 19 kilograms (41.9 pounds) of cocaine. Authorities also seized over $18,000 in drug proceeds from Gaytan-Ramirez’s vehicle and the stash house.
Drug Enforcement Administration, Phoenix East Valley Drug Enforcement Task Force conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jospeh K. Nwoga and Stuart J. Zander, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-00257-PHX-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-017_Gaytan-Ramirez# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest newsPennsylvania Man Sentenced for Fentanyl Related OffenseRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Pennsylvania resident has been sentenced for drug-related charges in the Northern District of West Virginia.
Jo-El Torres, 40, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
During a traffic stop in Clarksburg, West Virginia, a K9 officer positively alerted for the presence of drugs in a vehicle occupied by Torres. Torres was directed to exit the vehicle. At that point, Torres attempted to swallow a bag and its contents. Officers were able to subdue him and retrieve the bag. Subsequent lab tests confirmed that the bag contained fentanyl and other drugs. This is the third federal drug conviction for Torres.
Torres will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Cogar prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The matter was investigated by the Greater Harrison County Drug Task Force, a HIDTA funded initiative; the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office; the Clarksburg Police Department; and the West Virginia State Police.
U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Owner of Las Vegas Company Indicted in $24 Million Cryptocurrency Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas business owner made his initial appearance in court yesterday for allegedly misrepresenting that his company was a profitable, up-and-running artificial intelligence company that mined cryptocurrency, verified cryptocurrency transactions, paid fixed rates of return on investments, and provided a 100% money back guarantee. In total, the defendant obtained approximately $24 million from at least 400 investors.
“Mr. Kovar allegedly stole victims’ hard-earned money by making false representations regarding his investment company, including misleading some victims to believe their investments were backed by the FDIC,” said Ryan Korner, Special Agent in Charge with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG). “FDIC OIG is committed to identifying, and holding accountable, those who endanger our Nation’s financial system by victimizing others for their personal gain.”
Brent C. Kovar, 58, is charged with 12 counts of wire fraud, three counts of mail fraud, and three counts of money laundering. A jury trial has been scheduled to begin on April 8, 2025, before United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey.
According to allegations contained in the indictment, from late 2017 to July 2021, Kovar owned Profit Connect, a Las Vegas, Nev., based company that purportedly used artificial intelligence software on a supercomputer to mine cryptocurrency and verify cryptocurrency transactions. He falsely represented to investors that Profit Connect paid a fixed rate of return of 15%-30% APR and provided a 100% money-back guarantee. In reality, Kovar used investor money to operate Profit Connect, buy gifts for employees, buy a house for himself, and repay investors as if those repayments came from mining cryptocurrency and verifying cryptocurrency transactions.
As part of the scheme, Kovar created a website, a YouTube video, and a PowerPoint presentation in which he made the misrepresentations to influence customers to buy investments. Furthermore, he leased office space for a sales office and a warehouse for a data center. As alleged, investments were sold through an entity known as Profit Connect Wealth Services. Kovar sent money via wire transfers to investors, he mailed checks through the U.S. Postal Service, and he engaged in monetary transactions greater than $10,000 that were derived from unlawful activity.
If convicted, Kovar faces a total maximum statutory penalty of 330 years in prison and a fine of not more than $4,500,000. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Sue Fahami, Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI Las Vegas Division, Special Agent in Charge Ryan Korner for the FDIC OIG, and Special Agent in Charge Carissa Messick for the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Phoenix Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI, FDIC OIG, and IRS-CI investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Daniel Schiess 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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Nevada Woman Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Seeking Nearly $100M in COVID-19 Employment Tax CreditsRead the Press Release
A Nevada woman pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring to defraud the United States by making claims for refunds of false COVID-19 related employment tax credits.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Candies Goode-McCoy, of Las Vegas, conspired with others to file tax returns seeking fraudulent refunds based on the employee retention credit (ERC) and paid sick and family leave credit. From around June 2022 through September 2023, McCoy filed approximately 1,227 false tax returns for her businesses and others claiming these refundable credits.
In total, these claims sought refunds of over $98 million, of which the IRS paid approximately $33 million. McCoy personally received over $1.3 million in fraudulent refunds and was paid about $800,000 from those on whose behalf she filed fraudulent returns. McCoy knew that these returns were fraudulent. Neither she nor the others for whom she filed them were eligible to receive the refundable credits in the amounts claimed. McCoy used the proceeds for her personal benefit, including the purchase of luxury cars, gambling at casinos, vacations and other luxury goods.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact, Congress authorized the ERC for small businesses to reduce the employment tax owed to the IRS. Congress also authorized the IRS to give a credit against employment taxes to reimburse businesses for the wages paid to employees who were on sick or family leave and could not work because of COVID-19. This credit was equal to the wages the business paid the employees during the sick or family leave, subject to a maximum amount.
McCoy is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 23, 2026. She faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison as well as a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Sue Fahami for the District of Nevada made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney John C. Gerardi of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Anthony Lopez for the District of Nevada are prosecuting the case.
Midland DTO Leader Sentenced to Life in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
MIDLAND, Texas – A Mexican national unlawfully residing in Texas was sentenced Thursday to life in federal prison for his criminal actions as the leader of a drug trafficking organization tied to a Mexican cartel.
According to court documents, Jose Ramon Castillo-Lopez aka “Pepo,” 30, of Namiquipa, Chihuahua, Mexico, supplied a co-conspirator with a firearm, along with methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl “M30” pills for distribution purposes. Castillo-Lopez also utilized a garage in Midland to disassemble stolen vehicles as load vehicles used to transport illicit drugs and money.
On Oct. 1, 2022, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents learned that Castillo-Lopez had been arrested and charged with attempted capital murder for allegedly shooting a Seminole, Texas police officer. Through a review of his phone calls in the Gaines County Jail, DEA agents confirmed that Castillo-Lopez was the leader of a United States-based DTO, working directly with his counterpart on the Mexican side of the organization. Additionally, Castillo-Lopez had instructed in detail two co-defendants, his girlfriend Myra Mendez and her brother Aaron Mendez, to take over the DTO operations in the United States.
Castillo-Lopez was responsible for the distribution of 100-300 pounds of actual methamphetamine per month, more than 20 kgs of cocaine, and several hundred grams of fentanyl M-30 pills and heroin. Additionally, Castillo-Lopez was responsible for telling the Mexican side of the DTO how much and what types of narcotics were needed for distribution, the collection of narcotics proceeds, and he ensured distribution occurred in Midland/Odessa, San Antonio, Amarillo, San Angelo and throughout the state of Mississippi.
Castillo-Lopez pleaded guilty on Sept. 23, 2024, to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine and 5 kgs or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine.
“This federal life sentence is a significant victory for the United States in combatting the Mexican cartels and their drug trafficking organizations,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “Castillo-Lopez was responsible for orchestrating the movement of massive amounts of dangerous narcotics into our country and through our communities. This case is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our federal, state and local law enforcement partners. Together, we prioritize the safety of Americans and will bring the full force of justice to criminal organizations.”
“Mr. Castillo-Lopez now has a lifetime to contemplate the terrible choices he made,” said Towanda R. Thorne-James, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s El Paso Division. “He willingly put the lives of Texans and Mississippians at risk and now he’s facing the consequences. The men and women of the DEA will continue to bring other drug traffickers like him to their own day of reckoning.”
The DEA investigated the case with valuable assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety, Midland Sheriff’s Office, Odessa Police Department and the Midland Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Sloane prosecuted the case.
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Middle School Teacher Charged with Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Anatasia Coleman, the Special Commissioner for Investigation for the Office of the Special Commissioner of Investigation for the NYC School District ("SCI"), announced today the arrest of ROSS LANVIN for possession of child pornography. LANVIN is charged with possessing hundreds of images and videos of child pornography that depict children ranging from approximately 3 to 4 years old to pre-pubescent children engaging in sexually explicit conduct. LANVIN was presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron in Manhattan federal court.
Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said: “As alleged, Ross Lanvin, who had close contact with students as a teacher at a public school in Manhattan, possessed hundreds of images and videos of child pornography. Together with our partners at the NYPD and Office of the Special Commissioner of Investigations for the NYC School District, we will continue to work to root out those who possess child pornography, especially when those individuals work in positions that give them access to children—some of the most vulnerable members of our community. Our investigation into Lanvin is ongoing, and we encourage anyone with information to contact Wendy Olsen-Clancy, the Victim Witness Coordinator at the United States Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of New York, at 866-874-8900 or [email protected].”
SCI Special Commissioner for Investigation Anatasia Coleman said: "SCI is grateful for the efforts of its investigators and the opportunity to work alongside all of our partners at the DOJ and NYPD to root out child sex abuse wherever it may occur. This type of crime, as alleged, is always troubling, but when it involves someone entrusted with the daily enrichment of our children, it makes its investigation and prosecution even more urgent."
According to the allegations contained in the Complaint:[1]
LANVIN is currently a math teacher at a public middle school located in Manhattan, New York (“School-1”). He was employed by the New York City Department of Education from in or about 2006 through in or about 2013, and again beginning in or about 2016.
From at least in or about September 2021 through in or about December 2024, LANVIN possessed hundreds of images and videos constituting child pornography on a Google account held under a fake name. On or about December 20, 2024, Google terminated access to this account upon finding that it contained suspected child pornography.
On February 13, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at LANVIN’s Manhattan apartment and found child pornography on at least one of LANVIN’s electronic devices.
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LANVIN, 41, of New York, New York, is charged with two counts of possession of child pornography, including images and videos of prepubescent minors and minors who had not attained 12 years of age, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The statutory maximum sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Podolsky praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department Special Investigations Unit, Computer Crimes Squad, SCI, as well as the Task Force Officers and Investigative Analysts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Lauren E. Phillips is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the texts of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Miami Federal Prosecutors Charge Two Foreign Nationals Headed for Florida Coast on Boat with 20 Alien PassengersRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Bahamian national and a Haitian national face federal charges in the Southern District of Florida after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents stopped a go-fast boat heading towards South Florida, finding the two defendants at the helm accompanied by 20 other aliens – 12 from China, seven from Haiti, and one from Jamaica.
A criminal complaint charges both Demetrius Luciano Kemp, 27, of the Bahamas, and Mikewendzly Nestar Norelus, 22, of Haiti, with failure to heave to, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §2237(a)(1). In addition, it charges Kemp with unlawfully encouraging or inducing aliens to come to, enter, and reside in the United Sates, in violation of 8 U.S.C. §1324(a)(1)(A)(iv), and re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of 8 U.S.C. §1326(a).
According to the charging affidavit: On Feb. 9, a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) cutter spotted a 25-foot go-fast boat about three nautical miles west of Bimini, Bahamas. The cutter followed the boat as it traveled (in the dark and with its lights off) from Bahamian and through international waters. Once the boat entered U.S. territorial waters, a CBP Air and Maritime Operations vessel approached. Agents activated the CBP vessel’s lights and siren and commanded the go-fast boat drivers to stop. The boat kept going, despite these and further commands, as well as warning shots. CBP had to disable the go-fast boat to get it to stop.
The affidavit also says that on boarding the boat, CBP agents found 22 aliens: Norelus at the helm and Kemp in the first mate seat, accompanied by 12 Chinese nationals, seven Haitian nationals, and one Jamaican national. Biometrics testing and other checks showed that no one on the go-fast boat had permission or authorization to enter the United States on the date of the interdiction. They also showed that Kemp had been previously removed from the United States in July 2024.
Defendants were arrested, charged, and will remain in federal detention pending trial. The other 20 aliens were returned to the Bahamas, where the journey began.
U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jose R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
HSI Miami is investigating the case. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), 7th Coast Guard District provided valuable assistance in this matter. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner Stiehl is prosecuting it.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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 22-cr-20255.
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Mexican National with Prior Convictions Charged for Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Mexican national residing in Las Vegas made his initial court appearance on Monday to face charges of illegally reentering the United States after twice being removed from the country.
Victor Jesus Apodaca-Gomez, a/k/a Carlos Alberto Cardenas, 31, is charged with one count of deported alien found in the United States. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 2, 2025, before United States Magistrate Judge Brenda N. Weksler.
According to allegations contained in the criminal complaint and statements made during court proceedings, Apodaca-Gomez is a citizen and national of Mexico who was previously deported and removed from the United States on April 9, 2020, and again on May 17, 2022, and re-entered the United States illegally on or before October 24, 2023.
In October 2023, officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department arrested Apodaca-Gomez on drug-related charges. On March 25, 2024, Apodaca-Gomez was convicted in Clark County of mid-level possession of a controlled substance and conspiracy to violate the controlled substance act, and he was sentenced to imprisonment.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), learned on October 25, 2023, of Apodaca-Gomez’s presence in the United States. after he was arrested by state law enforcement, in Clark County, NV. On January 30, 2025, the Nevada Department of Corrections remanded Apodaca-Gomez to ICE custody.
If convicted, Apodaca-Gomez faces the maximum statutory penalty of two years of imprisonment, a one-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment..
Acting United States Attorney Sue Fahami for the District of Nevada and Salt Lake City Field Office Director Michael Bernacke made the announcement.
The ICE Salt Lake City, Las-Vegas Sub-Office investigated the case; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada is prosecuting the case.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
A complaint is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Mexican National Sentenced to over Five Years in Prison for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Pedro Cerna Arias, 62, a Mexican national residing in Milpitas, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta to five years and 10 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.
According to court documents, on April 9, 2020, Cerna Arias sold approximately 1 kilogram of methamphetamine to an undercover officer in Milpitas, in a deal that was initially negotiated between the undercover officer and a Mexico-based drug trafficker. On Oct. 8, 2021, law enforcement searched Cerna Arias’s residence and found about a kilogram of methamphetamine, a bucket with methamphetamine residue, drug ledgers, drug packaging material, and $6,165 in cash. Cerna Arias admitted to law enforcement that the methamphetamine was his and that he distributed methamphetamine in pound quantities.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT), with assistance from Customs and Border Protection, the California Highway Patrol, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David W. Spencer prosecuted the case.
Co-defendant Jose Moreno Albestrain was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Dec. 19, 2024, by Judge Calabretta for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
This prosecution is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. The Sacramento Strike Force is a co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. The specific mission of the Sacramento Strike Force is to identify, investigate, disrupt, and dismantle the most significant drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) shipping narcotics, firearms, and money through the Eastern District of California, thereby reducing the flow of these criminal resources in California and the rest of the United States. The Sacramento Strike Force leads intelligence-driven investigations targeting the leadership and support elements of these DTOs and TCOs operating within the Eastern District of California, regardless of their geographic base of operations.
Mexican National Sentenced to 46 Months’ Imprisonment for Methamphetamine ChargeRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Matthew R. Molsen announced that Rodrigo Marrufo-Pineda, 34, of Zitacuaro, Michoacan, Mexico, was sentenced on February 14, 2025, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Marrufo-Pineda to 46 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After completing his term of imprisonment, Marrufo-Pineda will be subject to deportation to Mexico as he is not a United States citizen.
Marrufo-Pineda was charged as a result of his involvement with a Mexico Source of Supply (SOS) of meth who supplies the Omaha and Council Bluffs, Iowa areas. Marrufo-Pineda was a local courier who was distributing the SOS’s meth in Nebraska and Iowa.
On January 25, 2024, special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation utilized a cooperating witness who purchased approximately one pound of meth from Marrufo-Pineda at an Omaha location. At the time of Marrufo-Pineda’s arrest, he gave a post-arrest statement admitting to distributing pound quantities of meth in the Omaha area.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
Mexican National Extradited to Face Drug and Money Laundering Criminal ChargesRead the Press Release
FLORENCE, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Florence has returned a two-count indictment charging Rafael Contreras, 38, of Mexico, with distributing cocaine and heroin and money laundering. Contreras was extradited from Mexico and arraigned in federal court in Florence this morning.
The indictment alleges that Contreras directed the sale and distribution of large quantities of heroin and cocaine from Mexico, with the narcotics largely being sold in Horry County.
“The extradition of this defendant marks a victory in our fight against transnational criminal organizations,” said U.S. Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “We are grateful for the close cooperation with our law enforcement partners in Mexico and here in the United States. This extradition demonstrates our unwavering commitment to prosecuting those bringing illegal narcostics into our communities.”
“This indictment and extradition send a clear message: the FBI is relentless in its pursuit of the criminals behind large-scale drug operations,” said Steve Jensen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia field office. “The defendant, as alleged, caused significant harm to Horry County by directing the distribution of lethal amounts of heroin and cocaine. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to expose and root out international drug trafficking networks that threaten the safety of our communities.”
Contreras faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. He is currently detained pending trial.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the Horry County Police Department, the Horry County Sheriff’s Office, and the Myrtle Beach Police Department. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and extradition of Contreras. The U.S. Marshals Service completed the removal of Contreras from Mexico to the District of South Carolina. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Flynn is prosecuting the case.
All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Metairie Man Guilty of Distributing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that KEVIN LILLIS (“LILLIS”), age 51, a resident of Metairie, Louisiana, pled guilty today, before United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo, to distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), in violation of 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(2).
According to court documents, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents executed a search warrant at LILLIS’s residence in March 2024. During the execution of the warrant, agents seized and searched electronic devices belonging to LILLIS. These devices contained files depicting the sexual victimization of children and obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children. Specifically, the items seized included more than 600 images and 6 videos, 1 of which was almost 12 minutes long, depicting the sexual victimization of children, as well as dozens of other images and videos depicting obscene visual representations. Among the files LILLIS searched, downloaded, stored, and distributed, were images of newborn infants engaging in sexually explicit conduct, and files portraying violent sadistic or masochistic conduct. LILLIS distributed the files numerous times between January 2024 and March 11, 2024. Agents also discovered conversations LILLIS had with other individuals on encrypted messaging applications during 2023-2024, in which LILLIS admitted having hands-on sexual contact with multiple young prepubescent minors over the past two decades.
LILLIS faces a mandatory minimum of five (5) years in prison up to a maximum of twenty (20) years imprisonment, as to each of Counts 1, 2, and 3. LILLIS also faces at least five years, and up to a lifetime, of supervised release and up to a $250,000 fine per count. Additionally, he faces payment of a $300 mandatory special assessment fee. LILLIS may also be required to register as a sex offender. Sentencing before Judge Milazzo has been scheduled for May 14, 2025.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg, Chief of the Public Integrity Unit, is in charge of the prosecution.
Members of prolific fentanyl distribution conspiracy sentenced to prisonRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Three Virginia men have been sentenced to prison for distributing copious quantities of fentanyl.
According to court documents, from at least July 2023 through April 2024, Xavier Elijah Coltrane, aka X or Slime, 21, of Arlington; Vaughn Meachem, aka Vaughn Lockhart, 34, of Alexandria; and Cameron Harris, 24, of Gainesville, conspired to distribute fentanyl pills. Over a series of five controlled purchases conducted by the FBI, the conspirators sold approximately 65,000 fentanyl pills and a kilogram of cocaine.
Coltrane was co-owner of Exquisite Luxury Transportation, a car service that Coltrane used to facilitate drug trafficking activity. Coltrane arranged the five drug sales, communicating through Instagram messaging, Telegram, and speaking directly on the phone. In some of the controlled purchases, the purchaser booked a reservation with Exquisite Luxury Transportation and was driven to a delivery location. Once the purchaser arrived at the deal location, Meachem arrived and distributed fentanyl pills. On one occasion, Coltrane distributed the fentanyl pills directly. On another occasion when Coltrane feared the use of cars through Exquisite Luxury Transportation was attracting law enforcement attention, Harris delivered the fentanyl pills in his personal vehicle.
Coltrane, Meachem, and Harris each pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and distribution of 400 grams or more of fentanyl. On Feb. 13, 2025, Coltrane was sentenced to 20 years in prison. On Dec.18, 2024, Harris was sentenced to 13 years in prison. Meachem was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in prison.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Sean Ryan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division, Virginia State Police, and the Prince William County Police Department provided valuable assistance in the investigation of this case.
This investigation is part of the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking (HIDTA) Northern Virginia Gang Initiative, which seeks to identify, disrupt, and dismantle drug trafficking organizations and money laundering organizations; reduce drug-related crime and violence; and identify and respond to emerging drug trends.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip Alito, Catherine Rosenberg, and Ryan Bredemeier prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-115.
McAllen felon sentenced for possessing multiple firearmsRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 34-year-old man has been ordered to prison for possessing firearms while a felon, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
David Michael Saenz pleaded guilty Nov. 21, 2024.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Saenz to serve 60 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.
On Sept. 11, 2024, law enforcement stopped Saenz for a traffic violation, at which time they also smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Saenz admitted he was in possession of firearms.
A search revealed two handguns in his waistband and two additional firearms in his vehicle. Authorities also found meth and marijuana in the vehicle.
Further investigation revealed Saenz was previously convicted of aggravated robbery in 2021. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms per federal law. Saenz also admitted to possessing one of the firearms to protect himself while engaging in drug dealing.
Saenz has been and will remain in custody pending his transfer to a Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration and Rio Grande City Police Department conducted the joint investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cahal P. McColgan prosecuted the case as part of the joint federal, state and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, 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.
Maryland recidivist sentenced to over three years in prison for illegally possessing a firearmRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Maryland man was sentenced today to three years and six months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on May 8, 2024, at the Tysons Corner Center in Fairfax County, police stopped and searched a vehicle in which Marcus Gibbs, 28, of Capital Heights, was the front-seat passenger. Inside the vehicle, officers found a handbag containing a 9mm handgun with an extended magazine. Also inside the handbag was Gibbs's wallet, which contained his social security card and state identification card.
In 2015, Gibbs was convicted of robbery and sentenced to eight years in prison. In 2021, Gibbs was also convicted of possession of a firearm by a felon and sentenced to five years in prison. As a previously convicted felon, Gibbs cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division, and Kevin Davis, Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel K. Amzallag prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-178.
Man Sentenced to 21 Years in Prison for Killing Girlfriend Inside ApartmentRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Koran Brown, 32, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today, to 21 years in prison for shooting Cynthia Barringer insider her apartment at 2312 Green Street, S.E., announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Brown pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder while armed in November 2024, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
According to the government’s evidence, Brown and Ms. Barringer argued around 3:45 pm on the day of the murder. During the argument, Brown shot Ms. Barringer one time in the head with a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol. He then started a fire in the bedroom where the shooting occurred and fled the building. Brown was captured on surveillance video leaving the building and arriving shortly thereafter at the home of a family member, where he left his bloody t-shirt and the murder weapon. After that evidence was recovered during a search warrant, DNA testing linked the items to both the defendant and the victim.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Martin and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Lead Paralegal Specialist Meridith McGarrity and Victim/Witness Advocate Latrice Washington Williams. Finally, they commended the work of former Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Rickard and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dana Joseph and Andrea Antonelli, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Man Once on FBI’s Most Wanted Fugitives List Appears in Court in St. LouisRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Donald Eugene Fields II, who was on the FBI’s Most Wanted list until his arrest on January 26 in Florida, pleaded not guilty Friday to child sex charges in U.S. District Court in St. Louis.
Fields, now 60, of Franklin County, Missouri, was originally indicted on Dec. 7, 2022. He now faces a child sex trafficking charge and a charge of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. The indictment accuses him of knowingly attempting to recruit, entice, provide, patronize and solicit a minor into engaging in a commercial sex act from about January 2013 until June 2017 and traveling to Florida in 2016 to engage in sex with a minor.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Fields was arrested during a traffic stop by police in Lady Lake, Florida after officers learned that he was on the Most Wanted list.
“Donald Fields II will finally answer federal charges thanks to the outstanding work by the Lady Lake Police Department,” said Special Agent in Charge Ashley Johnson of the FBI St. Louis Division. “We applaud the bravery of the alleged victims, who showed up in court today to face the defendant for the first time since he became a federal fugitive more than two years ago. The FBI will continue to provide victim services to support their emotional journey through the legal process.”
The case was investigated jointly by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI, with assistance from the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Missouri State Technical Assistance Team. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianna Edwards is prosecuting 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 the Department of Justice 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 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.
Louisville Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Distribution ChargesRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A local man was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Acting Special Agent in Charge A.J. Gibes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to court documents, Shawon Hickman, 51, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine from February to June 8, 2023, and for distributing over 50 grams of methamphetamine on February 16th and March 1st, 2023 in Jefferson County, Kentucky.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the ATF with assistance from the Louisville Metro Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua R. Porter prosecuted 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.
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Lexington Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine and Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lexington man, Sanchaze Roberts, 28, was sentenced on Friday, by U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves, to 151 months, for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a mixture containing fentanyl.
According to his plea agreement, on August 14, 2024, law enforcement, using a confidential source, arranged the purchase of one pound of methamphetamine from Roberts. Roberts agreed to deliver the methamphetamine to the confidential source at a series of locations dictated by Roberts. Roberts traveled to the location, and when law enforcement surrounded his vehicle, he attempted to flee. Law enforcement ultimately apprehended Roberts and located 401.4 grams of methamphetamine and 12.5 grams of fentanyl in his vehicle.
Under federal law, Roberts must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, Roberts will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. Chapman prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Lexington Man Sentenced for Illegal Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lexington man, Adam Pursifull, 40, was sentenced on Friday, by U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves, to 124 months, for possession of a firearm as a prohibited person.
According to his plea agreement, on April 23, 2024, law enforcement received information leading to the arrest of Adam Pursifull on an outstanding parole warrant. During the arrest and a search, officers located a loaded firearm in Pursifull’s possession. Pursifull had previously been convicted by the Fayette Circuit Court of trafficking in a controlled substance first degree, in May 2014, and was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Under federal law, Pursifull must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, Pursifull will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; AJ Gibes, Acting Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; Jeremy Honaker, Acting U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and Commissioner Cookie Crews, Kentucky Department of Corrections, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by ATF, U.S Marshal’s Service, and the Kentucky Department of Corrections. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Rieker prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, Acting U.S. Attorney McCaffrey coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
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Las Vegas Woman Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Seeking Nearly $100M in COVID-19 Employment Tax CreditsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS - A Nevada woman pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring to defraud the United States by making claims for refunds of false COVID-19 related employment tax credits.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Candies Goode-McCoy, of Las Vegas, conspired with others to file tax returns seeking fraudulent refunds based on the employee retention credit (ERC) and paid sick and family leave credit. From around June 2022 through September 2023, McCoy filed approximately 1,227 false tax returns for her businesses and others claiming these refundable credits.
In total, these claims sought refunds of over $98 million, of which the IRS paid approximately $33 million. McCoy personally received over $1.3 million in fraudulent refunds and was paid about $800,000 from those on whose behalf she filed fraudulent returns. McCoy knew that these returns were fraudulent. Neither she nor the others for whom she filed them were eligible to receive the refundable credits in the amounts claimed. McCoy used the proceeds for her personal benefit, including the purchase of luxury cars, gambling at casinos, vacations and other luxury goods.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact, Congress authorized the ERC for small businesses to reduce the employment tax owed to the IRS. Congress also authorized the IRS to give a credit against employment taxes to reimburse businesses for the wages paid to employees who were on sick or family leave and could not work because of COVID-19. This credit was equal to the wages the business paid the employees during the sick or family leave, subject to a maximum amount.
McCoy is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 23, 2026. She faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison as well as a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Sue Fahami for the District of Nevada made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney John C. Gerardi of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Anthony Lopez for the District of Nevada are prosecuting the case.
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Jury convicts wife of murdering husband on military installationRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A federal jury convicted a Kansas woman of murdering her husband who was a U.S. Army soldier assigned to Fort Riley, a federal military installation in Kansas.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Margaret E. Shafe, 31, was found guilty of murder in the second degree for shooting and killing her husband Greg Shafe in February 2024 at their home on Fort Riley.
Shafe faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Department of Army Criminal Investigation Division, and the Fort Riley Directorate of Emergency Services are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara Walton and Lindsey Debenham and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Graham are prosecuting the case.
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Jackson Man Sentenced to over Four Years in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was sentenced to 51 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, on August 28, 2023, Freddie Antwan McField, 44, was found in possession of a firearm by Hinds County Sheriff’s Deputies. McField has prior felony convictions for armed robbery, kidnapping, and motor vehicle theft.
McField was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 9, 2024, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He pled guilty on November 5, 2024.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen prosecuted 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.
Indiana man sentenced to prison for conspiracy to violate the Clean Air ActRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A 44-year-old Columbia, Indiana man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to four months in prison and a $25,000 fine for conspiracy to violate the Clean Air Act for his scheme to interfere with pollution control software on diesel trucks, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Jonathan Achtemeier pleaded guilty in November 2024, admitting that between 2019 and 2022, he tampered with the monitoring devices on hundreds of vehicles nationwide so those trucks would not detect that their owners removed pollution control hardware systems. Achtemeier advertised his services on the internet and was able to tamper with the monitoring devices in diesel trucks remotely. Between 2019 and 2021 Achtemeier’s company grossed $4.3 million. At sentencing U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright said, “This offense is characterized as a lack of respect for the law and a flaunting of the law…. The harm that comes from this type of offense is serious.”
“From the comfort of his home, this defendant caused environmental damage across the country, tampering with pollution controls on diesel trucks so that they spewed 30 to 1200 times the pollutants of a legally configured truck,” said Acting U. S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. “His motivation was money – but the rest of us will pay the price with dirty air and contamination in our soil and waterways.”
According to records filed in the case, Achtemeier conspired with mechanics in garages and operators of truck fleets to manipulate the monitoring software installed on diesel trucks. Coconspirators who wanted to disable their trucks’ pollution control hardware system—a process commonly known as “deleting”—sought Achtemeier’s help to trick the truck’s software into believing the emissions control systems were still functional, a process known as “tuning.” Monitoring devices on a deleted truck will detect that the pollution control hardware is not functioning and will prevent the truck from running. Achtemeier disabled the monitoring software on his client’s trucks by connecting to laptops he had provided to various coconspirators. Some of the coconspirators would pass the laptop on to others seeking to have the anti-pollution parameters disabled or modified on their trucks. Once the laptop was hooked up to the truck’s onboard computer, Achtemeier could access it from his computer and tune the computer designed to monitor the pollution control equipment. Achtemeier could “tune” trucks remotely, which enabled him to maximize his environmental impact and personal profit.
Removing the pollution control equipment and disabling the monitoring device results in trucks polluting at 30 to 1,200 times the level of a truck with pollution control systems. Tampering with a monitoring device is a violation of the Clean Air Act.
Achtemeier charged as much at $4,500 per truck for work that often took him two hours or less. Achtemeier advertised his services on social media nationwide using images of semi-trucks spewing black exhaust. His company operated under the name Voided Warranty Tuning (VWT) or Optimized Ag.
In their request for an 18-month prison sentence and $100,000 fine, prosecutors wrote to the court, “Achtemeier spent years building a business dedicated to illegal tuning. He advertised his services on diesel-focused Facebook groups like West Coast Trucking where he had access to thousands of truck owners and enthusiasts. He encouraged customers to pass along his name and even provided them computers so they could help friends and neighbors delete their vehicles and use Achtemeier for tuning. This enabled him to quickly grow his business into a multi-million-dollar enterprise.”
The coconspirators in this case have service garages or truck fleets in various areas of Washington State. The trucks that were altered range from pick-ups such as a Dodge R3500 to Kenworth and Freightliner semi-trucks.
The case was investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division (EPA-CID).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Watts Staniar and Dane Westermeyer, with Special Assistant United States Attorney Karla Perrin. Ms. Perrin is an attorney with the EPA.
Hot Spring County Sheriff Pleads Guilty to Concealing a Material Fact from a Governmental AgencyRead the Press Release
EL DORADO – A Malvern, Arkansas, man entered a plea of guilty today to one count of Engaging in a Scheme to Conceal a Material Fact from a Governmental Agency. The Honorable Chief Judge Susan O. Hickey presided over the change of plea hearing, which took place in the United States District Court in El Dorado.
According to the plea agreement, Derek” Scott” Finkbeiner, age 47 the elected Sheriff of Hot Spring County (Malvern), admitted that from approximately August 19, 2023, through August 24, 2023, he intentionally misled and concealed material facts from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) about the true nature of his relationship with a target of an FBI investigation. Finkbeiner admitted that he was present at the target’s residence when the FBI conducted a controlled purchase of narcotics and that he “smoked” crack cocaine and methamphetamine with the target. Further, Finkbeiner admitted that once he learned of the FBI’s investigation, he intentionally lied about the nature of his and the Hot Spring County Sheriff Department’s relationship with the target, all in an effort to convince the FBI to cease its investigation.
Finkbeiner’s sentencing is expected to take place in approximately four months. Finkbeiner faces a maximum penalty of up to 5 years in prison for the crime to which he plead guilty. Chief District Judge Susan Hickey will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Harris and Assistant United States Attorneys Bryan Achorn and Trent Daniels of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Arkansas are prosecuting the case.
Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website @ www.pacer.gov
Head of Consulting Firm Eclipse Capital Partners Agrees to Pay over $3.2 Million to Resolve Alleged False Claims Act Violations Relating to Economic Injury Disaster Loan ProgramRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Pennsylvania resident Ronald Hoplamazian has agreed to pay $3,277,486.35 to resolve allegations that he violated the False Claims Act by misusing funds received through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) program administered by the Small Business Administration (“SBA”).
Hoplamazian, who runs a Pennsylvania-based consulting firm, Eclipse Capital Partners, LLC, applied for — and received — an EIDL totaling $1,900,000. In applying for the EIDL, Hoplamazian represented that he would use the funds solely as working capital to alleviate economic injury caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Hoplamazian instead allegedly transferred a majority of the EIDL proceeds to a personal investment account, which is inconsistent with EIDL regulations.
“SBA loaned Hoplamazian almost two million dollars to help his business recover from economic harms caused by the pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “Hoplamazian instead allegedly used the EIDL proceeds for an entirely different purpose — to make personal investments — a purpose he knew to be inconsistent with the rules of the EIDL program. We will continue working with our partners to hold accountable individuals and businesses who misuse government programs like this.”
“This settlement underscores the SBA Office of Inspector General’s commitment to identifying and holding accountable those who attempt to defraud programs intended to support small businesses,” said Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, Special Agent in Charge of SBA OIG’s Eastern Region. “The Economic Injury Disaster Loan program was created to provide financial relief to businesses struggling due to unforeseen circumstances, not for personal enrichment through fraudulent means. SBA OIG will continue to work diligently with our law enforcement partners to protect taxpayer dollars and ensure these critical funds reach those who truly need them.”
This case was investigated by the SBA Office of Inspector General. It was handled by Deputy Chief Charlene Keller Fullmer, Assistant U.S. Attorney Mansi G. Shah, and Auditor Denis Cooke.
The settled civil claims are allegations only. There has been no determination of civil liability.
Gibson County Man Charged with Violation of the Sex Offender Registration & Notification Act and Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – A federal grand jury in Jackson recently returned an indictment charging a Gibson County man for violating his sex offender registry requirements and for reentering the United States illegally. Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren announced the return of the indictment today.
Jose Alfredo Melendez-Hernandez, 52, was arrested on the morning of February 12, 2025, after it was determined that he was residing in Trenton and had failed to register as a sex offender as required under federal law. He was previously convicted of sexual battery in Oklahoma. Further investigation by law enforcement revealed that Melendez-Hernandez was deported in 2009 and had not obtained the express consent from the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States.
Melendez-Hernandez faces charges for failing to register as a sex offender, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2250(a), and illegal reentry, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a) and (b)(2). The case is pending before United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson in Jackson, TN. If Melendez-Hernandez is convicted of the charges, Judge Anderson will determine the sentence to impose on the defendant after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and the United States Department of Homeland Security.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law. If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of the factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records (if any) and the characteristics of the violation.
Acting U.S. Attorney Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorney Immanuel Chioco, who is prosecuting the case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated it.
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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Gang Leader Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Prison for Trafficking Methamphetamine Pills and FentanylRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Cambodian man living in Lowell, Mass. was sentenced yesterday for trafficking large quantities of deadly substances, methamphetamine pills and fentanyl.
Sary Rath, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 135 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Rath is subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence. In October 2024, Rath pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine, and one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams and more of fentanyl.
The investigation of Rath and the criminal street gang, the Asian Boyz, was intended to disrupt the manufacturing and distribution of methamphetamine pills, branded as the pharmaceutical product, Adderall, that was impacting Greater Lowell communities. The Asian Boyz were supplying a sprawling drug distribution network with these homemade counterfeit “Adderall” pills.
On Nov. 11, 2021, Rath was recorded selling over 2,000 counterfeit “Adderall” pills for the price of $2.00 per pill, or $4,000 total. The pills were seized by investigators, who confirmed that the pills were pressed with methamphetamine and caffeine, and were nearly identical to genuine Adderall pills in shape, size, color and markings.
Rath also brokered a half-kilogram fentanyl deal with Asian Boyz gang associate and co-defendant, Anel Reyes. In early December 2021, Rath was introduced to undercover agents posing as music industry insiders. Rath used the brand “Money Affiliated” to publish music and sell apparel that promoted his allegiance to the Asian Boyz. The undercover agents expressed interest in helping Rath produce rap music and the need for a source of wholesale quantities of cocaine and fentanyl. On Dec. 20, 2021, Rath coordinated a meeting at his music studio in Chelmsford, Mass., between the undercover agent, Reyes, and himself, for the sale of 500 grams of fentanyl for $10,000. Reyes was only able to obtain approximately 400 grams of fentanyl, so the undercover agent paid $8,000. For brokering the deal, Rath received $800 of the cash proceeds of the illicit sale. Approximately three weeks later, on Jan. 14, 2022, Reyes conducted a second transaction with the same undercover agent, this time for a half kilogram of fentanyl for $10,000.
In May 2024, Reyes pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 27, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division and Superintendent Greg Hudon of the Lowell Police Department made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Billerica, Haverhill, North Andover and Salem Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak, III of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit 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.
This case is also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. of law.
Fresno Man Charged in Assault on Minor at a Veterans Affairs FacilityRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Daryl Vinson, 65, of Fresno, charging him with assault and abusive sexual contact on a minor, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.
According to court documents, on July 23, 2024, Vinson assaulted the minor at the Veterans Affairs Central California Health Care System in Fresno by touching her breast, pressing his mouth on her mouth and inserting his tongue in her mouth. Vinson is not employed at the facility.
If you have information related to this case or believe you may be a victim, please submit a tip online or call 1-800-488-8244.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Department of Veterans Affairs Police and Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Arin C. Heinz is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Vinson faces a maximum statutory penalty of up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Four Felons Indicted for Roles in Brockton ShootoutRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A federal grand jury returned an indictment against four Brockton men in connection with their alleged participation in a shootout that left a female victim with a gunshot wound to her chest. The following individuals have been charged in U.S. District Court in Boston:
1. Natalio Miranda, 33, charged with one count each of possession of a machinegun and being a felon in possession of ammunition; 2. Jonathan Alves, 28, charged with one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition; 3. Romeo Miller, 26, charged with one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition and; 4. Jahleil Monteiro, 25, charged with one count of being an accessory after the fact to Miller’s felon in possession charge.
Alves and Monteiro were arrested this morning and will make initial appearances in federal court in Boston later today. Miranda was previously convicted in February 2023 of federal fentanyl distribution conspiracy charges as a member of “Head Shot Mafia,” a violent drug crew operating in Brockton and elsewhere in southeastern Massachusetts. He was arrested in November 2024 for violating his federal supervised release conditions in relation to the Brockton shootout and is in federal custody. Miller remains at large.
According to court filings, on June 2, 2024, at approximately 1:45 a.m., law enforcement responded to a “shots fired” call at a home in Brockton. Upon arrival, officers observed a large crowd outside the home and a 31-year-old female victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital and survived.
It is alleged that numerous bullet casings were found scattered throughout the front yard and driveway of the residence. Video footage obtained from the home’s surveillance system determined that a house party led to a physical altercation in the driveway and, allegedly, an exchange of gunfire between the victim and Miranda, Miller and Alves.
Specifically, surveillance video allegedly captured Miranda as he discharged several bursts of ammunition from an automatic weapon in the front yard of the residence before leaving the scene. Miller and Alves are also allegedly shown firing towards the victim from the driveway. According to court documents, Miller is later seen on the footage crossing the street to hide behind a parked car, where he allegedly shot the victim in the chest. Surveillance video then allegedly captured Miller returning to the driveway, where he passed his firearm off to Monteiro, before the two drove away in separate parked cars.
According to court records, at the time of the shooting, Miranda was on federal supervised release for a fentanyl distribution conspiracy conviction and has a prior state conviction for cocaine distribution. Additionally, at the time of the shooting, Miller and Monteiro were on probation for prior state convictions for unlawfully possessing a firearm, possessing a high capacity feeding device, assault and battery on a police officer and fentanyl distribution. Alves has a prior state conviction of possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine.
The charges of being a felon in possession of ammunition each provide for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of a machinegun provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of being an accessory after the fact to a felon in possession provides for a sentence of up to half the maximum punishment for the underlying offense. 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; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Division; and Brockton Police Chief Brenda I. Perez made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was also provided by the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Pohl of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Founder of Miami-Based Cryptocurrency Token CluCoin Sentenced for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
MIAMI – The founder of CluCoin, a cryptocurrency token project in Miami, was sentenced to 27 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution and forfeit assets in the amount of $1.14 million. The sentence comes after the defendant pleaded guilty to wire fraud in August 2024.
Austin Michael Taylor, 41, of Sykesville, Maryland, was the founder of a cryptocurrency project CluCoin and owner of CLU LLC, a company incorporated and headquartered in Miami-Dade County, Fla., that handled CluCoin’s operations.
Taylor leveraged his sizable social media following to generate interest in a digital token he called “CLU.” Taylor generated interest in CLU’s initial coin offering (ICO), which is a capital raising event in which an entity offers investors a unique digital token in exchange for a more established cryptocurrency or fiat currency. Taylor created a “white paper” for CluCoin, which was meant to educate and entice investors to participate in the ICO, which promised to have a charitable focus. After raising investor funds, Taylor successfully launched CluCoin’s ICO on May 19, 2021. Taylor then shifted CluCoin’s focus to other projects he devised: the minting of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), the development of a computer game and a metaverse platform.
Taylor organized and paid for an event called “NFTCon: Into the Metaverse,” which took place in a hotel in Miami on April 4 and 5, 2022, to drive interest and investment in CLU, CluCoin and related projects. Shortly after the conference, in May 2022, Taylor gained the ability to make withdrawals from the cryptocurrency address he controlled into which a portion of the CLU investor funds automatically flowed. From May through December 2022, Taylor sent approximately $1.14 million in investor funds to his personal account at a virtual currency exchange and then used the funds at multiple online casinos, where he lost these investor funds to gambling.
U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge Justin E. Fleck of the FBI, Miami Field Office, announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Becerra.
FBI Miami and the Washington Field Offices investigated the case. Assistant U.S Attorney Manolo Reboso prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Stone is handling asset forfeiture.
Identified victims were notified via NFT. If you invested in CLU, believe you are a victim, and/or received an NFT, please visit https://www.fbi.gov/CluCoinInvestors to provide relevant information to the FBI.
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-20308.
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Former Georgia Poll Worker Pleads Guilty to Bomb Threat of Voting LocationRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A former Georgia poll worker pleaded guilty to mailing a letter that threatened to bomb a Jones County precinct and harm poll workers and admitted to lying to the FBI during the investigation.
Nicholas Wimbish, 25, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to conveying false information about a bomb threat and making hoaxes before U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on Feb. 14. Wimbish faces a maximum of five years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a maximum $250,000 fine. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 13. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Bomb hoaxes and similar threats create grave and unnecessary disruptions in our communities, pulling vital law enforcement resources and terrifying people,” said Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker. “Our office and law enforcement partners take these types of threats seriously and will pursue federal prosecution when warranted.”
“The FBI takes all threat-to-life matters very seriously,” said Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Robert Gibbs of FBI Atlanta’s Macon office. “This arrest demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to hold accountable anyone who tries to intimidate a public official or interfere with the elections process.”
According to court documents and statements referenced in court, Wimbish was employed as a poll worker at the Jones County Elections Office in Gray, Georgia, on Oct. 16, 2024, when he had a verbal altercation with a voter. Later that evening and into the early hours of Oct. 17, 2024, Wimbish conducted relevant online research and then drafted a letter posing as the voter threatening to bomb the polling place. Wimbish mailed the threatening letter to the Jones County Elections Superintendent from a “Jones County Voter” on Oct. 17, 2024. It arrived at the election office on Oct. 22, 2024.
Wimbish admitted he intended the letter to appear as if it came from the voter and added details to make it seem like the voter was targeting Wimbish and other poll workers. For example, it said, "Yesterday I had your young liberal woke idiot Nicholas Wimbish give me hell," that "he tries to influence peoples votes in line," and that "I researched a newspaper article about Nicholas Wimbish and other woke liberal fraudsters impostering to be patriots." The letter threatened that Wimbish and others "should look over their shoulder," that "I know where they all go," that "I know where they all live because I found home voting addresses for all them," that "the liberal young men will get beatdown if they fight me," that "they will get the treason punishment by firing squad if they fight back," and that "they should watch every move they make looking over their shoulder." Further, the letter threatened to "rage rape" the "ladies" and warned them to "watch every move they make and look over their shoulder." Below the typewritten letter, Wimbish wrote a note by hand, "PS boom toy in early vote place, cigar burning, be safe." Wimbish admitted he knew that a "boom toy" was a term for an explosive device. Wimbish also acknowledged that he lied to FBI agents investigating the mailed threat and falsely stated that he believed the Jones County voter sent the letter and that he had not conducted online research on himself. The letter was found on Wimbish's computer.
The FBI Atlanta Field Office investigated the case.
Deputy Criminal Chief William R. "Will" Keyes and Trial Attorney Madison Mumma of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section (PIN) are prosecuting the case for the Government with assistance from Senior Counsel Ryan Dickey of the DOJ’s Criminal Division's Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS).