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Friday 12 June 2026
Springfield Man Sentenced to 130 Months for Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court for one count of being a felon in possession of firearms.
Ricky Joe Braden, 38, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 130 months in federal prison without parole, followed by three years of supervised release. Braden pleaded guilty on Sept. 29, 2025.
Braden was previously convicted of multiple felonies, including tampering with a motor vehicle and forgery. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition.
On Aug. 8, 2022, officers with the Springfield, Missouri Police Department (SPD) responded to a 911 call at Braden’s residence. Witnesses, who were at the property with the landlord’s permission, reported that Braden retrieved a pistol from a vehicle and pointed the gun at them, demanding they leave the property. Braden then pointed it at his wife before shooting at the ground. While on scene, officers saw Braden exit his residence and travel through backyards in the neighborhood, carrying his child in front of him. Officers were able to eventually handcuff Braden, who was initially uncooperative and ignored multiple commands.
While conducting a search warrant at the residence, SPD investigators found a loaded .40 caliber Glock pistol with an extended magazine, a loaded 9mm Glock pistol, a loaded, stolen Charter Arms .38 special revolver, and spent shell casings in Braden’s vehicle. Officers also found a Stag Arms, 5.56 caliber AR-15 style semi-automatic rifle and multiple 30-round magazines in a second truck, and various additional firearm magazines, ammunition, and other firearm accessories on the property. A third vehicle on the property, which appeared to belong to Braden’s wife, had bullet holes in the door and windshield. Braden’s hands tested positive for gunshot residue and officers located brass knuckles on his person.
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, Missouri 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.
South Carolina Man Charged with Hate Crime for Allegedly Defacing Multiple Buildings at Charlotte Jewish ComplexRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A South Carolina man is facing a hate crime charge for allegedly intentionally defacing multiple buildings within a Charlotte complex used by the Jewish community for religious worship, education, and community activities, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Dalton Ray Mullis, 24, of Indian Land, was arrested on Thursday on a criminal complaint and appeared in court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge David C. Keesler.
“Posting nazi and lynching symbols on the Jewish Community Center is pure hate and it’s disgusting,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “This is America, which was founded on the free exercise of religion and people ought to be free to worship without being threatened.”
“The individual arrested yesterday is alleged to have distributed threatening materials at community institutions in an attempt to create fear or intimidate individuals based on their religious beliefs. These acts undermine public safety and violate federal law. The right to gather, learn, and worship are fundamental in our country and the FBI will continue to work resolutely with our partners to ensure that all members of the public are free to do so without fear.” said FBI Charlotte Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis.
“This arrest reflects the strong partnership between the Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and our shared commitment that those who commit hate crimes in our jurisdiction are held accountable,” said CMPD Chief of Police Estella D. Patterson. “CMPD works tirelessly to keep our community safe, and that includes protecting every person’s right to worship without fear. Acts that target or threaten our houses of worship and cultural institutions have no place in Charlotte. We will not tolerate intimidation of any kind, and we will continue to stand with law enforcement partners to ensure the safety and security of our community.”
According to allegations contained in the affidavit filed with criminal complaint, in the evening of January 19, 2026, an individual later identified as Mullis traveled to the Jewish Community Center (JCC) located within the Foundation of Shalom Park (Shalom Park) complex in Charlotte. Shalom Park also includes the Charlotte Jewish Day School (CJDS), the Holocaust Memorial, and other facilities occupied by multiple organizations that operate Jewish religious, cultural, and educational programs. It is alleged that Mullis defaced multiple buildings on the property including CJDS, the Holocaust Memorial, and an employee building, by affixing threatening, antisemitic flyers. The flyers depicted a noose, a swastika, and a Totenkopf or “death’s head,” which is historically associated with the German Nazi party and SS. It is further alleged that surveillance cameras on the property captured Mullis spraying one of the entrances to the CJDS with what appears to be an adhesive spray and placing the antisemitic flyer onto the door.
Charging documents also allege that between January and April 2026, Mullis posted antisemitic messages and imagery on multiple social media sites through accounts he owned and operated, including the following post:
Antisemitic Social Media Message Allegedly Posted by Mullis
Mullis remains in federal custody. If convicted, he faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The ultimate sentence will be determined by the court based on the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended the FBI Charlotte’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for their investigation of the case and thanked the FBI in Columbia, the Lancaster County, South Carolina, Sheriff’s Office, the Waxhaw Police Department, and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, for their invaluable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dallas Kaplan with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte and Trial Attorneys Taylor Payne and Thomas Cilla with the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
The charges against Mullis are allegations, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case is part of the nationwide National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 initiative, which is a White House directed, interagency effort to integrate federal, state, and local partners in protecting First Amendment rights while targeting individuals and organizations engaged in political violence and is led by the investigative and prosecutorial Joint Task Force Vanguard.
Six Illegal Aliens Sentenced, Four Others Indicted for Immigration OffensesRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND and TOLEDO, Ohio – The United States Attorney’s Office has announced immigration enforcement actions for the month of May in the Northern District of Ohio. These are separate cases and are not related.
The following individuals have been sentenced by a U.S. District Court judge after each previously pleaded guilty to their roles in violating federal immigration laws. All defendants will remain detained after serving their sentences, pending deportation from the United States.
Jeyson Rodriguez-Lanza, 35, a citizen of Honduras, was sentenced to time served after pleading guilty to illegal reentry. He was previously removed from the U.S. on at least one occasion with the most recent being March 15, 2023. He was found in Norwalk, in Huron County, on Feb. 17.
Genry Sanchez-Espinoza, 29, a citizen of Honduras, was sentenced to time served after pleading guilty to illegal reentry. He was previously removed from the U.S. on at least one occasion with the most recent being Feb. 9, 2018. He was found in Sandusky, in Erie County on Feb. 16.
Mario Gregorio-Arias, 49, a citizen of Guatemala, was sentenced to four months in prison after pleading guilty to illegal reentry. He was previously removed from the U.S. on at least four occasions with the most recent being April 17, 2018. He was found in Norwalk, in Huron County, on Feb. 17.
Candelaria del Rosario Lopez-Bautista, 38, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to time served after pleading guilty to illegal reentry. She was previously removed from the U.S. on at least one occasion with the most recent being Nov. 16, 2010. She was found in Perkins Township, in Erie County, on Feb. 20.
Cesar Mazariegos-Lopez, aka Cesar Masariegos-Lopez, aka Cesar M. Lopez, 45, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced after pleading guilty to illegal reentry. He was previously removed from the U.S. on at least one occasion with the most recent being Nov. 16, 2010. He was found in Perkins Township, in Erie County, on Feb. 20.
Yeixon Brito-Gonzalez, aka Yiexon Maikenedy Brito-Gonzalez, 21, a citizen of Venezuela, was sentenced to time served after pleading guilty to Possession of Fraudulent Documents. In January, he was found residing in Sandusky, in Erie County, and possessed counterfeit Legal Permanent Resident and Social Security cards.
Additionally, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Victor M. Diaz-Montes De Oca, 34, a citizen of Mexico, with Providing Contraband in Prison and Illegal Reentry. According to court documents and evidence presented before the judge, he was found in Lisbon, in Columbiana County, attempting to provide tobacco, six cellphones, and 30 vapes, to an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution, Elkton. He was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the most recent being April 20, 2014.
Federal grand juries also returned indictments for the following individuals:
Miguel Galindo De Jesus, 49, a citizen of Mexico, was charged with Illegal Reentry. He was previously removed from the U.S. on at least one occasion with the with the most recent being Dec. 11, 2012. He was found May 8 in Canton, in Stark County.
Miguel Angel Hernandez-Chavez, 33, a citizen of Mexico, was charged with Illegal Reentry. He was previously removed from the U.S. on at least two occasions with the most recent being June 11, 2024. He was found April 9 in Bryan, in Williams County.
Anibal Tejada-Estrella, 45, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, was charged with Illegal Reentry. He was previously removed from the U.S. on at least one occasion with the with the most recent being June 20, 2023. He was found April 22 in Brooklyn Heights, in Cuyahoga County.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Simko, Ava Rotell Dustin, Jennifer King, Brett Hammond, Dexter Phillips, and Alissa M. Sterling for Northern District of Ohio.
These investigations were conducted by U.S. Border Patrol-Sandusky Bay Station and the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to over 7 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, sentenced a man from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on June 8, 2026.
Xavier Orrin Hinds, 44, was sentenced to 7 years and 6 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Hinds was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in December 2024. He pleaded guilty on March 2, 2026.
On October 8, 2024, law enforcement officers discovered Hinds in possession of firearms following an automobile accident on I-229 in Sioux Falls. Despite being aware he was prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions, Hinds was carrying a pistol on his person and had another handgun inside his car.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Connie Larson prosecuted the case.
Hinds was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to serve his federal sentence.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Rochester Woman Pleads Guilty for Role in Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Rochester Woman Pleads Guilty for Role in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy
CONCORD – Tabitha O’Brien, age 46, of Rochester, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty today in federal court to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
According to court documents and statements, in early 2024, law enforcement began investigating a drug-trafficking organization (DTO) based in Massachusetts and operating in New Hampshire. This DTO trafficked multiple kilograms of fentanyl and methamphetamine. During the conspiracy, O’Brien bought drugs from the DTO, namely, fentanyl, which she then sold to her own customers around Rochester. O’Brien has been detained since her arrest in October 2024. Sentencing is set for September 22, 2026.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance carries a sentence of up to 20 years’ incarceration, not less than 3 years of supervised release, and a fine up to $1,000,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The Department of Homeland Security led the investigation with valuable assistance from the Strafford County Sheriff’s Office and New Hampshire State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mike Shannon and Yasir Sadat are prosecuting 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 New Hampshire comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, IRS, DEA, ATF, USMS, and DSS with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire.
Robeson County Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Zackary Helsel, 26, to 25 years in prison for recording his rape of a 12-year-old girl. On March 12, 2026, Helsel pleaded guilty to the production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
“Protecting our children is the highest priority for federal prosecutors in the EDNC. We will prosecute anyone engaging in this heinous conduct to the fullest extent of the law. We will stomp out evil behavior by depraved spiders like this whenever we find them.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle.
Helsel repeatedly sexually abused a 12-year-old girl between February and May 2025. Helsel recorded at least some of this horrendous sexual abuse on his cell phone and used the content to blackmail his victim. While executing a search warrant, law enforcement discovered the video he made on his cell phone.
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 Robeson County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI investigated the case, and Assistant United States Attorney Karen Haughton prosecuted 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. 7:25-cr-00098.
Republic Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Republic, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court yesterday for being an unlawful user of a controlled substance while in possession of firearms.
Franklin E. Brownlee, 41, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 60 months in federal prison without parole, followed by three years of supervised release. Brownlee pleaded guilty on Dec. 18, 2025.
According to court records, on March 27, 2025, deputies with the Greene County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) responded to a domestic disturbance at Brownlee’s residence. During the incident, Brownlee discharged the firearm over the head of the victim. Upon learning that police were responding to his residence, Brownlee, who was under the influence of alcohol and methamphetamine, had gathered multiple firearms and was behaving erratically. Brownlee made multiple statements threatening to kill responding officers. Officers responded, utilizing drones to monitor the situation, and prevent Brownlee from driving away from the property.
During the incident, Brownlee stood outside of his shop building and appeared to hold a firearm. Deputies reported hearing a gunshot. The drone footage captured Brownlee attempting to shoot at the drones. After several hours, law enforcement was able to convince Brownlee to disarm and surrender. Investigators located a Glock 26 pistol, a Remington model 17 shotgun, and a SGT Stitched Armory AR15 in Brownlee’s truck. All three firearms were loaded and a tactical vest containing AR15 magazines was in Brownlee’s shop.
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 Federal Bureau of Investigation; and the Greene County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office.
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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Previously convicted felon pleads guilty to running straw-purchasing firearms conspiracyRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A previously convicted felon pleaded guilty in federal court here to crimes related to a straw-purchasing firearms conspiracy involving more than 20 guns seized from criminals in other states.
Delonte Robertson, 33, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to conspiring to and making false statements during the acquisition of a firearm and to transferring firearms interstate.
According to court documents, between 2021 and 2023, Robertson devised a scheme to recruit women with no criminal records to purchase firearms and then provide the guns to Robertson. The defendant then provided the firearms to criminals in other states.
More than 20 firearms were recovered by law enforcement officers in Washington, D.C. and Maryland that were purchased in Ohio as part of Robertson’s conspiracy.
Making false statements during the acquisition of a firearm carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison. Conspiring to make false statements during the acquisition of a firearm and transferring firearms out-of-state are federal crimes punishable by up to five years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), announced the guilty plea offered on June 11 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Norah McCann King. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Geraghty is representing the United States in this case.
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Pittsburgh Resident Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Oluwakayode Ajayi, 27, pleaded guilty to two counts before Senior United States District Judge David Stewart Cercone on June 11, 2026.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that Ajayi engaged in a scheme to defraud banks by impersonating account holders and presenting forged checks which he negotiated for cash.
A date for sentencing will be scheduled by the Court. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the Court continued Ajayi’s detention.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) and the Moon Township Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Ajayi.
Philadelphia man sentenced to 11 years in prison for trafficking methamphetamineRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Philadelphia man was sentenced yesterday to 11 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, during four controlled purchases from July 2025 through November 2025, Darrell Lameer Carter, 35, distributed approximately 1,504 grams of pure methamphetamine. On Dec. 3, 2025, investigators arrested Carter and searched his vehicle and two residences.
From Carter’s vehicle, investigators recovered three cellphones, a dropper vial of suspected Gamma Butyrolactone (GBL), 26 pills containing methamphetamine, and a drug ledger which contained customer names and prices. From one of Carter’s residences, in which he resided with his young child and the child’s mother, investigators recovered approximately 2,770 grams of pure methamphetamine, 619 pills containing approximately 13 grams of methamphetamine, two scales, a semi-automatic handgun, a magazine loaded with 6 rounds of ammunition, $17,450.25, an additional cellphone, and a laptop computer.
USAO EDVAA review of Carter’s various devices revealed communications indicating that Carter purchased up to 20 pounds of methamphetamine per month for resale, as well as other controlled substances. Carter has a prior conviction for distribution of MDMA.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division investigated this case with assistance from the Arlington County Police Department, George Mason University Police Department, and Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office. Assistance was provided by the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Hahn prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:26-cr-49.
Ohio Resident Charged with Wire Fraud and Embezzlement of More Than $460,000Read the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A resident of Conneaut, Ohio, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Erie on charges of wire fraud and theft, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The five-count Indictment named Yelena Andrews, 48, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, from in and around May 2024 to in and around March 2025, Andrews, while employed as a paralegal with an Erie, Pennsylvania, law firm, did devise and intend to devise a scheme and artifice to defraud by means of false and fraudulent pretenses. The Indictment alleges that Andrew’s actions resulted in the embezzlement of approximately $462,376 to which she was not entitled.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Norfolk sailor sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually exploiting a minorRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – Bailey Dwayne Burnett, 26, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for coercion and enticement of a minor.
According to court documents, in January 2023, Burnett, who was an active-duty U.S. Navy sailor stationed in Norfolk, began communicating with fellow sailor Zhane Tavern Elamin. Burnett exchanged multiple image and video files of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) with Elamin and discussed methods to engage minors.
On Aug. 20, 2025, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service seized Burnett’s cellphone. During a forensic examination, investigators identified 69 images of CSAM and numerous platforms and accounts, including two for file sharing service Mega NZ. Burnett’s Mega accounts contained 3,692 images and videos of CSAM, including the sexual abuse of infants and toddlers.
Investigators also identified communications between Burnett and a 14-year-old victim from Italy who moved to the United States. Using Facetime, imessage, and Discord, Burnett coerced the victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Bailey sent the victim sexually explicit photos and videos of himself and received sexually explicit photos and videos of the victim.
Burnett was separated from the Navy in December 2025 as a result of his conduct.
Elamin pled guilty on June 12, 2024, to the attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. On Oct. 21, 2024, Elamin was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service investigated this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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. 2:25-cr-110 (Burnett) and 24-cr-33 (Elamin).
Newport News felon sentenced to two years in prison for illegally possessing a firearmRead the Press Release
A Newport News man was sentenced today to two years in prison followed by nine months of electronically monitored home confinement for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, on Feb. 8, 2023, Carl Henry Coleman III, 34, was driving recklessly in excess of 70 mph in a posted 45 mph zone and weaving in and out of traffic when Newport News Police (NNPD) observed him and performed a traffic stop. Because neither Coleman nor his passenger was licensed to drive, officers initiated the process to tow the vehicle and conducted an inventory search. In a backpack on the floorboard behind the driver seat was a loaded handgun, along with Coleman’s social security card and bank card.
Among other crimes, Coleman was prosecuted federally at age 21 for making false statements to law enforcement about the location of a discarded murder weapon that had been used in a gang-related double homicide. In 2016, he was convicted for threatening to kill and physically assault a victim. As a previously convicted felon, Coleman cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
The FBI’s Norfolk Field Office investigated this case with assistance from NNPD.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mack Coleman prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:25-cr-43.
New Mexico Man Facing Federal Hate Crime Charge Following Attacks at Local Synagogue and Jewish Community CenterRead the Press Release
An Albuquerque, New Mexico man is in custody on federal charges for allegedly damaging religious property during back-to-back attacks at two local Jewish facilities.
According to court documents, on June 2, Rex Crofton, 25, targeted two Jewish community facilities in Albuquerque, New Mexico, during a series of motivated attacks. At approximately 4:31 PM, Crofton arrived at Congregation Albert in a silver sedan. He exited the vehicle and used a tool to shatter the synagogue’s glass entry doors. After “flipping off” the building and shouting an indecipherable statement, he fled the scene. Roughly eight minutes later, at 4:39 PM, Crofton arrived at the Jewish Community Center (JCC). Surveillance footage captured him running to the front doors and repeatedly striking them with a metal tool appearing to be a crowbar. When JCC security guards approached and pursued him, Crofton threw the tool into his passenger window. A security guard managed to pepper spray Crofton through the window before Crofton sped out of the busy parking lot. The incident forced the JCC to issue an emergency closure, disrupting camp pickup and alarming numerous witnesses.
Following the attacks, Crofton sent threatening text messages to a family friend, boasting, “... I just hit two synagogues in 5 minutes,” and stating he would love to kill any police officers who intervened. Law enforcement tracked Crofton to an Albuquerque residence, where he surrendered and was arrested on June 3, by the Albuquerque Police Department. A subsequent federal search warrant executed on his residence and vehicles uncovered the crowbar-like wrecking bar used in the attack, the clothing he wore, a revolver, high-capacity magazines, various other weapons including a machete and brass knuckles, and a torn Ukrainian flag defaced with a drawn swastika.
Crofton is charged with damage to religious property. If convicted of the current charge, the defendant faces up to three years in prison.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison for the District of New Mexico, and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.
The FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tavo Hall and Meg Melick for the District of New Mexico and Trial Attorney Taylor Payne of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
New Jersey Co-Conspirator Sentenced for Role in Scheme to Fraudulently Obtain Loans Guaranteed by the Small Business AdministrationRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A New Jersey man received a federal-prison term, today, for his role in a multi-million-dollar bank fraud conspiracy. As part of the scheme, co-conspirators fraudulently obtained more than $35 million in Small Business Administration (SBA) loans from financial institutions to purchase hotels.
Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced Rajendra G. Parikh, 65, of Monroe, New Jersey, to two years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Additionally, Judge Chasanow ordered Parikh to forfeit $6 million and pay restitution of $6,010,655.72. In 2025, Parikh and his co-conspirators Mehul Ramesh Khatiwala, aka “Mike Khatiwala,” 44, of Voorhees, New Jersey, and Jennifer H. Watkins, 50, of Marlton, New Jersey, pled guilty to the federal charges.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Robert Manchak, Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General (FHFA-OIG), and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey D. Pittano, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), Mid-Atlantic Region. This prosecution is part of the Trump Administration’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.
According to court documents, Parikh was an owner of KPG Hotel Mgmt. LLC (KPG) and Khatiwala was the owner and managing member of Delaware Hotel Group LLC (DHG), and an operator of GMK Consulting LLC (GMK) and KPG. These LLCs were hotel management and loan brokerage companies located in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. Additionally, Watkins served as a project coordinator for DHG and managing member of Forza Consulting LLC, a hotel consulting and loan brokerage company located in Marlton, New Jersey. An additional co-conspirator, Rebecca Marie Cohn, 39, aka Rebecca Marie Stanton, worked as a settlement and title processor for Residential Title & Escrow Company, a real estate title company located in Owings Mills, Maryland.
As part of the scheme, from August 2018 through February 2020, Parikh, Khatiwala, and Watkins conspired to obtain loan proceeds to buy and sell hotels in connection with a hotel-flipping scheme. “Flipping” is a real-estate investment strategy that involves purchasing property to hold for a short period before selling it to make a quick profit. During the SBA-loan application process, the co-conspirators made and caused others to make material misrepresentations and omissions to financial institutions regarding the sellers’ identity, familial relationships between parties, and the nature and amount of the equity injected by the borrowers. The co-conspirators sought loans through the SBA’s Section 7(a) Program, which guaranteed and insured approximately 75-85 percent of these loans, and required that the small business owner/borrower invest a certain amount of their own money into the business to qualify for the loan.In their guilty pleas, Parikh and Khatiwala admitted that they acted as managers or supervisors in connection with the scheme. Additionally, Parikh, Khatiwala, and Watkins admitted that they created shell companies using co-conspirators as straw owners of the entities. These straw owners had no actual ownership interest in the entities as Parikh and Khatiwala were the true owners. The straw owners signed purchase contracts, operating agreements, and related documents to buy hotel properties in the name of the shell companies.
Then co-conspirators, supervised in part by Parikh, created a second company to purchase the hotels from the shell companies at substantially higher prices. After the co-conspirators formed the companies to control both sides of the flip transaction, they solicited banks for small-business loans to finance the buying company’s purchase of the hotel from the straw companies. Then the co-conspirators helped the buying companies qualify for the loans by falsely representing investors’ equity injections to the banks, among other false statements, misrepresentations, and omissions. The financial institutions extending the loans relied on the false statements and misrepresentations.
Judge Chasanow previously sentenced Khatiwala to seven years in federal prison and Watkins to three years. Additionally, Cohn, who pled guilty to knowingly and willfully making false statements to financial institutions in connection with real-estate settlements, was credited with time served.
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.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FHFA-OIG and FDIC-OIG for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Gruber and Ari D. Evans, who are prosecuting the federal case, and recognized Paralegal Specialists Joanna B.N. Huber and Zharde Todman.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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New Hampshire Drug Trafficker Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Manchester, New Hampshire, man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court records, on January 19, 2025, Steven Jones, 46, was traveling in a vehicle that was reportedly driving erratically in York County. A Maine State Police trooper responded and found Jones and his companions parked in a restaurant parking lot. During the encounter, Jones got out of the car and a firearm slipped out of his waistband. He then fled the scene but was ultimately apprehended. Police recovered cocaine, methamphetamine, seven long knives, five firearms (including the one Jones dropped), as well as masks, gloves, tactical gear, and more than $3,000 in U.S. currency. Police later learned that Jones was the leader of a significant drug trafficking organization based in Manchester who was on his way to recover a drug debt—using the weapons and tactical gear he had brought with him—from a Maine-based drug associate.
Jones faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 22 years in prison, a maximum fine of $10 million and a maximum supervised release term of life. 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.
The Maine State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the FBI investigated the case.
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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
More Than 250 New Immigration Cases Added in Western District of TexasRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – Federal prosecutors in the Western District of Texas filed 254 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from June 5 through June 11, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons. Charges were brought against human smugglers and illegal aliens with past convictions for numerous DWIs, violent crimes including crimes against children, thefts, and multiple prior removals. Across the district, 76 of the charges are for improper entry by an alien, 142 are for illegal re-entry, 20 cases are for alien smuggling, and 13 are for fraud and misuse of visas, permits and related documents.
Among the new cases, four individuals were arrested near Socorro and charged via a criminal complaint with alien smuggling after their alleged smuggling scheme was foiled by U.S. Border Patrol agents on June 7. The complaint alleges that agents located and apprehended eight illegal aliens who admitted they had crossed the Rio Grande River, used a ladder to climb over the international boundary fence, and entered the U.S. without inspection or authorization. During processing at the Ysleta Border Patrol Station, agents observed that one of the illegal aliens had received incoming calls and messages from multiple phone numbers associated with alien smuggling activity. Further investigation led to the location and arrests of Adrian Silvestre Ortiz, Sheyla Carrillo-Aguilar and Veronica Madrid, who were allegedly involved in the planned pickup and transportation of the illegal aliens. An alleged fourth conspirator, Irvin Alonso Guzman Luna, admitted he served as the foot guide for the illegal aliens after they crossed into the U.S., according to the criminal complaint.
U.S. citizen Ashley Villalobos is charged with alien smuggling for allegedly attempting to smuggle two Mexican children from Hidalgo that she picked up at a grocery store in Ciudad Juarez. A criminal complaint alleges that Villalobos stated she was going to be paid $1,500 per child and had smuggled illegal alien minors twice in May.
Raul Oliver Rede-Mendez, an illegal alien from Mexico with a lengthy record of felony convictions, was found at or near Texas State Highway Loop 375, about a half mile west of the Bridge of the Americas Port of Entry in El Paso. Rede-Mendez has also gone by the names Raul Fierro-Mendez, Juan Rede, and Raul Reyes. He’s been removed from the U.S. four times, the last being in May 2024, following an illegal re-entry conviction. He’s also been convicted of failure to stop at the scene of personal injury, theft by shoplifting, obstructing judiciary/congress/legislature, assault, and more.
Edwin Eberaldo Miranda-Hinojosa, an illegal alien from Bolivia, was arrested in El Paso for allegedly attempting to evade immigration laws by appearing under an assumed or fictitious name. According to a criminal complaint, Miranda-Hinojosa applied for admission into the United States at the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry via the pedestrian primary, presenting a counterfeit Border Crossing Card. The complaint alleges that Miranda-Hinojosa initially claimed that the document was his but then stated that he obtained it from another individual and was going to pay $4,000 for it after he entered the U.S. Miranda-Hinojosa was removed from the U.S. in December 2025, following his second DWI conviction within five years. He has also been previously convicted multiple times of assault and battery of a family member.
Javier Granados-Leon, an illegal alien from Mexico with eight prior deportations, was found in the Hays County Jail on June 4. His criminal record includes three convictions for improper entry by an alien, four convictions for illegal re-entry, two DWIs, two failures to identify, two convictions for manufacturing/delivering controlled substances, and one conviction for assault causing bodily injury. Granados-Leon has also gone by the names Miguel Basilio Hernandez and Mondregon-Jaimes. He’s now charged again with one count of illegal re-entry.
On June 5, ICE Enforcement Removal Operations officers responded to assist Texas Department of Public Safety State Troopers with a traffic stop on Interstate Highway 35 in New Braunfels. According to a criminal complaint, the driver of the pulled over vehicle was Alejandro Quezada-Mota, an illegal alien from Mexico, who was previously removed from the United States in December 2011. In April 2008, Quezada-Mota was convicted in Harris County of aggravated sexual assault of a child and was sentenced to seven years confinement. He now faces one count of illegal re-entry and, if he’s convicted, up to 20 years in federal prison.
In Del Rio, Santos Rutilio Barahona-Banegas, a convicted felon and illegal alien from Honduras, was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol agents. Barahona-Rojas has been deported five times, the most recent being in March 2023. His criminal record includes prior convictions of cocaine possession, family violence and child cruelty, illegal re-entry, and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
Also in Del Rio, USBP agents arrested Fernando Omar Aguilar-Gonzalez aka Manuel Aguilar Pena. Aguilar-Gonzalez is an illegal alien from Mexico who has been deported from the U.S. four times, the last being in July 2019. He has been previously convicted of grand larceny, possession of a controlled substance, escape from confinement, and burglary of a habitation. He’s now charged with illegal re-entry.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including ICE, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Missouri Couple Sentenced for Abducting and Sexually Abusing 13-Year-Old They Groomed OnlineRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A married couple was sentenced today to lengthy prison terms for grooming a teenager online before picking her up in Virginia and repeatedly sexually abusing her as they drove back to their apartment in Missouri.
Justin Johiah Curtright, 41, was sentenced today to 45 years in federal prison. His wife, Christin Marie Curtright, 33, was sentenced to 27 years. The Curtrights, of Springfield, Missouri, pled guilty in 2025 to sexual exploitation of a minor and transportation of a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
“This Office is committed to seeking maximum accountability against predators who target our children online or through other means. This sentence should send a clear message to those who exploit our children: you will be identified by law enforcement and prosecuted to the full extent of the law by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci. “I wish to thank the Springfield, Missouri Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation for their outstanding work bringing these predators to justice.”
“The abduction and abuse of a young child is a crime beyond measure- feeding on fear, destroying innocence, and leaving scars that last a lifetime. This case exemplifies just how important it is for parents to stay alert. The internet can be a hunting ground, and awareness is your child’s first line of defense. Law enforcement will continue to hunt down and bring to justice those who continue to prey on our youth,” said Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division.
According to court documents, in 2024 Justin Curtright first contacted the minor victim on Discord, an online video chatting platform. Justin later introduced the victim to his wife, and from that point, the three talked extensively, both online and by phone. As encouraged by Justin, the victim’s family did not know about her contact with the Curtrights.
The Curtrights also engaged in sexually explicit acts on camera while video chatting with the victim and urged her to do the same. Justin would frequently pretend to be the victim’s father.
After weeks of planning, in the summer of 2024, the Curtrights met the victim near her home in Virginia. The victim got into the Curtrights’ van, and they drove her back to Missouri. While on the road, the Curtrights took turns sexually abusing the victim in the back of the van. Once they reached their apartment, they continued their sexual exploitation of the victim for several more days.
Days later, officers with the Springfield Police Department went to the Curtrights’ apartment, where they found the victim hiding in the back of a closet in the Curtrights’ bedroom. The victim had an ID card that Justin Curtright gave her, which falsely represented her as Justin’s daughter.
Springfield officers seized the Curtrights’ phones, which held video and images of the victim’s online sexual exploitation, as well as images of the victim being abused during the drive to Missouri.
Investigators later obtained extensive Discord chat logs, which revealed how the Curtrights doggedly groomed and manipulated the victim. The chat logs also showed that Justin was actively seeking and sexually exploiting other children online. Justin told his wife that he had a fantasy of sexually abusing a teenaged runaway.
First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Springfield Police Department, and various local law enforcement agencies investigated the case.
Assistant United States Attorneys Drew O. Inman and Lee S. Brett prosecuted the case for the United States.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
Middle Tennessee Man Indicted for Crypto Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal grand jury in the Western District of Tennessee returned an 11-count indictment charging a middle Tennessee man with multiple crimes related to his running of a cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme while a resident of Shelby County. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the indictment today.
As alleged in the indictment, Misam M. Abidi, 47, of Nolensville, Tennessee, executed a scheme to defraud millions of dollars from investors across the country through his cryptocurrency investment firm, Star Credit Holdings, between 2020 and 2024. Abidi made a variety of misrepresentations to his investors in order to convince them to invest in Star Credit Holdings. These misrepresentations included: 1) guaranteed high rates of return, (2) that Abidi had a significant reserve fund to make his investors whole if necessary, and (3) that Abidi had substantially more capital under his management than he actually did.
The indictment alleges that Abidi provided the Star Credit Holdings investors with fictitious statements, as well as returns that were purportedly from trading activity but were the investment principal of other investors. Moreover, Abidi helped his investors take out loans in their names to provide them with greater access to funds to invest with Star Credit Holdings. Abidi, with the knowledge of at least one investor, falsified an affidavit stating that the investor’s identity had been stolen to take out the loan. Abidi diverted over $1,900,000 of investor funds to himself and his family. Additionally, Abidi failed to report income from his Star Credit Holdings business on his income tax returns.
The indictment alleges 3 counts of wire fraud, 2 counts of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, 3 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns, and 3 counts of money laundering. If convicted, Abidi faces a maximum penalty of 20 years for each count of wire fraud, 5 years for each count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, 3 years for each count of preparing false tax returns, and 10 years for each count of money laundering. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Ponzi schemes, cryptocurrency scams, and financial fraud can be devastating to individual investors, harmful to financial institutions, and detrimental to the U.S. Treasury. We commend our federal agency partners for their outstanding investigation in this egregious case. Wherever fraud occurs in the Western District of Tennessee, this office will be prepared to hold offenders accountable."
“Schemes that rely on deception, fictitious investment statements, and the misuse of loan proceeds undermine the integrity of our financial system and erode the trust of honest taxpayers,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins, Charlotte Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “Our special agents are committed to following the money, uncovering complex financial schemes, and bringing to justice those who abuse our tax and financial infrastructure for their own benefit.”
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Secret Service.
Assistant United States Attorney William Carey Bateman III, for the Western District of Tennessee, is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations of criminal conduct, and not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.
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For more information, please contact the media relations team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Master of Shadow Fleet Tanker Pleads Guilty in D.C. for Evading U.S. Coast Guard During Weeks-Long PursuitRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — Avtandil Kalandadze, 47, the former ship master of a shadow fleet tanker that historically transported Iran- and Venezuela-origin oil for the ultimate benefit of U.S. adversaries, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court for refusing to obey orders from the U.S. Coast Guard during a multi-week pursuit from the Caribbean Sea through to the North Atlantic Ocean, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
“This defendant put American sailors’ and Coast Guardsmen’s lives at risk while attempting to evade U.S. sanctions and move illicit oil,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro for the District of Columbia. “By refusing lawful orders from the U.S. Coast Guard and leading them on a chase across the Atlantic Ocean, he not only obstructed federal law enforcement, but forced our service members to carry out a dangerous boarding operation in heavy seas. Today’s guilty plea makes clear that those who endanger American service members and attempt to undermine our sanctions laws will be held fully accountable.”
Kalandadze, of the Republic of Georgia, pleaded guilty before Judge Beryl A. Howell to failing to heave to a Coast Guard cutter. Sentencing is set for August 7. Failing to obey an order to heave to carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, absent aggravating circumstances. Kalandadze will be deported at the completion of his prison term.
“Kalandadze’s guilty plea today should serve as a warning to ghost fleet owners and operators and all those who man or otherwise support these dangerous, decrepit vessels,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The Department of Justice and our interagency partners will pursue the ghost fleet and its facilitators from the Caribbean Sea to the North Atlantic, to the Indian and Pacific Oceans, the Persian Gulf, and anywhere in between. You will not escape.”
“Kalandadze led the U.S. Coast Guard on a reckless weeks-long chase across the Atlantic, endangering servicemembers’ lives all to turn a profit on sanctioned oil for the benefit of U.S. adversaries,” said Acting Deputy Executive Associate Director John Condon of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “Despite early attempts to evade detection, Homeland Security Investigations and our task force partners used our expertise in countering illicit finance and dark fleet movements to identify, locate, and seize these sanctioned tankers. HSI’s success in this space comes from our unique transnational criminal investigative authorities, using every tool available to protect the homeland from bad actors working to literally fuel America’s enemies.”
“Kalandadze used a range of deceptive maritime tactics in an attempt to evade the U.S. Coast Guard and move millions of barrels of illicit oil tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a designated foreign terrorist organization, and other sanctioned actors engaged in terrorism,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. “Those who attempt to evade U.S. sanctions by ignoring U.S. Coast Guard orders will be investigated thoroughly. The FBI and our partners will continue to identify, disrupt, and hold accountable anyone who uses the global maritime system to finance terrorism.”
According to the plea agreement, from September 2025 until late-December 2025, Kalandadze was the Master of the Motor Tanker Bella 1. During his time as Master, the Bella 1 transported approximately 1.8 million barrels of Iran-origin oil to Asia. During this time, Kalandadze employed common obfuscation techniques to hide the activities of the Bella 1, including sailing with an inactivated Automatic Identification System (AIS) and concealing the name of the Bella 1 while engaging in a ship-to-ship transfer of the Iran-origin oil to another vessel.
In December 2025, while under his charge, the Bella 1 was enroute to Venezuela when it was intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Munro. The Bella 1 failed to comply with the Coast Guard’s order to heave to and fled across the Atlantic Ocean. The Munro pursued the Bella 1 throughout its flight and, on January 7 aided in the execution of a lawful seizure of the vessel.
During the flight and at the direction of a corporate representative of the Operator, Kalandadze took multiple steps to avoid the Coast Guard interdiction, including disobeying multiple orders by authorized federal law enforcement officers to heave to the U.S. Coast Guard’s Munro and destroying records and information onboard the Bella 1.
This case is being investigated by HSI and the FBI. Significant assistance on this matter was provided by the Department of Justice’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section and the Office of International Affairs. The Department extends its gratitude to the men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Department of War for their bravery, dedication, and assistance on this matter.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher T. Tortorice and Jonathan Hornok for the District of Columbia and Acting Deputy Chief Sean R. Heiden of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
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Master of Ghost Fleet Tanker Pleads Guilty in D.C. for Evading U.S. Coast Guard During Weeks-Long PursuitRead the Press Release
Avtandil Kalandadze, 47, the former ship master of a ghost fleet tanker that historically transported Iran- and Venezuela-origin oil for the ultimate benefit of U.S. adversaries, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court for refusing to obey orders from the U.S. Coast Guard during a multi-week pursuit from the Caribbean Sea through to the North Atlantic Ocean.
“Kalandadze’s guilty plea today should serve as a warning to ghost fleet owners and operators and all those who man or otherwise support these dangerous, decrepit vessels,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The Department of Justice and our interagency partners will pursue the ghost fleet and its facilitators from the Caribbean Sea to the North Atlantic, to the Indian and Pacific Oceans, the Persian Gulf, and anywhere in between. You will not escape.”
“This defendant put American sailors’ and Coast Guardsmen’s lives at risk while attempting to evade U.S. sanctions and move illicit oil,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia. “By refusing lawful orders from the U.S. Coast Guard and leading them on a chase across the Atlantic Ocean, he not only obstructed federal law enforcement, but forced our service members to carry out a dangerous boarding operation in heavy seas. Today’s guilty plea makes clear that those who endanger American service members and attempt to undermine our sanctions laws will be held fully accountable.”
“Kalandadze led the U.S. Coast Guard on a reckless weeks-long chase across the Atlantic, endangering servicemembers’ lives all to turn a profit on sanctioned oil for the benefit of U.S. adversaries,” said Acting Deputy Executive Associate Director John Condon of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “Despite early attempts to evade detection, Homeland Security Investigations and our task force partners used our expertise in countering illicit finance and dark fleet movements to identify, locate, and seize these sanctioned tankers. HSI’s success in this space comes from our unique transnational criminal investigative authorities, using every tool available to protect the homeland from bad actors working to literally fuel America’s enemies.”
“Kalandadze used a range of deceptive maritime tactics in an attempt to evade the U.S. Coast Guard and move millions of barrels of illicit oil tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a designated foreign terrorist organization, and other sanctioned actors engaged in terrorism,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. “Those who attempt to evade U.S. sanctions by ignoring U.S. Coast Guard orders will be investigated thoroughly. The FBI and our partners will continue to identify, disrupt, and hold accountable anyone who uses the global maritime system to finance terrorism.”
Kalandadze, of the Republic of Georgia, pleaded guilty before Judge Beryl A. Howell to failing to heave to a Coast Guard cutter. Sentencing is set for Aug. 7. Failing to obey an order to heave to carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, absent aggravating circumstances. Kalandadze will be deported at the completion of his prison term.
According to the plea agreement, from September 2025 until late-December 2025, Kalandadze was the Master of the Motor Tanker Bella 1. During his time as Master, the Bella 1 transported approximately 1.8 million barrels of Iran-origin oil to Asia. During this time, Kalandadze employed common obfuscation techniques to hide the activities of the Bella 1, including sailing with an inactivated Automatic Identification System (AIS) and concealing the name of the Bella 1 while engaging in a ship-to-ship transfer of the Iran-origin oil to another vessel.
In December 2025, while under his charge, the Bella 1 was enroute to Venezuela when it was intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Munro. The Bella 1 failed to comply with the Coast Guard’s order to heave to and fled across the Atlantic Ocean. The Munro pursued the Bella 1 throughout its flight and, on Jan. 7 aided in the execution of a lawful seizure of the vessel.
During the flight and at the direction of a corporate representative of the Operator, Kalandadze took multiple steps to avoid the Coast Guard interdiction, including disobeying multiple orders by authorized federal law enforcement officers to heave to the U.S. Coast Guard Munro and destroying records and information onboard the Bella 1.
This case is being investigated by HSI and the FBI. Significant assistance on this matter was provided by the Department of Justice’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section and the Office of International Affairs. The Department extends its gratitude to the men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Department of War for their bravery, dedication, and assistance on this matter.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher T. Tortorice and Jonathan Hornok for the District of Columbia and Acting Deputy Chief Sean R. Heiden of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
Maryland Man Sentenced in D.C. to 42 Months in Trafficking Counterfeit OxycodoneRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Daijon West, 29, of Prince George’s County, Maryland, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 42 months in connection with a years-long conspiracy to distribute fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills in the Washington, D.C., area, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
West pleaded guilty on Feb. 5, 2026, to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. In addition to the prison term, Judge Rudolph Contreras ordered West to serve 4 years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 68-month prison sentence.
According to court papers, West distributed fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills in the Washington region during a period of several years. He obtained bulk quantities of the pills from a supplier in California, either by traveling to the West Coast himself or by arranging for the pills to be mailed to him. In one instance, in May 2022, law enforcement seized a package containing about 5,500 counterfeit oxycodone pills sent from California to West’s home in Maryland.
Between September 2022 and April 2025, West sold fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills to a law enforcement source on nine occasions. The quantities ranged from 100 to more than 1,000 pills per transaction. Testing confirmed the pills contained fentanyl, and in some transactions, they also detected fentanyl analogues, methamphetamine, xylazine, or other substances.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Washington Field Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration – Washington Division, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Washington Division. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Solomon Eppel.
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Maryland Felon Pleads Guilty to Carrying Loaded Glock Outside D.C. Gas StationRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Tyzell Myrick, 30, a previously convicted felon residing in Bowie, Maryland, pleaded guilty today in connection with his possession of a firearm when he was stopped by police at a Northwest D.C. gas station, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Myrick pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. Judge Contreras scheduled sentencing for September 30.
According to court papers, in the early morning hours of Aug. 17, 2025, Metropolitan Police Department officers on patrol near the 900 block of Florida Avenue NW observed Myrick exit a gas station with a large rectangular bulge in his front waistband inconsistent with human anatomy.
As officers approached, Myrick turned away and moved toward the wall of the gas station. Officers stopped Myrick and conducted a pat-down, during which they recovered a Glock 22 .40 caliber pistol loaded with a round in the chamber and 20 additional rounds in the magazine.
At the time of his arrest, Myrick had a prior federal conviction in the District of Maryland for interference with interstate commerce by robbery and for using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, for which he received a seven-year federal prison sentence.
This case was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative. Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Washington Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Liss is prosecuting the case.
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Marshalltown Man Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced June 11, 2026, to more than eight years in federal prison.
Juan Eduardo Rivas Martinez, age 25, from Marshalltown, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 12, 2026, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
Information at the sentencing hearing showed that on June 11, 2024, Martinez distributed over 450 grams of ice methamphetamine to a confidential informant. After that transaction, law enforcement officers attempted to stop Martinez but he fled from the officers on a bicycle. Martinez crashed the bicycle he was riding and continued to flee on foot. Officers caught Martinez. Martinez had over $1,000 in his possession. As Martinez was fleeing, he threw a bag to the ground. Officers found and searched the bag and found over 440 grams of ice methamphetamine inside.
Martinez was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Martinez was sentenced to 97 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Martinez is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
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 Kansas City is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, covering Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska. HSTF Kansas City is composed of agents and officers from the Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the State Investigative Agencies for Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska, and the Kansas City Missouri Police Department.
This HSTF case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael S.A. Hudson and investigated by HSTF Kansas City, with the assistance of the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force consisting of the Waterloo Police Department, Cedar Falls Police Department, Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Department, Evansdale Police Department, Waverly Police Department, Hudson Police Department, La Porte City Police Department, and the Bremer County Sheriff’s Department, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-2033-005.
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Man Sentenced to More Than Four Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearms and Injuring Law Enforcement Agent During Arrest AttemptRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to more than four years in federal prison for illegally possessing two firearms and injuring a law enforcement agent who was attempting to arrest him.
On the morning of Jan. 31, 2022, members of a DEA Enforcement Group, accompanied by Homeland Security Investigations agents and an officer from the Posen, Ill. Police Department, attempted to execute an arrest warrant for ANDREW VESELY outside of his residence in Posen, Ill. Vesely had two outstanding felony arrest warrants—one for aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer and the other for criminal trespass to a motor vehicle—and he was also suspected of stealing multiple Jeep Grand Cherokees, one of which was parked outside the residence.
When Vesely walked out of his home and approached a rear alley, four officers moved to apprehend him. Vesely jumped into the Jeep and managed to start the engine before a DEA agent reached into the open driver’s door and grabbed Vesely by the front of his coat to stop him from fleeing. Vesely put the Jeep into drive as he and the agent struggled for control of the car. As the Jeep began to move forward, Vesely’s backpack fell onto the ground in the alley. The agent lost his grip and was flung into several garbage cans as Vesely sped off.
Vesely drove out of Posen at a high rate of speed and into the neighboring town of Markham. Officers from the Markham Police Department, who had been alerted by a dispatcher, chased Vesely on a major throughfare at more than 100 miles per hour through several traffic signals. Vesely crashed the Jeep into an embankment and was captured while attempting to run off.
The backpack that had fallen in the alley contained a semiautomatic handgun and a spare magazine, both loaded with armor-piercing rounds. The backpack also contained a car-key programming device, 31 car-key fobs, and other tools suitable for stealing cars. Law enforcement later searched the room where Vesely resided in the home and discovered another loaded semiautomatic handgun, three loaded magazines, a bullet-proof vest, police scanner, 25 key fobs, and another car-key programming device.
Vesely, 25, of Posen, Ill., pleaded guilty in July 2025 to one count of forcibly resisting, impeding, and interfering with an Officer of the United States government and one count of illegal possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. On June 9, 2026, U.S. District Judge John F. Kness sentenced Vesely to four years and four months in federal prison.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Todd C. Smith, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Chicago Field Division, and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of HSI. Valuable assistance was provided by the Posen, Ill. Police Department. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney William R. Hogan, Jr.
“Violence in general, and most certainly violence against law enforcement officers tear at the very fabric that holds our communities together,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “Violence offends our way of life and undermines the safety and trust that we all depend on to achieve the pursuit of happiness. As I have repeatedly stated since becoming United States Attorney, criminal attacks on law enforcement constitute a direct assault on the rule of law as well as our justice system and will be met with swift, firm, and unequivocal legal consequences.”
“The sentencing in this case sends a clear message that violence against law enforcement officers will not be tolerated,” said DEA SAC Smith. “DEA Special Agents and Task Force Officers put themselves in harm’s way every day to protect our communities from drug trafficking and violent crime. We are grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their commitment to ensuring accountability in this case.”
Kentucky Man Sentenced to Six Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Traffic MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Kentucky Man Sentenced to Six Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Traffic Methamphetamine
CONCORD – A Kentucky man was sentenced today in federal court for his role in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Riley Thibodeau, 27, was sentenced by U.S. District Chief Judge Samantha D. Elliott to 72 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release. Thibodeau previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. His co-defendant Ronny Ramos was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment, on December 9, 2024.
“This defendant was the demand driving this conspiracy, pound after pound of methamphetamine ordered into New Hampshire, paid for, and delivered,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan. “This sentence reflects the serious harm that kind of trafficking inflicts on our communities, and this office will continue pursuing the links in these deadly supply chains.”
“Methamphetamine continues to destroy lives and threaten the safety of our communities. This sentence holds a dangerous drug trafficker accountable for choosing profit over people and for helping fuel the flow of illicit drugs into our neighborhoods in New Hampshire,” said Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget, New England Field Division. “DEA and our law enforcement partners remain unwavering in our commitment to identifying, investigating, and dismantling the criminal networks responsible for distributing these harmful substances. Today’s sentence serves as a reminder that those who engage in drug trafficking will face serious consequences.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, Thibodeau conspired to distribute a total of approximately 50 pounds of methamphetamine from Massachusetts to New Hampshire on several occasions. From March through October 2023, Ramos received five separate orders of methamphetamine from Thibodeau, via an intermediary. The payments from Thibodeau for the methamphetamine were made via the same intermediary. The amounts per order ranged from 10-12 pounds at a price of approximately $20,000 for each order. The methamphetamine was delivered to Thibodeau in New Hampshire for redistribution. On October 31, 2023, law enforcement agents arrested Ramos in Methuen, Massachusetts, and seized 10 pounds of methamphetamine destined for Thibodeau in New Hampshire.
The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cesar A. Vega is prosecuting the case.
This effort 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.
Justice Department Files to Transfer 45,000 Acres from Arizona to Hopi TribeRead the Press Release
Today, the Justice Department and Department of the Interior announced the filing of a “friendly condemnation” to effect the transfer of more than 45,000 acres of land from the State of Arizona to the United States to be held in trust for the Hopi Tribe. Upon the Hopi Tribe depositing $8.4 million in the registry of the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona as the estimate of just compensation, title to the land will pass from Arizona to the United States. Interior will then immediately place the lands into trust for the Hopi Tribe.
The filing is the second in a series of condemnation actions that will ultimately bring over 270,000 acres of land — including over 110,000 acres of condemned Arizona state trust lands — into united ownership for the benefit of the Hopi Tribe.
“Today’s filing is another example of the executive branch faithfully carrying out the laws that Congress enacted,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “As directed by the Navajo-Hopi Land Dispute Settlement Act of 1996, the Department of Justice is condemning, with Arizona’s consent, over 45,000 acres of Arizona state trust lands using funds provided by the Hopi Tribe, and the Department of the Interior will transfer those lands into trust status for the Tribe. In carrying out this law, the United States is proud to assist the Hopi Tribe in the continued expansion of their trust lands and growth of their ranching operations.”
“This filing marks a significant milestone in fulfilling long-standing commitments to the Hopi Tribe and reflects the Trump administration’s focus on building strong, enduring tribal partnerships,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “By placing these lands into trust, we are strengthening the tribe’s ability to steward its resources, expand opportunities for economic development and exercise greater self-governance. The Department of the Interior is proud to work alongside the Department of Justice, the Hopi Tribe and our state partners to advance this historic effort and ensure these lands are secured for the benefit of the Hopi people for generations to come.”
“Today is a historic day and a day for celebration for the Hopi Tribe — the promises made to the Hopi Tribe by 1996 Navajo-Hopi Land Dispute Settlement Act are being fulfilled,” said Chairman Lamar B. Keevama of the Hopi Tribe. “To all those in the State of Arizona, at the Department of Interior, and at the Department of Justice who have had a hand in this effort, kwa’kwha — thank you. Special thanks to Governor Hobbs and State Land Commissioner Sahid for their leadership and dedication to this effort. The Hopi People are in the process of planting their corn. I pray that this land reacquisition is a newly planted seed that will provide abundant benefits for the Hopi Tribe. It is fitting that this historic moment coincides with such an important time."
“For decades, the State of Arizona has failed to complete the promise enshrined in the Navajo-Hopi Land Dispute Settlement Act of 1996,” said Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs. “I’m proud to do what five governors before me did not. When I became governor, I made a pledge to work with Tribal communities as partners in governance to create opportunity, security and freedom for every community throughout our state. This historic land transfer will help us do just that by following through on a longstanding promise. I will continue working hand-in-hand with tribal partners to ensure their sovereignty is respected and their communities have the economic opportunity they need to thrive.”
This condemnation is filed under the authority of the Navajo-Hopi Land Dispute Settlement Act of 1996, which ratified a 1995 resolution to a long-running land dispute in northeastern Arizona between the Hopi Tribe, the Navajo Tribe, and the United States.
Attorneys from ENRD’s Land Acquisition Section are handling the matter.
Illegal alien, long-time resident of Renton, Washington sentenced to 7 years in prison for distributing pound quantities of methamphetamine and cocaineRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 41- year-old Renton, Washington resident, illegally present in the U.S. was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 84 months in prison for his role as a significant drug distributor to both Western Washington and Western Kentucky, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Manuel Garcia Hernandez, a Mexican national, was arrested in June 2024, following a wiretap investigation of a drug trafficking organization importing methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine into the Seattle area from Mexico and Colombia. When law enforcement searched his truck and residence, they found heroin as well as a loaded firearm, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and 12 mobile phones. At sentencing U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez said, “This was an extremely serious, very significant drug conspiracy with national and international reach, exposing multiple communities to harm.”
“This case highlights the problems with sanctuary policies. Those in favor of these policies see a man who lived in the community for 20 years, owned a construction business, and has a family. In reality, this defendant entered the United States illegally and willfully participated in the destruction of other families by spreading meth, heroin and cocaine in our community,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “He was previously convicted of crimes in Washington including a 2022 DUI, but sanctuary policies kept him from being turned over to federal immigration authorities. It is a disturbing reality that in Washington State it takes a federal felony conviction to finally get him removed from the U.S. following his term in prison.”
“This investigation dismantled a drug trafficking operation responsible for distributing dangerous narcotics across in Western Washington by tracking the source of supply all the way back to the jungles of Colombia,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Rob Saccone, DEA Seattle Field Division. “Working alongside our federal, state, local, and international partners, DEA remains committed to targeting the criminal organizations that peddle poison, drive addiction, and threaten public safety. This work is central to DEA’s commitment to a Fentanyl-Free America by reducing the availability of synthetic opioids, saving lives, and protecting our communities.”
According to records filed in the case, between 2020 and 2024, the Homeland Security Task Force began investigation of a drug trafficking organization bringing drugs into the U.S. from Mexico and Colombia. In all the investigation resulted in seizures of more than 32 kilograms of cocaine, 14 kilograms of methamphetamine, 83,000 fentanyl-laced pills, 3 kilograms of heroin, and 1 kilogram of fentanyl powder. Multiple firearms were seized including one at Garcia Hernandez’ home.
Garcia Hernandez became a focus of investigation during wiretaps conducted in late 2023 that showed he was cutting deals for pound quantities of meth and cocaine. During the same time that Garcia Hernandez was redistributing these drugs in the Western District of Washington, he also brokered a three-kilogram deal for controlled substances that were to be delivered in the Western District of Kentucky. He was arrested in June 2024, and in May 2025, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
In asking for an 87-month prison sentence prosecutors wrote to the court that Garcia Hernandez had kept drug dealing even after he learned of arrests of coconspirators in Kentucky. “Garcia Hernandez engaged in a sustained course of conduct that involved the distribution of methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine in Washington and the planned distribution of heroin in Kentucky… That Garcia Hernandez continued to engage in drug trafficking activity notwithstanding the fact of the Kentucky (arrests) demonstrates a complete lack of respect for the law. The recommended sentence sends a clear message that continued armed drug trafficking—after law enforcement intervention―will be met with the substantial sanction warranted by such conduct,” prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memo.
This investigation 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 Seattle comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), The United States Marshals Service (USMS), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the United States Secret Service (USSS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.
The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Seattle Police Department.
The Colombian National Police (CNP) and Colombian Prosecutor’s Office (Fiscalia General) partnered with U.S. law enforcement on this investigation. The Justice Department’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of the Judicial Attaché in Bogotá provided critical assistance.
The cases from this investigation are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joe Silvio and C. Andrew Colasurdo in the Western District of Washington.
Illegal alien from Guatemala sentenced to five years in prison for trafficking cocaineRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Guatemalan national was sentenced yesterday to five years in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
According to court documents, from Aug. 27, 2025, to Sept. 17, 2025, law enforcement conducted three controlled transactions during which Mitre Vega Gonzalez, 47, sold cocaine. On Sept. 18, 2025, investigators searched Vega Gonzalez’s residence and recovered a handgun, a loaded magazine, $5,410, and at least 510 grams of cocaine.
USAO EDVAThe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division investigated this case with assistance from Prince William County Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Clement and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Harvey prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:26-cr-43.
Illegal Alien Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national unlawfully residing in Dorchester, Mass. was sentenced on June 9, 2026 in federal court in Boston for trafficking thousands of fentanyl pills.
Waner Bernabel Presinal, 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to five years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In Novembre 2025, Bernabel Presinal pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
On April 12, 2024, an undercover agent ordered 2,000 pressed fentanyl pills and a sample of methamphetamine from Anderson Ernesto Andujar Echavarria for $4,000. Bernabel Presinal delivered the fentanyl pills and methamphetamine to Andujar Echavarria at his home in Dorchester. Andujar Echavarria then delivered the fentanyl pills and sample of methamphetamine to the undercover agent. It was later confirmed that the bags Andujar Echavarria handed the undercover agent contained 222 grams of fentanyl and 1.8 grams of methamphetamine.
In September 2024, Bernabel Presinal was charged with Andujar Echavarria and two other co-conspirators. Thousands of fentanyl pills and hundreds of grams of fentanyl were seized from Andujar Echavarria at the time of his arrest. In December 2025, Andujar Echavarria pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 10, 2026.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Pohl of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
Georgia Man Indicted for Distributing Methamphetamine in the Northern District of FloridaRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Jimmy Randell Chason, 69, of Cairo, Georgia, has been indicted in federal court on three counts of distribution of methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges.
Chason appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Charles A. Stampelos in Tallahassee, Florida. Change of plea is scheduled for June 15, 2026, at 11:30 am before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor in Tallahassee, Florida.
If convicted, Chason faces 10 years’ to life imprisonment on each count.
The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and North Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Four men indicted for firearms-related chargesRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, Georgia: Four men have been indicted by the June term of the federal Grand Jury in the Southern District of Georgia for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announced the indictments. Those facing federal charges include:
- Averelle Baker, 27, of Savannah, indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
- Miguel Antonio Davis, 32, of Augusta, indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
- Jameze D. Moore, 34, of Savannah, indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and,
- Timetrius Neal, 28, of Thomson, Georgia, indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The cases listed above have been investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, and local law enforcement agencies. These cases are being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Makeia R. Jonese, Matthew Breedon, and Henry W. Syms Jr.
Former Kansas business executive and Latvian broker sentenced to prison for violating U.S. export laws by smuggling avionics equipment to RussiaRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A former executive of a Kansas-based avionics company was sentenced to 32 months in prison for circumventing United States export laws to sell advanced aviation technology to Russian end users.
According to court documents, Douglas Edward Robertson, 58, of Olathe, Kansas, the former vice president of KanRus Trading Company Inc., pleaded guilty to export control and money laundering violations.
After Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. government tightened export controls concerning Russia. Robertson and two codefendants continued to purchase, sell, and export sophisticated and controlled avionics equipment to customers in Russia without the required licenses from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Robertson was arrested in March 2023 for smuggling U.S. avionics to Russia by lying about the exports’ value, end users, and end destinations.
Oleg Chistyakov, a/k/a Olegs Čitsjakovs, 56, of the Republic of Latvia, acted as a broker for KanRus. He was sentenced to 28 months in prison after pleading guilty to his part in the conspiracy.
Cyril Gregory Buyanovsky, 63, of Lawrence, the former President and owner of KanRus, is awaiting sentencing. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy and money laundering, and he consented to the forfeiture of over $450,000 worth of avionics equipment and accessories and a $50,000 personal forfeiture judgment.
“The U.S. changed trade restrictions with Russia after its invasion of Ukraine for a reason. These defendants put money over country and considered themselves more clever than Customs officials. They thought they could circumvent the restrictions without being detected, but they were wrong,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “Smugglers can’t fly under the radar without federal investigators ultimately uncovering their criminal activities.”
“The sentencing marks another milestone in the government’s successful effort to hold those accountable who conspire to circumvent and bypass U.S. regulations. The individuals in this case conspired to illegally purchase, sell and export sophisticated aviation equipment to Russia. Robertson’s fraudulent actions were willful and substantial. The sentencing should provide assurance to the public: the FBI will investigate and arrest those who wish to violate our nation’s laws,” said Chris Ormerod, FBI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement investigated the case. The Latvian authorities assisted in the investigation while U.S. Customs and Border Protection provided substantial assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Rask and Ryan Huschka for the District of Kansas as well as Adam Barry, a former trial attorney of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, prosecuted the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance.
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Former Intelligence Community Contractor Pleads Guilty to Accepting KickbacksRead the Press Release
A former Intelligence Community contractor pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit offenses against the United States by soliciting and accepting kickbacks.
The defendant, David Duggin, 55, of Orrtanna, Pennsylvania, was a former Senior Systems Engineer and on-site contractor at a U.S. government Intelligence Community agency.
“Mr. Duggin exploited his position as a government contractor in the intelligence community at the expense of taxpayers,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. “The Antitrust Division and its law enforcement partners will continue to hold those who seek profit through fraudulent schemes, accountable.”
“The defendant broke faith with the men and women of the United States Intelligence Community — who work tirelessly and often anonymously in defense of our nation — to enrich himself with hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks,” said Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Daniel Glad of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The defendant now faces years in prison for corrupting a competitive procurement process backing our national security.”
“Mr. Duggin took advantage of his position to enrich himself and his co-conspirators. Our office will not tolerate this greedy, deceitful behavior that, if unchecked, can lead to an erosion of public trust and impact on our national security,” said U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will not hesitate to hold accountable any individual who attempts to defraud our government.”
“Mr. Duggin betrayed the trust placed in him by exploiting his access to sensitive government systems to steer contracts for personal gain,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Allison Russo of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS). “This outcome reflects the strong partnership between DCIS, our federal investigative counterparts, and the Department of Justice, and underscores our shared commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the Department of War and the broader Intelligence Community.”
“David Duggin repeatedly put himself before American taxpayers who trusted him to act on their behalf and for their benefit,” said Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement and government partners to hold accountable those seeking to profit through fraud and deception.”
According to documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, Duggin and his co-conspirators corruptly used his on-site access to sensitive information at an intelligence agency to enrich himself and others by illegally obtaining government contracts for millions of dollars of hardware and software procured by U.S. government customers. Duggin’s co-conspirators paid Duggin at least $510,000 in illegal kickbacks in exchange for him influencing the procurement process to favor his co-conspirators. The conspiracy thwarted the competitive bidding process for the U.S. from at least as early as June 2018 and continued through at least as late as April 2024.
The maximum penalty for conspiring to commit an offense against the United States by accepting illegal kickbacks is five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Moreover, the fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime if either amount is greater than the statutory maximum fine.
The DCIS and the FBI Baltimore Field Office are investigating the case, among others. Trial Attorneys Elizabeth French, Anna Wang, and Ronald Fiorillo for the Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Phelps and Matthew Shea for the District of Maryland are prosecuting the case.
The Justice Department’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF) is a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government — federal, state and local. To learn more about the PCSF, or to report information on bid rigging, price fixing, market allocation and other anticompetitive conduct related to government spending, go to www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force.
Anyone with information in connection with this investigation can contact the PCSF at the link listed above. Whistleblowers who voluntarily report original information about antitrust and related offenses that result in criminal fines or other recoveries of at least $1 million may be eligible to receive a whistleblower reward. Whistleblower awards can range from 15 to 30 percent of the money collected. For more information on the Antitrust Whistleblower Rewards Program, including a link to submit reports, visit www.justice.gov/atr/whistleblower-rewards.
Former Intelligence Community Contractor Pleads Guilty to Accepting KickbacksRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A former intelligence community contractor pled guilty to conspiracy charges in federal court in connection with a kickbacks scheme.
David Duggin, 55, of Orrtanna, Pennsylvania, is charged with conspiring to commit offenses against the United States by soliciting and accepting kickbacks.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward; Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Daniel Glad, Justice Department, Antitrust Division; Acting Special Agent in Charge Allison Russo, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) – Mid-Atlantic Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office.
According to court documents, Duggin and his co-conspirators corruptly misused his on-site access to sensitive information at an intelligence agency. The former senior systems engineer and on-site contractor used his access to enrich himself and others by illegally obtaining government contracts for millions of dollars of hardware and software procured by U.S. government customers. Duggin’s co-conspirators paid him at least $510,000 in illegal kickbacks in exchange for him influencing the procurement process in favor of his co-conspirators. The conspiracy thwarted the competitive bidding process for the U.S. from at least June 2018, through at least April 2024.
“Mr. Duggin took advantage of his position to enrich himself and his co-conspirators. Our office will not tolerate this greedy, deceitful behavior that, if unchecked, can lead to an erosion of public trust and impact on our national security,” Hayes said. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will not hesitate to hold accountable any individual who attempts to defraud our government.”
“Mr. Duggin exploited his position as a government contractor in the intelligence community at the expense of taxpayers,” Woodward said. “The Antitrust Division and its law enforcement partners will continue to hold those who seek profit through fraudulent schemes, accountable.”
“The defendant broke faith with the men and women of the United States Intelligence Community — who work tirelessly and often anonymously in defense of our nation — to enrich himself with hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks,” Glad said. “The defendant now faces years in prison for corrupting a competitive procurement process backing our national security.”
“Mr. Duggin betrayed the trust placed in him by exploiting his access to sensitive government systems to steer contracts for personal gain,” Russo said. “This outcome reflects the strong partnership between DCIS, our federal investigative counterparts, and the Department of Justice, and underscores our shared commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the Department of War and the broader Intelligence Community.”
“David Duggin repeatedly put himself before American taxpayers who trusted him to act on their behalf and for their benefit,” Paul said. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement and government partners to hold accountable those seeking to profit through fraud and deception.”
Duggin is facing five years in federal prison for conspiring to commit an offense against the United States by accepting illegal kickbacks. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DCIS and FBI for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew P. Phelps and Matthew Shea, along with Trial Attorneys Elizabeth French, Anna Wang, and Ronald Fiorillo, Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section, who are prosecuting this federal case.
The Justice Department’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF) is a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government — federal, state and local. To learn more about the PCSF, or to report information on bid rigging, price fixing, market allocation and other anticompetitive conduct related to government spending, go to www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force.
Anyone with information in connection with this investigation can contact the PCSF at the link listed above. Whistleblowers who voluntarily report original information about antitrust and related offenses that result in criminal fines or other recoveries of at least $1 million may be eligible to receive a whistleblower reward. Whistleblower awards can range from 15 to 30 percent of the money collected. For more information on the Antitrust Whistleblower Rewards Program, including a link to submit reports, visit www.justice.gov/atr/whistleblower-rewards.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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Former Director of the Office of Management and Budget Sentenced to 84 Months for Public Corruption Offenses Involving Covid-19 Relief FundsRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, VI –United States Attorney Adam F. Sleeper announced today that Jenifer O’Neal, former Director of the Virgin Islands Office of Management and Budget (OMB), was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Mark A. Kearney to 84 months’ imprisonment for her role in a public corruption scheme involving the misuse of federal COVID-19 relief funds.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, O’Neal was sentenced to three years of supervised release; a $50,000 fine; restitution in the amount of $34,345.39, jointly and severally with co-defendant Ray Martinez; forfeiture in the amount of $17,730; and $400 in special assessments. Judge Kearney ordered O’Neal to self-surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on June 23, 2026. Pending her surrender, O’Neal will be placed on home detention.
On December 11, 2025, following a jury trial, O’Neal was convicted of two counts of Honest Services Wire Fraud, one count of Bribery Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds, and one count of Money Laundering Conspiracy. The evidence at trial established that O’Neal used her position as Director of OMB to facilitate the approval and payment of a government invoice that had been intentionally inflated by $70,000. She accepted $17,730 derived from the inflated invoice to satisfy lease obligations associated with her coffee shop, Java Grande. The inflated invoice was funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, a federal program intended to assist the Virgin Islands in recovering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. O’Neal also accepted luxury gifts from government contractor David Whitaker, in exchange for the expedited payment of government contract invoices.
Co-defendant Ray Martinez, the former Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Police Department, was previously sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment for his role in the scheme.
“Corruption cannot be tolerated,” said United States Attorney Adam Sleeper. “Government officials, especially those directly responsible for government finances, have a duty to safeguard the funds entrusted to them for the benefit of the people of the Virgin Islands. This sentence provides accountability and serves as a warning for those who would betray that duty.”
“Public corruption erodes confidence in government and weakens the community’s faith in the institutions meant to protect it,” said Carlos R. Goris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “Imposing consequences on corrupt public officials, is vital to rebuilding public trust and is a testament to the FBI’s commitment safeguarding the integrity of public institutions.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Virgin Islands Office of Inspector General.
The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Alexandre Dempsey of the Department of Justice’s Public Integrity Section, and Assistant United States Attorney Cherrisse R. Amaro of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands.Former Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Police Department and Former Management and Budget Director Sentenced for Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
Ray Martinez, the former Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD), and Jenifer O’Neal, the former Director of the Virgin Islands Office of Management and Budget (OMB), were sentenced this week for their roles in a procurement fraud, bribery, and money laundering scheme. Martinez was sentenced to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release, and O’Neal was sentenced to seven years in prison.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Martinez accepted nearly $100,000 in bribe payments from a government contractor, David Whitaker, who gave Martinez cash and payment for luxury travel, personal expenses, private-school tuition, and restaurant equipment. In exchange for these payments, Martinez used his official authority to approve invoices submitted by Whitaker and also awarded Whitaker’s company a $1.4 million dollar contract funded by the American Rescue Plan Act. O’Neal, who served as the territory’s chief budget official, knowingly approved a $70,000 inflated invoice under that same contract and later accepted a $17,730 lease payment for her business, Java Grande, using federal funds from the inflated invoice.
The evidence also showed that, after learning of the federal investigation, Martinez attempted to obstruct justice by directing Whitaker to destroy evidence and by creating a fraudulent promissory note in an attempt to conceal the bribes.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Adam Sleeper for the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Special Agent in Charge Carlos R. Goris of the FBI San Juan Field Office investigated the case.
The FBI San Juan Field Office, St. Thomas Resident Agency investigated the case, with assistance from the Virgin Islands Office of Inspector General.
Trial Attorney Alexandre Dempsey of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cherrisse Amaro for the District of the Virgin Islands prosecuted the case.
Former Chief Investment Officer Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
Deputy United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Sean S. Buckley, announced today that S. KENNETH LEECH II, the former Chief Investment Officer of Western Asset Management Company (“WAMCO”), pled guilty to obstructing justice by giving false and misleading testimony to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in connection with an investigation into LEECH’s fraudulent scheme to favor certain clients at the expense of others. LEECH pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Gregory H. Woods.
“Leech willfully and intentionally gave false and misleading testimony to the SEC in an effort to obstruct an investigation into his fraudulent scheme to favor certain clients at the expense of others,” said Deputy U.S. Attorney Sean S. Buckley. “Investment managers, like Leech, are entrusted by the SEC and the public at large to comply with their duty to be honest to regulators and fair to their clients. Today’s plea reflects the commitment of this Office and its law enforcement partners to protecting everyday investors—in New York City and abroad—from investment advisers who violate their legal commitments and seek to deceive clients for their gain or the gain of others.”
As alleged in the Indictment, Superseding Information, and other public filings in this case:
Between 2021 and October 2023, LEECH committed fraud and abused the trust placed in him by clients of the investment-management firm WAMCO. LEECH engaged in a criminal scheme commonly known as cherry-picking to compensate for losses in his marquee investment strategy by assigning trades that performed well during their first day into client accounts associated with that investment strategy, and assigning trades that performed poorly over their first day into the accounts of other clients, who were not aware that LEECH was causing them losses to favor others. LEECH’s victims included institutional and retail investors who entrusted LEECH to manage their savings and pension plans. Over the course of his criminal scheme, LEECH allocated trades with net first-day gains of at least approximately $600 million to his favored strategy and clients, and allocated trades with net first-day losses of at least approximately $600 million to strategies and clients to whom he owed an equal fiduciary duty.
In an effort to obstruct the investigation of that fraudulent scheme, LEECH testified before the SEC that he knew where he planned to allocate trades at the time he placed them. The facts showed differently. LEECH owed a fiduciary duty to all of his clients. But between 2021 and October 2023, LEECH improperly engaged in a scheme to delay his trades in order to allocate them in a manner that benefitted some of his clients, to the detriment of others. LEECH’s scheme defrauded clients for whom he was serving a registered financial advisor.
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LEECH, 72, of Pasadena, California, pled guilty to one count of obstructing justice, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. LEECH is scheduled to be sentenced on September 21, 2026.
Mr. Buckley praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Buckley also expressed appreciation for the assistance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas S. Burnett and Peter J. Davis and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Keenan are in charge of the prosecution.
Florida Residents Indicted for Multi-Year Scheme to Defraud International Electronics Manufacturer with U.S. Headquarters in New JerseyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Florida man was arraigned on a conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and wire fraud charge for a scheme to defraud his former employer, an international electronics manufacturer with U.S. headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, by conspiring to funnel marketing business to a Florida company controlled by his co-defendant, Anthony William Rossi III, in exchange for approximately $6.7 million in kickbacks, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Brian Normann, 46, of Orlando, Florida, was arraigned on June 2, 2026 before Senior U.S. District Judge William J. Martini. Rossi, 75, of Mount Dora, Florida, was arraigned before Judge Martini on May 27, 2026. Normann and Rossi were indicted by a federal grand jury on May 12, 2026 in a one-count indictment charging them with conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and wire fraud.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
Between in or around approximately 2015 to in or around August 2020, Normann and Rossi conspired to enrich themselves by: (1) depriving the Victim Company of Normann’s honest services as an employee and fiduciary, including through Normann’s repeated referral of marketing and promotional work to GS Line, Inc., a marketing company that Rossi controlled, in exchange for kickbacks GS Line paid to Normann without the Victim Company’s knowledge or consent; and (2) fraudulently obtaining and using funds from the Victim Company by overbilling it for services GS Line provided, and by billing the Victim Company for services that neither GS Line nor Rossi actually provided.
In 2019 and 2020, GS Line paid Normann approximately $6.7 million in kickbacks, including kickbacks paid through Rossi, without the Victim Company’s knowledge or consent. Normann used the money to fund his lifestyle, including to purchase a luxury property for approximately $2 million, and to fund his personal brokerage accounts.
The conspiracy charge in the indictment carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross amount of gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, with the investigation leading to Normann’s and Rossi’s indictment.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Kozar, Co-Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s General Crimes Unit in Newark.
The charge and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Defense counsel:
Lynn A. Neils, Esq. (for Brian Normann).
Mary E. Carpenito, Esq. (for Anthony William Rossi III).
normannetal.indictment.pdfFelon Sent to Prison for Illegally Possessing a GunRead the Press Release
A man who illegally possessed a firearm as a felon was sentenced today to a year in federal prison.
Dana Lee Scott, Jr. age 25, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 2, 2026, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon.
Evidence during the case showed police officers observed Scott with a gun while conducting surveillance on a home in Waterloo. Officers eventually searched the home and found the gun.
Scott was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Scott was sentenced to 12 months and one day of imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Scott is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa C. Williams and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Waterloo Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-2045.
Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Federal Jury finds Memphis Men Guilty of Carjacking and Shooting ATM TechnicianRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal jury returned guilty verdicts against Alvin Anthony, 31, and Royce Newsome, 33, for their roles in the carjacking and shooting of a 67-year-old ATM technician who had been refilling ATM machines with money at convenience stores in north Memphis. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the verdicts today.
Evidence presented in court established that on May 17, 2023, Anthony followed the victim to three convenience stores in north Memphis while the victim was working. While at the second store, Anthony made a phone call. By the time the victim arrived at the third store, Newsome and others showed up. Anthony and Newsome circled around the third store in their vehicles until the victim exited the store to walk to his car. Newsome and two unidentified assailants brutally beat and shot the victim before leaving in the victim’s vehicle.
Following a five-day jury trial presided over by United States District Judge Mark S. Norris, Anthony and Newsome were convicted of conspiracy to commit carjacking, aiding and abetting carjacking, and aiding and abetting the use and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence.
The defendants are facing a maximum sentence of 15 years' imprisonment on the conspiracy and carjacking counts. Newsome is facing an additional 10-year mandatory minimum prison sentence to be served consecutively to the other counts.
Judge Norris will determine the sentences to impose on the defendants after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "These violent offenders were motivated by selfish greed and senselessly harmed an innocent victim. This jury verdict delivers justice for the victim and our community, and ensures that these dangerous offenders will be justly punished and removed from the streets of Memphis for a very long time.”
"The premeditated and horrendous acts of violence that these individuals committed demonstrates a blatant disregard for human life. The men and women of the ATF, along with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, remain committed to combatting violent crime and swiftly bringing these individuals to justice before they can commit other senseless acts of violence," said Special Agent in Charge Jamey VanVliet, of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Office.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Memphis Police Department (MPD).
Assistant United States Attorney Regina Brittenum and Special Assistant United States Attorney Brandon Wright, of the United States Army Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps, are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
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For more information, please contact the media relations team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Federal Judge Sentences Serial Illegal Alien After He Was Convicted of Serious Sexual, Kidnapping, and Gun Crimes in MichiganRead the Press Release
BAY CITY – A federal judge today sentenced Wilmer Rodriguez, 39, a Honduran illegal alien, to 46 months in prison for unlawfully re-entering the United States following a state conviction for an aggravated-felony, announced Jerome F. Gorgon Jr., United States Attorney of the Eastern District of Michigan.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Acting Chief Patrol Agent Javier Geronimo, Jr., U.S. Border Patrol Detroit Sector.
According to court records, United States Border Patrol Agents arrested Rodriguez in Grayling, Michigan just over a year after he had been deported following his state convictions for first-degree criminal sexual conduct, felony kidnapping, and a felony firearm offense. Rodriguez had previously been removed from the United States on four separate occasions. He was also previously charged federally and convicted of unlawful reentry after deportation in 2014.
“This case underscores the importance of maintaining secure borders. The government has repeatedly removed this violent criminal from our country. The last time we sent him back after he was convicted of Michigan’s most severe sexual crime, kidnapping and felony firearm. He still returned and broke our laws. We do not want criminal aliens breaking in and hurting Americans,” said U.S. Attorney Gorgon.
“This case underscores the critical importance of strong, collaborative border enforcement and the consequences of repeat illegal entry,” said Acting Chief Patrol Agent Javier Geronimo, Jr., U.S. Border Patrol Detroit Sector. “Our agents are committed to protecting Michigan communities from individuals who pose a threat to public safety.”
The United States Border Patrol Sault Sainte Marie Station investigated this case, with significant assistance from the Michigan State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Grant Newman.
FCI Allenwood Inmate Charged with Possessing Weapon, Assaulting Other InmateRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT- The United States Attorney’s office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Edward Garlock, 59, an inmate in FCI Allenwood, Medium, was indicted on June 11, 2026, by a federal grand jury for possessing a weapon in prison and assault with a dangerous weapon.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment charges Garlock with one count of possessing contraband in prison, and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon. Garlock was allegedly in possession of a lanyard with a lock attached, which he allegedly used to assault another inmate.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Zenzinger is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is 10 years of imprisonment and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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FCI Allenwood Inmate Charged with Possessing Weapon, Assaulting Other InmateRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT- The United States Attorney’s office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Mark Villareal, 44, an inmate in FCI Allenwood, was indicted on June 11, 2026, by a federal grand jury for possessing a weapon in prison and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment charges Villareal with one count of possessing contraband in prison, and one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Villareal was allegedly in possession of an inmate-manufactured knife which he allegedly used to assault another inmate.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Zenzinger is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Eagle Pass Stash House Operator Investigated by Homeland Security Task Force, Sentenced to 18 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – An Eagle Pass man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 225 months in prison for his leadership role as an illegal alien stash house operator, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.
According to court documents, Edgar Alejandro Elizondo aka “Flaco,” 20, was a stash house operator and leader/organizer for a large-scale illegal alien smuggling organization (ASO). A Homeland Security Task Force investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations revealed that Elizondo operated several stash houses in Eagle Pass that fed the organization’s transportation cell, to include tractor-trailer transporting events. In at least one event, Elizondo was personally involved in holding illegal aliens at gun point.
Additionally, Elizondo was involved in an aggravated hostage-taking event in Houston, whereby the members of the ASO engaged in a daytime shootout in an effort to recover illegal aliens that had been stolen from a stash house operated by Elizondo.
On April 23, 2025, Elizondo was named in an eight-count superseding indictment. He was arrested on July 25, 2025, and has remained in custody since. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens placing lives in jeopardy on Dec. 22, 2025. Chief U.S. District Judge Alia Moses presides over the case.
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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Drug Trafficking Operation Leader Will Spend Time in Federal Prison Ties to Sinaloa Drug CartelRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Juan Carlos Suarez-Lugo, the leader of a large-scale drug operation with ties to the Sinaloa Drug Cartel in Mexico, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
Suarez-Lugo, age 55, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine in May 2025. Suarez-Lugo led a large-scale fentanyl and cocaine trafficking operation out of an autobody shop in Martinsburg, West Virginia. Suarez-Lugo and other defendants imported drugs from Puerto Rico through the U.S. Postal Service, as well as from a source connected to the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico. The investigation included cooperation from several agencies across the United States, including Chicago and Northern California.
Of the 18 defendants, 13 have been convicted of their roles. Suarez-Lugo and nine others have been sentenced to a combined 28 and half years in prison. All other cases are still pending.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government.
The Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force was the lead investigative unit. Other investigative agencies that assisted include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, including the Pittsburgh, San Francisco, San Juan, and Philadelphia Field Offices; United States Marshals Service; Homeland Security Investigations; United States Postal Service; Drug Enforcement Administration, the Louisville and Chicago Divisions; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; West Virginia State Police; Martinsburg Police Department; Ranson Police Department; Charles Town Police Department; Berkeley County Sheriff's Office; Jefferson County Sheriff's Office; West Virginia Air National Guard; Mineral County Sheriff's Office; Grant County Sheriff's Office; Hampshire County Sheriff's Department; Keyser Police Department; Northwest Regional Drug Task Force, Virginia; Pennsylvania State Police; Franklin County Sheriff's Office, Pennsylvania; Winchester Police Department, Virginia; Frederick County Sheriff's Office, Virginia; Virginia State Police; Sunnyvale Police Department, California.
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.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Crestview Drug Traffickers IndictedRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Arzalea Teshean McLaughlin, 37, Benjamin Eugene Mack, 54, and Roger Cornell Daniels, 37, all of Crestview, Florida, have been indicted in federal court on charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and cocaine base, conspiracy to commit unlawful use of communications facility, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charge.
McLaughlin, Mack and Daniels appeared in federal court for their arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Zachary C. Bolitho in Pensacola, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for July 20, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. before District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
If convicted as charged, McLaughlin and Mack face a minimum mandatory of 10 years’ imprisonment, and up to life in prison, and Daniels faces a minimum mandatory of 5 years’ imprisonment, and up to a total of 74 years’ imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alicia H. Forbes.
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.
Coordinated Law Enforcement Actions Results in Arrests of Seven Men in Connection with Fraudulent COVID-19 Relief Loan ApplicationsRead the Press Release
As a result of coordinated law enforcement actions in three states, seven men have been arrested and indicted in connection with submitting fraudulent COVID-19 relief loan applications administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, totaling $205,639 in fraudulent loan proceeds. The takedown was conducted by the FBI Field Offices in Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Houston, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
“This case demonstrates the power of a true whole-of-government approach to deliver swift justice against fraudsters—and it should be replicated in every region across the United States,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “I commend the outstanding work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada, the FBI, the SBA-OIG, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the North Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for holding these individuals accountable.”
“Seven defendants are alleged to have exploited government-funded programs designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans to line their pockets,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “Thanks to the outstanding investigative efforts by the FBI, SBA-OIG, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the North Las Vegas Police Department these defendants will now each have their day in court to face federal criminal fraud charges.”
According to allegations contained in court documents, Elias Santino Acereto; Sheyland Barnett; James Freeman; Tyrone Tatrice Johnson; Marcus Dushun McMillian-Bonner; Yves Harrison Pierre; and Nathan Jeffry Scott, all of Las Vegas, each provided false information and fake documentation when applying for PPP loans and/or EIDL loans. As alleged, they each fraudulently obtained the loan funds to enrich themselves.
Acereto; Barnett; Johnson; Bonner; Pierre; and Scott, are each charged with one count of wire fraud; and Freeman is charged with two counts of wire fraud. On June 11, Barnett, Freemon, Johnson, and Scott, were arrested in Las Vegas; Acereto and Pierre were arrested in Phoenix, and Bonner was arrested in Richmond, Texas.
If convicted, the maximum statutory penalty is 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Las Vegas Field Office; FBI Phoenix Division; FBI Houston Division; the SBA-OIG; and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated these cases. Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly Frayn is prosecuting these cases.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support 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.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Coordinated Law Enforcement Actions Results in Arrests of Seven Men in Connection with Fraudulent COVID-19 Relief Loan ApplicationsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – As a result of coordinated law enforcement actions in three states, seven men have been arrested and indicted in connection with submitting fraudulent COVID-19 relief loan applications administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, totaling $205,639 in fraudulent loan proceeds. The takedown was conducted by the FBI Las Vegas Field Office; FBI Phoenix Division; FBI Houston Division, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the North Las Vegas Police Department.
“This case demonstrates the power of a true whole-of-government approach to deliver swift justice against fraudsters—and it should be replicated in every region across the United States,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “I commend the outstanding work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada, the FBI, the SBA-OIG, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the North Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for holding these individuals accountable.”
“Seven defendants are alleged to have exploited government-funded programs designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans to line their pockets,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “Thanks to the outstanding investigative efforts by the FBI, SBA-OIG, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the North Las Vegas Police Department these defendants will now each have their day in court to face federal criminal fraud charges.”
“Exploiting federal programs intended to support small businesses is unacceptable,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “The defendants used the Covid-19 pandemic as an opportunity to steal from taxpayers for personal gain and should be held fully accountable. The FBI and our partners remain committed to identifying and investigating those who seek to defraud federal programs designed to assist businesses in need of operational support.”
According to allegations contained in court documents, Elias Santino Acereto; Sheyland Juakeen Barnett; James Sean Freeman II; Yves Garry Harrison-Pierre; Tyrone Tatrice Johnson; Marcus Dushun McMillian-Bonner; and Nathan Jeffry Scott, all of Las Vegas, each provided false information and fake documentation when applying for PPP loans and/or EIDL loans. As alleged, they each fraudulently obtained the loan funds to enrich themselves.
Acereto; Barnett; Johnson; McMillian-Bonner; Harrison-Pierre; and Scott are each charged with one count of wire fraud; and Freeman is charged with two counts of wire fraud. On June 11, Barnett, Freeman, Johnson, and Scott were arrested in Las Vegas; Acereto and Harrison-Pierre were arrested in Phoenix, and McMillian-Bonner was arrested in Richmond, Texas.
If convicted, the maximum statutory penalty is 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada, and Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Las Vegas Field Office, SBA-OIG, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and North Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated these cases. The FBI Phoenix Division and FBI Houston Division provided valuable assistance with the arrests of the defendants. Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly Frayn is prosecuting these cases.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support 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.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Convicted Felon Indicted for Firearm Charges Stemming from Domestic-Violence IncidentRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury indicted a convicted felon on firearm charges in connection with a domestic-violence incident.
Marquis Thomas, 34, of Baltimore, is charged with one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person. Thomas knowingly possessed a Hi-Point JHP .45 Auto Pistol loaded with nine rounds of ammunition. The firearm had an obliterated serial number. At the time of the offense, Thomas, a convicted felon, was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).
According to the public filings, on October 30, 2025, BPD received a call about a domestic-assault involving a firearm. Upon law enforcement’s arrival at the residence, the victim opened the door and told officers that Thomas left the premises. The victim then led law enforcement into the living room and pointed to a handgun on the couch. Additionally, the victim reported that Thomas hit her in the face three times before pointing a gun at her, saying, “I should kill you right now.”
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office — in partnership with our federal, local, and state partners — works hard to keep firearms out of the hands of those who are not authorized to carry them. This helps prevent violence and saves lives,” Hayes said. “We support prioritizing our residents’ safety and well-being through our commitment to community trust, strategic enforcement, and violence prevention, especially for those experiencing intimate-partner violence.”
“We are committed to working with our state and local partners to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers,” Doerrer said. “Cases like these highlight the excellent work of our local police, local prosecutors, federal agents, and federal prosecutors.”
This indictment is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Project Safe Home. These programs bring 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. Project Safe Home is an initiative under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) through the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) to reduce domestic violence and prevent escalation to lethal violence by targeting offenders who use or possess handguns with a history of Domestic Violence.
In response, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland is working closely with its federal, local, and state partners — along with Baltimore City community organizations — to reduce violent crime and enhance public safety. This partnership and coordination between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the City of Baltimore ensures that federal resources are leveraged effectively to address intimidate-partner firearm violence.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF and BPD for their collaborative efforts in this investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Godwin who is prosecuting this 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 and justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn.
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