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Friday 5 June 2026
Sex Trafficker Convicted of Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was convicted yesterday by a federal jury in U.S. District Court for producing and possessing child pornography.
Tramonte Jamier Queen, 27, was convicted of two counts of the sexual exploitation of children (commonly known as “production of child pornography”) and one count of possession of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for Sept. 17, 2026.
U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley said, “Tramonte Queen preyed on children for profit and his exploitation of vulnerable victims ends now. The conduct in this case is abhorrent, selling young girls for sex and forcing them to film it. Today, Tramonte Queen is finally being held accountable for all his crimes. We will continue to root out sex traffickers like Queen and aggressively prosecute them to ensure that justice is served.”
“Anyone willing to sexually exploit children deserves to feel the full force of the law,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “With today’s verdict, Tramonte Queen isn’t just a sex trafficker, but a producer of child sexual abuse material – a heinous act that perpetrates the sexual exploitation of children. May this case be a warning to others involved with such repulsive material. Our Child Exploitation – Human Trafficking Task Force could soon be knocking at your door.”
Between October and December 2021, Queen used a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct. According to evidence presented at trial, Queen had sex with a minor victim and participated in the filming of those sex acts. He also directed the victim to engage in commercial sex with sex buyers, instructing the victim to film those sexual encounters as well. At the time of his arrest in February 2022, Queen possessed a cell phone that contained the videos depicting him having sex with the minor victim.
At a previous federal trial in January 2026, Queen was convicted of sex trafficking of a child and transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Those convictions arose from Queen’s recruitment of a different minor victim, who was then 16 years old, to engage in commercial sex. Queen caused the victim to engage in commercial sex act in the basement of his Dorchester home and at hotels in Rhode Island.
The production of child pornography charges each carry a sentence of no less than 15 years and up to 30 years in prison. The sex trafficking of a child and transportation charges each carry a sentence of no less than 10 years and up to life in prison. The possession of child pornography charge carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. Queen faces at least five years of supervised release and a maximum fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
U.S. Attorney Foley, FBI SAC Docks and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was also provided by the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian A. Fogerty of the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit and Jessica L. Soto of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Sarasota Man Sentenced to 25 years for Producing, Distributing, Receiving, and Accessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Sean Christie (43, Sarasota) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven to 25 years in federal prison for production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), distribution of CSAM, receipt of CSAM, and access with intent to view CSAM. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
A jury found Christie guilty on January 15, 2026.
According to court documents, Christie used Kik, a social media application, to solicit, receive and distribute CSAM depicting minors under 12 years of age. Christie also used Snapchat to meet minor girls, including a 12-year-old victim whom he used to produce CSAM.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry.
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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Santa Monica Man Pleads Guilty to Doxing ICE LawyerRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Santa Monica man pleaded guilty to a federal criminal charge for doxxing – publishing private or identifying information about an individual on the internet with malicious intent – a lawyer at United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Gregory John Curcio, 68, pleaded guilty to one count of violating the protection of individuals performing certain official duties.
Federal law prohibits making certain personal information about covered persons – including federal employees – public. The restricted personal information includes a victim’s Social Security number, home address, home phone number, mobile phone number, and personal email address.
In February 2025, Curcio created a Facebook post in which he identified the victim – an ICE attorney – as an ICE agent, posted her home address, and directed others to “swat” her at that address. Curcio also posted the victim’s home address on another social media account with instructions to swat her.
“Swatting” is a term used to describe a form of harassment that often involves placing a false emergency call to law enforcement or emergency responders, often reporting a false ongoing crisis or crime at a specific location to prompt a significant law enforcement response.
According to court documents previously filed in this case, the victim told authorities that Curcio is a former resident at her mother’s apartment building in Santa Monica. The victim said she never met Curcio, but that he had harassed and threatened her mother for years and engaged in a campaign to harass the victim and her family beginning from at least January 2024.
United States District Judge Michelle Williams Court scheduled an August 21 sentencing hearing, at which time Curcio will face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Professional Responsibility is investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Restrepo of the National Security Division is prosecuting this case.
San Francisco Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Bank Robbery and CarjackingRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – James Michael Garrison was sentenced yesterday to 84 months (7 years) in federal prison for a series of bank robberies and a carjacking that occurred in late 2024 and early 2025 in the Northern District of California. U.S. District Judge Rita F. Lin handed down the sentence.
Garrison was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 17, 2025. Garrison pleaded guilty on February 12, 2026, to three counts of bank robbery in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a), and one count of carjacking in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2119(1).
According to the plea agreement and other documents filed in the case, beginning in December 2024, Garrison embarked on a spree of bank robberies in Rohnert Park, California, and San Francisco, California. Garrison robbed banks in Rohnert Park on December 5, 2024, and January 2, 2025. During those robberies, he demanded cash and threatened to shoot the tellers. Garrison robbed another bank in San Francisco on December 27, 2024, during which he held a knife in his hand and threatened to shoot “everybody.” In total, he stole approximately $20,000 from the three banks.
Following Garrison’s third bank robbery, he was spotted by San Francisco Police Officers in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco. Garrison fled from officers and carjacked a rideshare driver in an attempt to escape. While in the car’s backseat, Garrison pulled out a black knife shaped like a handgun and held the weapon to the driver’s head and threatened to shoot him.
Garrison initially refused to leave the car and resisted arrest.
Garrison has been in custody since his arrest in 2025. He will begin serving his prison term immediately. In addition to the prison term, Judge Lin also ordered Garrison to serve 3 years of supervised release that will begin after his term of imprisonment.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Scott Schelble made the announcement.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sophia Cooper with the assistance of Soana Katoa. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the San Francisco Police Department.
Rockford Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl and HeroinRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A Rockford man has been sentenced to 16 years in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl and heroin.
DEMARGIO TRIPP, 36, pleaded guilty earlier this year to distributing 40 grams or more of fentanyl and heroin in the Rockford area in 2024 and 2025. Tripp also admitted that in May 2025 he possessed cocaine and other narcotics that he intended to sell to others.
On May 27, 2026, U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston sentenced Tripp to 192 months in federal prison. Judge Johnston found that Tripp qualified as a “career offender” under federal law due to multiple drug trafficking convictions in state and federal courts.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of ATF’s Chicago Field Division. The Winnebago County, Ill. Sheriff’s Office provided valuable assistance.
“Distribution of fentanyl and other controlled substances is a serious and dangerous offense,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodora Anderson argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “As a drug dealer, defendant is a direct cause of these problems.”
Rochester man sentenced for stealing $168-thousand dollars from his employerRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Michael Torres, 38, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of financial institution fraud, was sentenced to serve three months in prison, three months home detention and three years’ supervised release by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. Torres was also ordered to pay restitution totaling $136,679.
Between September 2021 and February 2022, Torres was employed as a Relationship Manager at Financial Institution 1. While in this position, he misused his position to apply for loans through Financial Institution 1 in the names of individuals without their knowledge or authorization. Torres applied for 19 loans for a total of $168,000, which was deposited into bank accounts that he controlled.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas A. C. Penrose. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Brendan Dunford.
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Pensacola Felon Sentenced to Eight Years in Federal Prison for Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Jason Wayne Coleman, 41, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison for two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This serial felon has been a criminal menace to our communities for far too long, but thanks to the excellent work of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office with support from our federal law enforcement partners, he will now spend years behind bars where he belongs. This successful prosecution by my office is yet another win under Operation Take Back America, through which President Donald J. Trump and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche have directed the Department of Justice to deploy its full might toward removing violent career criminals, like this defendant, from our streets to deliver the safe, crime-free communities our citizens deserve.”
Court documents reflect that the defendant, a multi-time convicted felon who is legally barred from possessing firearms, was out on bond after being arrested in Indiana for firearm-related charges in January 2022. On October 2, 2024, a deputy with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was on routine patrol when he conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by the defendant. The defendant attempted to flee on foot from the deputy, but was apprehended. In addition to having a suspended driver’s license, the defendant was found to be in possession of a loaded .32 caliber handgun under the driver’s seat of the vehicle as well as marijuana. The defendant was arrested but was able to bond out of jail.
On May 13, 2025, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a motorized minibike being driven by the defendant. While arresting the defendant for driving on a suspended license and resisting law enforcement, deputies located a loaded .38-caliber revolver in his pocket.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton.
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.
Oklahoma City Man Pleads Guilty after Knife Attack Leaves One Person Dead, Another Seriously InjuredRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – CHARLES ALLEN REDNOSE, 21, of Oklahoma City, has pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury in Indian Country and voluntary manslaughter in Indian Country, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public records, on November 6, 2025, Rednose and several others visited a casino outside of Anadarko, Oklahoma. Eventually, several members of the group left the casino to pick up another individual, planning to return to the casino afterward. Rednose remained at the casino to continue gambling.
After picking up the individual and returning, the group discovered that Rednose was no longer at the casino. They drove back toward Anadarko and spotted Rednose walking along Highway 281. They stopped their vehicle, and two members of the group attempted to persuade Rednose to get into the car. Rednose, upset at being left behind at the casino, refused, and a struggle ensued. During the altercation, Rednose stabbed both individuals. They were taken to a nearby hospital, where one victim died from their injuries, and the other was flown to Oklahoma City for life-saving treatment. After speaking with witnesses, law enforcement located Rednose on the side of Highway 281, and he was arrested.
On May 5, 2026, a federal grand jury charged Rednose with assault resulting in serious bodily injury in Indian Country and voluntary manslaughter in Indian Country. On June 3, 2026, Rednose pleaded guilty to the charges listed above and admitted that he knowingly assaulted one individual, causing serious bodily injury, and killed another individual.
This case is in federal court because Rednose is a member of the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma and the crimes occurred within the boundaries of Indian Country lands of the Wichita, Caddo, and Delaware Tribes north of Anadarko.
At sentencing, Rednose faces up to 25 years in federal prison and fines of up to $500,000.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Anadarko Police Department, and the Caddo County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Arvo Q. Mikkanen and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Ganote are prosecuting the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Oahu Man Indicted on Multiple Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Craig Domingo, 60, of Mililani, Oahu, was indicted on June 4, 2026, on firearm and drug charges including two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and/or ammunition, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Domingo was previously charged by criminal complaint on March 28, 2025 and has been detained since his arrest on federal charges.
According to court records, Domingo was arrested on state burglary charges in November 2023. A narcotics detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs during an inspection of Domingo’s vehicle, and a subsequent search of his vehicle uncovered ten rounds of ammunition and glass pipes containing methamphetamine residue. Domingo, who had a previous conviction for Robbery in the First Degree, was charged federally in 2025 with being a felon in possession of ammunition. Following additional investigation, he was subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury on additional charges of possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possessing a short-barreled shotgun in furtherance of that crime, as well as possessing the shotgun and ammunition as a felon.
If convicted, Domingo faces up to life imprisonment, including a mandatory minimum sentence of twenty years, and fine of up to $20,000,000, plus a term of supervised release.
The charges in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara Eucker is prosecuting 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 (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
New Jersey Man Sentenced to 51 Months in Prison for Conspiring to Launder over $500,000 Obtained from Internet-Related FraudsRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – An Edison, New Jersey man was sentenced to 51 months’ imprisonment for laundering money obtained from a variety of internet-based scams, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
U.S. District Judge Georgette Castner sentenced Kenny Osas Okuonghae, 38, of Edison, NJ to 51 months of incarceration yesterday. Judge Castner also ordered 3 years of supervised release and $1,275,190 in restitution. Okuonghae previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Georgette Castner on April 29, 2025, to Count One of an Indictment charging him with conspiring to commit money laundering.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From approximately 2019 through approximately December 2023, Okuonghae laundered money that was obtained from a variety of internet-related scams, including property rental scams, romance scams, and a “pig butchering” scam. “Pig butchering” refers to an internet scheme where a romance scam victim develops what the victim perceives to be a romantic relationship online with the perpetrator. The perpetrator emotionally “fattens” the victim up before enticing the victim to invest in a fake scheme and then, metaphorically, “slaughters” the victim by taking the victim’s money. Okuonghae opened up several different bank accounts across at least seven different banks and permitted the proceeds of criminal activity to be deposited into and transferred out of these accounts.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy, with the investigation leading to the sentence.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Kogan of the Cybercrime Unit in Newark.
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Defense counsel: Loraine Gauli-Rufo, Cedar Grove, New Jersey.
New Hampshire Business Owner Sentenced for Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New Hampshire woman was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for attempting to obstruct and interfere in a grand jury investigation involving her brother, former Massachusetts State Senator Dean Tran.
Tuyet T. Martin, 56, of Pelham, N.H., was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to two years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $40,000 fine. In January 2026, Martin pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of justice. In June 2024, Martin was charged along with her brother, Dean Tran.
In November 2023, Tran was arrested and charged in a 28-count federal indictment for his fraudulent collection of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits and his willful omission of consulting and rental income from his tax returns in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
As part of the investigation into Tran’s unemployment benefits and tax fraud schemes, an investigation began into a job offer and employment offer letter from Martin to Tran at the New Hampshire-based business where Martin was the owner and the CEO. During a July 2023 grand jury session, Martin provided false testimony regarding the employment offer letter.
Tran was sentenced in in January 2026 to one year in prison with 11 months to run concurrent with his current sentence and one month to run consecutive, to be followed by 18 months of supervised release to run concurrent with his current sentence.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Maynard of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit prosecuted the case.Needham Parks and Recreation Chairman Arrested on Fraud and Tax ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The Chairman of the Needham Parks and Recreation Commission has been indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with a scheme to defraud a local little league out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Christopher Gerstel, 50, was charged in an 17-count indictment with 12 counts of wire fraud, two counts of filing false tax returns and three counts of failure to file tax returns. Gerstel was arrested today and will appear in federal court in Boston at 1:00 PM.
Gerstel currently serves as Chairman of the Needham Parks and Recreation Commission. From approximately early 2019 to early 2025, he was a member of the Board of Directors of Needham Baseball and Softball (NBS), a little league organization based in Needham, Mass. In his role as Vice President of Baseball Operations for NBS, Gerstel was the only NBS board member with access to the payment software system, ArbiterPay, that NBS used to pay professional umpires.
Beginning as early as June 2019, it is alleged that Gerstel was facing personal financial difficulty, including owing thousands of dollars in outstanding credit card debt. According to the indictment from in or about June 2019 to October 2024, Gerstel stole over $200,000 of NBS funds. It is alleged that Gerstel transferred the funds via wire transfer from the umpire payment system into his own personal account. From June 2019 to October 2024, Gerstel allegedly made over 200 separate wire transfers.
Gerstel allegedly used the majority of the stolen NBS funds to pay down thousands of dollars in credit card debt, make car payments and other personal expenditures, including at country clubs and cash withdrawals at casinos.
According to the indictment, the alleged theft was revealed after a new treasurer was appointed to the NBS Board of Directors and discovered that large transfers had been made from the NBS bank account into the umpire payment system. Once the treasurer gained access to the umpire payment system, they discovered over $250,000 in transfers had allegedly been made from that system to Gerstel’s personal bank account.
The indictment also alleges that for tax years 2019 and 2022, Gerstel failed to report the funds that he stole from NBS on his tax returns and that in 2020, 2021, and 2023, Gerstel failed to file tax returns. As a result, Gerstel allegedly lowered his federal income tax liability.
The charge of wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of falsification of records carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of filing false tax returns carries a maximum sentence of up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. The charge of failing to file tax returns carries a maximum of up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $25,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Maynard of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Mexican national sentenced to federal prison for immigration violationRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, Georgia: A defendant illegally inside the United States was sentenced to prison in federal court in the Southern District of Georgia.
The sentence was imposed by the Honorable Judge J. Randal Hall, District Judge for the Southern District of Georgia and announced by U.S. Attorney Margaret E. ‘Meg’ Heap.
Jose Hernandez-Perez, 41, of Tultepec, Mexico, was sentenced to 37 months in prison followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation, a charge applied to an illegal alien present in the United States after at least one prior removal.
There is no parole in the federal system.
Court records and documents showed that Hernandez-Perez was apprehended during a traffic stop in Screven County and subsequently identified as an illegal alien utilizing biometric data. The defendant was shown to have extensive federal immigration violations dating back to 2010.
“This case demonstrates that no matter how many times one may break our laws, criminals will be met with prosecution,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “We will continue to identify and bring to justice those who would completely disregard our laws and exploit our borders.”
In August 2010, Hernandez-Perez was convicted of Conspiracy to Transport an Unlawful Alien within the United States in the Southern District of Texas and was sentenced to 22 months in prison and three years of supervised release.
In July 2012 and again in January 2017, Hernandez-Perez was convicted of Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation, again in the Southern District of Texas, and was sentenced to 35 months and 15 months confinement, respectively.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Screven County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant United States Attorney Kelsey L. Scanlon.
Mexican Man Gets 16 Years in Federal Prison for Aggravated Smuggling Conspiracy Investigated by Homeland Security Task ForceRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A Mexican national with legal permanent resident status was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 195 months in prison for conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.
According to court documents, Armando Garcia-Martinez aka “Leche” aka “El Compadre” aka “Mando,” 43, was a recruiter for the alien smuggling organization that transported a family of illegal aliens from San Antonio to Austin in August 2023. In that event, the family, consisting of a man, a pregnant woman, and their seven-year-old child, were taken hostage by the ASO. Defendants sexually assaulted the pregnant woman, threatened to kill the woman’s seven-year-old boy if payments were not made, and they also threatened to sell the woman’s unborn baby if they did not get the money they sought. On July 9, 2023, a relative paid at least $1,000 to the ASO due to the threats made toward the family. Still, the ASO continued to demand payment to different accounts as a condition for the release of the aliens.
Beyond his involvement in this particular smuggling event, Garcia-Martinez’s role in the ASO was to get the illegal aliens to drivers in Eagle Pass who would smuggle the aliens to San Antonio or Austin. On average, Garcia coordinated two to three trips per week for codefendants Juan Antonio Flores and Pedro Ruiz Gonzalez. Generally, Garcia-Martinez picked up the illegal aliens belonging to codefendant Anthony Ballones Jr. near the train tracks in Eagle Pass and took them to codefendants Ambar Obregon and Tomas Estrada-Torres.
Garcia-Martinez was indicted on April 24, 2024, and arrested May 31. He pleaded guilty on Nov. 18, 2024.
On Feb. 11, co-defendant Flores was sentenced to 212 months for his role in the case. Co-defendants Edwin Alfredo Barrientos-Mateo and Nelson Abilio Castro-Zelaya were sentenced to 360 months and 180 months in federal prison, respectively. Estrada-Torres was sentenced to 151 months, and Rodolfo Daniel De Hoyos was sentenced to 170 months. Gonzalez, Obregon and Ballones have pleaded guilty and are pending sentencing. 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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Mexican Alien Overstaying Tourist Visa by 8 Years Sentenced in D.C. for Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — Sergio Castillo-Lopez, 29, a citizen of Mexico who was unlawfully present in the United States for eight years, was sentenced today to 12 months in prison in connection with his running a cocaine distribution operation out of his bedroom in Northwest Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
“Sergio Castillo‑Lopez came to the United States on a temporary visa, ignored the law for nearly a decade, and used that time to run a cocaine distribution operation,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This criminal will spend the remainder of his unlawful stay in the United States in a prison cell and will then face deportation proceedings.”
Castillo-Lopez, also known as “Sergio Chilel,” pleaded guilty on Jan. 21, 2026, before U.S. District Court Judge Amir H. Ali to possession with intent to distribute cocaine. In addition to the 12-month prison term, Judge Ali ordered Castillo-Lopez to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 27-month prison term. Castillo-Lopez has agreed not to contest his removal from the United States following completion of his sentence.
According to court papers, Castillo-Lopez entered the United States on a 30-day visa in 2017 and never left. Castillo-Lopez remained in the United States for approximately eight years and used his residence in Washington, D.C. to possess, package, and prepare cocaine for distribution.
On Oct. 9, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Castillo-Lopez’s residence in the 3000 block of Warder Street NW. In his bedroom, officers found nearly half a kilogram of cocaine with a street value of up to $12,000. Some of the cocaine was already broken down into gram-quantity bags for distribution. Officers also seized two digital scales and $3,126 in cash, the bills predominantly small denominations consistent with street-level drug proceeds.
The investigation was conducted by Drug Enforcement Administration – Washington Division Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Akhtar.
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Medicaid service providers sentenced for false statements resulting in overbillingRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – Two sisters were sentenced to prison yesterday following their conviction at trial for false statements made in connection with mental health services billed to Medicaid.
According to court documents, Chenelle Wright, 45, of Moyock, North Carolina, owned and operated Community Counseling Resources (CCR), which had locations in Chesapeake and Portsmouth. Wright’s sister, Chaniece Winfield, 40, also of Mayock, was CCR’s clinical director. CCR was authorized to provide after-school mental health services to Medicaid recipients, including therapeutic day treatment (TDT), a type of individualized intervention for children and adolescents with mental, emotional, or behavioral illnesses with symptoms that cause significant functional impairments.
Most of the children in the afterschool TDT program were not dismissed from their schools until well after 2:00pm, with some remaining until as late as 3:55pm, and many did not arrive at CCR’s facilities until about 4:30pm. Wright and Winfield instructed and directed CCR employees to falsely claim in progress notes that children were receiving therapeutic services from 2:00pm to 7:00pm and provided progress note “templates” to CCR employees in which the start and end times of 2:00pm and 7:00pm were prefilled.
Wright was sentenced to three years and five months in prison. Winfield was sentenced to two years in prison.
The FBI’s Norfolk Field Office and the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony C. Mozzi and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nikolas Nelson 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. 2:24-cr-35.
Massachusetts Man Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison for Drug Distribution Resulting in Death of a Minor and the Sale of Drugs and Machineguns on Telegram AppRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Fall River, Mass. man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for drug distribution resulting in the death of a minor, as well as multiple other charges associated with his sale of drugs, machineguns and firearm parts on the Telegram app.
Benjamin Hunt, 27, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 23 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In December 2025, Hunt pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of fentanyl, MDMA, MDA, Ketamine and LSD resulting in death; two counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl; two counts of unlawful transfer and possession of a machinegun; and one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine and cocaine.
Hunt was arrested and charged in August 2024 on drug and firearm charges and was later charged with additional crimes, including drug distribution resulting in the death of a minor.
From at least 2022 through 2024, Benjamin Hunt operated an online marketplace on the Telegram application through which he advertised and sold large quantities of controlled substances and firearms to customers across the United States. Hunt controlled multiple Telegram accounts and used the platform to conduct drug and weapons transactions while concealing his identity and seeking payment primarily in cryptocurrency.
Through his Telegram marketplace, Hunt offered for sale numerous dangerous drugs, including fentanyl, cocaine, LSD, MDMA, ketamine and counterfeit pharmaceutical pills made to resemble oxycodone but containing fentanyl. Hunt also advertised firearms and firearm components, including privately made firearms (“ghost guns”) and machinegun conversion devices (“switches”), some of which he manufactured himself using 3-D printing technology. Hunt typically required payment via Bitcoin, though in some instances accepted CashApp, and then shipped the contraband through the U.S. Postal Service, either directly or through suppliers.
In February, May and June 2024, Hunt sold counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl to an undercover law enforcement officer, including quantities exceeding 40 grams of fentanyl. During one of these transactions, Hunt simultaneously sold a privately made Glock-style firearm and multiple machinegun conversion devices along with an extended magazine and 3D printed brass knuckles.
In August 2024, Hunt mailed an additional package containing approximately 1,600 fentanyl pills to undercover law enforcement in exchange for cryptocurrency. Law enforcement intercepted multiple packages being sent to or from Hunt, including one package sent by him that contained a smoke grenade and one package sent to an address associated with him that contained 13 switches or machinegun conversion devices.
A search at Hunt’s residence resulted in the seizure of significant quantities of drugs, including fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA and ketamine, as well as an arsenal of firearms and firearm components, including dozens of privately made firearms, machinegun conversion devices, silencers, extended magazines, large quantities of ammunition and 3-D printers used to manufacture firearm parts. In total, approximately 95 firearms and related items were seized.
Law enforcement in Massachusetts learned about an overdose death of an out of state 17-year-old minor in May 2023. Investigators uncovered evidence of Hunt having communicated with the victim through the Telegram app and offering various drugs for sale. The minor purchased multiple drugs from Hunt. Hunt sought payment in Bitcoin, but when the minor did not have access to Bitcoin, Hunt agreed to receive payment via Cashapp. Hunt then mailed drugs to the minor out of state through the U.S. mail.
Messages between Hunt and the minor in the hours leading to the minor’s death were uncovered, including messages discussing the minor’s consumption of drugs that had been supplied by Hunt. The drugs distributed by Hunt—including fentanyl, MDMA, MDA, ketamine and LSD—were determined to be the but-for cause of the minor’s death, which was ruled an acute mixed drug intoxication. As part of his plea, Hunt admitted that his distribution of these drugs resulted in the minor victim’s death.
“Benjamin Hunt’s decision to sell lethal drugs and guns online is the reason a family lost their child,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “This case is a stark reminder that drug dealers are no longer just on street corners. They are online preying on our children via phones and computers and pushing highly addictive and deadly drugs. We will continue track them down wherever they are and hold them accountable. Today’s sentence is warranted and a step in the right direction to ending the opioid epidemic.”
“Today’s sentence holds Benjamin Hunt accountable for a crime that ended a young life and forever changed a family,” said Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget, New England Field Division. “Drug traffickers who distribute dangerous substances without regard for human life are fueling a public safety crisis in communities across Massachusetts and the nation. DEA and our law enforcement partners remain committed to identifying, investigating, and prosecuting those who profit from the distribution of deadly drugs. We hope this substantial sentence provides a measure of justice for the victim’s loved ones and serves as a reminder that those responsible for overdose deaths will be aggressively pursued and held accountable.”
“The severity of this sentence highlights the dangers of distributing both drugs and machinegun conversion devices. Independently, each has the potential to ruin lives and endanger the public. Taken together, Benjamin Hunt’s conduct could only lead to harm, and in this case a seventeen-year-old was killed as a result. Today’s sentence not only imposes a measure of justice but should serve to remind anyone considering selling fentanyl or machinegun conversion devices: you are responsible for the consequences of those actions,” said Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division.
“Today’s sentence sends a clear message: those who profit from poisoning and endangering our communities with drugs and guns cannot remain anonymous through the Internet. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is relentlessly targeting the individuals and networks responsible for distributing deadly narcotics and firearms through the U.S, Mail. With strong enforcement, intelligence-driven investigations, and strategic partnerships, we are working every day to disrupt these groups and save American lives,” said Jason Buckley, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division
U.S. Attorney Foley, DEA SAC Forget, ATF SAC Greco, USPIS Acting INC Buckley, New Bedford Police Chief Jason Thody and Fairhaven Police Chief Daniel Dorgan made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations in New England; the Massachusetts State Police; and the Attleboro, Fall River, Norton, Scituate and Taunton Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kunal Pasricha and J. Mackenzie Duane of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
Manhattan-Based Investment Analyst Charged with Insider TradingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging JIANQING LI, a/k/a “JQ,” an analyst at an asset manager specializing in biomedical and healthcare investments, with two counts of securities fraud. LI was presented today before Magistrate Judge Gary Stein. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield.
“Jianqing Li allegedly turned confidential information into more than $350,000 in illegal trading profits,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Insider trading is unfair and it’s illegal. It harms our markets and our investors.”
“Jianqing Li’s alleged exploitation of sensitive trading information betrayed his employer and established an unfair financial advantage over the unknowing public,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “The FBI maintains its steadfast pursuit of those who abuse their positions to generate unlawful profits.”
As alleged in the Indictment:
LI made more than $350,000 in illicit profits by trading in stock and options based on material, nonpublic information he misappropriated from the investment fund where he worked. LI was an analyst at a Manhattan-based asset manager specializing in biomedical and healthcare investments, which routinely received nonpublic information from investment banks in connection with its evaluation of investment opportunities in public companies. Rather than honor restrictions on the use of that information, LI repeatedly used inside information to trade securities for his own profit, in violation of his duties to his employer and to the sources of the information. In particular, LI used nonpublic information about upcoming announcements that he expected would increase a company’s stock price to purchase securities for his brokerage accounts—or in the case of information he expected to negatively affect the stock price, to sell short—and then unwound his position soon after the public announcement, in each case for a profit. To conceal his trading, LI violated his employer’s insider trading policies and code of ethics, including by not seeking preclearance for his illegal trades, not disclosing his trading or profits, and falsely certifying his compliance with those policies annually.
* * *
LI, 40, of New York, New York, is charged with one count of securities fraud under Title 15, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of securities fraud under Title 18, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI. Mr. Clayton further thanked 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. Attorney Kyle A. Wirshba is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitutes only allegations and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Manchester Man Indicted for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
Manchester Man Indicted for Bank Robbery
CONCORD – Michael Cote of Manchester, age 44, was indicted by a federal Grand Jury for unarmed bank robbery, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. He will appear in federal court in Concord on a later date.
According to the charging documents and statements made in court, Cote robbed a TD Bank located at 300 Franklin Street in Manchester, New Hampshire, on December 11, 2025.
The charging statutes provides a sentence of up to twenty years for unarmed bank robbery. 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 details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation with valuable assistance provided by the Manchester Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Anderson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Rombeau.
Man Sentenced to More Than 26 Years in Prison for Using the Dark Web to Distribute NarcoticsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A man has been sentenced to more than 26 years in federal prison for distributing drugs through a dark web marketplace known as the “Nemesis Market.”
DARREN HUGHES operated a vendor store offering free samples of methamphetamine on the Nemesis Market, one of the world’s largest dark web markets. When an undercover law enforcement agent contacted the vendor store, Hughes agreed to mail the law enforcement agent a free sample of meth from California to Chicago. Thereafter, on five occasions in 2023, Hughes sold the law enforcement agent meth and fentanyl pills in exchange for cryptocurrency. Hughes was arrested in Redwood City, Calif., in June 2023 after agreeing to sell additional meth to undercover agents in Chicago. Local police searched the vehicle Hughes was driving and discovered, among other items, approximately 672 grams of meth, a loaded “ghost gun” with no identifiable serial number, and various narcotics paraphernalia.
Law enforcement shut down the Nemesis Market in 2024 after a multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional investigation. From 2021 to 2024, Nemesis Market processed more than 400,000 orders, including more than 55,000 orders for stimulants, including meth, cocaine, crack cocaine, and other controlled substances, and 17,000 orders for opioids, including fentanyl, heroin, and oxycodone.
A federal jury in November 2025 convicted Hughes, 39, of San Jose, Calif., on drug trafficking charges. On May 26, 2026, U.S. District Judge John F. Kness sentenced Hughes to more than 26 years 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 Chicago Field Division of the DEA, Nicholas Bucciarelli, Postal Inspector in Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Adam Jobes, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago. Substantial assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations and the Redwood City, Calif., Police Department. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin Kelly, Michael Maione, and Hayley Altabef.
“Having been part of the original multi-agency, multi-Office Task Force that took down the Silk Road almost 13 years ago, I know firsthand the seriousness of criminals operating on dark web marketplaces,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “Criminals selling poison on the dark web often act with impunity and brazenness because they mistakenly believe that they are beyond the reach of federal law enforcement. The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners will identify, investigate, and prosecute drug traffickers regardless of where they operate—and, even if they operate on the dark net.”
“Today’s sentencing announcement reflects the strength of coordinated law enforcement partnerships, through the Homeland Security Task Force, and DEA’s continued commitment to targeting drug traffickers operating in both the physical and digital worlds,” said DEA SAC Smith. “This investigation brought together DEA, FBI, CBP, USPIS, IRS-CI and our law enforcement partners at Chicago High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area to identify, track and dismantle a dark net drug trafficking operation responsible for distributing dangerous narcotics across the country. DEA will continue leveraging investigative tools to follow the money, identify criminal networks and hold traffickers accountable wherever they operate.”
“The sentencing of Darren Hughes sends a clear message in how critical a role the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and its law enforcement partners play in protecting American consumers from illegal narcotics being shipped via the U.S. Mail,” said USPIS Inspector in Charge Bucciarelli. “Postal Inspectors are committed to continuing our work to dismantle drug trafficking operations to keep USPS customers and employees safe from drug traffickers who favor profit over human lives.”
“Drug dealers once relied on street corners; today, they use the internet to reach customers worldwide,” said IRS-CI SAC Jobes. “Dark web marketplaces may seem anonymous, but no platform is beyond law enforcement’s reach. Darren Hughes used the internet to profit from addiction and distribute dangerous drugs. IRS Criminal Investigation special agents worked with our law enforcement partners to follow the financial trail, expose his crimes, and hold him accountable. Whether drugs are sold on the street or online, we will continue identifying traffickers, disrupting their operations, and bringing them to justice."
Kansas man indicted for murder threat & child pornography possessionRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas returned an indictment charging a Kansas man for threatening to rape and kill a victim and charging him with various offenses related to child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, Christian Page, 24, of Tonganoxie was indicted on one count of receipt of child pornography, one count of distribution of child pornography, two counts of possession and access with intent to view child pornography, and one count of interstate communications with a threat to injure.
On multiple occasions in 2025 and 2026, Page allegedly received, possessed, and distributed CSAM. He is also accused of using an electronic device to threaten to physically injure a victim.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Rask and Audrey McCormick are prosecuting the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.OTHER INDICTMENTS
Rosendo Aguirre-Arreola, 42, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of reentry by a previously removed alien. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case.
Victor Alamilla-Juarez, 46 an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of reentry by a previously removed alien. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case.
Pedro Antonio-Perez, 30, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case.
Jose Manuel Barrara-Acevez, 47, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case.
Ralfeal E. Carr, 46, of Topeka was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Debenham is prosecuting the case.
Mario Del Toro-Sandoval, 46, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indited on one count of illegal reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case.
Zenon Garcia Basurto, 36, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of reentry of a previously removed alien. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Krug is prosecuting the case.
Gustavo Adolfo Guardado-Menjivar, 39, an illegal alien from El Salvador, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case.
Mario Perez-Morales, 48, an illegal alien from Guatemala, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting the case.
Jamin Pitchford, 54, was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Debenham is prosecuting the case.
Henry Ramirez-Nicolas, 34, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of illegal reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case.
Noe Rodriguez-Navarro, 36, an illegal alien from Honduras, was indicted on one count of reentry by a previously removed alien. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case.
Yimy Francisco Reyes-Guzman, 45, an illegal alien from Honduras, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case.
Miguel Angel Toledo-Landa, 45 and illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Justice Department Secures Resolution with Cleveland Clinic to End Pediatric “Gender-Affirming Care”Read the Press Release
Today, the Department of Justice announced another resolution arising from its ongoing national investigation into violations of federal law in connection with sex-rejecting procedures on minors (often euphemistically referred to as “gender-affirming care”). The Cleveland Clinic Foundation (“Cleveland Clinic”) has entered into agreements with the Department and the Ohio Attorney General that include a decades-long commitment to not perform or offer sex-rejecting procedures—which includes the administration of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones—for minors. Cleveland Clinic has also agreed to pay a monetary penalty and, in a landmark commitment, dedicate additional millions to help provide essential medical care for individuals living with the harmful consequences of such misguided medical interventions performed on them as children and adolescents (i.e., “detransitioners”).
“The Department of Justice is steadfastly committed to protecting America’s children,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. “Just as the resolution with Texas Children’s, today’s resolution with Cleveland Clinic furthers that commitment and puts these providers on notice that this Department will vigorously enforce federal law where children are put at risk.”
According to the terms of the agreements, which the Department reached in coordination with Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, Cleveland Clinic—a partner in other Administration priority initiatives—will pay $308,000 to resolve allegations regarding false billings submitted to public and private payors to secure insurance coverage for sex-rejecting procedures on minors. As part of the resolution, Cleveland Clinic has committed $2 million to provide restorative care for detransitioners—the very victims of these predatory and dangerous practices—regardless of their insured status or ability to pay.
The agreements come less than a month after the Justice Department announced its resolution with Texas Children’s Hospital (“Texas Children’s”), which the Department secured through a partnership with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. As previously announced, Texas Children’s agreed to pay a $10,000,000 penalty, and, much like Cleveland Clinic’s commitment today, create the first-of-its-kind clinic dedicated to treating detransitioners. Texas Children’s also agreed to permanently cease providing any sex-rejecting procedures to minors.
These historic commitments pair the cessation of these dangerous practices masquerading as medical treatment with substantial investments in remediating the destruction they cause and restoring the health of the victims.
In working towards this settlement, the United States acknowledged that Cleveland Clinic took significant steps entitling it to credit for cooperation with the Department in its investigation. At all times during the investigation, Cleveland Clinic remained cooperative, proactive, and solution-driven, as highlighted by its multi-million dollar commitment to providing care to the victims who most need it.
“I am grateful that institutions like Cleveland Clinic and Texas Children’s have decided to be part of the solution, not part of the problem,” said Brett Shumate, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division. “Cleveland Clinic’s commitment to providing millions of dollars towards care for detransitioners is emblematic of just that. I am grateful for this resolution with Cleveland Clinic, but our work is far from over, and our division will continue to work tirelessly to protect America’s children and hold accountable those that have preyed on vulnerable children, whether they be pharmaceutical companies or medical providers.”
These matters and the investigations into sex-rejecting procedures on minors are being led by the Justice Department’s Civil Division Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Branch and Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section.
The claims resolved by the United States in the settlements are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. Cleveland Clinic has denied all allegations.
Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Spring CleaningRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice today announced the results of Operation Spring Cleaning, a nationwide initiative spearheaded by the FBI to combat gang-related threats and enhance public safety. The operation coordinated with federal, state, and local law enforcement and targeted the illegal flow of firearms and narcotics in our communities. The operation began on March 1 and ended May 31.
In total, Operation Spring Cleaning led to over 1100 arrests, over 600 charges filed, and almost 600 search warrants conducted. The operation also resulted in the seizure of:
- Almost 1000 illegal firearms, dozens of which were equipped with machine gun conversion devices (MCDs) as well as over 75 stand-alone MCDs;
- Over 2,700 pounds of illegal narcotics including
- Over 500 kilograms of cocaine or more than 1100 pounds,
- Nearly 700 pounds of methamphetamine,
- Over 550 pounds of marijuana,
- Nearly 50 kilograms of fentanyl or more than 100 pounds,
- Almost 40 kilograms of heroin or more than 85 pounds,
- More than 7 kilograms of crack cocaine or more than 16 pounds, and
- More than 13,200 pills of MDMA, also known as ecstasy or molly.
“When our neighborhoods are safe from the scourge of deadly drugs, individuals and families can prosper,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The Trump Administration has made significant progress in removing this poison from our streets, a key step in our commitment to making America safe again.”
“This FBI understands that communities across our country have been ravaged by gangs and the firearms and narcotics they flood our streets with,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Operation Spring Cleaning represents our total commitment to crushing this kind of violent crime and eliminating the criminal networks who facilitate them – with over 1,000 arrests, 1,000 firearms seized, and 3,000 pounds of narcotics removed from our neighborhoods. Righteous operations like this show this FBI is only getting started and will continue delivering the most prolific run of crime reduction in U.S. history.”
Drugs seized by FBI Sacramento Field Office during Operation Spring Cleaning Guns seized by FBI Philadelphia Field Office during Operation Spring Cleaning Guns, drugs, and money seized by FBI Los Angeles Field Office during Operation Spring CleaningJustice Department Announces Results of Operation Spring CleaningRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – The Department of Justice today announced the results of Operation Spring Cleaning, a nationwide initiative spearheaded by the FBI to combat gang-related threats and enhance public safety. The operation coordinated with federal, state, and local law enforcement and targeted the illegal flow of firearms and narcotics in our communities. The operation began on March 1 and ended May 31.
In total, Operation Spring Cleaning led to over 1100 arrests, over 600 charges filed, and almost 600 search warrants conducted. The operation also resulted in the seizure of:
- Almost 1000 illegal firearms, dozens of which were equipped with machine gun conversion devices (MCDs) as well as over 75 stand-alone MCDs; and
- Over 2,700 pounds of illegal narcotics, including:
o Over 500 kilograms of cocaine or more than 1100 pounds,
o Nearly 700 pounds of methamphetamine,
o Over 550 pounds of marijuana,
o Nearly 50 kilograms of fentanyl or more than 100 pounds,
o Almost 40 kilograms of heroin or more than 85 pounds,
o More than 7 kilograms of crack cocaine or more than 16 pounds, and
o More than 13,200 pills of MDMA, also known as ecstasy or molly.
“When our neighborhoods are safe from the scourge of deadly drugs, individuals and families can prosper,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The Trump Administration has made significant progress in removing this poison from our streets, a key step in our commitment to making America safe again.”
“This FBI understands that communities across our country have been ravaged by gangs and the firearms and narcotics they flood our streets with,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Operation Spring Cleaning represents our total commitment to crushing this kind of violent crime and eliminating the criminal networks who facilitate them – with over 1,000 arrests, 1,000 firearms seized, and 3,000 pounds of narcotics removed from our neighborhoods. Righteous operations like this show this FBI is only getting started and will continue delivering the most prolific run of crime reduction in U.S. history.”
“Operation Spring Cleaning represents a significant step in Hawaii and across the country toward dismantling and disrupting drug trafficking and the violent gangs that plague our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “We will continue to hunt down and bring to justice those who victimize Hawaii with drug trafficking and the use of firearms to protect their illicit criminal operations.”
“As reflected in the record number of arrests, seizures, and disruptions across the country, the message sent by Operation Spring Cleaning is deliberate and unequivocal—to the violent gangs operating in our communities: your time is up,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “Through enforcement operations and the removal of illegal firearms and lethal narcotics from our streets, we haven’t just disrupted criminal networks—we have actively prevented violence and saved lives. The FBI, alongside our dedicated federal, state, and local partners, will continue to relentlessly track down those who flood our communities with poison and traffic in fear. We live here. We work here. This is our home, and we refuse to cede our neighborhoods to violent criminals.”
Guns, drugs, and money seized by FBI Honolulu Field Office during Operation Spring Cleaning.FBI Honolulu, with assistance from federal and local law enforcement partners, conducted 1 largescale takedown and 2 additional operations during Operation Spring Cleaning, which led to the arrests and indictments of 11 individuals, including 10 alleged members of a drug trafficking organization. After executing 27 warrants, investigators seized approximately 8 kilograms of methamphetamine, 5 kilograms of cocaine, 4 kilograms of other miscellaneous illegal drugs, 10 firearms, 11 firearm accessories, and $150,000 in U.S. currency.
Operation Spring Cleaning comes on the heels of another significant FBI Honolulu-led operation that led to the seizure of over 40 firearms – including an Uzi submachine gun, short-barreled rifles, and an AR-style pistol – and the arrest of two brothers.
FBI Honolulu and its enforcement partners seized approximately 14 kilograms of illegal narcotics as part of Operation Spring Cleaning.Investigators during Operation Spring Cleaning.
Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Spring CleaningRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice today announced the results of Operation Spring Cleaning, a nationwide initiative spearheaded by the FBI to combat gang-related threats and enhance public safety. The operation coordinated with federal, state, and local law enforcement and targeted the illegal flow of firearms and narcotics in our communities. The operation began on March 1 and ended May 31.
In total, Operation Spring Cleaning led to over 1100 arrests, over 600 charges filed, and almost 600 search warrants conducted. The operation also resulted in the seizure of:
- Almost 1000 illegal firearms, dozens of which were equipped with machine gun conversion devices (MCDs) as well as over 75 stand-alone MCDs;
- Over 2,700 pounds of illegal narcotics including
- Over 500 kilograms of cocaine or more than 1100 pounds,
- Nearly 700 pounds of methamphetamine,
- Over 550 pounds of marijuana,
- Nearly 50 kilograms of fentanyl or more than 100 pounds,
- Almost 40 kilograms of heroin or more than 85 pounds,
- More than 7 kilograms of crack cocaine or more than 16 pounds, and
- More than 13,200 pills of MDMA, also known as ecstasy or molly.
“When our neighborhoods are safe from the scourge of deadly drugs, individuals and families can prosper,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The Trump Administration has made significant progress in removing this poison from our streets, a key step in our commitment to making America safe again.”
“This FBI understands that communities across our country have been ravaged by gangs and the firearms and narcotics they flood our streets with,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Operation Spring Cleaning represents our total commitment to crushing this kind of violent crime and eliminating the criminal networks who facilitate them – with over 1,000 arrests, 1,000 firearms seized, and 3,000 pounds of narcotics removed from our neighborhoods. Righteous operations like this show this FBI is only getting started and will continue delivering the most prolific run of crime reduction in U.S. history.”
Jury finds previously convicted felon guilty of 3 armed robberiesRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A federal jury found a previously convicted felon guilty of seven federal robbery and firearms charges.
James Lockridge, 40, of Cincinnati, committed three armed robberies in February 2024.
“Lockridge fired shots during each robbery, endangering lives and terrorizing the workers and customers in the gas stations he robbed,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “My Office will not tolerate such violence in our communities. We will continue to aggressively prosecute—and win trials against—defendants like Lockridge. Thank you to the prosecutors and investigators on this case for their excellent work.”
The verdict was announced today following a trial that began on June 1 before U.S. District Judge Douglas R. Cole.
According to court documents and trial testimony, on Feb. 5, Feb. 10 and Feb. 21, 2024, Lockridge robbed a Cincinnati Marathon gas station. The first and third armed robberies occurred on Gilbert Avenue and the second robbery took place on Montgomery Road.
At each of the robberies, Lockridge was masked and brandished the same silver firearm. He fired his weapon and pointed it at store clerks. He also wore the same boots during each robbery and fled on foot towards a nearby apartment complex after the first and third robberies.
Lockridge was arrested 11 minutes after the third robbery. Officers discovered the firearm in his waistband.
After his arrest, officers located the boots, gloves and other clothing items used during the robberies, as well as a cash register, in and around the space where Lockridge had been residing.
As a previously convicted felon, Lockridge is prohibited from possessing firearms.
Lockridge was convicted of three counts of robbery, three counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and one count of illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. He faces up to 20 years in prison for reach robbery and an additional 10 years in prison for using a firearm during the robberies. Illegally possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court at a future hearing based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
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 today’s verdict. Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley N. Brucato and Danielle E. Margeaux are representing the United States in this case.
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Jury Finds Former Sacramento Man Guilty for Knowingly Misusing Money Stolen from a School DistrictRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — After a four-day trial, a jury found former Sacramento resident, William A. Sassman, 58, guilty of knowingly engaging in monetary transactions with criminally derived property, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to the evidence at trial, in September 2019, the Tukwila School District in Washington mistakenly wired more than $6.5 million into Sassman’s bank account. District employees were duped into sending the funds to Sassman’s account instead of the account of a legitimate construction contractor.
Sassman then used part of the stolen funds to buy two luxury watches — a Patek Philippe for $195,000 and a Richard Mille for $318,324 — plus other personal items. After the school district discovered the fraud and reported it to Sassman’s bank, the bank froze Sassman’s account and informed Sassman that it had been funded with fraudulent proceeds. Even after knowing the money was stolen, Sassman resold the watches and deposited the resulting checks into an account at another bank in Sacramento.
“The evidence at trial showed that after being told by his bank that this money didn’t belong to him, Sassman nevertheless chose to spend it on high-end watches rather than return it to its rightful owner,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “Today’s verdict demonstrates that those who knowingly profit from stolen funds will be held accountable.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Veronica M.A. Alegría and Zachary B.L. Malinski are prosecuting the case.
Sassman is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins on Sept. 25, 2026. Sassman faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or up to twice the amount of the laundered money. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Joplin Man Charged with Unlawful Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Joplin, Mo. man was charged in federal court for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Andre E. Swindell, 41, was charged in a one-count criminal complaint and had his initial appearance in federal court this morning.
The complaint alleges that officers with the Joplin Police Department located firearms connected to Swindell while executing search warrants at his residence in connection with a homicide investigation on Feb. 28, 2026.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
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 Joplin, Missouri 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.
Jacksonville Serial Robber Convicted by Jury for Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – A federal jury has found John Flowers Grissom (55, Jacksonville) guilty of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and possession of an unregistered, short-barreled rifle without a serial number. Grissom faces a minimum of 15 years, and up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 30, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
Grissom was initially charged by criminal complaint on November 20, 2024.
According to evidence presented at trial, on September 30, 2024, three young men were playing basketball in Jacksonville when one of them discovered he had lost his keys. While retracing his steps, the young man encountered Grissom and asked whether Grissom had seen his keys. Later, as the young man circled the block in a vehicle, they observed Grissom hiding outside of his residence with a short-barreled rifle equipped with a red laser. As the young men drove by Grissom’s residence, Grissom pointed the short-barreled rifle at the young men.
Fearing for their lives, the young men called the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO) and provided officers with detailed physical descriptions of Grissom, his residence, and his firearm. JSO officers responded to the residence in an attempt to make contact with Grissom. Upon arriving at the residence, the officers observed Grissom’s window lit up from inside and observed his door quickly open and shut. The officers proceeded to bang on his door and window and announced their presence outside. For more than two hours, Grissom pretended not to be home.
Ultimately, Grissom exited the home and was arrested. When interviewed, Grissom stated that he was on heavy medication and did “it” because he was scared due to recent robberies in his neighborhood. A lawful search of his residence was conducted, and officers located rifle ammunition in Grissom’s toilet, an upper receiver for an AR15-style rifle underneath the covers of his bed, and the lower receiver and stock for the rifle inside a hole in his box spring. A bolt carrier and ammunition magazine were found in the trash. The barrel of the rifle measured approximately 8.5 inches, subjecting it to regulation under the National Firearms Act (NFA). A search of the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record revealed that the firearm was not registered to Grissom. The firearm had been privately made and did not bear a serial number as required under the NFA. As an eleven-time convicted felon, Grissom is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law.
The jury further found that Grissom had three or more convictions for robberies that were committed on different occasions, thus subjecting him to an enhanced penalty as an Armed Career Criminal.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Laura Cofer Taylor and Rick Lasseter.
Iranian national pleads guilty in scheme to smuggle military related technology to Iran via ChinaRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 44-year-old citizen of Iran pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to federal felonies related to his scheme to violate trade sanctions against Iran, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Reza Dindar, aka Renda Dindar was indicted by the grand jury in August 2014. Dindar was arrested in Panama in July 2025 at the request of the United States. Dindar was extradited to the U.S. in April 2026. Today he pleaded guilty to two counts of export to an embargoed country and two counts of smuggling goods from the United States. U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez scheduled sentencing for August 28, 2026.
According to records filed in the case, the smuggling in this case violates sanctions against Iran imposed by the President’s Executive Order in March 1995 and reimposed in 2001. The orders prohibit the unauthorized exportation, re-exportation, sale, or supply, directly or indirectly, from the United States of any goods, technology, or services to Iran or the Government of Iran; as well as the exportation or supply of goods, technology, or services to persons in third countries knowing or with reason to know that the goods, technology or services are intended for supply, trans-shipment, or re-exportation to Iran.
According to the plea agreement, between 2010 and 2014, Dindar managed a business called New Port Sourcing Solutions in Xi’an, China. The company hid the fact that it was procuring items in the U.S. for companies in Iran. It fraudulently claimed the goods were destined for China. In 2011 and 2012, Dindar and his coconspirators used deception to purchase parts for three military sonar systems from a business in the Western District of Washington. Dindar and his coconspirators claimed the systems would be used by a company in China. In fact, the plan was to ship the parts through China to Iran in violation of export controls.
Dindar pleaded guilty to two counts of export to an embargoed country and two counts of smuggling goods from the United States.
Export to an embargoed country is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Smuggling goods from the U.S is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security - Office of Export Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The case is being prosecuted by assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs worked with the Government of Panama to secure the arrest and extradition from Panama of Dindar. Significant assistance was provided by the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).
Illegal alien admits to exploiting fraudulent U.S. citizenship to access restricted offshore oil platformsRead the Press Release
BROWNSVILLE, Texas - A 52-year-old Mexican national unlawfully residing in the United States in Brownsville has pleaded guilty to using a stolen identity to fraudulently obtain an official permit to access offshore oil platforms, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Ezequiel Escamilla Martinez admitted he was born in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, and not a U.S. citizen born in Brownsville.
From Sept. 23, 2022, to Feb. 12, 2025, he used the false identity to obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential card granting access to offshore oil platforms in the Gulf of America as well as a Texas driver’s license and U.S. passport.
Martinez used the fraudulently obtained passport to cross the U.S.-Mexico border more than 80 times from 2024 through 2025.
“For years, Martinez deliberately exploited a fraudulent American identity to gain access to restricted offshore oil platforms, a U.S. passport, and a driver’s license—privileges reserved for lawful residents of this country,” said Marck. “This was a calculated scheme carried out with complete disregard for the American citizens whose livelihoods were put at risk and the security of our offshore facilities, which he had no legal right to enter. Those who abuse our immigration system to fraudulently obtain federal credentials and access our sensitive infrastructure will face the full force of federal prosecution in the Southern District of Texas”
“The Coast Guard Investigative Service remains steadfast in its mission to protect the integrity of critical infrastructure and uphold federal security regulations,” said Special Agent in Charge Damon J. Youmans, CGIS. “Following a comprehensive investigation, CGIS agents apprehended the individual responsible for fraudulent activity involving access to a federally regulated facility. We are grateful for the collaboration of our partners at the Department of Justice throughout this process and look forward to the continued prosecution of these cases to ensure the security and safety of our nation’s infrastructure.”
Sentencing is set for or Aug. 26. At that time, Martinez faces up to eight years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
CGIS conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Laurence Goldman is prosecuting 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.
Honduran National Sentenced to Six Months Imprisonment After Guilty Plea to Illegal Entry into United StatesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –MAYCOL JAVIER CARCAMO-ANTUNEZ (“CARCAMO-ANTUNEZ”), age 21, a native of Honduras, was sentenced on June 4, 2026 to six (6) months imprisonment by U.S District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown after pleading guilty to illegal entry into the United States, and avoidance of examination and inspection by U.S. immigration officials, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1325(a), announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, CARCAMO-ANTUNEZ, an illegal alien, was ordered removed from the United States on January 8, 2026 by an immigration judge in New Orleans. On April 15, 2026, at approximately 7:00am, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers located CARCAMO-ANTUNEZ in a vehicle in Tangipahoa Parish. Officers attempted to apprehend and arrest CARCAMO-ANTUNEZ but he accelerated his vehicle away from the officers, eventually disembarking and barricading himself inside a trailer residence in Tangipahoa Parish for over 13 hours. Immigration enforcement officers then acquired a signed criminal Complaint and Search Warrant, entered the residence and arrested CARCAMO-ANTUNEZ.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), 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).
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Immigration and Customs in investigating this matter. Special Assistant United States Attorney Rick Veters, of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.
Homeland Security Task Force Case Results in 30-Year Federal Prison Sentence for Oklahoma Drug TraffickerRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – An Oklahoma man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 360 months in prison for trafficking cocaine from Mexico into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons. The Homeland Security Task Force investigation was led by ICE Homeland Security Investigations.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Jordy Alexander Amaya, 28, approached the Eagle Pass Port of Entry on Sept. 16, 2024. During an inspection of his vehicle, Customs and Border Protection officers discovered approximately 1.9 kilograms of cocaine. Testimony during the trial revealed Amaya had ties to a Texas-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributes methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. Records also indicate that Amaya previously crossed into the U.S. in a known DTO vehicle in 2022 and 2023.
Amaya was indicted in October 2024 on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of conspiracy to import cocaine, and one count of importation of cocaine. He was convicted of all four counts after a jury trial concluded on August 27, 2025.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Warsame Galaydh and William Golden 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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High-Speed Pursuit Leads to Nine-Year Federal Prison Sentence for Lawton Man Fleeing with Methamphetamine and FirearmRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – CEDRIC MICHAEL VOS, 31, of Lawton, has been sentenced to serve 108 months in federal prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and illegal possession of a firearm after a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public records, on May 16, 2025, officers with the Lawton Police Department attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Vos on SW 16th Street. Vos refused to stop and a high-speed pursuit ensued, during which Vos weaved in and out of traffic, ran stop signs, sped through residential areas, and endangered numerous motorists before jumping out of the vehicle while it was still in drive and running into a field. Officers stopped the vehicle, and after a brief foot pursuit, arrested Vos. More than 18 grams of methamphetamine was recovered from Vos’s person and a stolen, chamber-loaded firearm fitted with a 30-round magazine was found inside the vehicle.
Public records further reflect that Vos has prior felony convictions in Comanche County District Court, including convictions for possession of a firearm after previous adjudication and unlawful possession of marijuana with intent to distribute in Case No. CF-2012-505, and possession of a firearm after previous adjudication in Case No. CF-2013-164.
On July 16, 2025, a federal grand jury indicted Vos for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Vos pleaded guilty on September 15, 2025, and admitted that he knowingly possessed methamphetamine that he intended to distribute and possessed a firearm despite his prior felony convictions.
At a sentencing hearing on June 4, 2026, U.S. District Judge Patrick R. Wyrick sentenced Vos to serve 108 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, Judge Wyrick noted the need to promote respect for the law and the defendant’s history of repeated acquisition of firearms in spite of his prohibited status.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Lawton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle M. Connolly prosecuted the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Greece woman sentenced for her role in retail theft ring involving hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of stolen merchandiseRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Amanda L. Reeves, 43, of Greece, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, was sentenced to serve 42 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. Reeves was also ordered to pay $92,903.34 in restitution to various retailers, including Best Buy, Home Depot, Kohls, Lowes, Macy’s, Target, and Walmart.
Between December 2021, and October 17, 2024, Reeves conspired with others to engage in an ongoing retail theft conspiracy involving the New York Gold Diamond Pawn Shop (NYGDPS). The pawn shop was owned and operated by co-defendant Dominic Sprague and managed by co-defendant James Civiletti. Reeves and her co-conspirators stole new-in-box items from store shelves on a weekly, and sometimes daily, basis. They then sold the stolen goods to the pawn shop for a fraction of the actual retail value. The pawn shop then resold the stolen merchandise on eBay at much higher prices, resulting in significant profits. The pawn shop purchased 37,936 stolen new-in-box items from Reeves and the others on more than 670 occasions, for which Reeves and the others were paid $290,000.00. The actual losses to the victim-retailers were approximately $1,160,000.00.
In addition, Reeves unlawfully used an ID belonging to another person to engage in transactions at NYGDPS. She recklessly created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury to another person in the course of fleeing from law enforcement while the scheme was ongoing. Specifically, in 2019 and 2024, Reeves led police on high-speed car chases, which police discontinued because of the threat that the defendant posed to other motorists.
Dominic Sprague and James Civiletti were previously convicted.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi. The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Patrone, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Harry T. Chavis, Jr., the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Acting Chief Ryan Parina, and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter.
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Former Kokomo Police Department Officer Convicted of Sexually Assaulting Minor, Lying to Investigators, and Destruction of RecordsRead the Press Release
After a five-day trial, a federal jury in the Southern District of Indiana convicted Sinmi Asomuyide, 33, a former Kokomo Police Department officer today of charges related to his on-duty sexual assault of a 14-year-old and related obstruction.
“Police officers are entrusted with extraordinary authority and responsibility to protect the public. The defendant’s reprehensible actions betrayed that trust,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This verdict sends a clear message: officials who abuse their power and violate the constitutional rights of children will be held accountable.”
“While this administration strongly supports the men and women of law enforcement who are steadfastly committed to making our communities safe, we will not tolerate those who abuse the powers entrusted to them,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas Wheeler II for the Southern District of Indiana. “The defendant used those powers to sexually abuse a 14-year-old girl and then lied and destroyed evidence to cover up his crimes. The jury saw through his lies and held him accountable for his crimes,”
“The defendant used his position of trust and the appearance of assistance to isolate and assault a child, then took steps to obstruct the investigation by destroying records and lying to law enforcement. These actions reflect a complete disregard for the law, the victim, and the public trust,” said Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley of the FBI Indianapolis Field Office. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively pursue justice for victims and hold offenders fully accountable.”
In particular, jurors found Sinmi Asomuyide, 33, guilty of willfully depriving the victim, who was then 14 years old, of her constitutional rights by sexually assaulting her. The jury found that the defendant’s conduct included kidnapping and abusive sexual contact of a child under the age of 16.
Jurors also found Asomuyide guilty of lying to the Indiana State Police in attempt to cover up the assault by denying having sexual contact with the victim and lying about the presence of other corroborating evidence. Jurors also found Asomuyide guilty of deleting a messaging application he had been using to communicate with the minor victim prior to the sexual assault in attempt to cover up the assault.
Asomuyide faces up to life in prison at sentencing.
The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Blackett for the Southern District of Indiana and Senior Sex Crimes Counsel Tara Allison are prosecuting the case.
Five Men Plead Guilty to Distributing Large Quantities of Child Sexual Abuse Material on Peer-to-Peer NetworksRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – This week, five men pleaded guilty to distributing thousands of violent and sadistic child sexual abuse material (CSAM) across peer-to-peer networks.
“The relentless pursuit of child sex predators is one of the FBI's top priorities,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “Victimization and abuse of our most vulnerable, our community's innocent children, is unacceptable. Through initiatives such as Project Safe Childhood, we are committed to identifying, investigating, and bringing to justice anyone who violates federal laws designed to protect our children.”
- On June 1, Andrew Padilla, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty to making available for download by other users of a peer-to-peer network more than 4,000 images and videos of child sexual abuse material. Padilla admitted that he possessed about 160 images and videos depicting sadistic or masochistic, including infants and toddlers and children under the age of 12. Padilla pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. The statutory maximum penalty is 20 years for distribution of child pornography and 20 years for possession of child pornography.
- On June 1, Jimmy Franklin Dearman, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty to making available for download by other users of a peer-to-peer network approximately 239 files of child sexual abuse material and distributing at least 39 of the files. Additionally, he admitted to possessing over 1,600 images and 242 videos of child sexual abuse material depicting sadistic or masochistic conduct of infants and toddlers, and children under the age of 12. Dearman pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. The statutory maximum penalty is 20 years for distribution of child pornography and 20 years for possession of child pornography.
- On June 5, James Donovan, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty to distributing child sexual abuse material at least 11 times with other users and channels of the social media application Discord. Donovan admitted that he also transported child sexual abuse material to an Amazon Cloud account using the internet. He also possessed about 70 printed images and over 50,000 digital images and videos of child sexual abuse material depicting sadistic or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence, infants and toddlers, and prepubescent minors under the age of 12. Donovan pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography, one count of transportation of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. The statutory maximum penalty is 20 years for distribution of child pornography, 20 years for the transportation of child pornography, and 20 years for possession of child pornography.
- On June 5, Randall William Rushton, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty to making available for download, on two separate occasions, over 600 total images and videos of child sexual abuse material for download by other users of a peer-to-peer network. He also admitted that he possessed over 11,000 images and videos depicting sadistic or masochistic, including infants and toddlers and children under the age of 12. Rushton pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. The statutory maximum penalty is 20 years for distribution of child pornography and 20 years for possession of child pornography.
- On June 5, Travis Ehlers, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty to making available for download by other users of a peer-to-peer network more than 500 images and videos of child sexual abuse material. Ehlers admitted that he possessed approximately 13,420 images and about 1,784 videos of child sexual abuse material depicting sadistic or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence, infants and toddlers, and prepubescent minors under the age of 12. Ehlers pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. The statutory maximum penalty is 20 years for distribution of child pornography and 20 years for possession of child pornography.
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 investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Afroza Yeasmin is prosecuting these cases.
These cases are a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Five Massachusetts and Rhode Island Men Indicted for Operating Cross-State Drug Dispatch Network That Flooded New Hampshire with Methamphetamine and Fentanyl, in New Hampshire Homeland Security Task Force InvestigationRead the Press Release
Five Massachusetts and Rhode Island Men Indicted for Operating Cross-State Drug Dispatch Network That Flooded New Hampshire with Methamphetamine and Fentanyl, in New Hampshire Homeland Security Task Force Investigation
CONCORD – Five men have been indicted in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation for their roles in a 30-month cross-state drug trafficking conspiracy that targeted Manchester and Seabrook communities with more than three pounds of methamphetamine and more than a half kilogram of fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Reimon Pena Rodriguez, 34, of Pawtucket, Rhode Island; Hansel Rodriguez Arias, 41, of Lawrence, Massachusetts; Johan Peguero Santana, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts; Arismendy Paulino Paulino, 37, of Lawrence, Massachusetts; and Yomar Mercedes Medina, 36, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, were charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Pena Rodriguez was originally charged by complaint and has been in federal custody since his arrest on April 2, 2026. Rodriguez Arias and Peguero Santana are in New Hampshire state custody on related charges. Paulino Paulino and Mercedes Medina have not yet been arrested.
According to the charging document and statements made in court during prior related proceedings, from September 2023 through April 2026, Pena Rodriguez ran a drug dispatch network using six dedicated phone lines to accept narcotics orders and direct co-conspirators Rodriguez Arias, Peguero Santana, Paulino Paulino, and Mercedes Medina to complete street-level drug sales at prearranged locations in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Law enforcement conducted numerous undercover purchases from the organization during the course of the investigation, seizing more than three pounds of methamphetamine and more than a half kilogram of fentanyl.
The charge against the defendants carries a penalty of not less than 10 years and up to life in federal prison, at least 5 years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $10,000,000. 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 details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
DEA and the Manchester Police Department led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cesar A. Vega is 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.
Five Atlanta Men Arrested on International Firearms Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Five Atlanta men, including a U.S./Jamaican dual citizen, have been charged with numerous offenses involving the alleged trafficking of hundreds of stolen firearms to the Caribbean.
“These defendants allegedly perpetrated a multi-year crime spree in the city of Atlanta—breaking into vehicles and stealing guns—to source firearms to be smuggled out of our country, fueling violence overseas,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Thanks to the collaboration between a wide range of federal law enforcement agencies through our Homeland Security Task Force and the Atlanta Police Department, the trafficking ring allegedly responsible for these crimes has been dismantled.”
“This multi-agency operation underscores HSI’s commitment to combat the illegal trafficking of firearms and protect our communities both domestically and abroad,” said Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. We will continue to pursue transnational criminal networks who threaten public safety and violate U.S. laws, wherever they operate.”
“Among ATF’s top priorities is ensuring that firearm traffickers are aggressively investigated and swiftly brought to justice. This investigation is an excellent example of multiple partner agencies working collaboratively to achieve outstanding results,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ryan Todd of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Atlanta Field Division.
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is devoted to defending the nation’s mail system from illegal use. We remain steadfast in our resolve to seek justice to the end and to keep communities safe,” stated Rodney M. Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Atlanta Division. “This goal is achieved through collaborative investigative efforts with fellow law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the indictment, and other information presented in court: On April 2, 2025, HSI and CBP agents at Miami International Airport interdicted a package destined for Georgetown, St. Vincent. The package contained three 9mm pistols, which had not been declared as required by law, hidden in a package containing a queen air mattress. One of the three handguns was reported stolen on March 1, 2025, in Atlanta.
A multi-agency investigation conducted by HSI, ATF, and U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security special agents, USPIS inspectors, and Atlanta Police Department officers revealed that the stolen handgun seized at the Miami airport was one of dozens of guns taken during a rash of car break-ins and burglaries allegedly perpetrated by Lorenzo Harris-Brown, D’Anthony Varner, and Albert Brown in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Harris-Brown, Varner, and Brown allegedly broke into scores of vehicles, stole the vehicles’ contents, including firearms, and provided the stolen firearms to Sanchaz Turner. After receiving the guns, Turner allegedly contacted Andre Lalor to sell the firearms. A court-authorized search of Turner’s cell phone allegedly led to the discovery of text messages between Turner and Lalor in which Turner sent Lalor photographs or descriptions of more than 350 firearms. After acquiring firearms from Turner, Lalor allegedly tried to send those guns to contacts in the Caribbean and Canada, but several of Lalor’s alleged shipments were intercepted, resulting in the seizure of dozens of stolen weapons.
On May 27, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Andre Lalor, a/k/a “Plug Dre,” 48, of Conyers, Georgia, and Sanchaz Turner, a/k/a “Chezz,” 20; D’Anthony Varner, 23; Lorenzo Harris-Brown, 21; and Albert Brown, 21, all of Atlanta, Georgia, with conspiracy to commit firearms trafficking, trafficking in firearms, possession of stolen firearms, and dealing in firearms without a license. The indictment also charged Lalor with attempted smuggling goods from the United States, failure to notify a common carrier, and failure to file electronic export information. Andre Lalor, Sanchaz Turner, and Lorenzo Harris-Brown appeared in federal court last week following their arrests, and Albert Brown was arraigned yesterday. D’Anthony Varner will be arraigned at a later date.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Department of Commerce - Bureau of Industry and Security, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Atlanta Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Smith and Jamil Favors 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. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
First week of June brings 291 charged in relentless border enforcement actionsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – The Southern District of Texas has filed 285 cases in immigration and border security-related matters from May 29-June 4, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Of those charged, 79 people face illegal entry charges, while another 179 allegedly reentered the United States after prior removal. Many have felony convictions involving narcotics trafficking, violent crimes and immigration offenses. An additional 27 people face charges of engaging in human smuggling, while the remaining six cases are related to other immigration offenses.
Among the new matters are three men from various countries, all charged with felony reentry into the United States after removal.
Authorities allegedly found Guatemalan national William Perez-Perez and Mexican national Edgar Guadalupe Cruz-Velasco in the McAllen area without legal authorization to be in the United States. According to the criminal complaints, both had been previously removed April 17 and April 19, respectively. Perez-Perez has a prior conviction for battery on law enforcement, while Cruz-Velasco was convicted of first degree assault and battery.
Law enforcement also allegedly discovered Honduran national Osman Adalid Soto Benites near Progreso after he was removed Oct. 31, 2025. Court records reflect he has a prior conviction for failure to register as a sex offender.
Another illegal alien charged in a separate case is Mexican national Rafael Pineda-Ruiz. According to the complaint, authorities removed him in September 2005. The charges allege Pineda-Ruiz has a prior conviction for conspiracy to distribute narcotics and was sentenced to 70 months in prison. Law enforcement allegedly discovered him near Roma without legal authorization to be in the country.
If convicted, all four face up to 20 years in prison.
In addition to the new cases, Mexican national Cruz Alberto De La Garza pleaded guilty to harboring illegal aliens in a Laredo stash house under dangerous conditions that resulted in the death of an individual. The investigation began after two illegal aliens were dropped off at an emergency room, one of whom was pronounced dead. Authorities later discovered 30 additional illegal aliens in a tractor-trailer’s sleeper compartment and determined they had been housed in extreme heat with little to no air conditioning, limited food and water and inadequate ventilation. He faces up to life in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
A federal jury in Corpus Christi found a mother and daughter guilty of human smuggling. Evidence showed Enedelia Garcia and Ashley Garcia drove the illegal alien through the Border Patrol checkpoint near Kingsville. The illegal alien later testified he had been smuggled into the United States and expected the pair to transport him to Houston. The jury saw evidence Ashley Garcia texted a friend during the smuggling event and said “not to ask” about her trip to Houston. Both women face up to 10 years in federal prison.
The cases are referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, BP, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The 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 our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than 10 million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.
An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Federal grand jury indicts Jamestown man on narcotics conspiracy chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.–U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Joseph Fontanez Walker, 35, of Jamestown, NY, with narcotics conspiracy, which carries a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a 10,000,000 fine.
According to the indictment, between 2019 and January 2022, Fontanez Walker conspired with others to sell fentanyl and heroin in the Jamestown area.
Fontanez Walker was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and is being held pending a detention hearing on June 8, 2026.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Buffalo comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, Department of Homeland Security Emergency Removal Operations, Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Diplomatic Security Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti. The indictment is the result of an investigation by Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, and the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Scott Forster.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Federal Prosecutors Add Nearly 300 New Immigration Cases in Western District of TexasRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – Federal prosecutors in the Western District of Texas filed 297 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from May 29 to June 4, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons. Charges were brought against human smugglers and illegal aliens with past convictions for numerous DWIs, violent crimes and unlawful carrying of weapons, thefts, sex crimes, and multiple prior removals.
In Austin, illegal alien Hilario Benitez-Mondragon was charged with illegal re-entry after being found in the Travis County Jail. According to publicly available Travis County court records, in May, he was convicted of second-degree felony sexual assault and sentenced to 10 years deferred adjudication in Travis County’s 299th District Court. He was previously removed from the U.S. to Mexico in 2014.
Of the nearly 300 new cases, 172 were filed in Del Rio, including an illegal re-entry charge against Neptaly Reyes-Reyes, an illegal alien from Honduras. U.S. Border Patrol agents apprehended Reyes-Reyes near Eagle Pass and discovered that he has been previously deported three times, the last being on March 14, 2025, through Louisiana. Reyes-Reyes is a convicted felon with a criminal record that includes multiple petit theft convictions, third degree grand theft, illegal re-entry, and cocaine possession.
Miyagui Maclen Aleman Herrera, also an illegal alien from Honduras, was arrested near Eagle Pass on May 30 after being deported for the third time on Feb. 25. Aleman Herrera was previously convicted of indecency with a child by exposure and sentenced in Harris County to two years in prison.
An illegal alien from Nicaragua was also arrested by USBP agents near Eagle Pass. Jimmy Jose Mena-Aleman has been convicted of multiple felonies in Miami, Florida, including carrying a concealed weapon robbery, burglary of a motor vehicle/grand theft, and aggravated battery. He was deported for the second time on Sept. 5, 2024.
In San Antonio, Adolfo Lopez-Alcaraz aka Adolfo Lopez was encountered at the Bexar County Adult Detention Center following his arrest for unlawful carrying of a weapon. Lopez was convicted on May 29 and subsequently transferred to ICE custody on June 1. Lopez now faces a federal charge of illegal re-entry. He was previously removed from the U.S. in November 2019.
Illegal alien from Mexico, Jorge Jesus Cuellar-Ortiz, was charged in El Paso with fraud and misuse of visas, permits and other documents after he allegedly presented a Texas driver’s license bearing the personal information and photo of another person at the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry. A criminal complaint alleges Cuellar-Ortiz told the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer that he was an El Paso-born U.S. citizen who was traveling to work construction after visiting family in Mexico. According to the complaint, further inspection resulted in Cuellar-Ortiz admitting his true identity as a Mexican national. The complaint also alleges he had previously lived illegally in the U.S. for 21 years. Cuellar-Ortiz’s criminal record contains two DWI convictions.
Florentino Soto-Esquivel aka Florentino Escobar, an illegal alien from Mexico, was charged with illegal re-entry in Austin. Soto-Esquivel has been removed from the U.S. only one time, but has been previously convicted of assault and four DWIs.
In Austin, illegal alien Hilario Benitez-Mondragon was charged with illegal re-entry after being found in the Travis County Jail. According to publicly available Travis County court records, in May 2026, he was convicted of second-degree felony sexual assault and sentenced to 10 years deferred adjudication in Travis County’s 299th District Court. He was previously removed from the U.S. in 2014.
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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Federal Jury Convicts Pennsylvania Man for Making Death Threats Against Chief Executive Officer of Tampa General HospitalRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – A federal jury has found Lawrence Brunn (63, Pennsylvania) guilty of cyber harassment. The defendant faces a maximum of five years in federal prison. His sentencing will be set at a later date. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Brunn began harassing J.C., the CEO of Tampa General Hospital, at least as far back as 2022. Brunn’s online harassment increased in frequency and intensity over the last two years. Brunn’s threats called for the execution of J.C. and frequently referred to J.C.’s beheading utilizing a guillotine. In one post from April 9, 2025, Brunn stated that J.C. “should have his head chopped off” and further stated that J.C. “should be scared…of we the people.” In addition to online postings, Brunn also sent mailings to J.C.’s private residence, as well as J.C.’s neighbors’ residences, and members of the Board of Trustees for Tampa General Hospital.
This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Candace Garcia Rich.
FBI Special Agent selected as WDNY 2026 Hometown HeroRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.–U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that FBI Special Agent Randall Garver has been awarded the 2026 Hometown Hero award for the Western District of New York.
The Hometown Hero award commemorates the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America. It honors the enduring ideals of Liberty, Service, and Civic Responsibility. This award is dedicated in recognition of a steadfast commitment to these ideals and an embodiment of the spirit upon which our Nation was founded.
“Special Agent Garver is relentless and tireless in his work on behalf of the most vulnerable members of our community, our children,” stated U.S. Attorney DiGiacomo. “He has been a trusted law enforcement partner to the WDNY for many years and has garnered the universal respect of every Assistant U.S. Attorney that he works with. Special Agent Garver is truly a ‘Hometown Hero.’”
Special Agent Garver is head of the Violent Crimes Against Children (VCAC) Squad. From securing evidence and obtaining search warrants, to assisting prosecutors through litigation, he spends an enormous amount of time ensuring that justice is served. But, in addition to building a successful case, Special Agent Garver is unrelenting in his care for victims, staying in constant contact with victims and their families, earning their trust, and guiding them through a very difficult process. Special Agent Garver is a graduate of West Point and a combat veteran. He spends a great deal of his free time volunteering for veteran organizations and as a youth athletics coach.
The Hometown Hero Award is presented to individuals who have made significant and measurable contributions to preserve and/or improve their community.
For more information on Freedom 250 and the Hometown Hero award, go to https://freedom250.org/.
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Daleville Resident Receives 35 Year Prison Sentence for Role in Large‑Scale Methamphetamine and Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Today, United States Attorney Thomas Govan and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge John P. Scott of the New Orleans Field Division announced that a Daleville, Alabama man has been sentenced for his role in a large-scale drug trafficking organization operating in Alabama’s Wiregrass region.
On June 3, 2026, Eric Demetrius King, 42, was sentenced to 420 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. King will also serve five years of supervised release following his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“This case demonstrates what can be accomplished when federal, state, and local law enforcement work together,” said United States Attorney Thomas Govan. “Our partners played a critical role in dismantling this drug trafficking network, and we will continue working side by side to combat the flow of illegal narcotics into the Middle District of Alabama.”
"Today's announcement reflects the tireless dedication of investigators who spent years unraveling a sophisticated network responsible for trafficking vast quantities of meth and cocaine into Alabama,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge John P. Scott. “With the organization's leader facing 35 years in federal prison, and 18 additional defendants being held accountable, we have dealt a substantial blow to drug trafficking in the Wiregrass region. The DEA New Orleans Field Division remains deeply committed to keeping our communities safe and ensuring that those who profit from the illicit drug trade face the full weight of federal justice."
According to court documents, in the spring of 2022, DEA, working in coordination with multiple local law enforcement agencies, began investigating a suspected drug trafficking operation in southeast Alabama. Investigators determined that at least 19 individuals, including King, were part of a conspiracy responsible for transporting and distributing significant quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine into the Wiregrass.
During the investigation, agents identified King as a major participant who exercised a leadership role within the conspiracy.
To date, eight of King’s co-conspirators have been sentenced:
• Marco Lionel Agee, 51, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida – 276 months in prison; five years of supervised release
• Curtis Antonio Fitzpatrick, 44, of Elba, Alabama – 151 months in prison; five years of supervised release
• Alexander Travarez Richardson, 34, of Daleville, Alabama – 135 months in prison; five years of supervised release
• Cristion Martinez, 32, of Ellenwood, Georgia – 120 months in prison; five years of supervised release
• Steven L. Cole, 50, of Enterprise, Alabama – 97 months in prison; four years of supervised release
• Benjamin Maurice Sanders, 51, of Chancellor, Alabama – 78 months in prison; five years of supervised release
• Tavon Marquis Davies, 30, of Enterprise, Alabama – 48 months in prison; four years of supervised release
• Freddy Rodriguez, 68, of Daleville, Alabama – 15 months in prison; two years of supervised release
Sentencing hearings for the remaining ten defendants are pending.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Eufaula Police Department, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Dothan Police Department, the Geneva Police Department, the Dale County Sheriff’s Office, the Geneva County Sheriff’s Office, theOkaloosa County, Florida Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorney Chelsea Wilson is prosecuting the case.
Company Ordered to Pay $500,000 Criminal Fine for Violating Asbestos Regulations in MichiganRead the Press Release
Note, the press release has been updated to include a quote from EPA.
Applied Partners LLC was sentenced today to pay a $500,000 fine and complete a two-year term of probation for the company’s illegal handling of regulated asbestos containing material (RACM) at a site in Saginaw, Michigan.
The company had previously pleaded guilty to violating the Clean Air Act’s asbestos work practice standards for its role in demolishing a structure in 2019. Inhalation of asbestos fibers can lead to cancers like mesothelioma and lung cancer or noncancerous conditions like asbestosis.
According to court documents, Applied Partners acquired a defunct industrial site in Saginaw in 2018 with the intention of demolishing and scrapping structures on the property before reselling it. In fall 2019, despite knowing that RACM remained in a structure called the Power House, Applied Partners directed another company to begin demolition.
Between about Sept. 19 and Oct. 24, 2019, employees of the company performing the demolition used heavy machinery to break apart brick walls and to pull down at least one large facility component covered in RACM from the upper floors of the structure. The demolition was done in violation of numerous asbestos work practice standards. Demolition ceased once regulators performed sampling and informed Applied Partners that it would need to perform remediation of remaining RACM before demolition could continue.
“Applied Partners knowingly disregarded asbestos work practice standards designed to protect human health,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “Today’s sentence demonstrates that public health is among our highest priorities, and we will prosecute those who violate environmental laws.”
“By demolishing an old industrial site with intentional disregard of the asbestos at the site, Applied Partners exposed workers to hazardous asbestos fibers. The asbestos regulations and work practice standards protect Americans from cancer and other harm from asbestos,” said EPA’s Assistant Administrator Jeffrey A. Hall of the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This prosecution and sentencing shows that companies that profit off of exposing American workers or communities to hazardous air pollutants will be held accountable.”
The EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division, Environmental Investigation Section, assisted with the investigation.
Trial Attorney Rachel Roberts of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section, Assistant U.S. Attorney Katharine Hemann for the Eastern District of Michigan, and EPA Regional Criminal Enforcement Counsel Samuel Cardick prosecuted the case.
Columbia Man Sentenced to over 12 Years in Federal Prison for Guns and DrugsRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Christopher Kentrell Jones, 33, of Columbia, has been sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison for distribution of cocaine and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted four controlled purchases of cocaine and two controlled purchases of firearms from Jones at a residence on Colleton St. in Columbia. During one of the purchases, Jones sold both a firearm and approximately one ounce of cocaine in a single transaction. A grand jury indicted Jones for charges related to the controlled purchase, and when members of the ATF and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department arrested Jones on that indictment, he was found in possession of 125 oxycodone pills and approximately 1 ounce of crack cocaine.
While Jones was in custody on his federal charges, he used phone calls and messages to recruit a coconspirator to continue to traffic cocaine, crack cocaine, oxycodone, and marijuana on his behalf from his residence in Columbia. ATF executed a search warrant on Jones’ residence and found approximately 1 ounce of crack cocaine, 5 ounces of cocaine, 22 ounces of marijuana, and five firearms.
Jones has prior convictions for possession of crack cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. sentenced Christopher Jones to 148 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, and the City of Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar J. Fyall is prosecuting the case.###
Collin County man arrested and charged in the Eastern District of Texas with making threats against the President of the United StatesRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas – A Collin County man has been arrested and charged in the Eastern District of Texas with making threats against the President of the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Ronnie “Chip” Austin, Jr., 56, of Allen, was charged in a criminal complaint with making threats against the President of the United States and transmitting threats in interstate commerce. Austin was arrested on June 4, 2026, and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Aileen Goldman Durrett on June 5, 2026.
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, to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and to protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Rapp.
A federal indictment or complaint is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Chiropractor and Former CEO Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
A Puerto Rican chiropractor pleaded guilty today to filing a false tax return related to his use of an illegal tax shelter.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Stuart Bernsen, formerly of Westmont, Illinois, was the former CEO and co-founder of a company that managed a network of over 50 chiropractic clinics across the Midwest. Bernsen paid to establish an illegal tax shelter, which he used to conceal income through a series of abusive trusts and a fraudulent charitable foundation. From 2019 through 2021, Bernsen used this tax shelter to avoid paying nearly $1.3 million in tax.
The tax shelter was designed to make it appear as if Bernsen had permanently transferred to his trusts and charitable foundation his ownership interest of various business entities, including his chiropractic business. In reality, Bernsen maintained control of the chiropractic business and other business entities, and he continued to benefit from the income they generated. Bernsen used the trusts to make various personal purchases, including personal residences, credit card bills, a luxury vacation and a boat. Bernsen also filed false tax returns for the trusts, erroneously claiming that his personal purchases were tax-deductible expenses related to the administration of the trusts.
Bernsen pleaded guilty to one count of willfully filing a false tax return.
Bernsen is scheduled to be sentenced on October 2 and faces a maximum of three 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 McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros for the Northern District of Illinois made the announcement.
IRS-CI is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Boris Bourget and Mahana K. Weidler of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section are prosecuting the case.
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.
Camden County Pharmacist Charged with Illegally Dispensing Oxycodone; Wife Charged with Making False Statements on Naturalization ApplicationRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Camden County pharmacist was charged in an indictment with unlawfully distributing oxycodone, and his wife was separately charged in a criminal complaint with making false statements on her naturalization application, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
According to the indictment, Charles Suh, 63, was a pharmacist at a pharmacy in Voorhees, New Jersey. On 15 occasions between June and November 2021, Suh illegally dispensed oxycodone based on prescriptions that he knew or should have known were forged.
According to the criminal complaint in a separate case, So Yong Suh, 62, who is the wife of Charles Suh, applied to become a United States citizen by submitting an application for naturalization (an “N-400”). An N-400 requires the applicant to swear under penalty of perjury that the information she provided in the application is complete, true, and correct. In her N-400, Mrs. Suh falsely claimed that she had never been arrested or convicted of a crime when, in fact, she had been arrested at least four times. In addition, Mrs. Suh falsely stated that she had never provided any false or misleading information to the United States when, in fact, she failed to disclose a civil suit settlement in her bankruptcy proceeding. Her bankruptcy proceeding was dismissed because she had failed to disclose the settlement.
Charles Suh and So Yong Suh made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew J. Skahill in federal District Court in Camden on May 27, 2026. If convicted of unlawfully dispensing a controlled substance, Charles Suh faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment per count. If convicted of making false statements, So Yong Suh faces a maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James; and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy, with the investigations.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph McFarlane in Camden.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment and the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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ssuh.complaint.pdf csuh.indictment.pdf