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13 August 2026
Two Charleston Women Plead Guilty to Federal Drug CrimesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Today, Tanisha Constance Brown, 36, of Charleston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture containing fentanyl and Tiffany Sloan-Combs, 40, of Charleston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Brown and Sloan-Combs admitted to their roles in a conspiracy that distributed fentanyl and cocaine base, also known as “crack,” in the Charleston area. Sloan-Combs also pleaded guilty to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine in a separate case.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Brown and Sloan-Combs each admitted that they participated in the conspiracy’s distribution of fentanyl between September 2025 and April 2026. Brown lived with a co-conspirator who obtained the fentanyl and worked with her to sell it. Brown and the co-conspirator generally prepared the fentanyl at their Charleston residence, keeping some of the fentanyl there and the rest at a stash location in South Charleston. Sloan-Combs sometimes mixed the fentanyl with non-controlled substance cutting agents at Brown’s request before its distribution to customers and prepared bags containing certain quantities of fentanyl for Brown to distribute to customers. Brown distributed quantities of fentanyl to others in the Charleston area with the understanding that several of her customers redistributed the fentanyl to third-party customers. Sloan-Combs re-distributed some of the fentanyl she acquired as part of the conspiracy to third parties while also using some of it.
As part of her guilty plea, Brown further admitted that she participated in the conspiracy’s distribution of crack between March 2026 and April 2026. Brown facilitated transactions between a male co-conspirator who supplied the crack and a female co-conspirator who typically used it. These transactions typically took place at or near the male co-conspirator’s Charleston residence.
In the separate case, Sloan-Combs admitted that she sold approximately 4 ounces of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in exchange for $1,300 on May 23, 2023, inside a convenience store restroom in Charleston.
Brown and Sloan-Combs are scheduled to be sentenced on December 9, 2026. Brown faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million. Sloan-Combs faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 60 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $6 million.
Brown and Sloan-Combs are among eight individuals indicted following a federal investigation of fentanyl trafficking in the Charleston area. On July 22, 2026, lead defendant Antonio Andre Smith, also known as “Bro,” 50, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and co-conspirator Jerry Lucilo Grass, 41, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Smith and Grass, both of Charleston, are scheduled to be sentenced on November 19, 2026. Two other defendants pleaded guilty to charges separate from the main indictment, which remains pending against the other defendants. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department, and the South Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearings. Assistant United States Attorneys Jeremy B. Wolfe and Amy L. McLaughlin are prosecuting the cases.
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 Nos. 2:26-cr-51 (Smith et al.) and 2:26-cr-25 (Sloan-Combs).
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St. Louis Man Appears in Court on Fatal 2024 CarjackingRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis, Missouri man appeared in court Thursday to answer charges accusing him of a fatal 2024 carjacking.
Terry Thomas, 21, was indicted on July 16, 2025, with one count of carjacking resulting in death, one count of use of a firearm during a crime of violence and one count of causing death through the use of a firearm. He pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis Thursday.
The indictment accuses Thomas of stealing a Kia Stinger on May 6, 2024, in Jennings, Missouri, resulting in a man’s death.
A motion seeking to have Thomas held in jail until trial says the victim was shot five times. The stolen Stinger was found abandoned by Creve Coeur at 2:46 a.m., about six hours after the carjacking. Thomas was arrested by police on June 20, 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.
The St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Torrie J. Schneider is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
South Bend Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Prison for Controlled Substance OffenseRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Keith Jennings, 51 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine.
Jennings was sentenced to 180 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release.
“A drug dealer meant to profit from unleashing nearly 5 pounds of methamphetamine into our community, but a drug canine ruined his plans. On September 15, 2025, law enforcement performed a traffic stop on a truck Keith Jennings was driving. During the stop, a drug K9 alerted on the vehicle. Officers searched the truck and found approximately 2,128.5 grams of methamphetamine in the backseat area. Thanks to the collaboration of the Drug Enforcement Administration, including the DEA Merrillville District Office, DEA Chicago Special Response Team, DEA Detroit Special Response Team, DEA St. Louis Special Response Team, and DEA North Central Laboratory; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the United States Postal Inspection Service; the Indiana State Police; the South Bend Police Department; St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office; Mishawaka Police Department; the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office led by Ken Cotter; and Assistant United States Attorneys Lydia T. Lucius and Joel Gabrielse, the Defendant has been sent to prison for fifteen years, the drugs have been intercepted, and our state and nation is safer,” said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
“A nearly five-pound seizure of methamphetamine is more than just a statistic; it represents thousands of potential deadly doses that will not make it onto the streets of north central Indiana. The arrest and prosecution of Mr. Jennings highlight the strength of our law enforcement partnerships and the resolve we share in confronting those who traffic dangerous drugs into our communities. The Drug Enforcement Administration and its partners are committed to identifying drug traffickers, disrupting their operations, and holding them accountable,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chip Cooke.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Indianapolis comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, IRS, Indiana State Police, and other partners, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana.
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.
Richmond career offender sentenced to over 12 years in prison for federal drug trafficking and firearms crimesRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced yesterday to 12 years and seven months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute.
According to court documents, after Brian Lamont Jones, 39, sold cocaine to another individual in early March 2025, Richmond Police (RPD) searched Jones’ residence. During the search, investigators found 67.08 grams of heroin and fentanyl, 156.09 grams of cocaine base, and 320.21 grams of cocaine hydrochloride. They also recovered several firearms.
Jones has three prior drug trafficking convictions. As a previously convicted felon, Jones cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant 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 Rick Edwards, Chief of Richmond Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen E. Anthony prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-135.
Repeat Human Smuggler Pleads Guilty to Immigration OffenseRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Mexican national, Aureliano Vazquez-Ontiberos, 43, pleaded guilty on August 12, 2026, to being unlawfully present in the United States following a prior removal.
In court before U.S. District Judge Colleen R. Lawless, Vazquez-Ontiberos admitted that he had unlawfully returned to the United States following a prior removal and that law enforcement encountered him during a traffic stop in Sangamon County in May 2026. Vazquez-Ontiberos admitted that he had twice been convicted of human smuggling offenses in federal courts, once in 2011 in the Southern District of Texas and once in 2016 in the Western District of Texas. During the hearing, the government presented evidence that Vazquez-Ontiberos’ criminal history contained an aggravated felony, human smuggling, which garners enhanced criminal penalties.
Vazquez-Ontiberos remains in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending a sentencing hearing that is scheduled for December 8, 2026, at the federal courthouse in Springfield, Illinois.
Vazquez-Ontiberos faces statutory penalties of up to 20 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.
The case investigation was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney William J. Lynch is representing the government in the prosecution.
Registered Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A registered sex offender from Holyoke pleaded guilty on Aug. 12, 2026, in federal court in Springfield, Mass. to possessing child pornography.
Justin Ouimette, 35, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Mark Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Nov. 17, 2026. Ouimette was charged by complaint in May 2025 and has remained in custody since that time.
Ouimette was identified as the owner of a Dropbox account uploading child sexual abuse material (CSAM). During the search of Ouimette’s residence, an electronic device was found to contain hundreds of files of CSAM depicting children as young as toddlers. Subsequent searches of Ouimette’s cloud storage accounts, revealed hundreds of additional files depicting CSAM.
Ouimette was previously convicted in Massachusetts Superior Court of possession of child pornography in October 2022 and was on state probation when he committed this new offense.
Due to Ouimette’s prior conviction, the charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Merck of the Springfield Branch Office 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Recidivist felon returning to prison after latest conviction for illegally possessing a firearmRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Sandston man was sentenced today to five years and five months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, on Jan. 26, a woman asked another individual in a North Chesterfield gas station to call 911 and report that she had been kidnapped. Chesterfield County Police (CCPD) responded and were directed to the woman and Brandon Rashaad Hill, 31, who was with her. When an officer approached Hill and attempted to detain him, Hill pulled away from the officer and hurdled over a fruit stand between him and the exit. As he hurdled the fruit stand, a handgun fell from his waistband to the floor. Hill fled from the gas station but was apprehended by other CCPD officers responding to the scene.
As a convicted felon, Hill cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition. Among other prior convictions, Hill has been convicted twice previously for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Following his most recent prior conviction, Hill was released from prison on Feb. 28, 2025, but violated his supervised release and returned to prison. He was released again on Oct. 8, 2025, and was on supervised release when he was arrested on Jan. 26.
Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Albert Flores Jr. and John C. Blanchard and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremiah Johansen, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:26-cr-32.
Previously convicted felon arrested as part of Cincinnati violent crime reduction initiative pleads guilty to gun crimeRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A Cincinnati man who was arrested in March as part of a federal, state and local violent crime reduction initiative pleaded guilty in federal court here to illegally possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon.
Austin Fowler, 46, has previous convictions for aggravated robbery, drug possession, drug trafficking and weapons under disability.
According to court documents, Cincinnati police officers were conducting an investigation into a high-crime area in November 2025 when they saw Fowler commit a pedestrian violation. When an officer attempted to contact Fowler, Fowler ran and attempted to jump a fence to avoid capture. The defendant was apprehended and had a loaded pistol in his jacket pocket.
Fowler was arrested on March 9 and remains in custody pending sentencing.
Possessing a firearm or ammunition as a previously convicted felon is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Cincinnati Interim Police Chief Adam Hennie announced the guilty plea entered on Aug. 12 before Senior U.S. District Judge Susan J. Dlott. Assistant United States Attorney Ashley N. Brucato is representing the United States in this case.
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Old Dutch Mustard to Implement Comprehensive Compliance Program to Stop Illegal Discharges into Souhegan River Streams in New HampshireRead the Press Release
Old Dutch Mustard, a mustard and vinegar manufacturing company, has entered into a consent decree, lodged today with the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire, requiring it to implement a comprehensive water pollution compliance program to resolve allegations that it violated the Clean Water Act at its facility in Greenville, New Hampshire.
The United States’ complaint, filed on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the same time as the consent decree, alleged that Old Dutch Mustard violated the Clean Water Act on more than 1,700 days between November 2019 and February 2026 by discharging acidic pollutants into a tributary to the Souhegan River. The complaint also alleges that Old Dutch Mustard failed to comply with its stormwater discharge permit and failed to timely provide compliance information upon EPA’s request. Old Dutch Mustard has been the subject of repeated enforcement efforts over the last two decades, including most recently for separate criminal violations of the Clean Water Act, for which the company and its President were sentenced in April.
“Today’s consent decree will ensure that this company comes into compliance with the Clean Water Act, leveling the playing field for American businesses,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “We are committed to upholding the rule of law, including the Clean Water Act.”
“This action demonstrates that EPA will pursue repeat violators and hold them accountable through formal enforcement in court,” said Assistant Administrator Jeffrey A. Hall of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This consent decree finally resolves decades of noncompliance with the Clean Water Act by ensuring that the company will comprehensively identify and address all sources of pollution into the tributary that runs through the facility. EPA will achieve compliance with the law.”
“Old Dutch Mustard spent years polluting the Souhegan River,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan for the District of New Hampshire. “State and federal government agencies repeatedly attempted to secure the company’s cooperation in keeping the river clean, and those efforts were met with schemes and deception that resulted in both a criminal prosecution and the civil violations set forth in today’s action. Enough is enough. Today’s consent decree will mean close monitoring of the Old Dutch Mustard Company so that we can protect a treasured New Hampshire waterway, and the public, from further pollution.”
The Clean Water Act prohibits the discharge of any pollutant into navigable waters of the United States without a permit. According to the complaint, Old Dutch Mustard has a two-decade long history of unlawfully discharging its acidic wastewater and stormwater into a stream that flows underneath and in front of the company’s facility in Greenville, New Hampshire. As a result, the company has been subject to enforcement actions by the EPA, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NH DES), and the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office. The EPA and NH DES have required Old Dutch Mustard to continually monitor the stream at their facility, which flows into the Souhegan River. The Souhegan River is one of 19 New Hampshire rivers that the State of New Hampshire has designated as an important natural resource.
According to the complaint, the company’s monitoring results show that, on 1,728 days between November 2019 and February 2026, the stream had high levels of acidity, indicating unauthorized waste- and/or stormwater discharges from the facility. To resolve these violations and ensure that the facility does not continue to unlawfully discharge acidic material from its facility, the consent decree requires Old Dutch Mustard to improve its monitoring to provide for real-time data, thoroughly investigate any future discharges to determine their cause, and implement corrective measures to stop them.
The proposed consent decree was filed in U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire and is subject to a 30-day public comment period. The complaint and the proposed consent decree are available on the Justice Department’s website at www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.
EPA’s Region 1 investigated this case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John Osborn for the District of New Hampshire handled this matter with assistance from Assistant Section Chief Eric Albert of ENRD’s Environmental Enforcement Section.
Old Dutch Mustard to Implement Comprehensive Compliance Program to Stop Illegal Discharges into Souhegan River Streams in New HampshireRead the Press Release
CONCORD — Old Dutch Mustard, a mustard and vinegar manufacturing company, has entered into a consent decree, lodged today with the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire, requiring it to implement a comprehensive water pollution compliance program to resolve allegations that it violated the Clean Water Act at its facility in Greenville, New Hampshire. This civil case is in addition to earlier criminal charges brought in the District of New Hampshire.
The United States’ complaint, filed on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the same time as the consent decree, alleged that Old Dutch Mustard violated the Clean Water Act on more than 1,700 days between November 2019 and February 2026 by discharging acidic pollutants into a tributary to the Souhegan River. The complaint also alleges that Old Dutch Mustard failed to comply with its stormwater discharge permit and failed to timely provide compliance information upon EPA’s request.
To resolve these violations and ensure that the facility does not continue to unlawfully discharge acidic material from its facility, the consent decree requires Old Dutch Mustard to improve its monitoring to provide for real-time data, thoroughly investigate any future discharges to determine their cause, and implement corrective measures to stop them.
Old Dutch Mustard has been the subject of repeated enforcement efforts over the last two decades, including most recently for separate criminal violations of the Clean Water Act, to which the company and its President pleaded guilty in February 2026. In April 2026, the company’s owner Charles Santich was sentenced to 18 months in prison and Old Dutch Mustard Co. was ordered to pay a $1.5 million fine.
“Old Dutch Mustard spent years polluting the Souhegan River,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan for the District of New Hampshire. “State and federal government agencies repeatedly attempted to secure the company’s cooperation in keeping the river clean, and those efforts were met with schemes and deception that resulted in both a criminal prosecution and the civil violations set forth in today’s action. Enough is enough. Today’s consent decree will mean close monitoring of the Old Dutch Mustard Company so that we can protect a treasured New Hampshire waterway, and the public, from further pollution.”
“Today’s consent decree will ensure that this company comes into compliance with the Clean Water Act, leveling the playing field for American businesses,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “We are committed to upholding the rule of law, including the Clean Water Act.”
“This action demonstrates that EPA will pursue repeat violators and hold them accountable through formal enforcement in court,” said Assistant Administrator Jeffrey A. Hall of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This consent decree finally resolves decades of noncompliance with the Clean Water Act by ensuring that the company will comprehensively identify and address all sources of pollution into the tributary that runs through the facility. EPA will achieve compliance with the law.”
The Clean Water Act prohibits the discharge of any pollutant into navigable waters of the United States without a permit. According to complaint, Old Dutch Mustard has a two-decade long history of unlawfully discharging its acidic wastewater and stormwater into a stream that flows underneath and in front of the company’s facility in Greenville, New Hampshire. As a result, the company has been subject to enforcement actions by the EPA, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NH DES), and the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office. The EPA and NH DES have required Old Dutch Mustard to continually monitor the stream at their facility, which flows into the Souhegan River. The Souhegan River is one of 19 New Hampshire rivers that the State of New Hampshire has designated as an important natural resource.
The proposed consent decree was filed in U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire and is subject to a 30-day public comment period. The complaint and the proposed consent decree are available on the Justice Department’s website at www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John Osborn for the District of New Hampshire handled this matter with assistance from Assistant Section Chief Eric Albert of ENRD’s Environmental Enforcement Section. EPA’s Region 1 investigated this case.
Ohio Man Charged with Advertising Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Columbus, Ohio man has been arrested and charged for allegedly advertising hundreds of files depicting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on the dark web.
Adam Burley, 42, was charged with one count of advertising child pornography in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts. The defendant will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston on a later date.
According to the charging documents, since 2025, Burley has posted hundreds of messages sharing files depicting CSAM on the dark web. These files allegedly included CSAM depicting the sexual abuse of young children and toddlers. An initial onsite forensic preview of Burley’s devices allegedly revealed thousands of images and videos files of child pornography. The majority of this content viewed during the forensic preview allegedly depicted children ranging in age from newborn infants to toddlers and included both lascivious posing as well as anal and vaginal rape content. It’s is also alleged that there were also images and videos featuring decapitated children ranging from infants to toddlers
The charge of advertising child pornography provides for no less than 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations in Columbus, Ohio and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm, of the Major Crimes Unit and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator is prosecuting the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Ocean County Man Admits to Defrauding Orthodox Jewish Community Members of More Than $47 MillionRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – An Ocean County man admitted to defrauding more than 97 victims of more than $47 million through a Ponzi-like investment scheme, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Leor Moshe, 43, of Tom’s River, New Jersey pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with wire fraud before U.S. District Judge Robert Kirsch in Trenton federal court. Sentencing is scheduled for December 16, 2026.
“The defendant turned the trust of his own religious community into a tool for fraud, exploiting personal relationships to fuel a massive Ponzi scheme,” said U.S. Attorney Frazer. “Thanks to the combined efforts of our colleagues at the SEC and federal law enforcement, he has been brought to justice. Our Office will continue to expose financial fraud, protect the investing public, and hold accountable those who abuse positions of trust for personal gain.”
“Investment fraud can drain people's bank accounts and also upend their lives. Dozens of victims placed their trust in promises made by Moshe, who admits he used their money to pay off his gambling habit, among other things,” said Federal Bureau of Investigations, Newark Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy. “FBI Newark will pursue anyone who breaks the law to exploit victims, and we will do all we can to bring justice to every victim impacted by fraudsters.”
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Between June 2019 and June 2023, Moshe induced investors to invest in his company, Capital Funding ASAP LLC, by falsely representing, among other things, that their investments would be used exclusively to fund short-term business loans that would generate returns between 9% and 53%. In reality, Moshe used the money to make Ponzi-like payments to earlier investors and for personal expenses such as gambling debts, home renovations, mortgage loans, and car loans. Moshe obtained approximately $47 million from investors, who were predominately members of the Orthodox Jewish community, and used approximately $11 million for personal expenses.
The wire fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross loss to the victim or gain to the defendant, whichever is greatest.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, and special agents under the Associate Director of the SEC’s New York Regional Office, Thomas P. Smith., Jr., with the investigation.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Fell of the Economic Crimes Unit, and Jennifer Kozar, Chief of the General Crimes Unit, in Newark.
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Defense counsel: Steven Yurowitz, Esq.
moshe.information.pdfNumber one dark web dealer of Oxycodone sentenced to over 13 years in federal prisonRead the Press Release
FORT WORTH, Texas — U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Ryan Raybould, announced today that Samad Hamid Castro, 41, from New Jersey, was sentenced to 164 months in prison for the illicit distribution of Oxycodone to the Northern District of Texas and elsewhere. Castro pleaded guilty to distribution of a controlled substance on April 1.
“Samad Castro’s opioid trafficking enterprise flooded dangerous pills into North Texas neighborhoods, saturating our communities with an illicit drug that fuels addiction, breaks up families and strains local resources,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “Thanks to the decisive work of the DEA and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, we’ve dismantled a nationwide network that exploited the dark web and the mail system.”
“Mr. Castro’s actions contributed to the opioid crisis by disturbing dangerous narcotics through sophisticated dark web traffic,” said DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge Joseph B. Tucker. “DEA and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in identifying and dismantling those who exploit technology to profit from addiction and endanger our communities.”
“The USPIS strives to provide a safe environment for postal employees and Postal Service customers — the American public. This includes the investigation of illicit trafficking of narcotics through the U.S. Postal Service,” said Inspector in Charge Kai Pickens of the Fort Worth Division. “We are thankful for our partnerships with the DEA and USAO. The USPIS will exhaust every resource to hold individuals accountable, even those who believe the dark web provides anonymity. For over 251 years we have protected the mail system and effectively enforced the laws of this nation.”
In plea papers, Castro admitted that from October 2023 through August 2025, he knowingly and intentionally possessed and mailed parcels containing Oxycodone to various of his customers located in Fort Worth, Keller, Euless, Hurst, Mansfield, Watauga, Weatherford and elsewhere. The illicit narcotics transactions occurred through online dark web marketplaces, on which Castro was a listed seller. As part of his plea of guilty, Castro also agreed to forfeit over $700,000 worth of cryptocurrencies, over $10,000 in cash, and a 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Limited—all of which he admitted were proceeds of or derived from his drug-trafficking conduct.
Upon conducting a warranted search of Castro’s residence in New Jersey, law enforcement found over 24,000 Oxycontin pills of varying dosages. Many of the recovered pills were mixed together with and concealed in bags of a Polish-branded breakfast cereal. Others were found stored in large prescription-type containers. The criminal complaint also noted that a shipping account associated with Castro shows that by September 2025, Castro had sent nearly 4,000 parcels to over 1,000 separate customers across 48 states plus the District of Columbia.
U.S. District Judge Mark T. Pittman sentenced Castro to 164 months in federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
The Drug Enforcement Administration Fort Worth District Office – Dallas Division’s Synthetic Precursor Enforcement and Regulatory Team and U.S. Postal Inspection Service – Fort Worth Division conducted the investigation, with assistance from DEA Newark – New Jersey Field Division and USPIS Newark Field Office – Philadelphia Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric B. Chen from the Fort Worth Division prosecuted the case.
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North Carolina Man Sentenced for Cyber Extortion Scheme that Targeted International Technology Company in D.C.Read the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Cameron Curry, 27, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for carrying out an extensive cyber extortion scheme against a D.C.-based international technology company, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
In March 2026, a federal jury convicted Curry of six counts of transmitting or willfully causing interstate communications with the intent to extort a victim company. In addition to the 24-month prison sentence, Judge Kenneth D. Bell ordered Curry to serve one year of supervised release and to pay a money judgment of $7,540.92.
According to filed documents, trial evidence, and witness testimony, Curry was contracted to work as a data analyst for approximately six months with the victim company. In that capacity, Curry had access to the victim company’s data files and other personnel and corporate information. Trial evidence established that Curry misused his position to access the victim company’s personnel and other sensitive corporate records, which he then used to carry out the cyber extortion scheme. Curry hatched his extortion scheme after he learned that his contract was not going to be renewed and that he would no longer be employed by the company.
According to evidence presented at trial, from Dec. 11, 2023, to Jan. 24, 2024, Curry, identifying himself online as “Loot,” sent over 60 email messages to company employees and executives, threatening to disclose sensitive information unless he was paid $2.5 million dollars in cryptocurrency. Trial evidence further established that the email messages contained threats to disclose sensitive corporate information and employee data, including employees’ personally identifiable information (PII), as well as threats to harm the reputation of the victim company by reporting a breach of its information and publishing the information publicly if the victim company failed to pay him via cryptocurrency.
On Jan. 24, 2024, the FBI executed a search warrant at Curry’s residence, seizing various electronic devices. A forensic analysis of the evidence revealed that Curry was committing the extortion scheme under the “Loot” alias.
This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office with significant assistance from and the FBI Charlotte Field Office.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Lucas of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Columbia and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Warren of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina.
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Or at https://www.justice.gov/usao-dcNew Hampshire Man Arrested for Coercion and Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New Hampshire man has been arrested and charged in connection with the coercion and enticement of a minor.
Daniel Murphy, 50, of Merrimack, N.H., who was charged with coercion and enticement of a minor, made his initial appearance in federal court in Boston today and was held pending a detention hearing scheduled for Aug. 17, 2026.
According to the charging documents, in August 2025, Murphy allegedly engaged in a sexualized dialogue on Facebook Messenger with a minor victim living in Massachusetts. It is alleged that he coerced the victim to send pornographic videos and photographs and, in turn, sent obscene material depicting himself to the victim. Over the course of several days, it is alleged that Murphy also repeatedly traveled to meet the minor victim in person. When Murphy’s electronic devices were seized by law enforcement, they were allegedly found to contain pornographic images and video of the minor victim as well as additional videos and images of other minors constituting child sexual abuse material.
The charge of coercion and enticement of a minor provides for a sentence of no less than 10 years in prison and a maximum of life; a minimum of five years of supervised release; and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Chief Mark Zimmerman of the North Reading Police Department; and Chief Brian K. Levesque of the Merrimack Police Department (N.H.) made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Nashua Police Department (N.H.). Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric L. Hawkins of the Major Crimes Unit 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Moore Woman Sentenced to Serve Statutory Maximum of 30 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – MEGAN KYLIE ROBINSON, 27, of Moore, Oklahoma, has been sentenced to serve 360 months in federal prison, the statutory maximum, for production of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
“Sexual exploitation of children is one of the most depraved criminal acts in society that preys on the most vulnerable victims among us and decimates their lives,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. “The 30-year sentence in this case demonstrates that the detestable wickedness of child sex predators will be met with severe consequences. I commend the commitment and fortitude of law enforcement personnel and prosecutors who diligently work on these difficult and contemptible crimes.”
“Exploiting innocent children is a level of depravity that defies comprehension,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater. “This sentence sends an uncompromising message: those who profit from the abuse and suffering of children will face the harshest consequences available under federal law. The FBI and our partners will never relent in our mission to protect the most vulnerable and ensure predators are removed from our communities.”
According to public records, the investigation began after the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a tip concerning an individual in Arizona. During the FBI’s investigation of that individual, agents uncovered communications with Robinson indicating that she was distributing child pornography in exchange for payment. Between October 15, 2024, and September 30, 2025, Robinson used minors who were four and three years old to produce child pornography, creating more than 800 images that she sold and distributed online to obtain money to buy drugs.
On January 6, 2026, Robinson was charged by Superseding Information with production of child pornography. Robinson pleaded guilty on February 9, 2026, and admitted she produced child pornography using two children, which she distributed online for Cash App payments. She further admitted that she used these payments to buy Kratom.
At a sentencing hearing on August 10, 2026, U.S. District Judge Patrick R. Wyrick sentenced Robinson to serve 360 months in federal prison, the statutory maximum, followed by five years of supervised release. In imposing the sentence, Judge Wyrick particularly noted the nature and seriousness of the offense, which involved two minors.
This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office and the Moore Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Hale prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC 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 PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Mexican National Unlawfully Residing in the United States Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Mexican national was sentenced to federal prison today for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Eduardo Misael Garcia-Sanchez, 29, was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison and 4 years’ supervised release announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford. In imposing the sentence, the court found that the defendant, based upon his prior drug dealing convictions, qualified as a career offender.
“This case showed true teamwork amongst our law enforcement agencies to bring this drug dealer to justice. I am grateful for the partnership and hard work of our law enforcement. With these brave men and women, we are able to disrupt the distribution of dangerous drugs in our Oregon communities,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
According to court documents, On August 5, 2025, investigators with Clackamas County Interagency Task Force (CCITF) were investigating a Portland, Oregon area drug dealer. During the investigation, a vehicle operated by Garcia-Sanchez was identified as likely supplying various drug dealers. Investigators followed Garcia-Sachez’ vehicle as it travelled out of Portland, Oregon. An Oregon State Police (OSP) Trooper was able to conduct a traffic stop of Garcia-Sanchez. During the stop investigators observed a large bundle of cash and apparent heroin in the vehicle.Investigators then placed Garcia-Sanchez in custody. Garcia-Sanchez’ vehicle contained a clear plastic bag underneath the driver’s seat containing approximately 10 individual bindles of fentanyl, which appeared pre-packaged for sale. Investigators recovered from the vehicle the approximate totals of; 120.9 grams of fentanyl powder, 51.8 grams of heroin, and $5,349 in U.S. Currency.
Following the seizure and arrest, Garcia-Sanchez was taken to the Multnomah County Detention Center in Portland, Oregon and placed on a federal hold for these offenses.
On May 12, 2026, the defendant pleaded guilty to Count 1 of the Indictment which charged him with Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
On September 3, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a 2-count indictment charging Garcia-Sanchez with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute heroin.
This case was investigated by FBI and CCITF with assistance from OSP. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Kerin.
The Clackamas County Interagency Task Force (CCITF) — led by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office — works to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations operating in and around Clackamas County, and reduce illegal drugs and related crimes throughout the community. The task force comprises members from the Canby Police Department, Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, the FBI, and the Oregon National Guard Counterdrug Task Force. CCITF is supported by funding from the Public Safety Levy and grant funding from the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program.
The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Portland comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, USMS, IRS-CI, ATF, USPIS, CBP, TSA, U.S. Coast Guard, Oregon Air, Army National Guard Counterdrug program, and Oregon-Idaho HIDTA with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.Mexican National Sentenced to 6 months in Prison for Immigration OffenseRead the Press Release
HAMMOND - Horacio Alarcon-Roldan, 32 years old, of Mexico, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to felony reentry of removed alien, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Alarcon-Roldan was sentenced to 6 months in prison, followed by 1 year of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. The supervised release term would go into effect should the Defendant remain in, or return to, the United States within that period following expected removal proceedings.
According to documents in the case, Alarcon-Roldan has a prior misdemeanor conviction for illegal entry without inspection in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico.
“The Defendant was previously removed from the United States in May 2013 and showed that he did not believe our nations laws applied to him. He was wrong. Once he is released, the Defendant needs to return home and not violate our nation’s borders again illegally. Thanks to the combined efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District Transit Police, and Assistant United States Attorney Emily Morgan, the Defendant has been held accountable,” said US Attorney, Adam Mildred.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with the assistance of the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District Transit Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily Morgan.
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Member of Maryland National Guard Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A member of the Maryland National Guard acknowledged his involvement in a money laundering scheme in federal court. This conspiracy laundered funds from at least 33 different victims.
Alagborenepakake Opuiyo, 32, pled guilty to a superseding information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Allison Russo, Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Mid-Atlantic Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Daniel Wierzbicki, FBI Washington Field Office Counterintelligence and Cyber Division; Special Agent in Charge Jason Scalzo, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General Electronic Crimes Unit (FDIC-OIG); Special Agent in Charge Brian Tucker, Federal Reserve Board Office of Inspector General (FRB-OIG); and Special Agent in Charge Eric Weindorf, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Washington, DC.
According to his plea agreement, from May 22, 2019, through November 28, 2022, Opuiyo conspired to launder funds which were stolen through a variety of fraudulent means, including romance fraud and business email compromise schemes. Opuiyo and his co-conspirators, including some who resided in Maryland, opened bank accounts that served as drop accounts. These accounts were opened or controlled as part of the scheme to receive money from the fraud victims.
After receiving the funds in the drop accounts, Opuiyo and his co-conspirators transferred the money to other accounts that either they or their co-conspirators controlled. Additionally, Opuiyo and his co-conspirators directly withdrew money in cash.
As a part of the scheme, romance-fraud victims believed they were communicating with individuals on online dating websites. The victims wired thousands of dollars to bank accounts that Opuiyo and his co-conspirators controlled.
Opuiyo and his co-conspirators used these bank accounts to initiate account transfers, such as withdrawing cash, obtaining cashier’s checks, and writing checks to other individuals and entities to hide the true ownership and source of the assets. As detailed in the plea agreement, the intended loss totaled $2,951,930.36. The actual loss resulting from these transactions was at least $2,270,668.40. Additionally, the amount of laundered funds that went into bank accounts that Opuiyo controlled was $244,614.35.
According to the plea agreement, Opuiyo is required to pay a money judgment of at least $244,614.35, and restitution in the full amount of the victims’ losses, which the parties agree is at least $2,270,668.40.
Opuiyo is facing a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for the money laundering conspiracy. U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman scheduled sentencing for Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2027, at 2 p.m.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, FDIC-OIG, FRB-OIG, DCIS, and HSI for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Brooke Oki who is prosecuting the federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.# # #
Massachusetts Man Charged with Cyberstalking and Threats OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Massachusetts man has been charged with allegedly engaging in an extensive cyberstalking and threatening campaign against three individuals, including sending hundreds of harassing emails and repeatedly threatening to shoot and kill the victims and their family members.
Patrick McDonald, 33, of Cambridge, Mass. was charged by criminal complaint with three counts of cyberstalking and three counts of transmitting a threat in interstate commerce. The defendant is currently in state custody and made an initial appearance in federal court in Boston earlier today.
According to the charging documents, McDonald allegedly engaged in an extensive cyberstalking and threatening campaign targeting three individuals following the breakdown of business and investment dealings involving his company, Waev. After the victims allegedly withdrew funding from McDonald and evicted him from a Winchester residence that had been purchased for him to use as a venture studio, McDonald allegedly began inundating the victims with harassing and taunting emails. The campaign allegedly escalated to repeated threats of violence against the victims and their family members, including threats to shoot and kill them unless McDonald was given back the Winchester residence.
McDonald allegedly continued sending threatening communications despite harassment prevention orders prohibiting him from contacting certain victims. Among other things, McDonald allegedly threatened to shoot victims “in the face,” threatened to kill a victim’s son, sent an email containing a victim’s home address and a threat to tear the victim’s body apart “limb by limb,” and sent images depicting firearms and shootings. Records obtained during the investigation allegedly showed that one email account used in the campaign sent approximately 193 emails to one victim over a seven-day period and approximately 259 emails to the victim’s attorney over an 11-day period.
The charge of cyberstalking provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, including a one-year mandatory period of imprisonment for anyone who commits the crime in violation of a restraining order, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of transmitting a threat in interstate commerce provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, including a one-year mandatory period of imprisonment for anyone who commits the crime in violation of a restraining order, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; and the Boston, Dedham, Malden, Wayland, Somerville, Cambridge and Hingham Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.Man Sentenced to 260 Months’ Imprisonment for Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy Linked to Sinaloa CartelRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that Eric Anthony Rodriguez, 47, was sentenced to 260 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents and the record at trial, Rodriguez conspired with other co-defendants to acquire and distribute hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine. Led and organized by Erick Emilio Diaz-Aguilar, the “Diaz-Aguilar Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO)” operated and distributed methamphetamine throughout Minnesota from April 2024 to March 2025. During a nearly year-long investigation, law enforcement seized approximately sixty pounds of methamphetamine, 1,500 fentanyl pills, and more than $20,000 from various individuals associated with the Diaz-Aguilar-DTO. Additional evidence showed that the Diaz-Aguilar DTO was affiliated with the Sinaloa Cartel, a Transnational Criminal Organization (TCO).
Rodriguez was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Susan R. Nelson on August 13, 2026. He previously was convicted by a jury on February 10, 2026. Judge Nelson indicated that the sentence reflected Rodriguez’s role as a “crucial workhorse” in the organization. Judge Nelson also noted that the sentence was based on the harm methamphetamine causes to Minnesota communities through addiction and overdose deaths.
“Today’s sentencing reflects my office’s commitment to holding drug traffickers accountable. Rodriguez played a significant role in a conspiracy that pushed methamphetamine across Minnesota, and this sentence reflects the seriousness of his actions,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.
“The Olmsted County Sheriff's Office and the Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Enforcement Team (SEMVCET) work collaboratively with local, state, and federal agencies to disrupt and dismantle Drug Trafficking Organizations. This case is one example of positive outcomes achieved when working together. Minnesota and beyond are safer with these dangerous drugs off the streets and the suspects held accountable,” said Tim Parkin, Captain of the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office and Commander of the Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Enforcement Team.
“Eric Rodriguez’s drug trafficking efforts in Minnesota serve as a reminder of how the Sinaloa Cartel continues to attempt making inroads into our communities,” DEA Omaha Field Division Special Agent in Charge Dustin Gillespie said. “These weren’t small amounts of methamphetamine that he was moving into and around Minnesota. These were hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine and fentanyl that carry life-altering consequences to those who roll the dice by using these substances.”
“This investigation represents two years of dedicated work by BCA agents and our law enforcement partners to stop the distribution of methamphetamine in our communities,” said Drew Evans, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension superintendent. “The effects of methamphetamine reach far beyond those who use it, impacting families, increasing crime and placing additional demands on our health care system. We will continue working together to disrupt drug trafficking and prevent further harm.”
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office, Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Enforcement Team, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Minnesota State Patrol, Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Chisago County Sheriff’s Office, East Central Minnesota Drug Task Force, Hastings Police Department, Rochester Police Department, Cannon River Drug Task Force, and the New Prague Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Raphael B. Coburn and William C. Mattessich prosecuted the case.
Note: Previous press releases on Rodriguez’s indictment (April 8, 2025) and jury conviction (February 17, 2026) linked here.
Leader of Fentanyl Trafficking Operation Sentenced to More Than Decade in PrisonRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Harrison County man was sentenced today for leading a drug trafficking operation responsible for distributing deadly amounts of fentanyl and other substances across North Central West Virginia, U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey announced.
Michael Adam Sine, 44, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, was sentenced to 145 months in federal prison for selling fentanyl. Sine, also known as “Mike Mike,” led a drug trafficking organization that distributed fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine throughout Harrison County. Investigators determined that Sine supplied five others with controlled substances for further distribution and used several residences, including his own, to store and sell drugs.
During searches of Sine’s home and other properties, including a hotel room he rented, investigators seized nearly half a pound of fentanyl, several grams of methamphetamine and cocaine, multiple firearms, ammunition, drug paraphernalia, and cash. The amount of fentanyl recovered contained enough lethal doses to potentially kill nearly twice the population of Harrison County.
Sine’s criminal history includes prior convictions for drug trafficking, robbery, and mail fraud.
Five additional defendants have been sentenced for their roles in the conspiracy, receiving a combined total of 15 years in prison. They are Kimberly Dawn Goins, 45, of Clarksburg, West Virginia; Caleb Malcomb Daniel Hudkins, 31, of Bridgeport, West Virginia; Rebecca Darlene Keiper, 39, of Clarksburg, West Virginia; Roxanne Parker, 35, of Clarksburg, West Virginia; and Geneva Shantell Shaffer, 38, of Clarksburg, West Virginia.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Cogar prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Greater Harrison Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
Fentanyl has been designated by President Donald Trump as a weapon of mass destruction due to its extreme lethality which poses a grave threat to public safety, even in trace amounts. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
La Jolla Teen Pleads Guilty to Harassing La Jolla Sea LionRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Tyler Muehl, an 18-year-old from La Jolla who appeared in a viral video repeatedly kicking at a California sea lion in La Jolla Cove, pleaded guilty in federal court today to violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act’s prohibition on harassment of wildlife.
“Federal crime. Federal consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon.
“National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement takes all violations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act very seriously,” said NOAA-Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement West Coast Division Assistant Director Eric Morgan. “Intentionally striking or kicking a marine mammal is not only illegal—it is dangerous for the well-being of the animal.”
According to his plea agreement, Muehl admitted that late in the evening on July 22, 2026, he repeatedly kicked at the sea lion that was peacefully sitting on the sea wall in La Jolla Cove near Ellen Browning Scripps Park. Muehl approached the animal with his hands at high guard as if preparing to box with or fight the animal. As Muehl approached, he referred to himself as “Max Holloway,” the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter.
The defendant admitted that he kicked at the sea lion four different times and that he made contact while kicking at the animal. Muehl twice forcefully kicked at the sea lion’s face, which caused the sea lion to rear flinch and immediately recoil. After the second kick, the sea lion turned and tried to flee, but Muehl chased after the animal and kicked at it a third time. As the sea lion tried to get away, it stumbled on the sea wall as it fled. Muehl kicked at the sea lion a fourth time and continued to chase the animal, ending his pursuit only when the sea lion escaped over the sea wall and made it to the beach. Muehl agreed as part of his plea agreement that a video capturing the event was a fair and accurate recording of what occurred.
Muehl pleaded guilty to the charge of “knowingly and unlawfully tak[ing] a marine mammal in waters or on lands under the jurisdiction of the United States in that he did harass and hunt” a California sea lion (Zalphus californianus). Under the Marine Mammal protection Act, the word “take” includes harassment, which means “any act of pursuit, torment, or annoyance which: (i) has the potential to injure a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild; or (ii) has the potential to disturb a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild by causing disruption of behavioral patterns, including, but not limited to, migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, feeding, or sheltering.”
The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. Magistrate Judge Jill L. Burkhardt on October 20, 2026, at 9:30 am.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Allen and Elizabet Brown from the Southern District of California.
DEFENDANT Case Number 26CR3151-JO-JLB
Tyler Muehl Age: 18 La Jolla, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (misdemeanor) – Title 16, U.S.C., Sections 1372(a)(2)(A) and 1375(b)
Maximum penalty: One year in prison and $100,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Justice Department and LA County Sheriff’s Department Settle LawsuitRead the Press Release
Today, the U.S. Department of Justice agreed to a settlement with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LCSD) regarding its procedures for issuing firearm carry permits. LCSD has agreed to bring its procedures in line with the Supreme Court’s landmark Bruen decision. This is a huge win for the residents of Los Angeles County and for the Second Amendment.
The Second Amendment requires law enforcement to have objective standards for issuing carry permits and to issue those permits without imposing lengthy delays on applicants. When the Justice Department filed this lawsuit, applicants were waiting an average of over nine months to receive their permits. In response to the lawsuit, LCSD drastically cut those waiting times and is now in compliance with statutory deadlines.
“The Justice Department supports our law enforcement partners.” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, “The sheriff acknowledged the problem and devoted substantial additional resources, including new processing software and additional personnel, to cutting waiting times dramatically. We applaud their efforts and are happy to be able to bring this litigation to a successful conclusion!”
The Second Amendment Section of the Civil Rights Division enforces the Second Amendment, the Police Pattern or Practice Act (34 U.S.C. § 12601), and Executive Order 14206. If you are a current or prospective gun owner and believe that a state or local government has infringed your right to keep or bear arms, please submit a complaint through https://www.justice.gov/crt/second-amendment-section.
Illegal Alien Indicted for Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Ecuadorian national unlawfully residing in Milford, Mass., has been indicted by a federal grand jury for illegally reentering the United States after deportation. The defendant was previously deported from the United States and arrested four times for driving under the influence in Massachusetts.
Luis Rolando Clavijo Tacuri, 32, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. The defendant was arrested on a criminal complaint in July 2026 and remains in federal custody.
According to court filings, Tacuri was first encountered by immigration officials in October 2015, while he was incarcerated on charges of operating under the influence in Holliston, Mass. At the time, it was allegedly Tacuri’s third operating under the influence offense. Tacuri was allegedly subsequently placed into removal proceedings and deported to Ecuador in December 2016.
Sometime after his removal, it is alleged that Tacuri illegally reentered the United States. On May 27, 2024, Tacuri was arrested in Milford, Mass., for allegedly again operating under the influence.
The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to two years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and David T. Wesling, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Honduran National Unlawfully Residing in the United States Sentenced to 21 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Honduran national unlawfully residing in the United States was sentenced to federal prison today for distribution of fentanyl resulting in the fatal overdose death of a Portland man and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford. Gomez-Soto had more than two prior deportations and a prior drug dealing conviction.
Hugo Gomez-Soto, 51, was sentenced to 21 years in federal prison and a lifetime term of supervised release.
“This case is a stark reminder of the danger fentanyl poses to our community. The defendant was peddling death, and this time it resulted in the tragic loss of a young man’s life.” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “Our hearts go out to the victim’s family. Fentanyl is deadly and leaves devastation for families in its’ wake. As this case shows, my office will do everything we can to hold these merchants of death accountable for the destruction they cause to the community and pursue justice for the victims and their families.”
“While this sentence is truly justified, no amount of prison time and no amount of restitution will bring back a lost loved one,” said Acting HSI Seattle Special Agent in Charge April Miller. “We want to thank our Portland Police Bureau partners for their work on this case. Together, we can make an impact against those like Mr. Gomez-Soto, who harm our communities with fentanyl and other illegal narcotics.”
According to trial testimony, Gomez-Soto sold the victim illicit fentanyl, in the form of powder and counterfeit pills. The following day the victim, a 29-year-old resident of Southwest Portland, used some of the fentanyl and died moments later.On January 25, 2024, a Portland Police Bureau (PPB) officer used the victim’s phone, pretending to be the victim, to buy drugs from Gomez-Soto. When Gomez-Soto arrived at the deal, he was arrested on state charges. At the time of the arrest, Gomez-Soto possessed both fentanyl powder and counterfeit pills containing fentanyl.
The police referred the case to the Multnomah District Attorney’s Office who charged Gomez-Soto with negligent homicide and multiple counts of delivery of a controlled substance.
On May 5, 2025, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office asked the U.S. Attorney’s Office to review the case for federal prosecution. On May 9, 2025, with the assistance of an Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and PPB, a federal criminal complaint was filed charging Gomez-Soto with the distribution of fentanyl resulting in death and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
On June 18, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a two-count indictment charging Gomez-Soto with distribution of fentanyl resulting in death and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
On April 13, 2026, after a six-day trial, a federal jury found Gomez-Soto guilty of distributing fentanyl that resulted in death and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
This case was investigated by the PPB Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit with assistance from HSI and the FBI. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott M. Kerin and Nicole Bockelman.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 80 to 100 times more powerful than morphine and 30 to 50 times more powerful than heroin. A 2-milligram dose of fentanyl—a few grains of the substance—is enough to kill an average adult male. The wide availability of illicit fentanyl in Oregon has caused a dramatic increase in overdose deaths throughout the state.
If you are in immediate danger, please call 911.
If you or someone you know suffers from addiction, please call the Lines for Life substance abuse helpline at 1-800-923-4357 or visit www.linesforlife.org. Phone support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also text “RecoveryNow” to 839863 between 2pm and 6pm Pacific Time daily.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.Hardin man sentenced to over 4 years in prison for possessing child pornographyRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Hardin man who had downloaded Child Sexual Abuse Material was sentenced today to four years and nine months in prison, followed by eight years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said. He was also ordered to pay a total of $10,100 in special assessments.
Randall Allen Flatlip, 36, pleaded guilty in April 2026 to one count of possessing child pornography.
U.S. District Judge William M. Mercer presided.
The government alleged in court documents that a cyber tip in July 2022 alerted authorities that Flatlip, who was living in Hardin, had downloaded a video depicting a child under 12 engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Investigators received a search warrant for Flatlip’s email where they learned multiple images and videos had been deleted prior to the search. Investigators interviewed a former roommate who said she once saw Flatlip watching Child Sexual Abuse Material on a mobile tablet.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case. The FBI conducted the investigation.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
HSTF Investigation Leads to Tucson Man Being Sentenced to 78 Months in Prison for Drug Conspiracy and Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Roman Emilio Rascon Jr., 36, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced on Aug. 11, by United States District Judge Raner C. Collins to 78 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Rascon previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.
As part of the drug conspiracy, Rascon distributed more than six kilograms of cocaine and possessed firearms when he distributed the cocaine. In addition to serving over six years in prison, the District Court ordered Rascon to forfeit vehicles, firearms, ammunition, and drug proceeds.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. This HSTF Arizona investigation involved agents and officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, United States Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, United States Customs and Border Protection, United States Border Patrol, United States Postal Inspection Service, United States Secret Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Petermann, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-5214-TUC-RCC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-136_Rascon# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Grand jury indicts Butler County sex offender for sex crimes involving 10-year-oldRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has indicted a Butler County registered sex offender who allegedly committed aggravated sexual abuse against a 10-year-old victim.
Adam Kendel, 43, of Fairfield Township, was arrested on related local charges in April. He was indicted federally in late July and taken into federal custody on Aug. 12. Kendel is due to appear in U.S. District Court on Aug. 18 for a detention hearing.
According to charging documents, on Feb. 28, Kendel crossed a state line with the intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor when he allegedly traveled from Ohio to Kentucky to engage in sexual conduct with the child victim. The indictment also alleges that, from August 2025 through March 2026, Kendel coerced and enticed the 10-year-old Kentucky girl to engage in sexual activity and produce child pornography. The final count in the indictment charges Kendel with committing new sex crimes while already registered as a sex offender.
Aggravated sexual abuse is punishable at least 30 years and up to life in prison. Coercion and enticement carries a potential penalty of at least 10 years and up to life in prison. Committing these crimes while registered as a sex offender adds a mandatory 10-year prison sentence to any other sentence imposed.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and the Ashland, Kentucky, and Fairfield Township police departments announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorneys Kyle J. Healey and Ryan A. Keefe are representing the United States in this case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
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Georgia Woman Charged in Alleged Tax Fraud Targeting Truck DriversRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes today announced a 54-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury this week charging a Georgia woman with allegedly defrauding at least 26 people, mostly self-employed truck drivers, in a tax scheme as part of an ongoing National Fraud Enforcement Division investigation led by the FBI and the IRS.
Diane Marie Poe, 62, of Loganville, Georgia, is charged by federal indictment in Case No. 3:26-CR-14, filed on Aug. 12, with 32 counts of bank fraud; 14 counts of failure to account for and pay over withholding and FICA taxes; four counts of failure to file a corporate tax return; two counts of making and subscribing a false return; and two counts of federal program theft. Poe faces a maximum of 30 years imprisonment per count of bank fraud; five years imprisonment per count of failure to pay over taxes; one year imprisonment per count of failure to file a corporate return; three years imprisonment per count of making a false return; and 10 years imprisonment per count of federal program theft. There is no parole in the federal system. The defendant's initial appearance will occur at a time determined by the Court.
According to the indictment, Poe is the owner of Genuine Financial Services, Inc. (GFS), an accounting and tax preparation service in Walton County, Georgia, that employed several people. The company provided bookkeeping, payroll, and payroll tax services, as well as business and personal tax preparation and filing, mostly for individuals employed in the trucking industry. As part of their services, clients would pay over to GFS their estimated payroll taxes.
Poe allegedly defrauded at least 26 individuals, mostly self-employed truck drivers, by accepting payments for tax and filing services she did not deliver, including collecting estimated payroll or trust fund taxes but failing to remit them to the IRS. She is also accused of failing to file her personal and business taxes properly and of failing to pay payroll taxes for her employees.
Many of Poe’s clients in the truck business came from word of mouth. If any individuals used GFS tax services or employed Poe for tax services and believe they might be victims of fraud, please call the FBI Atlanta at (770) 216-3000. In addition, anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact the FBI.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
The FBI and the IRS are investigating the case, with assistance from the Loganville Police Department, Walton County Sheriff’s Office and the Walton County District Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Peach is prosecuting the case for the Government.
An indictment and criminal complaint are merely allegations of criminal conduct, and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt.
Georgia Man Sentenced for Gun Charge from 2023 S.C. Trooper ShootingRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Derrick Gathers, 40, of Augusta, Georgia, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm when he shot a patrolman. Eighty months of his 180-month sentence will be served consecutively to his current state sentence.
According to statements made in court, on Aug. 16, 2023, Lance Corporal Frazier with the South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP) stopped Gathers for speeding on Highway 78 in Bamberg County. Gathers gave Trooper Frazier a license and vehicle registration, and Trooper Frazier took those items back to his patrol vehicle to run a routine records check. Trooper Frazier had concerns about the authenticity of the driver’s license, and when Trooper Frazier reapproached the driver’s side of the vehicle to investigate, Gathers pulled out a firearm, shot trooper Frazier in the face, and sped away. Trooper Frazier’s injuries were non-life threatening. A Bamberg County Sheriff’s Department (BCSD) deputy was providing support during the traffic stop, and both officers returned fire at Gather’s fleeing vehicle. Gather’s vehicle was located by law enforcement, including by members of the Bamberg Police Department, SCHP, and BCSD. During the chase, Gathers lost control of the vehicle and crashed in Branchville. Gathers was thereafter taken into custody.
The Dorchester County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant on the vehicle and found a pistol loaded with 9mm ammunition under the brake pedal. SLED confirmed that the pistol found on Gather’s floorboard matched the firearm used to shoot Trooper Frazier.
“This case highlights two realities: law enforcement put their lives at risk every day, and felons with guns pose a serious threat to our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “We will continue to support our law enforcement partners by federally prosecuting offenders that put law enforcement and the public’s lives at risk.”
“An attack on law enforcement is an attack on the entire community,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. “Threats against our law enforcement cannot be tolerated, and ATF will apply every resource we have available to help protect our partners.”
Gathers has previous felony convictions for 3rd degree rape and 2nd degree criminal possession of a weapon out of New York, both of which prevent him from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Gathers to 180 months in federal prison. Eighty months of his 180-month sentence will be served consecutively to his current state sentence. One hundred months of the federal sentence will be served concurrently to the state sentence. He will also have a three-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office, the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bamberg Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar Fyall prosecuted the case.###
Frederick Man Pleads Guilty to Violating National Defense AirspaceRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A Maryland man pled guilty and received a sentence in connection with flying an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) in restricted airspace.
Stuart Bennett, 66, of Frederick, pled guilty to knowingly and willfully violating United States National Defense Airspace after authorities discovered he flew a drone over U.S. national defense facilities.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea and sentence with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Hanna Porterfield, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) – Washington, D.C. Field Office.
According to his guilty plea, Bennett admitted that in September 2025, he drove from his Frederick home to the Raven Rock Mountain Complex (RRMC), and the various sites that constitute parts of that complex, in Washington County, Maryland. Bennett then launched and operated an unapproved UAS over RRMC, in violation of the National Security UAS Flight Restrictions. Law enforcement officials determined that Bennett was responsible for the drone flight over RRMC and subsequently seized his UAS.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and NCIS for their work in the investigation, and the Department of War’s Pentagon Force Protection Agency for its valuable assistance.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.
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Former Escrow Officer Sentenced to Prison for Bank FraudRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Cameron, Mo., woman was sentenced in federal court for bank fraud in relation to an embezzlement scheme committed between December 2018 and February 2024.
Tracy L. Kellerstrass, 52, former escrow officer for Cameron Title Company, was sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison without parole. Following her release from prison, Kellerstrass will serve a three-year term of supervised release. She will also be required to pay restitution for her theft of $460,415.84. This successful prosecution is one of many federal fraud cases pursued under the leadership of President Donald Trump and through the establishment of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. Kellerstrass previously pleaded guilty to bank fraud on March 24, 2026, and admitted to forging another employee’s signature on numerous company checks and presenting them for deposit into her personal bank account.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Brown It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
National Fraud Enforcement Division
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Fluvanna County Pharmacist Charged with Stealing Prescription OpioidsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A federal grand jury indictment was unsealed today charging a Fluvanna County pharmacist with diverting liquid hydromorphone for his own use and replacing it with water.
According to the indictment, Joshua Joseph Walden, 52, who previously worked at Jefferson Pharmacy in Palmyra, Virginia, is charged with one count of tampering with consumer products and attempt to tamper with a consumer product, two counts of theft of pre-retail medical products, and one count of acquiring a controlled substance by fraud.
Walden worked as a pharmacist from in or before July 2023 until he resigned in February 2025, according to court records. Throughout the course of his employment, Walden stole liquid opioids and amphetamines, and further tampered with prescription medications with reckless disregard for the risk that another person would be placed in danger of death or bodily injury.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Virginia State Police are investigating the case.
First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci for the Western District of Virginia made the announcement.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher B. Browne is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Fayette County Man Sentenced to More than 12 Years in Prison for Federal Drug CrimesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – William Joseph Kessler III, 45, of Beckwith, was sentenced today to 12 years and seven months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for one count of distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl and one count of distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 25, 2024, Kessler sold a total of 18 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant over the course of two transactions, one in Raleigh County and the other at Kessler’s residence in Beckwith. On June 26, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Kessler’s residence and seized approximately 36 grams of fentanyl, 263.4 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl and ketamine, 45.7 grams of methamphetamine, a CZ Model P-10s 9mm pistol, and $4,603. The seized currency included $505 of prerecorded money exchanged during the controlled buys.
Kessler has a criminal history that dates back to 2004 and includes two prior felony convictions for drug trafficking.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Central Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.
United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Amy L. McLaughlin prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-146.
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Delaware County man sentenced to nearly 27 years in prison for crimes involving bulk narcotics hauled in vehicle to Polaris Fashion PlaceRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A defendant convicted at trial in February of six counts of drug and gun crimes related to 28 kilograms of drugs found stashed in hidden compartments of a vehicle being hauled from California to Polaris Fashion Place was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 322 months in prison.
The case against Terrance Colvin, 39, of Columbus, Ohio, involved 27 kilograms of narcotics.
According to court documents and trial testimony, in May 2024, local HSI agents were notified by HSI Albuquerque that the New Mexico State Police stopped a commercial car hauler. One of the vehicles was to be delivered to Polaris Fashion Place in Delaware County. That vehicle had two hidden compartments and inside, investigators discovered 21 kilograms of methamphetamine and six kilograms of cocaine.
Federal and local law enforcement officials arranged for the controlled delivery of the vehicle to the Polaris mall parking lot.
Colvin took an Uber to Polaris Fashion Place to retrieve the vehicle upon delivery and drove the vehicle to his apartment in the 801 Polaris Apartments. Colvin parked the vehicle in a private parking garage next to a 2015 Cadillac Escalade and accessed the hidden compartments to transfer the narcotics, which law enforcement had primarily replaced with sham narcotics, into a duffel bag before being apprehended by law enforcement.
In a subsequent search of Colvin’s apartment, agents discovered and seized additional bulk amounts of narcotics, including fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine. They also seized three loaded firearms.
As a previously convicted felon, Colvin is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. His criminal history includes arrests and convictions for various narcotics and weapons-related charges, kidnapping, receiving stolen property, driving under the influence, obstructing justice and disorderly conduct.
Colvin was originally indicted in June 2024.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and officials with the Delaware County Drug Task Force announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin W. Kelley represented the United States in this case.
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Cuban National Pleads Guilty for His Role in an International Alien Smuggling and Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A Cuban national pleaded guilty today to alien smuggling, asylum fraud, and money laundering.
According to court documents, Yuniel Lima-Santos, 31, of Tampa, Florida, conspired with others to operate an alien smuggling organization (ASO) which encouraged or induced thousands of Cuban aliens to enter the United States through the southern border and used fraudulent Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) and visa waivers. The defendants advertised their smuggling services and bogus visa services across multiple social media platforms to solicit Cuban nationals and other aliens to attempt to illegally enter the United States and fraudulently obtain lawful status in the United States.
The ASO advertised services included assisting Cubans with false claims of European citizenship to enter the United States on a European tourist visa waiver or ESTA, and it filed hundreds of fraudulent ESTA applications with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) using fake addresses and fabricated documents. Cuban nationals are not eligible for the ESTA program, and the defendants falsely represented that the applicants had not been in Cuba since 2011. The defendants knew that Cubans are not eligible for the ESTA program, and that the applicants were actually in Cuba at the time the ESTA applications were submitted.
Lima-Santos furthered the conspiracy by helping move aliens from their country of origin, including Cuba, into the United States, including by purchasing international and domestic flights to transport aliens into and throughout the United States. Lima-Santos, along with co-defendant Frandy Aragon Diaz, smuggled five aliens into the United States and admitted to aiding Aragon Diaz with bringing Cuban women illegally into the United States, where they worked in strip clubs to pay off their smuggling debt. In furtherance of the conspiracy’s money laundering crimes, Lima-Santos filed articles of incorporation in Florida for a shell company that had no employees, payroll, or reported income, but were used to move money obtained from alien smuggling and conceal the true source and nature of the ill-gotten funds.
Aliens were charged between $1,500 and $40,000 for their smuggling services, and co-conspirators sometimes even chartered private planes to move groups of aliens. Lima-Santos and co-defendants conspired to regularly move funds to companies and other places outside of the United States, such as by purchasing international flights for aliens to travel into the United States. Between 2021 and 2024, Lima-Santos transmitted internationally over $600,000 from the United States to purchase flights for aliens to unlawfully enter the United States.
Yuniel Lima-Santos pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit alien smuggling for financial gain, five counts of alien smuggling for financial gain, one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, and one count of conspiracy to conceal money laundering instruments.
Lima-Santos faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
As part of the conspiracy, 12 individuals were charged in a superseding indictment for their roles. Liannys Yaiselys Vega-Perez, 31; Miguel Alejandro Martinez Vasconcelos, 31; Layra Libertad Treto Santos, 30; Emanuel Martinez Gonzalez, 29; Walbis Pozo-Dutel, 31; and Luis Emmanuel Escalona-Marrero, 32, have all pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Erik Ventura-Castro, 24, pleaded guilty on May 7 and was sentenced in July to 30 months in prison. Lazaro Alain Cabrera-Rodriguez, 28, and Gisleivy Peralta Consuegra, 41, are awaiting trial scheduled to begin on Sept. 21.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Director Joseph Edlow of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) made the announcement.
The investigation and superseding indictment were supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including HSI and CBP U.S. Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 477 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 431 U.S. convictions; and more than 370 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
HSI Tampa, U.S. Border Patrol Miami Sector, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)’s Fraud Detection and National Security led U.S. investigative efforts, with substantial assistance from HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. and CBP’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force. Authorities in the Cayman Islands provided valuable assistance.
Trial Attorney Amanda Brown of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Courtney Derry for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
Cuban National Pleads Guilty for His Role in an International Alien Smuggling and Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL — A Cuban national pleaded guilty today to alien smuggling, asylum fraud, and money laundering.
According to court documents, Yuniel Lima-Santos, 31, of Tampa, Florida, conspired with others to operate an alien smuggling organization (ASO) which encouraged or induced thousands of Cuban aliens to enter the United States through the southern border and used fraudulent Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) and visa waivers. The defendants advertised their smuggling services and bogus visa services across multiple social media platforms to solicit Cuban nationals and other aliens to attempt to illegally enter the United States and fraudulently obtain lawful status in the United States. The ASO advertised services included assisting Cubans with false claims of European citizenship to enter the United States on a European tourist visa waiver or ESTA and filed hundreds of fraudulent ESTA applications with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) using fake addresses and fabricated documents. Cuban nationals are not eligible for the ESTA program, and to obtain ESTAs the defendants made false representations that the applicants had not been in Cuba since 2011. The defendants knew that Cubans are not eligible for the ESTA program, and that the applicants were actually in Cuba at the time the ESTA applications were submitted.
The defendant, Yuniel Lima-Santos, furthered the conspiracy by assisting in the logistics of moving aliens from their country of origin, including Cuba, into the United States, such as purchasing international and domestic flights for aliens to transport them towards, into, and throughout the United States. Lima-Santos, along with co-defendant Frandy Aragon Diaz, smuggled five aliens into the United States and admitted to aiding Aragon Diaz with bringing Cuban women illegally into the United States, whereupon they would work in strip clubs to pay off their smuggling debt. In furtherance of the conspiracy’s money laundering crimes, Lima-Santos filed articles of incorporation in Florida for a shell company that had no employees, payroll, or reported income, but were used to move money obtained from alien smuggling and conceal the true source and nature of the ill-gotten funds.
As part of the conspiracy, aliens were charged between $1,500 and $40,000 for their smuggling services, and co-conspirators sometimes even chartered private planes to move groups of aliens. Lima-Santos and co-defendants conspired with each other to regularly move funds to companies operating outside of the United States and to other places outside the United States, such as by purchasing international flights for aliens to travel into the United States. Between 2021 and 2024, Lima-Santos transmitted internationally over $600,000 from the United States to purchase flights for aliens to unlawfully enter the United States.
Yuniel Lima-Santos pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit alien smuggling for financial gain, five counts of alien smuggling for financial gain, one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, and one count of conspiracy to conceal money laundering instruments.
Lima-Santos faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Twelve individuals were charged in a superseding indictment for their roles in the conspiracy. Defendants Liannys Yaiselys Vega-Perez, 31; Miguel Alejandro Martinez Vasconcelos, 31; Layra Libertad Treto Santos, 30; Emanuel Martinez Gonzalez, 29; Walbis Pozo-Dutel, 31; and Luis Emmanuel Escalona-Marrero, 32, have all pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Defendant Erik Ventura-Castro, 24, pleaded guilty on May 7 and was sentenced on July 29 to 30 months in prison. Defendants Lazaro Alain Cabrera-Rodriguez, 28, and Gisleivy Peralta Consuegra, 41, are awaiting trial scheduled to begin on September 21.
U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida, Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Director Joseph Edlow of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) made the announcement.
The investigation and superseding indictment were supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including HSI and CBP U.S. Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 477 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 431 U.S. convictions; and more than 370 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
HSI Tampa, U.S. Border Patrol Miami Sector, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)’s Fraud Detection and National Security led U.S. investigative efforts, with substantial assistance from HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. and CBP’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force. Authorities in the Cayman Islands provided valuable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Courtney Derry for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Amanda Brown of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section are prosecuting the case.
Convicted Felon from Lakeville Arrested for Trafficking Methamphetamine and CocaineRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lakeville man was charged in federal court in Boston with drug trafficking, following the search of a commercial office building in Lakeville last week.
Christopher DiRusso, 55, was charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of cocaine.
According to the charging documents, on Aug. 5, 2026, during a search of a commercial building in Lakeville where DiRusso appeared to be living inside an office suite, cocaine and drug packaging materials were found in plain view. It is alleged that thousands of counterfeit methamphetamine pills, designed to resemble the prescription drug Adderall, and over 2,000 grams of cocaine, some of which was packaged in a kilogram brick were also found in a closet.
According to the charging documents, DiRusso was previously convicted in state court of cocaine trafficking and firearm offenses in 2007 and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. In 2001, DiRusso was convicted in state court for indecent assault and battery on a child and was sentenced to a total of three years in prison. During last week’s search, investigators allegedly found a copy of DiRusso’s Massachusetts sex offender registration from July 2026, when DiRusso registered as homeless and listed the commercial building as his secondary and work address.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of cocaine provides for a sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Pembroke, Lakeville and Brockton Police Departments, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department and Massachusetts Department of Correction. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Cutshall of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Convicted Felon Involved in Shootout that Struck School Bus Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Paris Alonzo Lewis-Bynum, 21, a previously convicted felon from Charlotte, was sentenced to nine years in prison today for illegally possessing a firearm and using a firearm to further drug trafficking activities, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
According to court records, Lewis-Bynum was convicted in 2023 for speeding to elude arrest. As a result of that conviction, he is not permitted to possess a firearm. Court records show that on December 2024, at approximately 3:50 p.m., a shootout occurred near the intersection of W.T. Harris Blvd. and Albemarle Rd. in Charlotte. A school bus full of students was struck multiple times by projectiles from the shooting. Investigators determined that Lewis-Bynum was involved in the shootout, and he was arrested on December 16, 2024. In addition to illegally possessing the firearm, law enforcement determined that Lewis-Bynum was involved in drug trafficking activities in the area.
“Lewis-Bynum is the type of repeat offender that my office prioritizes for federal prosecution,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “It is a miracle that none of the children on the school bus were seriously hurt or killed during the shooting. We will not stand idly by when people put our children in danger.”
Lewis-Bynum is currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation to a federal facility.
In making the announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for their work on this case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Charlotte Man Sentenced for Cyber Extortion Scheme that Targeted International Technology CompanyRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte man was sentenced to prison today for carrying out an extensive cyber extortion scheme against a D.C.-based international technology company, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Cameron Curry, 27, was ordered to serve 24 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release. In March 2026, a federal jury convicted Curry of six counts of transmitting or willfully causing interstate communications with the intent to extort a victim company.
According to filed documents, trial evidence, and witness testimony, Curry was contracted to work as a data analyst for approximately six months with the victim company. In that capacity, Curry had access to the victim company’s data files and other personnel and corporate information. Trial evidence established that Curry misused his position to access the victim company’s personnel and other sensitive corporate records, which he then used to carry out the cyber extortion scheme. Curry hatched his extortion scheme after he learned that his contract was not going to be renewed and that he would no longer be employed by the company.
According to evidence presented at trial, from December 11, 2023, to January 24, 2024, Curry, identifying himself online as “Loot,” sent over 60 email messages to company employees and executives, threatening to disclose sensitive information unless he was paid $2.5 million dollars in cryptocurrency. Trial evidence further established that the email messages contained threats to disclose sensitive corporate information and employee data, including employees’ personally identifiable information (PII), as well as threats to harm the reputation of the victim company by reporting a breach of its information and publishing the information publicly if the victim company failed to pay him via cryptocurrency.
On January 24, 2024, the FBI executed a search warrant at Curry’s residence, seizing various electronic devices. A forensic analysis of the evidence revealed that Curry was committing the extortion scheme under the “Loot” alias.
In making today’s announcement U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended the FBI’s Washington Field Office, which conducted the investigation, and the FBI Charlotte Field Office, which provided significant assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Warren of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Lucas of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Columbia prosecuted the case.
Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Carlos Alvin Myles, also known as “Choppa,” 38, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 12, 2024, Myles sold approximately 3.42 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant at a residence on Charleston’s West Side. As part of his guilty plea, Myles admitted to conducting the transaction. Myles further admitted that the transaction was part of a conspiracy to distribute drugs in and around the Southern District of West Virginia, and that he participated in the conspiracy between February and May 2024.
Myles is scheduled to be sentenced on January 7, 2027, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.
Myles is among five defendants indicted by a federal grand jury following a federal investigation of drug trafficking in the Charleston area. Two co-defendants previously pleaded guilty. The indictment remains pending against the other defendants. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Charleston Police Department-Special Enforcement Unit, and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department, and the South Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin and former Assistant United States Attorney Alexander A. Redmon have prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-18.
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Casper man Sentenced for his role in drug trafficking organizationRead the Press Release
Another defendant in a trafficking ring was recently sentenced. A total of seven individuals were arrested in the Shrove et al case, stemming from a months-long investigation in 2025.
Gregory Keith McCoy, 56, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Aug. 10 in Casper.
According to federal court documents, the Wyoming Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI), with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and multiple state and local agencies, investigated a drug trafficking organization operating in Wyoming and Colorado. Investigators identified McCoy as one of the conspirators selling large quantities of methamphetamine in and around Natrona County.
Law enforcement attempted to stop McCoy near Sinclair on Sept. 24, 2025, after a drug-detection dog alerted to the presence of controlled substances in his vehicle and a passenger exited McCoy’s vehicle. McCoy fled, leading officers on a high-speed pursuit that spanned more than 70 miles and reached speeds of up to 130 mph. During and after the pursuit, law enforcement recovered approximately 1,020 grams of methamphetamine, 67.5 grams of heroin, 13.2 grams of fentanyl pills, less than 1 gram of LSD, and 50.6 grams of marijuana from the vehicle and from items discarded from the vehicle during the pursuit. Investigators subsequently linked McCoy to the broader drug conspiracy through correspondence and financial records.
"McCoy thought a desperate, 130-mile-per-hour chase could save him from the consequences of his crimes. He was wrong.” Said U.S. Attorney Darin Smith. “Today's sentence stands as a stark reminder that the rule of law is neither outrun by speed nor deterred by desperation. Our multi-agency task forces will hunt down, dismantle, and lock up the trafficking networks polluting our communities. Justice will prevail."
A federal complaint was filed Jan. 23, and he was transferred to federal custody on Jan. 26. McCoy pleaded guilty on May 19. The DCI, with assistance from the DEA, HSI and multiple state and local law enforcement agencies in Wyoming and Colorado, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case.
Case No. 26-00046
Buffalo man arrested, charged with stealing postal keyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Kaevon Raymere Leonard, 33, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with unauthorized possession of U.S. postal service key, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
According to the criminal complaint, in July 2024, a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier was robbed of their arrow key at gunpoint while working their delivery route in Buffalo. The arrow key is used to access several hundred USPS blue collection boxes located within Buffalo and surrounding towns and cities. Soon after the robbery, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, financial institutions, and local law enforcement started receiving numerous complaints from individuals and businesses, claiming they mailed envelopes containing checks from Buffalo metro-area blue collection boxes, which were stolen, altered and cashed, rather than delivered to their intended recipients.
In addition, law enforcement also identified individuals, including Leonard, posting pictures of USPS arrow keys on social media. In July 2024, a picture was posted to a Facebook account showing Leonard holding an arrow key attached to a USPS issued chain, which letter carriers use to secure the arrow key to their belt loops. A caption below the picture states, “Willing to die behind this metal it’s a trophy takes alot to understand me if you know me #vizagangceo.” On August 22, 2025, another image of Leonard was posted to his Facebook account showing an arrow key attached to his belt loop with a carabiner. On September 23, 2025, a search warrant was executed at Leonard’s North Park Avenue residence. During a search of Leonard’s person, investigators recovered a USPS arrow key, which was attached to his belt loop with a carabiner. The arrow key included the same serial number of the arrow key stolen from the letter carrier in July 2024. Investigators also recovered additional evidence of Leonard recruiting check cashers, also known as “mules,” on social media, and possessing stolen mail and checks.
Leonard made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and released on home detention.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Acting Inspector-in-Charge Justin Page, Boston Division.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Brockton Man Sentenced to Nine Months in Prison for Role in Stolen Treasury Check FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brockton man was sentenced on Aug. 6, 2026, in federal court in Boston for depositing stolen and altered U.S. Treasury checks into shell company bank accounts that he controlled and then withdrawing the stolen money to conceal its origin.
Gino Rosario Tyler Alexander Allegra, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise J. Casper to time served of approximately nine months, to be followed by three years of supervised release. The court also ordered Allegra to restitution in the amount of $545,090. In May 2026, Allegra pleaded guilty to four counts of theft of government funds, four counts of bank fraud and three counts of money laundering. Allegra was charged in a superseding indictment in September 2025 and detained pending trial.
Allegra obtained U.S. Treasury checks that had been issued as tax refunds to individuals and businesses throughout the United States but were later stolen. Allegra deposited these checks into bank accounts that he opened in the name of World Advance, Inc. (WAI), a Massachusetts shell company with no bona fide operations. The stolen checks were altered to name WAI as a payee instead of the actual taxpayers eligible for the refunds. Allegra also purchased bank checks payable to other shell businesses to conceal the origin of the stolen proceeds and deposited and laundered bank checks that others purchased using other stolen Treasury checks. In total, Allegra stole or laundered more than $1.2 million in government funds.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; Michael Carpenter, Special Agent in charge of the U.S. Department of Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Northeast Field Division; and Justin Page, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Kosto, Chief of the Securities, Financial and Cyber Frauds Unit prosecuted the case.
Brazilian National Indicted for Armed Robbery of a Cash CourierRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brazilian national, unlawfully residing in the United States on an expired visa, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with the armed robbery of a cash courier in Framingham, Mass., in November 2025, which resulted in the theft of approximately $200,000.
Helbert Oliveira, 47, was indicted one count of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, as well as brandishing a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence. Oliveira was previously charged by criminal complaint in May 2026 and arrested in Pompano Beach, Fla., on July 21, 2026. At the time of his arrest, Oliveira was found in possession of a Glock-43 pistol, a suppressor, gloves, masks and ammunition.
According to court records, Oliveira is alleged to have conspired with another individual, Curt Porcher, to rob a cash courier delivering money to a Framingham business. Porcher allegedly served as the getaway driver in a rented vehicle, while Oliveira allegedly pointed a firearm at the victim, taking approximately $200,000. Surveillance footage from the robbery is included below:
Prior to Oliveira’s arrest, his alleged co conspirator, Porcher, was charged by criminal complaint in the District of Massachusetts with Hobbs Act armed robbery and conspiracy. He was subsequently indicted in April 2026.
The charge of Hobbs Act armed robbery, or conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act armed robbery, provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years and up to life in prison, which must run consecutively to any other prison term. Each count also carries a potential $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Division and the Marlborough Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aidan Lang of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting Oliveira. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rob Richardson, also of the Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting Oliveira’s alleged co-conspirator, Porcher.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Bergen County Man Sentenced to 24 Months’ Imprisonment for Covid-19 Relief Program FraudRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Bergen County man, who orchestrated a scheme to fraudulently obtain approximately $670,292 in COVID-19 relief funding, was sentenced on August 12, 2026, to 24 months imprisonment, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Malak Faltawws, 49, of Rutherford, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Evelyn Padin in Newark Federal Court to two counts of an Indictment charging wire fraud and money laundering. Judge Padin also imposed the sentence.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From March 2020 through November 2021, Faltawws fraudulently obtained approximately $670,292 of COVID-19 emergency relief funds, which included loans and cash advances meant for distressed small businesses under the EIDL and PPP programs, by submitting false and fraudulent applications, inflating his businesses’ revenue, payroll expenses, and number of employees. After receiving the fraudulent funds, he diverted the proceeds for his personal gain.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Padin sentenced Faltawws to three years of supervised release and to pay restitution in the amount of $670,292 and a fine of $10,000.
United States Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Newark Field Office, under the direction of Jenifer L. Piovesan.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Farhana C. Melo of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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Defense counsel: Daniel Goldman, Esq., San Clemente, California
Bellefontaine husband & wife plead guilty to federal narcotics crimeRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A couple from Logan County pleaded guilty in federal court to participating in a narcotics conspiracy involving bulk amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the mail.
Justin Salsburey, 44, pleaded guilty today, and Ruthann Rankin, 39, pleaded guilty last week.
According to court documents, in early November 2025, the Ohio High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force received information from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office that Salsburey was receiving parcels of bulk narcotics at his residence in Bellefontaine and that his wife was involved in the narcotics trafficking.
Further investigation revealed that between August 2024 and December 2025, the husband and wife received in the mail approximately 260 parcels from throughout the United States.
Law enforcement surveillance showed Salsburey and Rankin retrieving the parcels and then placing drugs in a cooler on their porch for pickup. Salsburey also drove to a Post Office in Dublin to mail fentanyl and methamphetamine pills out to customers. For example, he sent 52 parcels from addresses in Bellefontaine to a man in Middleburg Heights.
When law enforcement officials conducted a search warrant at the couple’s residence, they discovered bulk fentanyl and methamphetamine pills, suspected steroid virals and 12 firearms.
Rankin told authorities she assisted Salsburey in selling steroids and “Adderall” pills and that her husband started selling steroids and progressed to other drugs.
Salsburey and Rankin each pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine and at least 40 grams of fentanyl, which carries a potential penalty of at least 10 years and up to life in prison.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; David Cunningham, Acting Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); and Logan County Sheriff Randall J. Dodds announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Pakiz and Jennifer M. Rausch are representing the United States in this case.
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Bangladeshi man pleads guilty to his role in fraud conspiracyRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Iftekhar Latif Nieon, 24, of Bangladesh, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
In 2025, Nieon conspired with others to commit wire fraud against three victims, including:
- In March 2025, Nieon’s co-conspirators obtained the credit card information of a 68-year-old woman residing in the Western District of New York and placed an unauthorized charge on the card for “virus protection software.” The woman noticed the unauthorized charge and called a number that she believed belonged to the “virus protection software company.” Co-conspirators answered the call and fraudulently represented that they were “representatives” of the “virus protection software company,” and that she needed to give the “representative” remote access to her computer so that the “representative” could process a refund. The woman did so but, instead of processing a refund, the co-conspirator transferred $20,000 from her savings account to her checking account, without her knowledge or permission. The “representative” executed the transaction in a way that made it appear as if the “representative” had accidentally deposited a $20,000 refund into the checking account. The “representative” then falsely represented that the woman had to “return” $19,500, instructing her to withdraw the funds in cash and meet Nieon at a particular location, which the woman did.
- In April 2025, a 73-year-old man residing in the Western District of New York received an email from a co-conspirator who falsely claimed to be from “Geek Squad.” The man was told that his “Geek Squad subscription” was going to be renewed within 12 hours and that he was going to be charged $329.99 unless he contacted “Geek Squad” at a particular number. The man called the number and received a return call from a co-conspirator, who falsely identified him or herself as a “Geek Squad supervisor” and advised the man that he would be refunded $440. The man was then told that $30,000 was accidently refunded to his account and that he needed to give back $28,000 of the refund. The man checked his account and confirmed there was a “pending” $30,000 deposit. At the instruction of a co-conspirator, the man withdrew $28,000 in cash and turn it over to Nieon and a co-conspirator at a particular location. The following day, the man checked his account and realized that the $30,000 deposit never cleared.
- Also in April 2025, a co-conspirator called an 82-year-old man in Ohio, falsely identified him or herself as a representative of PayPal, and claimed that there was an “error” in his account. The man was instructed to withdraw $15,000 from his account and give it to Nieon at a particular location. The man complained but met Nieon at a predetermined location and gave him $14,500.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGurire. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation New York, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Harry T. Chavis, Jr., the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Kevin Sucher, and the Pepper Pike, Ohio Police Department, under the direction of Chief Karl Dietz.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 30, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Wolford.
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Baltimore Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing over a Kilogram of Heroin in HSTF CaseRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A Baltimore man pled guilty in federal court, today, to drug trafficking crimes in connection with a drug investigation.
Kevin Lomax, 49, is charged with possession with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of heroin.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Christopher C. Goumenis, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Washington Division, and Police Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).
According to his guilty plea, in January 2024, DEA agents received information that Lomax, a high-volume drug dealer, was trafficking drugs in Baltimore. Then law enforcement began investigating Lomax’s drug-trafficking activities.
On March 19, 2025, DEA agents executed a search warrant on Lomax’s Baltimore home. During the search, agents found and seized more than 1,000 grams of heroin; more than 3,000 grams of cocaine; more than 105 grams of oxycodone; more than 15 grams of MDMA; and 1,787 grams of Psilocin. Additionally, law enforcement recovered three firearms; 25 rounds of ammunition; $151,178 in cash; seven cellphones; a satellite phone; and a journal with ledger notes.
If convicted, Lomax faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and maximum of life in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of heroin. A federal district judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This prosecution is part of the HSTF initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Baltimore is comprised of agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the District of Maryland; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); the United States Marshals Service (USMS); the Washington/Baltimore HIDTA (W/B HIDTA); the Maryland State Police (MSP); the Baltimore Police Department (BPD); and the Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD) with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DEA and BPD for their work in the investigation and thanked the Assistant U.S. Attorney who is prosecuting the case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.
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