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Wednesday 17 June 2026
Illegal Alien - Former Nicaraguan Tactical Instructor Sentenced for Assault of HSI Special AgentRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Nicaraguan National Michel Manuel Garcia Rojas was sentenced Wednesday June 17th in Albany by The Honorable Mae A. D'Agostino to 51 months in federal prison. Garcia Rojas pled guilty on February 9, 2026 to a single count indictment charging assaulting, resisting, and impeding a federal officer, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Section 111(a)(1) and (b).
First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Buffalo Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Patrone and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Buffalo Acting Field Office Director Philip Rhoney made the announcement in Albany today.
On March 5th, 2025, Garcias Rojas was detained charged by the Rotterdam Police Department for misdemeanor charges including petit larceny. Pursuant to the Laken Riley Act, Federal Agents attempted to detain the defendant and his partner upon their release from Rotterdam Police custody, for detention and immigration removal proceedings pursuant to their lack of lawful authority to be in the United States.
While handcuffed, the defendant resisted lawful arrest and fled the special agents. During the course of the encounter an HSI Special Agent attempted to rearrest the defendant during what proved to be a violent fight, at one point repeatedly throwing the agent into an exterior door inside a vestibule, which prevented police officers inside the building from coming to the agent’s aid. The defendant’s assault on the agent caused a variety of injuries to the Agent. Throughout the altercation captured on audio and video surveillance, the Special Agent can repeatedly be heard calmly telling the defendant to “stop resisting,” while the defendant screams in rage. Ultimately, through the force of several law enforcement agents and the use of tasers the defendant was subdued and arrested.
The violent assault of a federal agent by a criminal alien, is the unfortunate result of the prior administrations failed immigration policies” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III. “Thanks to the Laken Riley act, violent aliens such as this defendant can be detained and removed from our country. Let Mr. Garcias Rojas be an example to anyone who interferes with and/or assaults members of law enforcement – conducting lawful enforcement actions, this administration will leverage the resources of the federal government to enact justice and protect the American people.”
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Buffalo Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Patrone: “This defendant, trained in defensive tactics, ran from federal agents, fought them and continued to resist in attempt to flee and attack law enforcement. Across the nation and here in New York, law enforcement personnel – enforcing the laws as they exist – are operating in an increasingly complex and dangerous threat environment. Despite the growing threats, HSI remains resolute in our mission to protect our communities and uphold the law. We stand united with our law enforcement partners and the communities we serve and will ensure that any attack on law enforcement is vigorously investigated and prosecuted."
The assault on our HSI colleague while in the course of their official duties comes at a time when open border activists routinely demonize ICE for enforcing the laws passed by Congress, and blatantly false anti-ICE rhetoric from irresponsible politicians is at an all-time high, ,” said ERO Buffalo Acting Field Officer Director Philip Rhoney. “Criminals and agitators will not stop us from carrying out our mission in a way that best serves national security, public safety and border security. I remain grateful to our officers and our federal partners for their work to keep violent illegal aliens off the streets in our state and our country.”Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Clark prosecuted the case.
Hunt County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Lying to the FBIRead the Press Release
A Hunt County man was sentenced to federal prison for lying to the FBI, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.
Carey Todd Edwards, 65, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison on June 11, 2026, by Senior United States District Judge Jane J. Boyle, for making a false statement to the FBI.
According to court documents, FBI agents interviewed Edwards outside his Quinlan, Texas home on July 26, 2023, after receiving information about his online activity. During that interview, Edwards admitted he was a convicted felon and acknowledged possessing a shotgun and a pistol inside his residence. When agents returned the next day with a federal search warrant, the firearms were gone. In a follow up interview on July 27, Edwards denied ever having guns, telling agents, “I don’t have any. I never had any guns.” He later admitted the statement was false and that he had removed the firearms from his home before agents executed the warrant.
During the sentencing hearing, the Court noted that Edwards operated a website espousing anti Semitic beliefs, affiliated closely with another anti-Semitic website, and supported the separation of races. The Court also observed that Edwards’s online activity, combined with his criminal record and firearms ownership, could have been perceived as threatening toward the Jewish community in the Northern District of Texas. Judge Boyle ultimately concluded that Edwards’ false statements were intended to obstruct the FBI’s investigation to determine whether he had illegally possessed firearms as a convicted felon.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward L. Hocter prosecuted the case.
Honduran Illegal Alien Charged with Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DARWIN NOE MENDOSA-CRUZ, age 29, a citizen of Honduras, was charged by bill of information on June 8, 20206 with illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of 8 U.S.C. ' 1326(a), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to the bill of information, DARWIN NOE MENDOSA-CRUZ reentered the United States sometime prior to May 7, 2026, after having been previously removed on or about November 27, 2023.
If convicted, DARWIN NOE MENDOSA-CRUZ faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to three years of supervised release after imprisonment, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
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.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Irene González of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Hondo Man Who Threatened to Violently Overthrow the U.S. Government in 2025 Found Guilty by Federal JuryRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A federal jury in San Antonio convicted a Hondo man today of one count of Interstate Threatening Communication, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Jay Anthony Villarreal, 25, left his home in Hondo on June 28, 2025, with the intent to carry out an attack in Washington D.C., to overthrow the government. Villarreal was armed with an AR-15 semi-automatic assault weapon, a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, and a 9mm semi-automatic pistol, along with extra loaded magazines and multiple boxes of ammunition for each gun. He also possessed in his vehicle a police scanner, binoculars, a Bible, and a copy of the Texas Penal Code.
As part of his plan to overthrow the government, Villarreal used social media in an effort to solicit military veterans to join him. A friend of Villarreal’s in Maryland saw the social media post on the morning of June 29, 2025, viewed it as potential mass murder situation, and reported it to the FBI. Another of Villarreal’s acquaintances from Hondo was disturbed by the messages and wanted to avert a mass killing so he reported it to the Hondo police. Furthermore, multiple family members and friends sent messages to Villarreal while he was on his drive from Hondo to Washington D.C., prompting him to turn around in the Beaumont area and return home on June 29 at approximately 8:00 pm. Later that day, FBI agents searched Villarreal’s home, resulting in the discovery of two U.S. military smoke grenades—all in addition to the firearms and materials he had in his vehicle.
Villarreal was arrested on July 2, 2025. U.S. District Judge Fred Biery presided over a jury trial that began on June 15, 2026, and resulted in the guilty verdict. A sentencing hearing is currently scheduled for Sept. 21.
“Today, a federal jury found this defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt for threatening to carry out a violent attack in our Nation’s capital,” said U.S. Attorney Simmons. “Thankfully, in this case, friends and family members recognized the veracity of the threat and contacted the FBI, preventing what could have been a mass casualty event. Given the darkness that invades the minds of so many, and the prevalence of violent acts committed in the name of politics, it is more important now than ever to say something if you see something. That single decision can lead to a swift response and lives saved, as it did in this case. Special thanks to the FBI and Hondo Police for acting quickly and recognizing the seriousness of the situation.”
“Threats of violence against the U.S. government or the community, particularly when coupled with access to firearms, demand the utmost seriousness,” said Daniel Faith, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Antonio Field Office. “We commend the Hondo Police Department for its swift action and prompt reporting to the FBI. We also would like to thank members of the community who saw something and reported their concerns to law enforcement. This guilty verdict underscores the strength of our coordinated efforts through the FBI San Antonio Joint Terrorism Task Force and makes clear that those who threaten violence will be brought to justice.”
The FBI-Joint Terrorism Task Force, including the San Antonio Police Department, Hondo Police Department, and UTSA Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Roomberg and Kirk Mangels are prosecuting the case.
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Homeland Security Task Force Operation Investigation Leads to Meth Arrest and ProsecutionRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, MS – Charterious Moore, 33, of West Point, Mississippi, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison and five years supervised release after previously pleading to distribution of over a pound of methamphetamine. Chief U.S. District Judge Debra M. Brown sentenced Moore.
According to court documents, Moore had previously pleaded guilty to knowingly and intentionally distributing an amount in excess of fifty grams of methamphetamine. This investigation and prosecution was a part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative that brings together local and federal partners to eliminate criminal gangs in our streets. The investigation of this case was carried out by Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, Monroe County’s Sheriff’s Office, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the United States Marshals.
U.S. Attorney Scott Leary stated, “What kind of Mississippi are we going to pass on to our children? As citizens of this great nation, such concerns should always be remembered. On this note, please understand that methamphetamine trafficking is completely detrimental to our children and our communities. It results in lost lives. Our state and federal law enforcement partners are charged with addressing this scourge, at times placing themselves in harm’s way. In this case, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics (MBN), the Lowndes County and Monroe County Sheriff’s Offices, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Marshals did a stellar job in taking meth off our streets. Our citizens expect this type of partnership. Working together, we can help ensure that our children inherit a Mississippi where hard work and faithfulness pay off.”
"Criminal gangs rely on the distribution of illicit drugs like methamphetamine to fund their operations and terrorize our communities," said Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge John P. Scott, New Orleans Field Division. "Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Homeland Security Task Force, a major source of this poison has been taken off the streets. This sentence underscores our unwavering commitment to working alongside our local law enforcement partners to dismantle these dangerous organizations and restore peace to Mississippi communities."
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 Jackson comprises agents and officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection – Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection – U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection – Air and Marine Operations, U.S. Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO) with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi.
Assistant U.S. Attorney and Senior Litigation Counsel Clyde McGee prosecuted this case.
Homeland Security Task Force Investigation Results in Texas Woman’s 24-Year Federal Prison SentenceRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – As a result of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation, a Big Lake woman was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 288 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons.
According to court documents, on April 4, 2022, Anahi Sanchez, 28, approached the Del Rio Port of Entry driving a Chevrolet Camaro, and applied for entry into the United States from Mexico. Sanchez told the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer (CBPO) that she and her son, who was also in the vehicle, were returning to Big Lake after visiting family in Mexico. The CBPO referred Sanchez to a vehicle inspection, which resulted in the discovery of anomalies in the driver and passenger rear quarter-panels of the vehicle. A subsequent canine inspection resulted in a positive alert for narcotics, and a physical inspection revealed 30 packages hidden in a trap door near the rear driver side and passenger side wheel wells. All of the packages were determined to contain fentanyl, with a gross weight of 18 kilograms. Sanchez was placed under arrest on-site.
Law enforcement was able to determine that Sanchez was a regular and trusted courier for a transnational criminal organization and that she had crossed the international border numerous times in different vehicles loaded with narcotics. In total, she was held accountable for approximately 130 kilograms of fentanyl for her role in the criminal conspiracy. It was also determined by law enforcement that she typically took the narcotics to the greater Dallas/Fort Worth area.
Sanchez was named in a five-count indictment on May 4, 2022, and charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, conspiracy to import fentanyl, importation of fentanyl, and laundering of monetary instruments. On Dec. 16, 2022, Sanchez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Miner prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF comprises agents and officers from FBI; ICE HSI; DEA; ATF; U.S. Border Patrol; USMS; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Department of Transportation; IRS Criminal Investigation; Texas Department of Public Safety; as well as local police departments and sheriff’s offices, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.
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Fourteen New Indictments Returned, Four Guilty Pleas Entered for Immigration Offenses in MayRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Pensacola and Gainesville – Today, United States Attorney John P. Heekin announced that 14 previously deported illegal aliens have been separately indicted by a federal grand jury for illegal reentry into the United States in the month of May.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Compliance with our nation’s immigration laws is not optional. We welcome all legal immigrants who come here the right way and respect our laws, but for those who think they can violate our laws with impunity my office will swiftly deliver a dose of reality with aggressive prosecutions, federal prison sentences, and deportations. The citizens of the Northern District of Florida have a right to expect their federal government to secure our borders and enforce our nation’s laws, and I intend to fulfill that duty as long as I serve as the United States Attorney.”
According to court records, the 14 illegal aliens indicted in the month of May include:
- Cirilo Perez-Michua, 38, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Walton County in April 2026, after previously being deported three times in 2009, once in 2024 and again in 2025. Trial is scheduled for August 3, 2026, in Pensacola, Florida, before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
- Juan Contreras-Vilches, 47, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in May 2026, after previously being deported twice in 2017, twice in 2018 and once in 2019. The defendant pleaded guilty on June 5, 2026, and sentencing is scheduled for June 18, 2026, in Pensacola, Florida, before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
- Pascual Hernandez-Shilon, 56, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Walton County in April 2026, after previously being deported twice in 2011 and twice in 2019. Trial is scheduled for July 20, 2026, in Pensacola, Florida, before District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
- Joel Gomez Soto, 33, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in January 2026, after previously being deported in 2015 and 2017. Trial is scheduled for July 20, 2026, in Pensacola, Florida, before District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
- Marco Antonio Montes-Hernandez, 36, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Bay County in March 2026, after previously being deported in 2008 and 2018. Trial is scheduled for August 3, 2026, in Tallahassee, Florida, before District Court Judge Mark E. Walker.
- Pablo Gomez-Sarmiento, 25, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Alachua County in February 2025, after previously being deported in 2020. Trial is scheduled for July 22, 2026, in Gainesville, Florida, before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor.
- Jose Barahona-Paz, 26, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Walton County in April 2026, after previously being deported in 2019. Trial is scheduled for July 20, 2026, in Pensacola, Florida, before District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
- Esteban Rigoberto Hernandez-Muniz, 54, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Santa Rosa County in April 2026, after previously being deported in 2019. The defendant pleaded guilty on June 4, 2026, and sentencing is scheduled for June 18, 2026, in Pensacola, Florida, before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
- Laura Santiago-Garfias, 27, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in April 2026, after previously being deported in 2019 and 2020. Trial is scheduled for August 3, 2026, in Pensacola, Florida, before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
- Iran Gomez-Aguilera, 43, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in May 2026, after previously being deported in 2019. The defendant pleaded guilty on June 4, 2026, and sentencing is scheduled for June 18, 2026, in Pensacola, Florida, before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
- Victor Lopez, 30, of Guatemala, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in May 2026, after previously being deported in 2017. Trial is scheduled for July 20, 2026, in Pensacola, Florida, before District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
- Juan Molina-Hernandez, 36, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in May 2026, after previously being deported in 2023. The defendant pleaded guilty on May 26, 2026, and sentencing is scheduled for June 18, 2026, in Pensacola, Florida, before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
- Jose Patzan-Camey, 28, of Guatemala, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Santa Rosa County in April 2026, after previously being deported in 2018. Trial is scheduled for August 3, 2026, in Pensacola, Florida, before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
- Andres Perez-Hernandez, 46, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Bay County in May 2026, after previously being deported in 2012. Trial is scheduled for July 20, 2026, in Tallahassee, Florida, before District Court Judge Mark E. Walker.
The penalty for illegally reentering the United States after deportation is a maximum of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Gomez Soto faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine pursuant to allegations of prior convictions qualifying for an increased maximum sentence.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The cases involved investigations by Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations with the assistance of the Florida Highway Patrol, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Shalimar Police Department, the Panama City Beach Police Department, and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorneys Meredith L. Steer, Alicia H. Forbes, Jeffrey M. Tharp, Jessica S. Etherton, Walter E. Narramore, Thomas S.P. Geeker, Brooke Lindsay, Joseph A. Ravelo, and Tyler Fleming are prosecuting the cases.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Former Wylie Assistant Principal charged with child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas – A former high school assistant principal has been arrested and charged with federal child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Zachary Christian Neu, 32, of Richardson, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with two counts of enticement of a minor. Neu appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Aileen Durrett on June 17, 2026.
Neu was an Assistant Principal at Wylie East High School at the time of the alleged offenses.
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.
This case is being investigated by the Wylie Police Department and the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Calli Bailey.
It is important to note that an indictment or arrest should not be considered as evidence of guilt and that all persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Former Suburban Chicago Police Officer Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Prison on Corruption ChargesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A former suburban Chicago police officer has been sentenced to more than five years in federal prison for conspiring to steal cash and drugs from occupants of vehicles during traffic stops.
ANTOINE LARRY was serving as a patrol officer for the Phoenix, Ill. Police Department when he conspired with another officer to corruptly solicit cash and drugs from the occupants of vehicles during traffic stops. Larry and his partner selected their victims based on circumstances arising from the stops. If the motorist was at risk of being detained or having their car towed and the officers believed they wouldn’t report corruption, Larry and his partner solicited cash bribes in exchange for reduced charges, not towing the car, or letting the individual go without citations. The officers then falsified police reports to conceal their corruption. The criminal conspiracy began in at least 2020 and continued until 2022.
A jury in U.S. District Court in Chicago earlier this year convicted Larry, 50, of Bolingbrook, Ill., on conspiracy, extortion, and attempted extortion charges. On June 8, 2026, U.S. District Judge John F. Kness sentenced Larry to five years and three months in federal prison.
The other officer—JARRETT SNOWDEN, of Lansing, Ill.—pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge prior to trial and admitted his role in the scheme. Judge Kness set Snowden’s sentencing for Oct. 27, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
Larry’s sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.
“Antoine Larry was a police officer, sworn to uphold the law, who instead brazenly abused his power,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Ramon Villalpando argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “When law enforcement officers commit crimes—especially the type committed by defendant— public confidence in law enforcement as an institution is undermined.”
Former Quincy Official Sentenced for Embezzling City FundsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Fitchburg man and former Quincy official was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for a scheme to embezzle funds from the City of Quincy, Mass.
Thomas F. Clasby, Jr., 62, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to six months in prison, to be followed by six months of home confinement and one year of supervised release. Clasby was also ordered to pay $136,061.71 in restitution. In March 2026, Clasby pleaded guilty to embezzlement, mail and wire fraud and interstate transportation of stolen property. Clasby was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2025.
“Clasby’s actions misdirected taxpayer funds, degraded government services and eroded the public’s trust,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “I hope that today’s sentence sends a deterrent message to others, that if you steal from taxpayer funded programs you will be held accountable.”
“Stealing money from taxpayer funded programs dedicated to supporting our seniors is an egregious breach of public trust, and utterly disgraceful,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations Boston Division. “As the Director of Quincy Elder Services, Thomas Clasby used his position to embezzle tens of thousands of dollars that should have been spent on the city’s residents to instead fund a framed self-portrait, treat himself to 153 pounds of bourbon steak tips and a snow blower, and buy gifts for his wife, his son, and a Toyota Prius for his secret girlfriend. Public corruption does so much damage to people’s trust in the system, at every level, and cases like this one only fuel the FBI’s commitment to tackling it to ensure crooked public employees like Mr. Clasby are brought to justice and held fully accountable.”
Clasby was the Director of the Quincy Department of Elder Services (Elder Services) between approximately 1999 and April 2024. Beginning in 2019, Clasby used the City’s purchasing process to pay personal expenses and generate cash for himself. For example, Clasby arranged for the City to pay $8,950 to a music studio to produce recordings of Clasby singing songs; $2,236 to food service vendors for 153 pounds of bourbon steak tips; $4,800 for a Toyota Prius; and $1,658 for a signature, lacquered, mounted and framed self-portrait, all of which were personal expenses.
In addition, Clasby arranged for the City to pay over $38,000 to a New York consulting company owned by Clasby’s friend. The consulting company never provided goods or services to any City department. Instead, Clasby’s friend cashed the City checks and delivered the cash to Clasby at a rest stop in Framingham, Mass., a ferry terminal in Bridgeport, Conn. and at the friend’s New York apartment. Starting in June 2021, Clasby stole the majority of cash receipts generated by Elder Services at the Kennedy Center in Quincy.
U.S. Attorney Foley and FBI SAC Docks made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Quincy Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina E. Barclay of the Public Corruption and Special Prosecutions Unit prosecuted the case.
Former Ellsworth Woman Sentenced for Drug and Money Laundering ChargesRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A former Ellsworth woman was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, and conspiracy to engage in money laundering.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Jenna Garniss, 33, to 61 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Garniss pleaded guilty on June 27, 2025.
According to court records, between 2022 and 2023, co-conspirator Alex Hanna arranged with a California-based source of supply, co-conspirator Codee Houston, to obtain and ship pounds of methamphetamine to Hancock County. Garniss and others in the Ellsworth area distributed the drug and returned drug proceeds to Hanna. Garniss, at Hanna’s direction, wired some of the funds to Houston, resulting in the money laundering charge.
On October 10, 2025, Codee Houston was sentenced to 14 years in prison and five years of supervised release. On March 6, 2025, Alex Hanna was sentenced to 11½ years in prison and five years of supervised release.
The FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ellsworth, Holden, and Bangor police departments all participated in the investigation.
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Florida Couple Indicted for Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Distribution, Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Andre Darrell Perry, 37, of Pensacola, Florida, and Loredano Alessandra Bassolino, 38, of Navarre, Florida have each been indicted in federal court on one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Perry was also indicted on one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges.
Perry appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Hope T. Cannon for his initial appearance at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida. Bassolino appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Zachary C. Bolitho for her initial appearance at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida. Trial is scheduled for August 17, 2026, at 8:30 am in Pensacola before District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
If convicted, Perry faces at least 10 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment, on the drug possession count; at least 5 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment, on the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense count; and up to 15 years’ imprisonment on the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon count. Bassolino faces at least 5 years’, and up to 40 years’, imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Marshals Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas S.P. Geeker.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Five Men Arrested and Charged in Plot to Attack and Kill Government Officials and Others Attending the Ultimate Fighting Championship at White HouseRead the Press Release
The Justice Department, along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska, announced today charges against five men for an alleged plot to carry out an attack to kill government officials and others attending the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Freedom 250 event held at the White House last Sunday.
The FBI launched an investigation into the plot and identified a group of conspirators who procured weapons and made plans to carry out the attack. The FBI made arrests over the weekend in Ohio, Missouri, Nebraska, and California. The investigation remains ongoing.
“The FBI, our law enforcement partners and our U.S. Attorneys did what they do every day to make America Safe through quick response and vigilance in investigating, disrupting, and dismantling this alleged plan before it could be carried out,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “We will take immediate and aggressive action to identify and prosecute those who incite and plan acts of violence.”
United States Attorney Lesley Woods said, “The complete disruption of this evil plot in record time demonstrates how foolish it is to engage in terrorist plots of this kind from the District of Nebraska. The FBI and its state and local law enforcement partners swiftly and effectively neutralized this threat before it had any chance of success. Federal prosecutors and agents worked tirelessly to take the necessary steps to ensure the safety and security of our nation’s leaders.”
“On June 10, FBI and our law enforcement partners became aware of a potential threat to the UFC America 250 event in Washington, D.C. involving individuals outside of the National Capital Region — and thanks to the rapid action of this FBI, our partners, and the Department of Justice in a multi-state operation, multiple individuals are now in custody and allegedly planned attacks were stopped cold,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “While the result represented the best of investigative work, it was also nothing out of the ordinary for this law enforcement team — we are built to detect, respond to, and bring to justice those who threaten the lives of American citizens — particularly during large gatherings like the historic UFC 250 fight. That’s exactly what we did here. I want to thank our great agents and partners, this work remains ongoing and we will continue to update the public as permitted.”
“Protecting the President of the United States and the White House grounds is priority number one for the U.S. Secret Service,” said Director Sean M Curran of the U.S. Secret Service. “The landscape has changed, and as a result we have seen a dramatic rise in threats against our protectees. I am proud of the men and women of the Secret Service that vigorously monitor, investigate, and arrest those that plot to interfere with our protective mission. We are grateful for our extraordinary partnerships we share with DHS, DOJ, Acting Attorney General Blanche, FBI-JTTF, Park Police, and DC Police.”
“From his home here in Nebraska, Alvarez allegedly directed and recruited others across the country to conduct a horrific attack against government officials in a mass casualty event. Our team worked around the clock to locate and apprehend Alvarez, take him into custody, and collect crucial evidence,” said Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel of FBI Omaha Field Office. “The local partnerships forged in our FBI Omaha Joint Terrorism Task Force were critical in mitigating the threat posed by Alavarez and others. We are incredibly thankful for the support of the Nebraska State Patrol, Omaha Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Council Bluff’s Police Department, and Saline County Sheriff’s Office in our continued efforts to identify and thwart violent attacks against the U.S.”
According to the charges, Tycen C. Proper, 19, of Danville, Ohio; Bryan Omar Roa, 24, of Calimesa, California; Michael Alan Thomas, 32, of Pinon Hills, California; Daniel K. Eskridge, 32, of Kidder, Missouri; and Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska, conspired to plan and execute a mass casualty event targeting U.S. officials in attendance at UFC Freedom 250 hosted on the White House grounds. The conspirators allegedly planned to deploy drones armed with explosives in and around the UFC Freedom 250 event in order to force an evacuation of the event and then planned to deploy snipers to fire upon “high value targets” within the fleeing crowd.
Abraham Alvarez
According to the charges filed in Nebraska, the FBI identified Alvarez as the individual using the name “Shepherd” in an encrypted chat app that was used to plan an attack on the UFC Freedom 250 event scheduled to be held at the White House on June 14. The FBI assessed that Alvarez, also known as “Shepherd,” was responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the planned attack, based on conversation excerpts in June when Shepherd posted, “This is the best action I see. Position your teams in the purple dots (counter sniper and drones) Long range (circled area) (great shot) Easy out into the river.” Shepherd also allegedly posted other messages including replying to another member on making drones with explosives, “As many and as deadly as we can get.”; that he was working on drones; and had one drone and was working on more.
The complaint further alleges that Shepherd provided a picture and directions for a safe zone at an old church in Nebraska. He instructed the other members to take back roads or the river down to the “pick up location.” Later that same evening, Shepherd also provided locations in the area for drone launch points and sniper positions.
Screenshot of a church, sent by Alvarez, “Shepherd,” to encrypted chat group, from the complaint filed in the District of Nebraska.Tycen Proper
According to filed complaints in the Southern District of Ohio, the Western District of Missouri, the District of Nebraska, and the Central District of California, investigators interviewed Proper at a medical facility on June 11. During the interview, he allegedly said he had planned with others a coordinated attack against the U.S. government during the UFC event at the White House. He said members of the group who wanted to participate in the attack began communicating with each other around March. More serious members of the group, including Proper, moved their communications to an encrypted chat app. They planned to fly small drones with explosives to detonate over the north side of the UFC arena, forcing high value targets to evacuate the premises; the group would then act as snipers and shoot these individuals. Before executing the plan, Proper and other conspirators allegedly planned to rendezvous in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Screenshot of messages and maps on Proper’s phone, from the complaint filed in the Central District of California. Screenshot of messages and maps on Proper’s phone, from the complaint filed in the Central District of California.Proper allegedly amassed firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and tactical gear at his home in Ohio, and he identified potential targets, including multiple members of Congress.
A photo of Proper’s gun, from the complaint filed in the Central District of California.Bryan Roa
According to the complaint filed in the Central District of California, law enforcement executed a search warrant of Roa’s residence and vehicle where they allegedly seized a rifle, handgun, tactical belt, ammunition and a rifle magazine, a two-way radio, and an infrared laser target pointer. A search of Roa’s phone allegedly found messages in a group with Thomas, Proper, and others discussing an attack at the UFC event at the White House, with some users discussing using drones rigged with explosives to initiate the attack, with rooftop snipers killing individuals. Law enforcement also allegedly found Instagram videos Roa had posted of himself shooting guns.
Bryan Roa Roa’s Instagram post of him shooting guns, from the complaint filed in the Central District of California.Michael Thomas
According to the complaint filed in the Central District of California, Thomas allegedly participated in a group chat planning an attack at the UFC event at the White House. In a group chat, on June 7, he allegedly wrote “$1300 gets us the drones and the charges. Yes we should all pitch in and we need it asap…”
In another group chat, Thomas, under a pseudonym, allegedly described “tiers” of operators within their anti-government group, with tier 1 being operators on the ground, tier 2 being drivers and drone operators, tier 3 being logistical suppliers, and tier 4 being social media influencers. “Tier one status is not something to take lightly. … We will make sure they have…All the tier 2 support we can provide. We will try to break them out of jail if we need to.” In the same group chats, Thomas discussed meeting with Roa in person in Southern California in order to conduct “marksmen training” and reflected that the group needed to train for “gorilla style warfare.”
In a June 13 search warrant, FBI agents allegedly seized from Thomas’ residence a rifle, 30-round extended magazines for the rifle, 180 rounds of ammunition, and a pistol.
Daniel Eskridge
Eskridge was charged with conspiracy to commit murder on White House grounds. According to an affidavit filed in the Western District of Missouri, the FBI identified Eskridge while reviewing electronic communications on Proper’s cell phone. The co-conspirators had electronic chats on encrypted social media platforms. In those chats, members of the group allegedly discussed assassinating several U.S. Senators, Representatives, and prominent business executives. Members of the group targeted some legislators based on the group’s perceived belief that the legislators accepted money from pro-Israel lobbies. When discussing potential targets, Eskridge indicated that the target was “big and someone a majority of the country knows.” In the discussions, power grids were also identified as potential targets. On May 22, Eskridge distributed a picture of tactical equipment, including a rifle, helmet, and ballistic vest. The photograph is below.
Daniel Eskridge Photo of tactical equipment from Eskridge, from the affidavit filed in the Western District of Missouri.Also according to the affidavit, in a separate chat group, a conversation took place in early June when Eskridge and some of the other chat group members discussed their plan to attack the UFC Freedom 250 event. Specifically, Thomas stated, “Pensilvania [sic] avenue.” Eskridge said the group should obtain $1,300 in U.S. currency and they needed “5 teams of 3 each team consisting of 1 sniper, 1 tier one operator as support/ look out, [and] one drone operator.” Eskridge said the money would provide them the funding to purchase “drones and charges,” and encouraged the group to all “pitch in.” On June 13, law enforcement officials executed a federal search warrant of Eskridge’s residence. Agents recovered rifles, a shot gun, pistol, and other tactical gear.
If convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. Conspiracy to commit violence on White House grounds carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
A criminal complaint merely contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Fentanyl Sales Send Pittsburgh Man to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A co-conspirator in a fentanyl drug trafficking operation in Clarksburg, West Virginia was sentenced today, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
Queshawn Keand Williams, age 21, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 41 months in prison for selling p-Fluorofentanyl and fentanyl. Williams, also known as “TJ,” sold the drugs to a confidential informant on multiple occasions. In total, he distributed more than 13 grams of fentanyl and more than 4 grams of p-Fluorofentanyl. Four other defendants have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
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.
Eight Drones Seized and Two Violation Notices Issued During June 16 FIFA World Cup EventsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS), FBI-Kansas City, and Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (CUAS) joint operation intercepted eight drones yesterday during FIFA World Cup 2026 events at Kansas City Stadium and FIFA Fan Festival for violations of temporary flight restrictions (TFRs). All eight drones and controllers were seized by the FBI. Two drone operators were issued misdemeanor violation notices by FAMS. The counter-drone operation also resulted in the apprehension of a female wanted on six outstanding arrest warrants.
Since June 11, the CUAS joint operation has detected 19 drones operating in TFR zones around Kansas City stadium, Fan Festival, and other event locations. These detections have resulted in 18 contacts by law enforcement with drone operators, 14 drone seizures, and 5 federal criminal citations.
“Not only is flying drones in TFR zones illegal, it’s dangerous. My office is committed to keeping our community and visitors safe by keeping our skies drone free,” said U.S. Attorney R. Matthew Price. “If you see a drone breaking the rules, report it. If you are flying an illegal drone, think twice because violators will be held accountable by the Department of Justice.”
Checking for TFRs before every drone flight is required by federal law. A list of approved providers offering free airspace awareness tools for desktop and mobile devices is available at faa.gov/uas/getting_started/b4ufly. Violations of these TFRs can result in civil fines up to $75,000, criminal fines up to $100,000, up to a year in prison, and seizure of the drone.
If you spot unsafe drone activity, report it immediately by calling 9-1-1 or 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Cruise Ship Passengers Arrested for Child Sexual Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville – Christopher Michael Lawhon (36, South Carolina) has been charged by federal indictment with production and attempted production of child sex abuse material (CSAM). In a separate indictment, Tajareia Lawon Aikee Blackwell (25, North Carolina) was charged with transportation of CSAM. If convicted, Lawhon faces a minimum penalty of 15 years, up to 30 years, in federal prison. Blackwell faces a minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 20 years, in federal prison. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, Lawhon and Blackwell were passengers on cruises through international waters that subsequently returned to the United States via the Jacksonville cruise port.
Lawhon returned from his cruise on May 7, 2026, in possession of a cellphone. A border search of the phone revealed that Lawhon had stored multiple surreptitiously-recorded video files, at least one of which included a recording of a minor male child in a bathroom stall while the child was using the bathroom. Lawhon advised federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) that he had an interest in voyeurism and typically recorded other people in the bathroom.
Blackwell returned from his cruise on June 8, 2026. At that time, Blackwell had pending charges in North Carolina for indecent liberties with children and statutory rape from February 2026. Blackwell and his cellphone were border searched, which revealed that Blackwell had received CSAM from the same child victim on February 22, 2026, which he had then transported with him through the Middle District of Florida and international waters on the cruise. The victim was 14 years old.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
These cases were investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Statesville (North Carolina) Police Department. They will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor.
These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Convictions through Guilty Pleas and Sentencings in Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) Prosecutions (June 8 through June 12, 2026)Read the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney, in conjunction with our partner agencies in the Homeland Security Task Force (“HSTF”) announce the following prosecutorial results for the week of June 8 through June 12, 2026. The HSTF is a permanent, interagency law enforcement task force created by executive order to combat transnational criminal organizations—including cartels, trafficking networks, and foreign terrorist organizations.
Convictions through Guilty Pleas:
- On June 8, 2026, defendant Noel De León-De La Rosa pleaded guilty to Count 1 in Criminal Case 25-097(GMM). According to the Indictment, the defendant was charged with a conspiracy to import 5 kilograms or more of cocaine into the United States. De León-De La Rosa also pleaded guilty to Count 1 in Criminal Case 25-254 (GMM). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine aboard a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. The defendant was arrested on May 19, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for September 8, 2026. AUSA Antonio J. López-Rivera is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On June 8, 2026, Juan Gabriel Cruz-Torrens pleaded guilty to Count One and Six in Criminal Case 22-327 (PAD). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances in the Pedro Rosario Nieves Public Housing Project and other areas in and around Fajardo, Puerto Rico, while also carrying firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for August 28, 2026. AUSA Corinne Cordero-Romo is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On June 8, 2026, Edwin Lemuel Marcano-Ferrer pleaded guilty to Count One and Six in Criminal Case 22-327 (PAD). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances in the Pedro Rosario Nieves Public Housing Project and other areas in and around Fajardo, Puerto Rico, while also carrying firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for August 28, 2026. AUSA Corinne Cordero-Romo is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On June 9, 2026, Charlie J. Dalmau-Román, a.k.a “Tres Deos/Tres Dedos” and Luis R. Pérez-Colón, a.k.a “Mencho/Luisito” pleaded guilty to the charges in counts one and seven of the indictment in case 24-453 (MAJ). According to the indictment, the defendants were charged with participating in a violent drug trafficking organization that operated out of several public housing projects in the Carolina and San Juan areas, including the Sabana Abajo Public Housing Project and with possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. Defendants were arrested on December 11, 2024. The court set defendants’ sentencing date for September 15, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On June 9, 2026, José M. Rodríguez-Torres pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case 23-114 (RAM). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, from in or about the year 2019 and continuing up to and until the return of the Indictment, in Majinas Ward, Las Guaras Ward, Cerro Gordo Ward, José A. Castillo Public Housing Project in the Municipality of Sabana Grande, Sabana Eneas Ward in the Municipality of San Germán, Sabana Yeguas Ward in the Municipality of Lajas, Parabueyon Ward in the Municipality of Cabo Rojo and areas nearby. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for September 8, 2026. AUSA Corinne Cordero-Romo is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On June 10, 2026, Raúl González-Santiago pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case 25-365. According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Defendant was arrested on September 11, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for September 8, 2026. Special AUSA Javier Rivera and AUSA Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On June 11, 2026, Onix Y. Couvertier-Pollock, a.k.a “Gato/Gatito/Yamil,” Ángel L. Sanjurjo, a.k.a “Vaca,” Yasiel Morales-López, a.k.a “Pausa/Rubio,” and Ángel M. Franqui-González, a.k.a “Blanquito” pleaded guilty to the charges in counts one and seven of the indictment in Criminal Case 24-453 (MAJ). According to the indictment, the defendants were charged with participating in a violent drug trafficking organization that operated out of several public housing projects in the Carolina and San Juan areas, including the Sabana Abajo Public Housing Project and with possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. Defendants were arrested on December 11, 2024. The court set defendants’ sentencing date for September 16, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On June 11, 2026, defendant Darío Alexander López pleaded guilty to all drug related charges in Criminal Case 24-429-02 (SCC). According to the indictment on October 13, 2024, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine in excess of 5 kilos aboard a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, possession with intent to distribute cocaine in excess of 5 kilos aboard a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and jettisoning bales of cocaine. Defendant was arrested on October 13, 2024. AUSA Luis A. Valentín is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On June 11, 2026, defendant Jeuris Rodríguez-Payano pleaded guilty to Count One in case 22-520 (RAM). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiring to manufacture and distribute 321 kilograms of cocaine, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the cocaine would be imported into the United States. Defendant was arrested in the Dominican Republic and extradited to Puerto Rico on August 20, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for September 9, 2026. AUSA Camille García-Jiménez is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
Sentencings:
- On June 9, 2026, defendant Raúl O. Matos-De Jesús was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Raúl Arias Marxuach to 84 months (7 years) in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. According to court documents, defendant was charged by a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico on May 8, 2024, in Criminal Case 24-170, and pleaded guilty to the charge(s) on February 26, 2026. AUSAs Andrés Orr and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On June 10, 2026, defendant Ángelo González-Farfan was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Silvia Carreño-Coll to 30 months of imprisonment for conspiring to import more than five kilograms of cocaine into the United States, jettisoning property subject to forfeiture, and related charges. According to court documents, defendant was charged by a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico on March 6, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-114 (SCC), and pled guilty to the charges on January 29, 2026. AUSA Lani Lear is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On June 10, 2026, Josmar Farfan-Guerra was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Silvia Carreño-Coll to 30 months of imprisonment for conspiring to import more than five kilograms of cocaine into the United States, jettisoning property subject to forfeiture, and related charges. According to court documents, defendant was charged by a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico on March 6, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-114 (SCC), and pled guilty to the charges on February 19, 2026. AUSA Lani Lear is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On June 11, 2026, defendant Michael Miranda-Santiago was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Silvia Carreño-Coll to 60 months of imprisonment and six years of supervise release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. According to court documents, defendant was charged by a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico on June 8, 2023, in Criminal Case 23-238 (SCC), and pled guilty to the charge(s) on February 20, 2026. AUSA Pedro R. Casablanca is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On June 11, 2026, defendant Edison Ruiz-Garallua was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Raúl Arias Marxuach to 51 months of imprisonment and six years of supervise release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. According to court documents, defendant was charged by a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico on April 3, 2023, in Criminal Case 23-132 (RAM), and pled guilty to the charge(s) on March 13, 2026. AUSA Pedro R. Casablanca is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
These prosecutions are 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 San Juan comprises agents and officers from the following federal partners: FBI, ICE-HSI, CBP (OFO, AMO and Border Patrol), the U.S. Marshals Service for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, DEA, ATF, IRS, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of State, and the U.S. Secret Service, the Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA, TSA, FAA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The HSTF also has the following state and local law enforcement partners as participating agencies: the Puerto Rico Police Department; the San Juan, Carolina, Guaynabo, Barceloneta, and Ponce Municipal Police Departments, the Puerto Rico National Guard – Counter Drug Program; the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Service (Hacienda); the Puerto Rico Port Authority; and the Virgin Islands Police Department.
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Convicted Sex Offender Charged with Child Exploitation Crimes in NepalRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in the Southern District of Illinois returned a superseding indictment today charging an Illinois man with eight counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with minors in Nepal and one count of committing those offenses while required to register as a sex offender.
According to court documents, Kenneth Joseph Coombs, 58, of Collinsville, Illinois, traveled from the United States to Nepal in August 2016 and sexually abused underage boys while staying at a hotel in that country between August and September of that year. Each of the first eight counts of the indictment is premised on his sexual abuse of a different child in Nepal. Coombs used a combination of force, involuntary intoxication, and payments to the children to commit the sex acts. Coombs also took photos of some of the children engaged in the sexually explicit conduct he directed, and those photos were recovered from his electronic devices by law enforcement. At the time Coombs committed these offenses, he was required to register as a sex offender based on having a qualifying prior sex offense conviction in the state of Missouri. Coombs was convicted in Nepal of pedophilia and served a nine-year prison term. Coombs was arrested by U.S. law enforcement following his deportation from Nepal to the United States in September 2025, and he has been held in custody since that time.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft of the Southern District of Illinois and Special Agent in Charge Ryan Presley of the FBI Springfield Field Office made the announcement.
FBI Springfield is investigating the case and received substantial assistance from the Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal.
Trial Attorney Jessica L. Urban of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly S. Arshi for the Southern District of Illinois are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Coast-to-Coast Cocaine Trafficker Responsible for Distributing 956 Kilograms of Cocaine Along East Coast Sentenced to 275 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – A Queens, New York, man was sentenced on May 29, 2026, to 275 months in prison for his role in a nationwide cocaine-trafficking conspiracy. U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika imposed the sentence. The Court also issued a Preliminary Order of Forfeiture for a personal money judgment in the amount of $2,495,500, which represents the gross proceeds of the defendant’s cocaine enterprise.
According to court documents and evidence presented in connection with sentencing, Brahmananda Prasad, 65, engaged in a coast-to-coast cocaine-trafficking conspiracy. Prasad regularly flew from his home in New York to California, where he met with cocaine suppliers and purchased multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine. He routinely purchased between 20 and 24 kilograms of cocaine at a time, and on occasion procured as much as approximately 48 kilograms of cocaine on a single trip. Prasad then shipped the cocaine back to New York, directing others to pose as representatives of his ostensibly legitimate shipping company to evade detection. Once back on the East Coast, Prasad distributed cocaine to multi-kilogram sub-distributors in New York and Maryland, who further distributed the cocaine in Delaware and elsewhere along the East Coast.
The government’s investigation into Prasad’s cocaine-trafficking conspiracy included drug seizures, surveillance, analysis of flight and shipping records, and a nearly four-month wiretap, among other measures. The investigation revealed that Prasad had been shipping cocaine from California to New York since at least 2021, and that he was responsible for bringing at least 956 kilograms of cocaine to the East Coast for further distribution. That drug weight is approximately six times the volume attributed to any other drug defendant prosecuted in the District of Delaware in recent memory.
U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace stated, “Brahmananda Prasad made millions by pumping poison into several states on the East Coast, Delaware included. But due to the dogged efforts of federal prosecutors and agents, Prasad will pay those millions back—and will spend more than two decades in prison to boot. This just sentence should send a message to other large-scale drug traffickers: if your product touches Delaware, we will find you and hold you accountable, even if you never once set foot in our State.”
“This sentence sends a clear message to those who would attempt to profit from poisoning our communities with dangerous drugs,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia Nathan Abel. “Through persistent investigative work and strong partnerships with our law enforcement counterparts, HSI dismantled a coast-to-coast trafficking operation responsible for flooding the East Coast with staggering quantities of cocaine. We remain committed to holding traffickers accountable and protecting our neighborhoods from the devastating impact of narcotics distribution.”
This matter was the result of a long-term investigation spearheaded by Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. Criminal Chief Carly A. Hudson, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Thurstlic-O’Neill, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer K. Welsh prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative. The HSTF is a United States government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, transnational gangs, and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) worldwide. This initiative identifies TCOs engaged in a wide range of criminal schemes that violate federal law, while dismantling cross-border human smuggling and trafficking networks that fuel violence and instability that threatens the safety and security of the United States and its global partners. It also places a particular emphasis on criminal offenses involving children and ensures the use of all available law enforcement tools to prosecute offenders and/or facilitate the removal of removal criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Wilmington is comprised of agents and officers from HSI and FBI, with case-specific participation from agencies including DEA, IRS-CI, USPIS, and ATF. The prosecution was led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-CR-34.
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Christian County Man Sentenced for Trafficking FirearmsRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Clever, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court for one count each of conspiracy to traffic firearms, trafficking firearms, and unlawful possession of firearms.
Dakota Mitchell, 21, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 78 months in federal prison without parole. Mitchell’s sentence will be followed by a three-year term of supervised release.
Mitchell unlawfully possessed six Glock pistols and a Micro Draco pistol between April 28, 2023, and July 9, 2024. Mitchell, who previously pleaded guilty, admitted to being a member of a local street gang known as “FTO,” who have been linked to several violent crimes and firearm offenses.
Mitchell conspired with a straw purchaser to obtain four firearms, knowing he was prohibited from possessing firearms as an unlawful user of controlled substances. Many of the members of FTO are unable to purchase firearms due to their youth, history of drug use, or other prohibited status and use straw purchasers to obtain them.
On May 11, 2023, a detective with the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) responded to a call about a road rage incident at the intersection of Farm Roads 137 and 182. In a post-Miranda interview Mitchell admitted to yelling and shooting at a vehicle that had stopped short at the intersection. GCSO officers seized a Glock 9mm pistol with a high-capacity magazine and a Glock .40 caliber pistol with a high-capacity magazine from the vehicle Mitchell was driving.
Officers with the Springfield, Mo., Police Department (SPD) responded to the scene of a car accident on Jan. 30, 2024, where Mitchell displayed a firearm. The victim of the accident identified Mitchell as the driver and brandisher of the firearm. SPD officers seized a loaded Glock .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol with a high-capacity magazine from Mitchell.
On April 11, 2024, Ozark School Resource officers recovered a Glock 9mm pistol from a vehicle in the parking lot at Ozark High School. That firearm was ultimately traced back to Mitchell.
On July 9, 2024, when GCSO officers arrested Mitchell in relation to a vandalism incident, he was in possession of a Glock .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol. In a post-Miranda interview Mitchell told officers he had someone else buy guns for him because he was too young. He stated his straw purchaser purchased the Glock pistol seized on Jan. 30, the Glock seized on April 11, an additional Glock pistol that was not recovered, and an additional Micro Draco pistol for him. He also told officers he had been using marijuana daily since he was 11 or 12 years old and he occasionally used narcotics and psychedelic drugs.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Christian County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office, the Flossmoor, Ill., Police Department, the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office, and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.
Operation Take Back America
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.
Chelsea Man Pleads Guilty to Making False StatementsRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Chelsea man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to making false statements to a federal official.
According to court records, in March 2025, cameras were found in the ceilings of sleeping quarters in the firehouse on the Togus VA Medical Center campus in Chelsea. During an investigation conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA OIG), Michael Nicholas, 47, repeatedly denied that he had seen the cameras, that he knew the cameras were installed in the ceilings, or that he had ever purchased any cameras of that brand. The investigation subsequently revealed that Nicholas had purchased and installed the cameras, including finding his fingerprint on the underside of tape on one of the cameras. Nicholas later admitted he had purchased and installed the cameras.
Nicholas faces up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
VA OIG investigated the case.
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Career offender sentenced to more than 16 years in prison for trafficking fentanylRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – A career offender who coordinated drug sales over Facebook Messenger was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 200 months in prison.
This case marks the third federal conviction for Steven Waldon, 43, of Dayton. He was previously convicted in the Southern District of Ohio of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base and distribution of fentanyl. In addition to these federal crimes, Waldon had also been convicted locally of trafficking heroin.
According to court documents, Waldon led a drug trafficking organization that sold fentanyl in the Dayton region. Between May and July 2024, law enforcement officers observed at least five drug sales from Waldon’s drug trafficking organization.
Conspirators stored drugs at a residence on Marburn Avenue in Dayton and Waldon had those drugs delivered to the sites of drug sales. Waldon also trafficked drugs from his residence on Porterfield Drive in Dayton. When agents searched both properties, they discovered trafficking quantities of fentanyl and cocaine, as well as more than $13,000 in cash.
Waldon was arrested in charged in the instant case in July 2024. He pleaded guilty in April 2025.
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 Middletown Police Chief Earl Nelson announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. Newman. Assistant United States Attorney Kelly K. Rossi is representing the United States in this case.
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Career Offender Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Stabbing Clerk During Armed Robbery of Speedway Gas StationRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Antwon Moore, 42, to 20 years in federal prison the maximum sentence allowed by law for committing an armed robbery. On November 25, 2025, Moore pleaded guilty to robbing a Speedway gas station in Wilson, North Carolina.
“This maximum sentence sends a clear message: we will not tolerate robbery or violent crime in Eastern North Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “He has been terrorizing citizens for 25 years in and out of the state system, but now he federaled around and found out. This serial robber has 20 years to think about his vicious crimes. We will continue to work with state and local partners to prioritize enforcement of federal law against the most violent criminals in our communities.”
At 3:30 a.m. on April 10, 2025, Moore entered a Speedway gas station minimart in Wilson, North Carolina. He placed a Bootlegger malt beverage down on the counter, pulled out a knife and stabbed the clerk in her chest. Then, he stole hundreds of dollars from the register.
Thankfully, the clerk survived, escaped by locking herself in the bathroom, and managed to call for help from the bathroom. Moore has committed five prior robberies in 2001, 2005 (twice), and 2006 (twice).
“This 20-year federal prison sentence reflects the gravity of this violent crime and reaffirms the FBI's unwavering commitment to crush violent crime and secure justice for every victim. We are grateful to the steadfast partnership to ensure this offender was held fully accountable," said Reid Davis, the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina.
“The Wilson Police Department has a long-standing relationship with the United States Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement partners. These relationships are vital in addressing violent crime and narcotics trafficking. The Wilson Police Department will continue to relentlessly target those who choose to engage in these types of criminal activities and utilize any resource available to make the city safer,” said Captain Jason Corprew, Wilson Police Department.
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Wilson Police Department and the FBI investigated the case.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-CR-122-M.
Caddo Parish Man Sentenced to Twenty Years in Prison for Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT – On June 10, 2026, Morgan J. Moore, 36 of Shreveport, was sentenced to the statutory maximum of 240 months in federal prison and 10 years of supervised release after a jury found him guilty of one count of Possession and seven counts of Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentences will be served concurrently.
On May 28, 2024, Caddo Parish detectives received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that Moore had uploaded child pornography onto the KIK messaging app. A search warrant for Moore’s residence recovered multiple devices containing approximately 19,125 files containing child pornography. According to court documents, digital evidence of these crimes included graphic videos depicting sexual abuse of children as young as four years old.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office investigated this case, with NCMEC providing additional investigative material. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cheyenne Wilson and Earl Campbell with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Amanda Morgan.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer, under Case Number 5:25-cr-00050.
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Public Affairs
United States Attorney’s Office
Western District of Louisiana
www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
Twitter @USAO_WDLA
Brownfield Man Sentenced to 50 Years for Producing and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A Brownfield man was sentenced to 50 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting two children, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.
Pedro Marcos Hinojosa, 40, was sentenced to 600 months in federal prison on June 10, 2026, by United States District Judge James Wesley Hendrix for producing child pornography and possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor. The Court also ordered Hinojosa to pay $3,466 in restitution.According to court documents, in September 2025, a woman reported to the Brownfield Police Department that she observed nude photographs of a 9-year-old female child on Hinojosa’s cell phone. The child was forensically interviewed and said Hinojosa had sexually abused her and had taken sexually explicit photographs of her on multiple occasions since she was 8 years old. On September 12, 2025, law enforcement located Hinojosa living at a homeless shelter in Lubbock. He attempted to flee but was ultimately taken into custody. Hinojosa admitted he had produced child sexual abuse material of the child. A search was conducted of Hinojosa’s cell phone and law enforcement located videos and photographs of child sexual abuse material of his victim.
At sentencing, it was revealed that there was another victim whom Hinojosa had sexually abused and photographed when she was 8 years old, over a decade ago. That victim reported the abuse to law enforcement for the first time after she saw news of Hinojosa’s arrest. The Court, in sentencing Hinojosa to the statutory maximum, recognized the need to give Hinojosa a sentence that incapacitated him from ever being able to harm another child.
“My office is committed to seeking out those who harm our children and making sure they are held accountable for their horrendous acts,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “We hope Hinojosa’s lengthy sentence gives the victims and their families some peace, but that it also serves as a warning to like-minded predators that justice will be swift and the punishment will be exacting for these types of despicable crimes.”
“This 50-year sentence demonstrates our commitment to hold offenders accountable for committing crimes against children,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to work together to protect the most vulnerable members of our communities.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Dallas Field Office (Lubbock Resident Agency), the Texas Rangers, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Brownfield Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Callie Woolam prosecuted the case with the assistance of the Terry County District Attorney’s Office.
The Justice Department is committed to combating child sexual exploitation and brought this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.
The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI’s tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.
Box Elder man sentenced to a year of prison for drug traffickingRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Box Elder man who was involved in a bar shooting and later found with notable amounts of illegal drugs in his home was sentenced today to 13 months, followed by three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Harold Blake Whitford, Sr., 57, pleaded guilty in February 2026 to one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Whitford was keeping notable quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine in his home.
In the early hours of March 28, 2024, law enforcement was called to D and L Bar on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation after patrons reported a shooting. Surveillance video showed the two gunmen arrive at the bar and then leave in a pickup truck, which law enforcement later found parked in front of Whitford’s house.
After confirming the pickup was the same used in the shooting, officers obtained a warrant and searched Whitford’s residence where they found 489 fentanyl pills in a plastic baggie; 27 small baggies, each with 10 fentanyl pills; a baggie with powder; and two baggies with meth. Officers also found a scale, a rifle, and a piece of paper listing quantities and prices. A week later, Whitford was arrested on an outstanding warrant in front of his house. In his shirt pocket officers found more fentanyl pills. In total, Whitford had 40.1 grams of meth, 79.9 grams of fentanyl, and 32.6 grams of cocaine.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation.
Baltimore Man Sentenced for Role in East Baltimore ShootoutRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A Baltimore man received a federal-prison term, today, stemming from an attempted drive-by shooting.
U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced James Beverly, Jr., 40, to 54 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person in connection with the East Baltimore shootout.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).
“Drive-by shootings create fear, violence, and instability in our neighborhoods,” Hayes said. “Beverly demonstrated a reckless disregard for human life, and today’s sentence holds him accountable. Importantly, because this is a federal sentence, there is no possibility of parole. Our Office remains committed to protecting our communities from violent offenders like Beverly.”
“ATF is on the front lines of the fight against violent crime,” Doerrer said. “We are proud to stand with our federal and local partners in holding Beverly accountable for his incredibly dangerous behavior.”
According to court documents, in February 2024, Beverly, with his jacket and pants pocket filled with fentanyl and cocaine base packaged for distribution, stood on an East Baltimore corner. He also possessed a loaded semi-automatic pistol. Beverly is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior felony convictions, including convictions for first-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.
As Beverly stood on the corner, a dark-colored SUV pulled alongside Beverly. Then the passenger opened fire, shooting approximately 10 rounds at Beverly. When the shooting started, Beverly fell to the ground and remained there as the gunman fired additional shots.
After the shooting stopped, and the vehicle began pulling away, Beverly pulled out his firearm, rolled over, and started firing in the direction of the fleeing vehicle. A surveillance camera captured Beverly recklessly discharging the firearm 11 times at the vehicle after he was no longer under attack. Beverly then threw the gun into a nearby deli. Then when law enforcement responded to a call about the shooting, BPD officers apprehended Beverly, found narcotics and cash on him, and recovered the firearm from the deli.
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.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF and BPD for their work in the investigation. U.S. Attorney Hayes thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Patricia McLane and Stanton Lawyer for their work on 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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Bainville woman ordered to repay over $8,000 for cashing fake post office money ordersRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Bainville woman who used a system of recording fake USPS money orders that she then cashed out to herself was sentenced today to time-served, followed by three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said. She was also ordered to repay USPS the amount of money she misappropriated.
Danielle Marie Harms, 38, pleaded guilty in February 2026 to one count of misappropriation of postal funds.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Harms stole more than $8,000 from the U.S. Postal Service as an employee of the Bainville Post Office by issuing fake money orders and then cashing them.
Harms began working for the post office in Bainville in February 2023. Bainville is one of the country’s few remaining “manual” post offices, meaning money orders issued by the office are written down by hand on paper for USPS transaction records. If the money order is purchased by credit or debit card a record of the purchase is also submitted electronically to the bank after it’s been written down on paper.
After learning the system, Harms began issuing money orders to herself and her boyfriend, recording them by hand as card transactions but never submitting the information to the bank. This allowed her to cash the money order while keeping the books balanced within the post office. USPS employs a service that regularly checks the postal service’s transactions with the bank to ensure the figures reconcile. Running one of these checks in August 2024, the service found a discrepancy of $8,235.91.
This launched an investigation and in January 2025 a special agent with the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General interviewed Harms, who eventually admitted to faking and cashing 34 money orders. She also admitted to taking cash from the post office till.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation.
Armed thief from Portsmouth sentenced to 14 years for robbing USPS mail carrier and possessing a machinegunRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Portsmouth man was sentenced today to 14 years in prison for unlawful possession of a machinegun, robbery of property, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
According to court documents, on July 11, 2024, a masked individual approached a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) mail carrier on his route in Virginia Beach, brandished a handgun, and demanded the victim’s arrow key. An arrow key is a master key used to access a variety of mail repositories, including blue collection boxes, outdoor parcel lockers, and apartment mailbox panels in a given area. The masked individual fled to a car in which Cameron Hunter Brown, 29, was waiting, and Brown and the masked individual fled in the vehicle.
Law enforcement identified the vehicle and located it on July 17, 2024. While the vehicle was stationary in an ATM drive-thru lane, officers attempted a traffic stop and instructed Brown to turn off the vehicle. Instead, Brown reversed out of the drive-thru lane, struck the credit-union building, sped through an unoccupied ATM lane, and fled with police in pursuit.
During the pursuit, brown tossed a handgun from the driver-side window onto a sidewalk. The handgun, which was later recovered, was equipped with a machinegun conversion device (MCD), rendering it capable of fully automatic fire. The handgun had been reported stolen from Chesapeake.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division and Homeland Security Investigations Washington, D.C., investigated this case with assistance from the Hampton Police Division.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Devon E.A. Heath 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 Nos. 4:24-cr-55 and 2:25-cr-16.
Arkansas Pathology Laboratory and Its Owners Pay $30M to Settle Allegations of Kickbacks and Unnecessary Medical TestingRead the Press Release
Advanced Pathology Solutions PLLC (formerly known as Advanced Pathology Solutions LLC), an anatomic pathology laboratory headquartered in North Little Rock, Arkansas, and its management services organization, APS MSO LLC (together, “APS”), along with current and former owners Kevin Hannah, Donell Burkett, and Daniel Hunter Pledger have agreed to pay a total of $30 million to the United States to resolve allegations that APS and its owners furnished unlawful kickbacks and ordered medically unnecessary pathology testing services.
“Healthcare referrals must be based on the best decision for patients, not the influence of kickbacks,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This settlement demonstrates the Department’s commitment to hold accountable both corporations and individuals who profit from improper kickback arrangements and who burden federal healthcare programs with claims for medically unnecessary services.”
“Fraud against the taxpayer is rampant and insidious and when discovered must be held accountable. Engineering kickbacks to result in unnecessary medical testing which is then paid for by the United States taxpayer is unacceptable and once discovered as with APS, will result in lengthy investigation and review, and ultimately a significant settlement amount as demonstrated by this settlement,” said U.S. Attorney Jonathan D. Ross for the Eastern District of Arkansas. “Our office will continue to work with Main Justice to detect and deter any similar schemes and then hold the wrongdoers accountable under the law.”
“Any entity that participates in health care and reaps illicit profits by taking advantage of and violating the trust given by Medicare and Medicaid programs must be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti for the Western District of Pennsylvania. “This settlement is notice that such illegal conduct simply will not be tolerated.”
“Kickbacks and medically unnecessary testing don’t just violate the law — they endanger patients and drain critical federal health care funds,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Schemes like this erode trust in the health care system and divert resources away from those who truly need care. HHS‑OIG will move swiftly and aggressively with our law enforcement partners to uncover these abuses and hold every responsible party accountable.”
The settlement resolves allegations made by the United States in a complaint filed on April 8, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. In its complaint, the United States alleged that, from 2015 through July 2022, APS and its owners violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by providing unlawful kickbacks to gastroenterology practices to induce the referral of pathology testing to APS resulting in false claims to federal healthcare programs. The government’s complaint focused on a business model developed by APS and its owners, in which APS set up and managed limited-purpose laboratories (known as “lean labs”) in gastroenterology practices nationwide that enabled the practices to bill for preparing and staining biopsy specimen slides. The complaint alleged that in exchange for various benefits furnished by APS, the gastroenterology practices agreed to exclusively refer their patients to APS by shipping their patients’ slides to APS’s lab in North Little Rock for pathologist interpretation and review. The United States alleged that the arrangements between APS and the gastroenterology practices were improper financial relationships through which APS provided kickbacks to induce the practices to steer their patients to APS.
The United States further alleged that APS and its owners submitted and caused the submission of claims to federal healthcare programs for unnecessary testing. Specifically, APS directed lean lab personnel to automatically order certain special tests (called “special stains”) before a pathologist reviewed a routine test (a hematoxylin and eosin stain) to determine whether additional testing was necessary. By following the special stain protocol, APS and the lean labs ordered special stains that were not medically reasonable and necessary and were ineligible for Medicare coverage or reimbursement. In many cases, APS would also order additional “confirmatory” immunohistochemical testing on patient samples it received from the lean labs, which was also not medically necessary.
In addition to resolving the allegations in the United States’ complaint, the settlement announced today also resolves allegations that from Nov. 1, 2018, to Nov. 30, 2020, APS and CEO Kevin Hannah knowingly and willfully provided unlawful kickbacks to an individual named Richard Sorgnard in the form of volume-based commission payments to induce the referral of patients to APS for epidermal nerve fiber density (“ENFD”) testing. Sorgnard, who previously entered into a settlement with the government to resolve related claims, encouraged medical providers and practices to order ENFD testing from APS for their patients, and in exchange, APS paid Sorgnard 4% of all payments APS collected for ENFD testing referred. The United States contends that this arrangement violated the Anti-Kickback Statute and resulted in false claims under the FCA.
In connection with the settlement, APS entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. The CIA requires APS to implement numerous auditing and accountability provisions, including implementation of a robust compliance program, new training and education requirements, and a review of physician referral relationships.
The complaint follows three lawsuits that were originally filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the FCA. Under the FCA, private parties can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of the recovery. The FCA permits the United States to intervene in and take over the action, as it has done here. If a defendant is found liable for violating the FCA, the United States may recover three times the amount of its losses plus applicable penalties.
The Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas are handling the matter. The consolidated cases are captioned United States ex rel. Watkins v. Advanced Pathology Solutions, No. 4:20-cv-1110 (E.D. Ark.); United States ex rel. Aucoin v. Advanced Pathology Solutions, No. 4:21-cv-277 (E.D. Ark.); and United States ex rel. Paulsen v. Advanced Pathology Solutions, LLC, No. 3:22-cv-00652-JPG (E.D. Ark.). This settlement follows a $4.75 million settlement reached earlier this year with Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates, a gastroenterology practice and former client of APS.
The matter was handled by Fraud Section Attorneys Evan Ballan, Jeff McSorley, and Kelley Hauser of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Goss Dempsey for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Skirtich for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
The investigation and prosecution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the FCA. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Arkansas Pathology Laboratory and Its Owners Pay $30M to Settle Allegations of Kickbacks and Unnecessary Medical TestingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — Advanced Pathology Solutions PLLC (formerly known as Advanced Pathology Solutions LLC), an anatomic pathology laboratory headquartered in North Little Rock, Arkansas, and its management services organization, APS MSO LLC (together, “APS”), along with current and former owners Kevin Hannah, Donell Burkett, and Daniel Hunter Pledger have agreed to pay a total of $30 million to the United States to resolve allegations that APS and its owners furnished unlawful kickbacks and ordered medically unnecessary pathology testing services.
“Healthcare referrals must be based on the best decision for patients, not the influence of kickbacks,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This settlement demonstrates the Department’s commitment to hold accountable both corporations and individuals who profit from improper kickback arrangements and who burden federal healthcare programs with claims for medically unnecessary services.”
“Fraud against the taxpayer is rampant and insidious and when discovered must be held accountable. Engineering kickbacks to result in unnecessary medical testing which is then paid for by the United States taxpayer is unacceptable and once discovered as with APS, will result in lengthy investigation and review, and ultimately a significant settlement amount as demonstrated by this settlement,” said U.S. Attorney Jonathan D. Ross for the Eastern District of Arkansas. “Our office will continue to work with Main Justice to detect and deter any similar schemes and then hold the wrongdoers accountable under the law.”
“Any entity that participates in health care and reaps illicit profits by taking advantage of and violating the trust given by Medicare and Medicaid programs must be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti for the Western District of Pennsylvania. “This settlement is notice that such illegal conduct simply will not be tolerated.”
“Kickbacks and medically unnecessary testing don’t just violate the law — they endanger patients and drain critical federal health care funds,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Schemes like this erode trust in the health care system and divert resources away from those who truly need care. HHS OIG will move swiftly and aggressively with our law enforcement partners to uncover these abuses and hold every responsible party accountable.”
The settlement resolves allegations made by the United States in a complaint filed on April 8, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. In its complaint, the United States alleged that, from 2015 through July 2022, APS and its owners violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by providing unlawful kickbacks to gastroenterology practices to induce the referral of pathology testing to APS resulting in false claims to federal healthcare programs. The government’s complaint focused on a business model developed by APS and its owners, in which APS set up and managed limited-purpose laboratories (known as “lean labs”) in gastroenterology practices nationwide that enabled the practices to bill for preparing and staining biopsy specimen slides. The complaint alleged that in exchange for various benefits furnished by APS, the gastroenterology practices agreed to exclusively refer their patients to APS by shipping their patients’ slides to APS’s lab in North Little Rock for pathologist interpretation and review. The United States alleged that the arrangements between APS and the gastroenterology practices were improper financial relationships through which APS provided kickbacks to induce the practices to steer their patients to APS.
The United States further alleged that APS and its owners submitted and caused the submission of claims to federal healthcare programs for unnecessary testing. Specifically, APS directed lean lab personnel to automatically order certain special tests (called “special stains”) before a pathologist reviewed a routine test (a hematoxylin and eosin stain) to determine whether additional testing was necessary. By following the special stain protocol, APS and the lean labs ordered special stains that were not medically reasonable and necessary and were ineligible for Medicare coverage or reimbursement. In many cases, APS would also order additional “confirmatory” immunohistochemical testing on patient samples it received from the lean labs, which was also not medically necessary.
In addition to resolving the allegations in the United States’ complaint, the settlement announced today also resolves allegations that from Nov. 1, 2018, to Nov. 30, 2020, APS and CEO Kevin Hannah knowingly and willfully provided unlawful kickbacks to an individual named Richard Sorgnard in the form of volume-based commission payments to induce the referral of patients to APS for epidermal nerve fiber density (“ENFD”) testing. Sorgnard, who previously entered into a settlement with the government to resolve related claims, encouraged medical providers and practices to order ENFD testing from APS for their patients, and in exchange, APS paid Sorgnard 4% of all payments APS collected for ENFD testing referred. The United States contends that this arrangement violated the Anti-Kickback Statute and resulted in false claims under the FCA.
In connection with the settlement, APS entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. The CIA requires APS to implement numerous auditing and accountability provisions, including implementation of a robust compliance program, new training and education requirements, and a review of physician referral relationships.
The complaint follows three lawsuits that were originally filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the FCA. Under the FCA, private parties can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of the recovery. The FCA permits the United States to intervene in and take over the action, as it has done here. If a defendant is found liable for violating the FCA, the United States may recover three times the amount of its losses plus applicable penalties.
The Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas are handling the matter. The consolidated cases are captioned United States ex rel. Watkins v. Advanced Pathology Solutions, No. 4:20-cv-1110 (E.D. Ark.); United States ex rel. Aucoin v. Advanced Pathology Solutions, No. 4:21-cv-277 (E.D. Ark.); and United States ex rel. Paulsen v. Advanced Pathology Solutions, LLC, No. 3:22-cv-00652-JPG (E.D. Ark.). This settlement follows a $4.75 million settlement reached earlier this year with Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates, a gastroenterology practice and former client of APS.
The matter was handled by Fraud Section Attorneys Evan Ballan, Jeff McSorley, and Kelley Hauser of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Goss Dempsey for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Skirtich for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
The investigation and prosecution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the FCA. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Ada Resident Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Donyaeh King McDowell, a/k/a/ Donyaeh Akeen McDowell, age 22, of Ada, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death, punishable by twenty years to life in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on March 2, 2024, McDowell knowingly and intentionally distributed a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, resulting in the death of the Victim from the use of the fentanyl.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the District 22 Drug Task Force, the Ada Police Department, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
McDowell will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche Appoints National Coordinator for Child Exploitation and Human TraffickingRead the Press Release
In a memo to all Department of Justice employees, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced today the establishment of a single National Coordinator to lead the fight against child exploitation and human trafficking, with the goal of preventing, prosecuting, and ending human trafficking and child exploitation in America.
Acting Attorney General Blanche appointed Alessandra Serano to serve as the National Coordinator and within 120 days, submit a report to the Deputy Attorney General updating the Department’s strategy for combatting child exploitation and human trafficking, and to serve as the Department’s liaison to both other federal agencies and outside stakeholders on the development and implementation of initiatives to fight human trafficking and child exploitation.
“Ending human trafficking and the exploitation of children has been and remains one of the highest priorities of the Department of Justice,” said Acting Attorney General Blanche. “With today's appointment of Ali Serano, we are sending a clear and unmistakable message to predators: we are coming for you. Ali’s outstanding record prosecuting those who engage in these heinous acts, together with her unwavering commitment to protecting victims, makes her the ideal choice for this critical role. To every victim: know that we stand with you and are committed to achieving justice for you.”
Human trafficking and child exploitation destroy lives and corrode our communities. They inflict profound pain on their victims and serve as immense revenue streams for criminal organizations. These crimes take many forms—from forced labor to sexual abuse—and affect thousands of people annually.
Human traffickers and child predators capitalize on the hidden nature of their crimes. They rely on the silence of their victims and a lack of information sharing among government agencies.
“It is time for the information silos to come down, for the silence to break, and for justice to be done,” Acting Attorney General Blanche writes in the memo.
To report child or human trafficking crimes, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or contact us by text or message. File a file a confidential online report at https://humantraffickinghotline.org/report-trafficking. Your report will be forwarded to a law enforcement agency for investigation and action.
Read more information about other forms of child exploitation and abuse and how to report them, visit: www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-ceos/report-violations.
Additional Background on Alessandra Serano
Ms, Serano has an extensive history at the Department of Justice, currently serving as Senior Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General. Previously she served on detail to the Senate Judiciary Committee and as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Cybercrime Section in the Eastern District of Virginia since 2023. She served on various special assignments within the Department of Justice from 2017-2021, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the U.S. Virgin Islands, and in the Office of Legal Policy, where she drafted policy memoranda related to human trafficking, child exploitation, immigration, and reduction of violent crime, among other duties. She served as the National Project Safe Childhood Coordinator for the Executive Office for United States Attorneys and is a subject matter expert in the areas of child exploitation, human and sex trafficking involving minors.
From 2003-2021, Ms. Serano was an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of California. She is nationally recognized for her numerous prosecutions in human and sex trafficking and child exploitation cases. She tried over 45 federal felony trials and argued over a dozen appeals before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Ms. Serano received numerous national awards including the U.S. Attorney General’s Award, the Federal Bar Association’s Sarah T. Hughes Civil Rights Award, and Women in Federal Law Enforcement’s “Top Prosecutor” Award.
14 Defendants Indicted in Crack and Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy Operating Near D.C. Elementary SchoolRead the Press Release
4th_st_indictment_x.pdfWASHINGTON – A 21‑count federal Indictment was unsealed in U.S. District Court this morning charging 14 defendants in connection with a conspiracy that allegedly distributed crack and powder cocaine near Hendley Elementary School in Southeast Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Law enforcement officers from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Metropolitan Police Department executed residential search warrants this morning at 15 locations across the District and Maryland. Authorities arrested all of the 14 indicted defendants.
“Today my office took over a dozen drug traffickers off residential streets. These traffickers showed zero regard for the wellbeing of our community, even selling crack cocaine about 300 feet from an elementary school,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This office will continue to pursue serious sentences for defendants who treat their neighbors as exploitable prey, and dismantle any group putting the lives in our community at risk.”
The Indictment charges each of the 14 defendants with conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base and 500 grams or more of cocaine within 1,000 feet of the elementary school. Named as defendants are Tevin Moody, Geraldo Landy, Norman Moore, Lenon Wright, Ali McShay, Lonnell Thomas, Marquette Paris, Jeremiah Prince, Joseph Moore, Raekwon Womak, Kivarrie Greene, De’Lonte Jackson, Derrick Manuel and Malik Heard.
“This operation shows the FBI’s unwavering commitment to protecting our communities,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office. “Working with our law enforcement partners, we dismantled a violent crew responsible for guns, drugs, and fear in neighborhoods across Southeast D.C. and Prince George’s County. This takedown reflects focused investigative work through our Safe Streets and Homeland Security task forces, and we’ll continue to use every tool we have to hold violent offenders accountable and keep D.C. safe and beautiful.”
“Today’s federal indictments underscore the Metropolitan Police Department’s commitment to protecting our communities and dismantling violent criminal networks,” said Interim Chief Jeffery W. Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. “Through our strong collaboration with the FBI, the DEA, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and other law enforcement partners, we are ensuring that those who endanger our neighborhoods are held accountable.”
“Today’s arrests are a significant victory for law enforcement and our communities. The majority of those apprehended are known for their involvement with illegal drugs, firearms, and violent activities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Christopher Goumenis of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Division. “Our dedicated efforts have undoubtedly saved countless lives. This successful operation is the direct outcome of strategic partnerships formed through executive initiatives like the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force and the Homeland Security Task Force. Together, we will relentlessly pursue and hunt down dangerous drug traffickers, no matter where they try to hide.”
Throughout the investigation, law enforcement executed multiple search warrants at locations associated with the defendants and their associates and recovered 28 firearms. Agents also recovered 2.4 kilos of crack cocaine, one kilo of powder cocaine, 29 grams of fentanyl, and 12 pounds of marijuana.
The Indictment alleges that the defendants routinely sold crack cocaine in the presence of school‑aged children walking to and from Hendley Elementary, in and around the 4th Street SE and Chesapeake Street SE corridor. The government’s evidence further alleges that the crew’s open‑air drug trafficking exposed children to persistent illegal activity in broad daylight and risked normalizing dangerous conduct.
Defendant Kivarrie Greene also is charged with unlawful possession of firearms.
This matter is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office, the Metropolitan Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division, with support from the Montgomery County, Maryland, and the Fairfax County, Virginia, police departments. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Marshals Service and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia’s Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section.
This operation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative, which seeks to end the presence of criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a collaborative and comprehensive response to the growing threat to public safety and national security. The HSTF integrates personnel, including law enforcement agents, intelligence analysts, and professional staff, from federal agencies to combat crime in our communities.
NAME
NICKNAME
AGE
LOCATION
Tevin Moody
“Fats”
32
Suitland, Md.
Geraldo Landy
“Nardo”
38
Washington, DC
Norman Moore
“Lee”
36
Washington, DC
Lenon Wright
“Penny”
34
Washington, DC
Ali McShay
“Che”
31
Suitland, Md.
Lonnell Thomas
“Syc”
27
Washington, DC
Marquette Paris
“Q”
34
Temple Hills, Md.
Jeremiah Prince
“My My”
21
Washington, DC
Joseph Moore
“Joe”
43
Annapolis, Md.
Kivarrie Greene
“Varrie”
22
Washington, DC
De’lonte Jackson
“Tay”
32
Washington, DC
Derrick Manuel
“D”
34
District Heights, Md.
Malik Heard
“Leek”
25
Washington, DC
Raeqwon Womack
“Ray Ray”
21
Washington, DC
Surveillance photo of one of the alleged drug sales.
School children walk through a group of men alleged to be members of the drug trafficking operation.
The drug trafficking operation allegedly operated near the intersection of Chesapeake Street SE and 4th Street SE.
Some of the firearms recovered during the investigation that were displayed during the news conference.
The charges in an Indictment are merely allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Tuesday 16 June 2026
Wichita man admits to distributing child pornographyRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man pleaded guilty to using a messaging application to distribute child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, Zachery Leslie, 25, of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography.
Zachery Leslie used a messaging app to send and receive CSAM including nine files in July 2024, which included images of prepubescent children subjected to sexual acts. He utilized his phone and the Internet to distribute the images.
Leslie is scheduled to be sentenced on September 14, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.###
Washington State Man Sentenced to Federal Prison After Conviction for Escaping from Federal CustodyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Washington state man was sentenced to federal prison yesterday after a jury found him guilty of escape after failing to report to the Northwest Regional Re-entry Center (NWRRC) in Portland.
Brandon Charles Nelson, 40, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Nelson was convicted of felon in possession of a firearm and sentenced to 36 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release. On Feb. 25, 2025, after violating his release conditions for a third time, Nelson’s supervision was revoked, and he was sentenced to 12 months in prison and 18 months of supervised release. While in custody at Victorville Federal Corrections Institute (FCI), Nelson met criteria for placement in a residential re-entry center and was referred to the NWRRC. Rather than report as required, Nelson absconded. The USMS arrested him on Dec. 5, 2025.
On Dec. 16, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment charging Nelson with escape from custody.
On Feb. 25, 2026, following a two-day trial, a jury convicted Nelson with one count of escape from custody.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement.
The USMS investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Arin Heinz prosecuted the case.
Violent Extremist Network “764” Member Sentenced to 30 Years for Sexually Exploiting Minors and CyberstalkingRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A member of a violent extremist network learned his fate in federal court, today, for sexually abusing minors and other crimes.
U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced Erik Lee Madison, 21, of Halethorpe, Maryland, to 30 years in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for sexually exploiting a child and cyberstalking. Madison sexually exploited at least 10 minor female victims. Judge Maddox also ordered Madison to pay $3,000 in restitution.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office; Chief Amal E. Awad, Anne Arundel County Police Department (AACOPD); and Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD).
“Mr. Madison is a child predator who committed heinous acts. As a result, he is going to jail for a long time. This sentence sends a clear message to Madison, and others who abuse and terrorize the most vulnerable members of our community: we will find you, prosecute you, and bring you to justice,” Hayes said. “We’re committed to working with our law-enforcement partners to relentlessly pursue those who engage in these deplorable acts.”
“Erik Lee Madison, a member and associate of the nihilistic violent extremist group 764, has been sentenced today for sexually exploiting multiple female minor victims via the internet. Victimizing our most vulnerable members of society, is unacceptable,” Paul said. “FBI Baltimore will not stand for these monstrous acts and remains determined to stop these predatory criminals. FBI Baltimore will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold these violent online networks accountable.”
According to court documents, from November 2024 until November 2025, Madison, a member and associate of “764,” a criminal organization of Nihilistic Violent Extremists, used the internet to create and share extreme content — such as gore, violence, and child sexual abuse material — to extort and blackmail vulnerable teenagers. Madison used the internet to sexually exploit minor females and encourage them to engage in self-harm. The minor female victims were from various locations inside and outside of the United States.
Madison used the internet to cause minor females to produce or stream sexually explicit conduct, cut themselves with razors, and cut signs and words on their bodies. Additionally, Madison coerced the female minor victims into using their blood to write various signs, along with Madison’s monikers, on a wall and then they streamed it to Madison. He also encouraged the victims to injure animals.
Then Madison extorted the victims through a variety of methods, including threatening to harm them and their families, “leak” or disseminate depictions of the victims engaging in cutting and sexually explicit conduct, “dox” the victims and their family members, and “swat” victims and their family members.
Members of “764” use known online social media platforms to support the possession, production, and sharing of extreme gore media and child sex abuse material with vulnerable, juvenile populations. These individuals often conduct coordinated extortions of teenagers, blackmailing the victims to comply with the group’s demands.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.
The Justice Department remains vigilant against the threat of Nihilistic Violent Extremist (NVE) networks, like 764, that operate within the United States and around the globe. NVEs often target vulnerable individuals, including minors, using social media platforms to share child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and gore material, and groom victims toward committing acts of violence. Victims are often extorted, coerced, compelled, and blackmailed into complying with NVE demands, including self-mutilation, online and in-person sexual acts, harm to animals, sexual exploitation of siblings and others, acts of violence, threats of violence, suicide, and murder. For more information on how to protect children and others, read about the online risks here: Parents, Caregivers, Teachers — FBI and the FBI’s March 2025 public service announcement.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, AACOPD, and BCPD for their work in the investigation.
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.
# # #
Urbandale Business Man Pleads Guilty to PPP Loan Fraud and Bankruptcy FraudRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – An Urbandale man pleaded guilty on June 1, 2026, to making false statements on a PPP loan application and false declarations during subsequent bankruptcy proceedings.
According to public court documents, Henry J. Schappert, 57, operated a business called Allied Exteriors. In May 2021, Schappert submitted a PPP loan application on behalf of Allied Exteriors that significantly overinflated Allied Exterior’s gross income, number of employees, payroll, and gross receipts. As a result, U.S. Bank approved a $265,567.00 PPP loan for Allied Exteriors—a loan Schappert would not have been entitled to absent his false statements to U.S. Bank.
Approximately three years later, in July 2024, Schappert filed for bankruptcy. In his bankruptcy petition, schedules, and statement of financial affairs he made multiple material false statements and declarations. These included denying ownership of business within the prior four years, claiming he had earned no income for the past two years, understating his employment, and claiming he had not closed financial accounts within the year prior to filing for bankruptcy and only had one bank account.
Schappert is scheduled to be sentenced on October 1, 2026, and faces a sentence of up to 30 years in prison for making false statements on a loan application, and up to five years in prison for making false declarations during bankruptcy proceedings. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the United States sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case with assistance from the Office of the United States Trustee. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Lubben prosecuted the case.
United States Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace Announces Appointment of Paul W. Kaufman as First Assistant United States AttorneyRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace announced today that Paul W. Kaufman has been appointed First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware. As First Assistant, Kaufman will serve as the Office’s second-ranking official and assist in leading the Office’s operations and mission throughout the District of Delaware.
“Paul Kaufman has been an exemplary advocate for the United States for nearly two decades,” said U.S. Attorney Wallace. “I am delighted that he has agreed to help me lead the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. The Office and the District will benefit immensely from Paul’s sharp mind, steady hands, and sound judgment.”
Kaufman has served as an Assistant United States Attorney since 2007 in the District of New Jersey and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. During that time, he specialized in civil fraud enforcement, leading teams of AUSAs and investigators that have recovered hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars and developing processes for streamlining parallel prosecution of criminal and civil matters, while also working on defensive and criminal matters. Kaufman has also served as an Electronic Discovery Office Coordinator, on the Executive Office of United States Attorneys’ Electronic Discovery Working Group, and on the Federal Electronic Discovery Working Group.
A respected teacher and published academic, Kaufman frequently trains other AUSAs in trial advocacy, pre-trial advocacy, motion practice, and eLitigation at the National Advocacy Center, and he has presented on substantive matters of affirmative civil enforcement to numerous Offices of Inspector General, to the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, and at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, the Temple University Beasley School of Law, and Rutgers-Camden Law School.
Kaufman is a graduate of the Yale Law School, the University of Chicago, and Saint Mark’s High School in Newark, Delaware. A veteran of the Delaware High School Mock Trial program, Kaufman remains a dedicated supporter of high school mock trial, having served since 2011 on the Board of Directors of the National High School Mock Trial Championship and from 2020-2025 as its Chair. In 2024, he received the Justice Gene Franchini Golden Gavel Award from that organization, and in 2025, Kaufman was inducted into the Saint Mark’s High School Hall of Honor. Kaufman is an Eagle Scout and remains active with Scouting America as a leader and merit badge counselor, and he is helping to develop its Public Service Academy program.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware.
###
U.S. Justice Department Moves to Intervene in Race Discrimination Lawsuit Challenging Reparations Program in Evanston, IllinoisRead the Press Release
Today, the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division moved to intervene in a lawsuit challenging a program by the City of Evanston, Illinois, that distributes cash payments and financial assistance for housing solely to black persons, and their descendants, and not to similarly situated persons of other races. The United States’ proposed complaint in intervention alleges that the city’s actions violate the Equal Protection Cause of the Fourteenth Amendment and the Fair Housing Act.
“Under the pretext of paying reparations for events more than 100 years ago, the City of Evanston has chosen to distribute millions of dollars in cash and housing benefits to people because of the color of their skin or the color of the skin of their parents, grandparents, or great grandparents,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “There are sound ways for a city to remedy past discrimination or direct resources to its most vulnerable citizens and neighborhoods. Simply handing out money based on race, however, is not the answer. It is race discrimination, pure and simple. And it is illegal.”
“The Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed that government actions classifying citizens by race are presumptively unconstitutional,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros for the Northern District of Illinois. “The Constitution demands that the government treat citizens as individuals, not as members of a racial class. Distributing public funds based on an individual's ancestry or race divides the citizenry and establishes the very hierarchy the Equal Protection Clause was designed to dismantle.”
In 2019, the city adopted the “Local Reparations Restorative Housing Program.” Under this program, black persons who lived in the City of Evanston as an adult at any time between 1919 and 1969, as well as their children, grandchildren, or great grandchildren, can receive $25,000 in the form of cash payments, which the recipient can use for any purpose, or financial assistance for purchasing, repairing, or maintaining a primary residence in the city. The city has not identified any specific acts of discrimination that violated the constitution or a statute that these payments are intended to remedy. Nor does the city require any evidence that recipients or their ancestors experienced discrimination when they lived in the city. Race alone determines whether a current or former resident or their descendant receives $25,000 in cash or financial assistance for housing. To date, the city has paid over $5 million and it plans to distribute millions more as funds become available.
In 2024, descendants of persons who had lived in Evanston between 1919 and 1969, but who were not black, filed a lawsuit, Flinn, et al. v. City of Evanston, No. 24-cv-4269 (N.D. Ill.), challenging their exclusion from the city’s program as a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The court denied the city’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit in March 2026. That same month, the United States opened an investigation of the program under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and the Fair Housing Act. The city refused to cooperate in the United States’ investigation. The United States now seeks to intervene in the lawsuit.
The United States alleges that the program violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. It also alleges that by offering and providing financial assistance for housing because of race, the city has violated the Fair Housing Act.
U.S. Attorney Honors Brenda Miller with Distinguished Service AwardRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey has presented Ohio County Circuit Clerk Brenda Miller with the “Distinguished Service Award” in recognition of her decades of dedication to Ohio County and the State of West Virginia.
“Brenda has dedicated her career to public service and has given much of her time and talents to the judicial system as Ohio County Circuit Clerk,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. “I am honored to present her this award, and I am grateful to call her a colleague and a friend.”
Miller will retire later this year after 28 years as Circuit Clerk. Throughout her tenure, she has earned a reputation for leadership, professionalism, and a deep commitment to strengthening the administration of justice in West Virginia.
She has served on numerous statewide committees, including the State Elections Committee and the Legislative Committee. The West Virginia Supreme Court has also appointed her to several key groups, such as the Circuit Court Liaison Committee—where she represents the nine Northern Panhandle counties—the Regional Fatality Review Board, where she has served for more than 15 years, and the Access to Justice Committee, where she is one of only two circuit clerks selected statewide.
Miller also served as President of the West Virginia Association of Counties from 2015 to 2016, representing 444 county-elected officials, including circuit clerks, county clerks, assessors, prosecutors, sheriffs, and county commissioners.
U.S. Attorney Harvey presented the award during the annual West Virginia Association of Counties dinner at Oglebay’s Wilson Lodge.
Two Inland Empire Men, Three Others Arrested and Charged in Plot to Kill Government Officials, Others Attending White House UFC EventRead the Press Release
RIVERSIDE, California – The Justice Department today announced federal criminal charges against five men – two of them from the Inland Empire – for an alleged plot to carry out an attack to kill government officials and others attending the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) held at the White House last Sunday.
Bryan Omar Roa, 24, of Calimesa, and Michael Alan Thomas, 32, of Pinon Hills, were arrested Saturday and made their initial appearances on Monday in United States District Court in Riverside.
Roa and Thomas are charged in a federal criminal complaint with conspiracy to commit murder, which carries a statutory maximum penalty of life in federal prison.
On Monday, United States Magistrate Judge David T. Bristow ordered Roa and Thomas jailed without bond. No pleas were taken. The arraignments for Roa and Thomas are scheduled for July 7 and July 21, respectively, in U.S. District Court in Riverside.
The FBI launched an investigation into the plot and identified a group of conspirators who procured weapons and made plans to carry out the attack. The FBI made arrests over the weekend in Ohio, Missouri, Nebraska, and California. The investigation remains ongoing.
“The FBI, our law enforcement partners and our U.S. Attorneys did what they do every day to make America Safe through quick response and vigilance in investigating, disrupting, and dismantling this alleged plan before it could be carried out,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “We will take immediate and aggressive action to identify and prosecute those who incite and plan acts of violence.”
“Thanks to the swift work of federal agents and prosecutors, a potential mass casualty attack was prevented,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “There is no place in our country for political violence. Those who plot violence against the President and Congressional leaders face serious consequences, including possible life sentences.”
“On June 10, FBI and our law enforcement partners became aware of a potential threat to the UFC America 250 event in Washington, D.C. involving individuals outside of the National Capital Region — and thanks to the rapid action of this FBI, our partners, and the Department of Justice in a multi-state operation, multiple individuals are now in custody and allegedly planned attacks were stopped cold,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “While the result represented the best of investigative work, it was also nothing out of the ordinary for this law enforcement team — we are built to detect, respond to, and bring to justice those who threaten the lives of American citizens — particularly during large gatherings like the historic UFC 250 fight. That’s exactly what we did here. I want to thank our great agents and partners, this work remains ongoing and we will continue to update the public as permitted. We continue to encourage any American to report anything suspicious at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov.”
According to court documents, the defendants conspired to plan and execute a mass-casualty event targeting U.S. officials in attendance at the June 14 UFC Freedom 250 event hosted on the White House grounds. Proper amassed firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and tactical gear at his home in Ohio, and he identified potential targets, including multiple members of the United States Congress.
The conspirators allegedly planned to deploy drones armed with explosives in and around the UFC Freedom 250 event to force an evacuation of the event and then planned to deploy snipers to fire upon ‘high value targets’ within the fleeing crowd. Before executing the plan, Proper and other conspirators planned to rendezvous in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
According to an affidavit filed with a criminal complaint, law enforcement executed a search warrant ofRoa’s residence and his vehicle during which they seized a rifle, handgun, tactical belt, ammunition and a rifle magazine, a two-way radio, and an infrared laser target pointer.
A search of Roa’s phone found messages in a group with several other co-conspirators including Thomas, Proper, in which they planned an attack at the UFC event at the White House, with some users discussing using drones rigged with explosives in order to initiate the attack, with rooftop snipers killing individuals. Law enforcement also found Instagram videos Roa had posted of himself shooting guns.
Thomas participated in a group chat planning the attack at the UFC event at the White House. In a group chat, on June 7, he allegedly wrote “$1300 gets us the drones and the charges. Yes we should all pitch in and we need it asap…”
In another group chat, Thomas, under a pseudonym, allegedly described “tiers” of operators within their anti-government group, with tier 1 being operators on the ground, tier 2 being drivers and drone operators, tier 3 being logistical suppliers, and tier 4 being social media influencers. “Tier one status is not something to take lightly. … We will make sure they have…All the tier 2 support we can provide. We will try to break them out of jail if we need to.”
In the same group chats, Thomas discussed meeting with Roa in person in Southern California to conduct “marksmen training” and reflected that the group needed to train for “gorilla style warfare.”
FBI agents seized from Thomas’ residence a rifle, 30-round extended magazines for the rifle, 180 rounds of ammunition, and a pistol.
Charged in separate federal criminal complaints are Tycen C. Proper, 19, of Danville, Ohio, Daniel K. Eskridge, 32, of Kidder, Missouri, and Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska.
Eskridge is charged with conspiracy to commit murder as well as conspiracy to commit violent or disruptive conduct on White House grounds. According to the complaint, the FBI identified Eskridge while reviewing electronic communications on Proper’s cellular phone.
The co-conspirators had electronic chats on a social media platform SimpleX. In those chats, members of the group allegedly discussed assassinating several United States Senators, Representatives and prominent business executives. Members of the group targeted some legislators based on the group’s perceived belief that the legislators accepted money from pro-Israel lobbies.
When discussing potential targets, Eskridge indicated that the target was “big and someone a majority of the country knows.” In the discussions, power grids were also identified as potential targets.
On May 22, 2026, Eskridge distributed a picture of tactical equipment, including a rifle, helmet, and ballistic vest.
In a separate chat group, a conversation allegedly took place in early June when Eskridge and some of the other chat group members discussed their plan to attack the UFC Freedom 250 event.
Specifically, Thomas stated, “Pensilvania [sic] avenue.” Eskridge said the group should obtain $1,300 in United States currency and they needed “5 teams of 3 each team consisting of 1 sniper, 1 tier one operator as support/ look out, [and] one drone operator.” Eskridge said the money would provide them the funding to purchase “drones and charges,” and encouraged the group to all “pitch in.”
On June 13, law enforcement officials executed a federal search warrant at Eskridge’s residence. Agents recovered rifles, a shot gun, pistol, and other tactical gear.
According to the charges filed in Nebraska, the FBI identified Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez as the individual using the name “Shepherd” in a Signal Group that was used to plan an attack on the UFC Freedom 250 event scheduled to be held at the Whtie House on June 14, 2026.
The FBI assessed that Alvarez, a/k/a “Shepherd” was responsible for planning, organizing and directing the planned attack, based on conversation excerpts in June when Shepherd posted, “This is the best action I see. Position your teams in the purple dots (counter sniper and drones) Long range (circled area) (great shot) Easy out into the river.”
The complaint further alleges Shepherd then provided direction for a safe zone and instructed the other members to take back roads or the river down to the “pick up location.” Later that same evening, Shepherd also provided locations in the area for drone launch points and sniper positions.
A criminal complaint contains merely allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. Conspiracy to commit violence on White House grounds carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
The FBI and the United States Secret Service are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Colin S. Scott of the National Security Division is prosecuting this case.
Topsham Fugitive Sentenced for Failing to SurrenderRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Topsham man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for failing to surrender for service of a sentence imposed in a prior case.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Christopher Tucker, 34, to 37 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Tucker pleaded guilty on February 17, 2026.
According to court records, at a September 2025 hearing in U.S. District Court in Maine, Tucker was sentenced to a term of 75 months in prison for firearms offenses. Tucker was permitted to remain out on release and to self-surrender to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons at a later date but he failed to surrender as ordered. The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) subsequently located and arrested Tucker in Bath.
Tucker’s sentence will be served consecutively to the 75-month sentence imposed in the firearms case.
The USMS investigated the case.
Three New Attorneys Sworn in to Serve the DistrictRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ellis Boyle administered the oath of office to two Special Assistant United States Attorneys and one Assistant United States Attorney to serve the EDNC. Their appointments advance the office's mission of upholding the rule of law and serving the people of our district. We are pleased to welcome them aboard and look forward to their contributions to the office and community.
Three Individuals Sentenced for Scheme to Steal Money from Accounts Managed by the Department of the Interior Bureau of Trust Funds AdministrationRead the Press Release
Bismarck – United States Attorney Nichoas W. Chase announced that on June 16, 2026, Ranita Lynn Freeman, Age 32, Minot, North Dakota (and a member of the MHA Nation), appeared in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota and was sentenced before Judge Daniel L. Hovland to serve 42 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $51,500 in restitution, for the offenses of Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identify Theft.
Between 2020 and 2023, Freeman stole $51,500 from two MHA Nation tribal members’ Individual Indian Money (IIM) accounts. The Bureau of Trust Funds Administration (BTFA) manages the financial assets of American Indians held in trust by the Department of the Interior and an IIM account is an interest-bearing account managed by the BTFA on behalf of an individual who has money or other assets held in trust for them by the Federal government. Between August 2020 and January 2021, Freeman stole $42,000 from one tribal member’s IIM account and, again between January and April 2023, she stole $9,500 from a second tribal member’s IIM account. Throughout these two separate schemes, Freeman placed multiple calls to the BTFA, Fort Berthold Agency, where she fraudulently pretended to be these tribal members. During these calls, Freeman provided the BTFA with the names, dates of birth, and other identifying information of the tribal members to access, and obtain money from, their respective IIM accounts. Department of the Interior Office of Inspector General special agents identified Freeman as the caller when she called into the BTFA posing as one of these tribal members and they compared the caller’s voice to Freeman’s voice.
Additional Individuals Sentenced in a Separate BTFA IIM Fraud Scheme:
Between November and December 2022, Wareagle Rollingthunder Martin and Samantha Lynn Rebold stole $11,695.92 from an MHA Nation tribal members’ IIM account. To accomplish this theft, Rebold took photographs of the tribal member’s personal identifying information, including his social security card and tribal identification card. Thereafter, Rebold provided these photographs to co-defendant Martin who then called the BTFA, Fort Berthold Agency, pretended to be the MHA Nation tribal member and fraudulently requested that the BTFA send two monetary disbursements from this individual’s IIM account—in the amounts of $1,510.40 and $10,185.52—to a bank account that he controlled. Thereafter, Martin and Rebold spent the money that they fraudulently obtained from this tribal member’s IIM account. When Martin called the BTFA, he falsely used the MHA Nation tribal member’s name, date of birth, social security number, and tribal identification number to obtain money from this IIM account.
Wareagle Rollingthunder Martin: Age: 39. From: Fargo, North Dakota. Sentenced on October 21, 2025, before Judge Daniel M. Traynor, to 24 months’ imprisonment, 1 year of supervised release, and payment of restitution of $11,695.92 on a charge of Aggravated Identity Theft.
Samantha Lynn Rebold: Age: 38. From: Fargo, North Dakota. Sentenced on June 18, 2025, before Judge Daniel M. Traynor, to time served (7 days), three years of supervised release, and payment of restitution of $11,695.92 on a charge of Wire Fraud.
“Fraud is especially sinister because it hurts victims in many ways”, said US Attorney Nicholas W. Case. “As this case shows, when criminals steal money through fraud schemes, they often steal something even more personal, the identities of innocent people whose names, financial accounts, and personal information are exploited for criminal gain. Prosecuting fraud and identity theft offenses remains one of the highest priorities of this office because these crimes can cause lasting financial and emotional harm to victims. Today’s sentence reflects our commitment to holding fraudsters accountable and protecting the public from those who seek to profit through deception and the misuse of others’ personal information.”
“These sentences should serve as a deterrent to those who seek to exploit vulnerable account holders by stealing funds that are intended to support thousands of Native Americans and their communities. These funds, held in trust, are vital to the many individuals who rely on them as their sole source of income,” said Special Agent in Charge Jamie DePaepe. “We will continue working with the BTFA and our prosecutorial partners to protect account holders and hold those responsible fully accountable.”
This case was investigated by the Department of the Interior – Office of Inspector General, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan J. O’Konek, District of North Dakota.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is 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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Three Defendants Indicted in Brooklyn Federal Court for Real Estate Investment SchemeRead the Press Release
Earlier today in federal court in Brooklyn, an indictment was unsealed charging John Christian Gelin, Heather Marquez, and Kaolee Vang-Thao with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud. The charges arise from a multi-year and multi-million-dollar scheme to defraud financial institutions, investors, and prospective investors in connection with potential real estate transactions. Gelin was arrested today and will be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy. Marquez was arrested earlier today in Oceanside, California and will appear in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. Vang-Thao was arrested earlier today in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota and will appear in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. Marquez and Vang-Thao will be arraigned in the Eastern District of New York at a later date.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the arrests and charges.
“As alleged, the defendants defrauded investors and lenders out of millions of dollars,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Because of their lies and greed, the defendants ruined the financial security of dozens of victims, leaving them on the hook for repaying loans they could not afford and causing some to declare bankruptcy. Our Office will vigorously prosecute those who abuse the trust of others and profit through fraud.”
“Through repeated lies, these defendants allegedly forced trusting investors into financial stress – and for some, ruin – to illegally route more than four million dollars to their personal accounts. The FBI’s Financial Crimes Task Force remains committed to apprehending fraudsters that steal from others to line their own pockets,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.
As alleged in the indictment, Gelin operated Kensington International, Inc. (Kensington), a purported real estate development company, and oversaw the Artist Financial Program (AFP), an affiliated entity that specifically targeted aspiring artists and musicians. Gelin marketed the companies as real estate investment firms focused on purchasing distressed real estate that would be rehabilitated and resold for profit.
The defendants raised investment capital by soliciting investors who generally had limited assets but high credit scores, and obtained loans and credit cards on behalf of the investors that they promised to repay. Marquez and Vang-Thao, through their firms the Funding Club Consulting and the Financial Saver Network, respectively, submitted loan and credit card applications on behalf of the investors. Unbeknownst to the investors, Marquez and Vang-Thao filed fraudulent applications with the lenders that often inflated the investors’ income to obtain higher loans. Investors were not shown the applications before Marquez and Vang-Thao submitted them, and Marquez and Vang-Thao advised investors to lie to the lenders. Additionally, Gelin used the alias “Christian” to conceal from investors and potential investors his criminal history, which included serving three years in prison for committing a similar fraud scheme.
Once the credit card and lending applications were approved, investors were instructed to wire 15% of the credit limit of the credit cards and loan proceeds to Marquez and Vang-Thao. The remaining 85% was transferred to bank accounts controlled by Gelin. Rather than using the loan proceeds entirely to invest in real estate as promised to investors, the defendants diverted investor funds to pay for their personal expenses and spent only a nominal amount of investor funds on buying and renovating homes.
Also contrary to their promises to the investors, the defendants did not pay the lenders back in full. As a result, the investors were unable to repay the full amount of the loans and credit cards taken out in their names. Some investors declared bankruptcy. In total, investors lost at least $4.2 million from the fraudulent scheme.
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, they each face up to 30 years in prison.
If you believe that you or someone you know was victimized by the defendants, please contact the FBI by email at: [email protected] or by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI.
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’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business & Securities Fraud Section. Assistant United States Attorney James R. Simmons is in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Melina Piatti-Chayan.
The Defendants:
JOHN CHRISTIAN GELIN
Age: 58
Brooklyn, New YorkHEATHER MARQUEZ
Age: 45
Oceanside, CaliforniaKAOLEE VANG-THAO
Age: 53
Brooklyn Center, MinnesotaE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 26-CR-157 (CBA)
Tampa Man Sentenced to More Than Seven Years for Multiple Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – Jeffrey Hennig (60, Tampa) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell to seven years and nine months in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of firearms with altered serial numbers. He pleaded guilty in March 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents and proceedings, in March 2024, officers with the St. Petersburg Police Department coordinated the purchase of methamphetamine and a firearm from Hennig. An undercover officer purchased a .22 H&R Model 929 revolver from Hennig. The firearm had an obliterated serial number. Hennig also sold the officer 50 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition. Hennig then began weighing out 28 grams of methamphetamine and sold this to the undercover for $200.
Agents searched Hennig’s apartment later that month and seized two additional firearms, a Taurus .357 Magnum revolver and a Hi-Point JCP .40 caliber S&W with a loaded extended magazine. Both firearms were loaded, and the Hi-Point had an obliterated serial number. Hennig is a convicted felon and is therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman.
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.
Tallahassee Serial Felon Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Forrest Alan Price, 32, of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of synthetic cathinone and 5 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; carrying a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “With a dozen prior felony convictions, this serial offender has made a career out of terrorizing our communities and flooding our streets with deadly narcotics. Enough is enough. President Donald J. Trump and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche launched Operation Take Back America to deploy the full might of the Department of Justice toward incapacitating drug trafficking violent offenders, like this defendant, and that is exactly what my office will continue to do with successful prosecutions like this one until the citizens of the Northern District of Florida get the safe, drug-free streets they deserve.”
Court documents reflect that in February 2026, the Tallahassee Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a suspicious vehicle following surveillance of a suspected drug house. The defendant was the passenger in the vehicle, and officers observed him trying to conceal several baggies of drugs in his lap. The defendant briefly resisted officers’ commands when asked to step out of the vehicle but was eventually handcuffed. Officers found that the defendant tried to conceal baggies containing 13.3 grams of synthetic cathinone and 6.8 grams of pure methamphetamine. Officers used a key fob taken from the defendant to open the locked glove compartment and found a 9-millimeter pistol on top of a small safe. The safe was found to contain 24.16 grams of pure methamphetamine, additional synthetic cathinone, marijuana, Alprazolam pills, and items used to package drugs for street sale.
The defendant was prohibited from possessing firearms due to 12 prior felony convictions. His convictions included a prior federal case involving drug trafficking and firearm charges.
The defendant faces at least 15 years’ imprisonment and a maximum potential sentence of Life for his current charges.
The case involved an investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 25, 2026, at 11:00 am, in the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Suspended Ann Arbor Commodities Trader Pleads Guilty to Multi-Million-Dollar Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
DETROIT – Brian Mitchell pleaded guilty on Friday afternoon to defrauding investors in a multi-million-dollar commodities trading scheme, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. announced.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit field office.
Mitchell, 43, of Ann Arbor, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and admitted that he defrauded multiple third-party investors, causing a loss of over $2.7 million.
In entering his plea, Mitchell acknowledged that he caused false representations to be made regarding the security, profitability, and use of investor funds. Mitchell used various entities to solicit investor money, including “Young Pros Investment Group” (“YPIG”) and “My Nest Egg.” As part of his scheme, Mitchell made—and caused—repeated misrepresentations that investor principal was protected against loss and was “guaranteed.” Mitchell also made, and caused, misrepresentations that set earnings would occur and that investor funds would be available for return at certain points. After suffering significant trading losses, Mitchell lied to investors about why their investment principal was no longer guaranteed, as he had previously claimed. Mitchell falsely told investors that the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) had seized assets that he described as “back-up money.”
While executing his fraud scheme, Mitchell entered into a settlement with the CFTC relating to earlier violations of the Commodity Exchange Act that occurred between January 2018 and January 2019. Under that settlement, Mitchell was barred for three years from engaging in commodity futures trading activity and from soliciting, receiving, and accepting funds for such activity. Despite that ban, Mitchell continued to solicit, accept, and trade third-party investment funds in commodity futures and failed to disclose his trading bar to investors.
Mitchell admitted that his conduct violated his prior settlement agreement with the CFTC and the regulatory requirements of the Commodity Exchange Act.
As part of his plea agreement, Mitchell has agreed to pay restitution of $2.7 million to his victims.
Potential victims are encouraged to contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation at: https://forms.fbi.gov/victims/YPIG-MyNestEggVictims
Sentencing is set for October 7, 2026, at 2:00 pm before United States District Judge Laurie J. Michelson. Mitchell faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment.
“The FBI refuses to let scammers get away with perpetually stealing from and betraying hardworking Americans. This scheme caused significant financial harm to investors who placed their trust in the defendant, and today’s guilty plea is another reminder that those who commit these crimes will be held accountable," said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. "I am grateful for the exceptional work of our FBI Ann Arbor Resident Agency, whose meticulous investigative efforts were critical to bringing financial justice to the victims of his crimes.”The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Yahkind
Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for Trafficking Firearms and DrugsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to 16 years in federal prison for trafficking firearms and drugs.
In the fall of 2024, EFRAIN JACOBO sold methamphetamine, cocaine, and seven firearms in a series of transactions in Joliet, Ill. Unbeknownst to Jacobo, the buyers were undercover law enforcement officers.
On Dec. 17, 2024, Jacobo shared tracking information with the undercover officers for a truck containing meth that was traveling to Illinois from Texas. At Jacobo’s direction, the truck arrived at a shipping facility in Bolingbrook, Ill., the following day. Law enforcement searched inside the truck and discovered more than 150,000 grams of meth. A subsequent search of a storage facility leased by Jacobo in Wheeling, Ill., turned up more than 1,800 grams of fentanyl.
Jacobo, 44, of Prospect Heights, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal firearm and drug charges. On June 11, 2026, U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly sentenced Jacobo to 16 years in federal prison.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosive, and Todd C. Smith, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The Bolingbrook, Ill. Police Department provided valuable assistance.
“Defendant plainly was a powerful and high-level drug dealer,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie C. Stern argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Drug sellers of any illegal narcotics have a negative impact on society. They help fuel a drug trade that can devastate lives, families, and communities.”