Southern District of Alabama

MOBILE, AL – Four defendants were sentenced for their involvement in a murder-for-hire conspiracy, among other crimes.

On January 10, 2025, a federal jury convicted Judy Owen, 61, and Mitzy Smith, 54, of Fairhope, AL, for conspiracy to commit murder for hire, transfer of a firearm in furtherance of a felony, and murder for hire.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Smith and Owen conspired together and with others to hire a hitman to murder another person. The sisters’ co-defendants, Rebecca Murphy, Sandra Grimes, and Jessica Montgomery previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit murder for hire. The sisters were also convicted of transferring a firearm to another person in furtherance of a felony, murder.

On May 5, 2025, United States Chief District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock sentenced Judy Owen to 120 months in prison, Sandra Grimes to 70 months in prison, and Jessica Montgomery to 60 months in prison for their roles in the conspiracy. Mitzy Smith was sentenced to time served. Rebecca Murphy was previously sentenced on January 27, 2025, and received a sentence of 60 months in prison.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica S. Terrill and Tandice H. Blackwood prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – Timothy Allen Arthur, age 66, was sentenced today to 210 months in prison after entering a guilty plea to a count of Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor.  Arthur entered his guilty plea on September 17, 2024.

According to court documents, during the summer months of 2023, Bay Minette Police Department (“BMPD”) was called to a school to address an issue about a nude photo of a student that was being distributed at a school.  As part of the investigation into that incident, BMPD made contact with Arthur.  Arthur’s behavior during his interview with BMPD was suspicious.  Afterwards, teachers at the school began looking at the social media accounts of a 12-year-old child, and they discovered that Arthur was making inappropriate comments on the child’s social media posts.  A teacher took screenshots of those comments and provided them to law enforcement.

The 12-year-old was interviewed and indicated that Arthur had been sending her inappropriate text messages for about a year, beginning when she was 11 years old.  BMPD took the child’s phone into evidence and searched the phone.  They found the text messages with Arthur.  In those text messages, Arthur solicited the child to perform sex acts and produce naked images of herself.  Arthur used sexually explicit language to describe the acts he wanted to engage in with the child.  She did not encourage or respond positively to these comments.  On at least one occasion, the child reminded Arthur that she was 12.  After one of his comments about engaging in sexual activity, the child wrote “ur old. That’s rape, right?”  Arthur wrote “I think we should get together” and the girl responded, in part, “I’m only 12 I can’t get together with u.”  The child also repeatedly told Arthur to stop messaging her.

At sentencing, Judge DuBose imposed the 210-month sentence of incarceration and a 10-year term of supervised release upon his future release. During his term of imprisonment, Arthur will be subject to sex offender treatment, substance abuse testing and treatment, and mental health treatment.  Arthur will be required to register as a sex offender and is to have no contact with minors.  Arthur was ordered to pay $35,000 in restitution to the victims of his offenses and $5,100 in special assessments.

The Department of Homeland Security Investigations and Bay Minette Police Department investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kacey Chappelear prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

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 the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc/publications-resources

Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Restore Justice: 205 Child Sex Abuse Offenders Arrested in FBI-led Nationwide Crackdown, Including 3 in the Southern District of Alabama

MOBILE, AL – Today, the Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track and arrest child sex predators.  The operation resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sexual abuse offenders in the nationwide crackdown.  The coordinated effort was executed over the course of five days by all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Department’s Criminal Division, and United States Attorney’s Offices around the country.  

“The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims — especially child victims — and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I am grateful to the FBI and their state and local partners for their incredible work in Operation Restore Justice and have directed my prosecutors not to negotiate.”

“Every child deserves to grow up free from fear and exploitation, and the FBI will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who exploit the most vulnerable among us,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach and no child will be forgotten. By leveraging the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state and local partners, we’re sending a clear message: there is no place to hide for those who prey on children.”

“Protecting south Alabama from predators is a mission we pursue day in and day out,” said Sean P. Costello, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama. “Criminals who seek to exploit, abuse, or harm children in our community will find dedicated, talented prosecutors and law enforcement agents who are all eager to bring them to justice.”

Timothy O’Malley, Special Agent in Charge of the Mobile Field Office of the FBI, said: “The FBI is unwavering in its commitment to identifying and apprehending those who prey on children.  Through relentless investigation and strong partnerships, the FBI works tirelessly to protect our communities and safeguard the most vulnerable – our children.  The dedication of the men and women behind these efforts is a clear reflection of the FBI’s core mission and values.”

In the Southern District of Alabama, 3 individuals were charged with federal crimes, including:

James Eugene Dees, charged with Possession of Child Pornography, Possession of Obscene Visual Representations of the Sexual Abuse of Children, and Penalties for a Registered Sex Offender.

Zachary Norris, charged with Distribution of Child Pornography and Access with Intent to View Child Pornography.

Jason Jones, charged with Sexual Exploitation of Minors, Coercion and Enticement, Distribution of Child Pornography, Access with Intent to View Child Pornography, and Transfer of Obscene Material to a Minor.

Others arrested around the country are alleged to have committed various crimes including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement and transportation of minors, and child sex trafficking. In Minneapolis, for example, a state trooper and Army Reservist was arrested for allegedly producing child sexual abuse material while wearing his uniforms. In Norfolk, VA, an illegal alien from Mexico is accused of transporting a minor across state lines for sex. In Washington, D.C., a former Metropolitan Police Department Police Officer was arrested for allegedly trafficking minor victims.

In many cases, parental vigilance and community outreach efforts played a critical role in bringing these offenders to justice. For example, a California man was arrested about eight hours after a young victim bravely came forward and disclosed their abuse to FBI agents after an online safety presentation at a school near Albany, N.Y.

This effort follows the Department’s observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, and underscores the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and raising awareness about the dangers they face. While the Department, including the FBI, investigates and prosecutes these crimes every day, April serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preventing these crimes, seeking justice for victims, and raising awareness through community education.

The Justice Department is committed to combating child sexual exploitation. These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org. 
The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI’s tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.

Other online resources:  Electronic Press Kit
Violent Crimes Against Children
How we can help you: Parents and caregivers protecting your kids

An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

MOBILE, AL – A Mobile man was sentenced to 24 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

According to court documents, Derrick C. Busby, 34, was arrested by Mobile Police Department officers following a traffic stop on October 22, 2023. During the stop, officers saw marijuana on Busby’s lap and witnessed Busby chugging from a bottle of prescription-only promethazine syrup and swallowing marijuana. Officers searched Busby’s car, seizing, among other things, a loaded Taurus 9mm pistol, a loaded extended magazine, and a digital scale. The pistol had previously been reported stolen to the Daphne Police Department by its original owner in December 2022.

Busby admitted to police that he possessed the pistol, which he heard was stolen and might have been connected to a homicide. Busby further admitted that he was a convicted felon who was not supposed to be around guns. At the time Busby possessed the pistol, he had prior felony convictions for robbery and burglary. Those felony convictions made Busby’s possession of the pistol illegal under federal law.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit justice.gov/PSN.

MOBILE, AL – Michael Edward Terrell, age 46, was sentenced today to 135 months in prison after entering a guilty plea to a count of Attempted Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography.  Terrell entered his guilty plea on January 30, 2025.

According to court documents, between August 22, 2017, and September 5, 2017, an FBI Online Convert Employee identified Terrell as a person who was distributing child pornography online. FBI executed a search warrant at his home, seized his electronic devices, and found child pornography on his devices.

On December 3, 2019, an ALEA SBI Special Agent was notified that Terrell was soliciting child pornography on Twitter.  ALEA obtained the contents of the Twitter account and confirmed that Terrell, using an explicit username, was engaging in conversations with other Twitter users in which he would request that they send him “hard core” images of child pornography.

At sentencing, Judge Steele imposed the 135-month sentence of incarceration and a 15-year term of supervised release upon his future release. During his term of imprisonment, Terrell will be subject to sex offender treatment, substance abuse testing and treatment, and mental health treatment.  Terrell will be required to register as a sex offender and is to have no contact with minors.  Terrell was ordered to pay $30,500 in restitution to the victims of his offenses and $5,100 in special assessments.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kacey Chappelear prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

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 the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc/publications-resources

MOBILE, AL – On April 29, 2025, United States District Court Judge William H. Steele sentenced Isaiah Lorenzo Bess, 28, to 33 months imprisonment for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl.

Documents filed with the court established that beginning in or around July 2023 and continuing to or about December 8, 2023, Bess conspired with others to distribute fentanyl pills throughout the Mobile area.

Bess was indicted for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and pled guilty to the charge.  United States District Court Judge William H. Steele sentenced Bess to 33 months in prison followed by a 5-year term of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica S. Terrill prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – A Honduran national was sentenced on April 21, 2025, for illegally reentering the United States after previously having been deported.

According to court documents, Saul Cruz-Argueta, 39, was encountered by agents from the United States Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement Removal Operations during labor site inspections. The agents discovered that he had previously been removed from the United States in 2016 and 2018. Cruz-Argueta has two prior convictions for Illegal Reentry, as well as convictions for Theft of Property and Possession of Marijuana.

At sentencing, Chief Judge Beaverstock imposed a time-served sentence and a 1-year term of supervised release upon his future release. Cruz-Argueta had been in custody since his arrest on March 7, 2025.  Upon his release from prison, Cruz-Argueta is to be referred to immigration officials for deportation proceedings. Cruz-Argueta was ordered to pay $100 in special assessments.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Department of Homeland Security Investigations, ATF, DEA, and Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jimmy L. Thomas prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

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.

MOBILE, AL – On April 22, 2025, United States District Court Judge William H. Steele sentenced John Rodney Weeks III to 180 months imprisonment for Conspiracy to Traffic Methamphetamine. Documents filed with the Court established that between February 2024 and March 2024, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) used a confidential informant to make five controlled buys of methamphetamine from Weeks. On March 27, 2024, the MCSO executed a search warrant at Weeks’ residence in Mobile County and seized approximately 62 grams of methamphetamine, digital scales for weighing drugs, approximately $720.00 in US currency that were drug proceeds and ledger notes used to keep records of monies owed for drugs. Because Weeks had a prior federal methamphetamine trafficking conviction in 2005 the United States filed a Sentencing Enhancement which required the 15 year mandatory minimum sentence under Title 21 USC §841 (b)(1)(A).

The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and the Mobile County Sherriff’s Office, Narcotics Unit. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney George F. May.

MOBILE, AL – On April 21, 2025, United States District Court Judge, Jeffrey U. Beaverstock sentenced Phyliss Joy Ferris of Wake Forrest, North Carolina, to 24 months imprisonment for Conspiracy to Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine.

Documents filed with the Court established that on October 24, 2022, the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) Special Operations Unit stopped Ferris on Interstate 65 for a traffic violation. During the traffic stop a deputy smelled the odor of marijuana and officers began a probable cause search of the vehicle based on the odor of marijuana. Ferris was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle. Officers located the top to a marijuana dispensary jar that still contained small remnants of green leafy substance consistent with marijuana. Inside Ferris' purse, officers located a bottle of "Blunt Bomb", a cover agent commonly used to mask the odor of marijuana. The defendant later told officers that she purchased the "Blunt Bomb" while on the trip to help cover the odor of marijuana in the vehicle.

As officers continued to search, they opened the spare tire well inside the rear cargo area of the vehicle. Inside, they found a Ziploc bag wrapped in duct tape. White powder consistent with cocaine could be seen through cracks in the tape on the "brick" or kilo of suspected cocaine. Officers removed the cocaine from the vehicle and the DEA Laboratory later confirmed the powder was in fact cocaine weighing 1007 grams. In a later interview with a DEA Task Force Officer, Ferris admitted to being paid to make previous trips for the organization that hired her to transport the cocaine from Texas to North Carolina.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney George F. May.

MOBILE, AL – A Honduran national was sentenced today for illegally reentering the United States after previously having been deported.

According to court documents, Tomas Rivera-Melgar, 39, was encountered by agents from United States Border Patrol and Homeland Security while he was working at a construction site.  Agents were able to determine that Rivera-Melgar had previously been removed from the United States in 2011 and in 2016.  Rivera-Melgar has prior convictions for Illegal Entry, Driving While Intoxicated, and Assault Causing Bodily Injury.

At sentencing, Chief Judge Beaverstock imposed a time-served sentence and a 1-year term of supervised release upon his future release.  Rivera-Melgar had been in custody since his arrest on February 26, 2025.  Upon his release from prison, Rivera-Melgar is to be referred to immigration officials for deportation proceedings.  Rivera-Melgar was ordered to pay $100 in special assessments.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Department of Homeland Security, Border Patrol, and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tandice Blackwood prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – A Mobile woman was sentenced to 180 months in prison for a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

According to court documents, Desiree Rose Carlock, 33, was surveilled by narcotics agents in January 2024 traveling from Mobile to Pensacola, Florida, where she would purchase pounds of methamphetamine to bring back to Mobile and sell. On February 21, 2024, agents seized nearly a pound of methamphetamine and a loaded .380 caliber pistol from Carlock during a traffic stop. Carlock admitted to agents that she had just obtained the methamphetamine from a supplier in Pensacola. She confessed that she typically picked up methamphetamine in Pensacola twice a week and distributed the drugs to individuals in Mobile. Agents searched Carlock’s cell phone, which contained text messages, photos, videos, and other data regarding her drug-trafficking activities.

In April 2024, agents arrested Carlock in possession of methamphetamine on two occasions. First, during a traffic stop on April 2, 2024, agents seized 21 grams of methamphetamine from Carlock. Second, during a traffic stop on April 22, 2024, agents seized 349 grams of methamphetamine from Carlock.

In addition to the 180-month prison sentence, United States District Judge Kristi K. DuBose ordered Carlock to serve a five-year term of supervised release upon her release from prison, during which time she will be subject to drug testing and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge DuBose ordered Carlock to pay $200 in special assessments and forfeited her firearm, ammunition, and cell phone to the United States.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. The Escambia County, Florida Sheriff’s Office substantially assisted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.  

MOBILE, AL – The United States Attorney’s Office commemorates National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW), April 6-12, 2025, by participating in the Victim Vigil and Information Fair taking place at the Mobile Government Plaza Atrium on April 10 at 6:00 p.m. 

This year’s NCVRW theme—Connecting-Kinship-Healing—challenges us to build a world where vital connections are made between victims, survivors, law enforcement, advocates, and our communities.  NCVRW challenges all of us to confront and remove barriers to achieving justice for all.  No victim or survivor should walk alone.  Kinship connects us.

“Crime Victims’ Rights Week serves as reminder to all of us working in the public safety and criminal justice systems why we serve our communities”, said United States Attorney Sean P. Costello.  “This year’s 44th NCVRW marks decades of progress in improving the legal standing of crime victims and expanding their access to services.”

NCVRW began in 1981 to honor victims and survivors of crime, to raise awareness of victims’ rights and available services, and to recognize the dedication of those who work with crime victims.

This event is open to the public and members of the press. 

According to court documents, Vincent Sandifer, 25, was a suspect in multiple auto, business, and apartment burglaries. Mobile police went to his apartment to execute a search warrant. Upon their arrival to the complex parking lot, Sandifer was observed moving suspected stolen goods from one vehicle to another. As officers pulled up to the vehicles, Sandifer fled. During his flight, Sandifer rammed into a patrol vehicle and caused multiple collisions on the roadway. Sandifer was ultimately apprehended and found to be in possession of a firearm.

Sandifer has multiple prior felony convictions, including convictions for eight counts of auto burglary, burglary, and cruelty to animals. As a convicted felon, Sandifer is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Sandifer was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm and pled guilty to the charge.  United States District Court Judge Kristi K. DuBose sentenced Sandifer to 63 months in prison followed by a 3-year term of supervised release for illegally possessing the firearm.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica S. Terrill prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – A Dothan man was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for six counts of wire fraud and two counts of interstate transportation of stolen goods.

According to court documents, Randy Pressley, 45, used the stolen means of identification of several individuals to open customer accounts with food distribution companies.  He would then order food, have it delivered, and resell it after transporting it to Mississippi.  When the invoices were due, victims who had their identities used disputed the transactions, leaving the food distribution companies with a loss. The total amount lost from Pressley’s scheme is over $750,000.  After 60 months in prison, Pressley will be on supervised release for 3 years. He was also ordered to pay restitution and forfeit the proceeds of his criminal activity.

U.S. Attorney Sean Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Hattiesburg Police Department, Chatom Police Department and Jackson Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tandice Blackwood prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – Today, U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello announced criminal charges against seven defendants related to a multi-million dollar fraud scheme at the Water Works and Sewer Board of the City of Prichard (“Prichard Water Board”). A federal grand jury in Mobile has returned a thirty-two count indictment against five individuals, while two people have already pleaded guilty and await sentencing.

According to the indictment unsealed today, Nia Bradley, 50, of Mobile, Alabama; Randy Burden, 47, of Prichard, Alabama; Steve Jones, 61, of Mobile, Alabama; Larry Knight, 35, of Mobile, Alabama; Dejuan Lamar, 47, of Mobile, Alabama; Ayanna Payton, 47, of Eight Mile, Alabama; and Stephanie Hunn, 49, of Mobile, Alabama, were charged with various federal crimes listed below.  Payton and Hunn previously pleaded guilty to all charges against them and are awaiting sentencing.  Their proceedings were sealed in light of the ongoing investigation which led to charges recently filed against Bradley, Burden, Jones, Knight, and Lamar.   Each of the defendants face potential sentences of decades in prison.

The Grand Jury returned an indictment alleging the following scheme: starting as early as 2018 through 2022, the defendants bilked the Prichard Water Board of at least approximately $2.4 million dollars through a false and fraudulent contractor scheme involving outside contractors and employees and board members of the Prichard Water Board.  Approximately $960,000 of the money was illegally laundered, including through a business owned and operated by Bradley and Burden.  

The Prichard Water Board provides water and sewer services to approximately 8,000 residential and 2,000 commercial clients and is funded by customer payments and also through a $55 million bond it secured in 2019.  The indictment alleges that the criminal scheme involved the creation of a fictitious business by Hunn and the creation of false invoices to justify unlawful payments to Hunn, Jones, Knight, and Lamar.  Bradley and Burden, who were employees of the Prichard Water Board, allegedly falsified payment authorizations and received kick-back payments and other benefits.

Payton and another uncharged co-conspirator served on the board of the Prichard Water Board where they are alleged to have falsified payment authorizations and received kick-back payments and other benefits for their roles.  Several of the conspirators communicated through coded messages and destroyed evidence to attempt to avoid detection of the crimes, according to the indictment.   Bradley, Payton, Hunn, and Jones committed tax fraud to avoid revealing the criminal scheme and to avoid paying taxes to the United States.  Through its criminal cases, the United States is seeking money judgments in the amounts of approximately $2,459,279.39, $960,851.41, and $302,134.90, as well as the forfeiture of three real properties which were purchased using fraud proceeds and involved in the money laundering scheme.

Nia Bradley is charged with Conspiracy to Commit Mail, Bank, and Wire Fraud; Conspiracy to Defraud the United States (Taxes); Money Laundering Conspiracy; Wire Fraud; Bank Fraud; and related tax charges.

Randy Burden is charged with Conspiracy to Commit Mail, Bank, and Wire Fraud; Money Laundering Conspiracy; and Bank Fraud.

Steve Jones is charged with Conspiracy to Commit Mail, Bank, and Wire Fraud; Money Laundering Conspiracy; Bank Fraud; and filing false tax returns.

Larry Knight and Dejuan Lamar are charged with Conspiracy to Commit Mail, Bank, and Wire Fraud and Bank Fraud.

Ayanna Payton and Stephanie Hunn have pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Mail, Bank, and Wire Fraud; Conspiracy to Defraud the United States (Taxes); Wire Fraud; Bank Fraud; and False Tax Filings and both women are awaiting sentencing.

“The taxpayers of the Southern District of Alabama deserve to be able to rely on competent, honest public servants,” said United States Attorney Sean P. Costello. “This indictment is the result of careful, thorough, and meticulous investigation. Together with our partners in law enforcement, we will continue our efforts to protect the taxpayers and hold accountable thieves who seek to enrich themselves at the expense of our community.”

“Fraud and theft by government employees from the very people they are put in place to serve will not be tolerated,” said FBI Mobile Division Supervisory Special Agent Parker Still.  “This investigation is another example of law enforcement cooperation between federal, state and local entities to ensure people have trust in their public works.”

“Corrupt public officials waste government resources and diminish the trust citizens place in their government to provide the essential services they expect,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation special agents will continue investigating and forwarding for prosecution those who disregard the public trust by misusing taxpayers’ funds to enrich themselves and their coconspirators.”

“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service remains steadfast in our commitment to protect the nation’s mail system from illegal use,” said Shameka Jackson, Acting Postal Inspector in Charge of the Houston Division. “With the collaborative investigative efforts of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, we will continue to work together to bring to justice those who abuse the trust given to them by the American people.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and United States Postal Inspection Service, investigated the case with assistance from the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Bishop Ravenel and Kasee S. Heisterhagen are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

An indictment or information is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
 

MOBILE, AL – Three defendants were sentenced to life in prison for their involvement in a deadly murder-for-hire conspiracy, among other crimes. Another defendant was sentenced to 84 months for interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle during a deadly carjacking attempt.

According to court documents and evidence presented at a three-week federal jury trial in October 2024, John Fitzgerald McCarroll, Jr., 31, Darrius Dwayne Rowser, 21, and Lyteria Isheeia Hollis, 31, each of Mobile, participated in a plot to murder an individual as retribution for a prior killing. As part of the murder plot, McCarroll hired several shooters who attempted but failed to kill the intended target of the plot during multiple nightclub shootings.

In September 2022, Reginald Dennis Alan Fluker opened fire in the Bank Nightlife club using a gun provided to him by McCarroll. Fluker shot the wrong person, who later died of his injuries. Hollis directed payments to Fluker before and after the shooting. Fluker pleaded guilty to the conspiracy and received a 30-year prison sentence.

In November 2022, Rowser used an illegally modified machinegun provided to him by McCarroll to shoot at the intended target of the plot inside the Paparazzi Lounge. Rowser likewise missed the target and instead hit four victims, one of whom was rendered paralyzed. Rowser later bragged to his coconspirators about perpetrating the shooting in voice messages he sent via Instagram.

As part of the conspiracy, McCarroll directed Rowser and others to travel to Mississippi to steal cars for use in surveilling the target of the plot. In September 2022, during an attempted carjacking in D’Iberville, Mississippi, Rowser shot and killed a victim. After that murder, Rowser and a coconspirator, Karmelo Cortez Morris Derks, 21, traveled back to Mobile and burned the stolen car they were using during the attempted carjacking. In connection with that incident, Derks pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle.

Later, in December 2022, at McCarroll’s direction, Rowser, Derks, and another coconspirator, Jimaurice Pierce, 21, traveled to the Walmart on I-65 Service Road South in Mobile to purchase a GPS tracker for the target’s vehicle. During that trip, Rowser and Pierce fired illegally modified machineguns into the self-checkout area of the store, striking two victims. Pierce pleaded guilty to the murder-for-hire conspiracy.

Following the arrests of McCarroll, Fluker, and other members of the conspiracy, the defendants attempted to tamper with evidence and a witness. Specifically, McCarroll directed Hollis to hide a weapon that he had previously purchased for Fluker because of Fluker’s participation in the murder plot. Federal agents seized that gun from Hollis’s house. Additionally, McCarroll attempted to tamper with Fluker’s testimony by having him sign a sham affidavit, which was filed in state court to earn McCarroll a bond from jail.

Following her conviction for murder-for-hire conspiracy and evidence tampering in October 2024, Hollis separately pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Specifically, Hollis admitted that she obtained nearly $20,000 in fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan proceeds designed to aid small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. To obtain the fully forgivable loan proceeds, Hollis lied to the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) about operating a nonexistent hair-styling business.

At the sentencing hearing on April 2, 2025, several victims of the defendants’ crimes addressed the court to provide impact statements. United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer noted the importance of the victims’ statements and the resilience they demonstrated.

Judge Moorer sentenced McCarroll, Rowser, and Hollis each to life in prison, which is the mandatory sentence required by federal law. Pierce, who also faces a mandatory life sentence, will be sentenced at a later date. Judge Moorer sentenced Derks to 84 months in prison. Derks faces pending accessory to murder charges in Harrison County, Mississippi, for which he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

In addition to the lifetime prison terms, Judge Moorer ordered McCarroll, Rowser, and Hollis to pay $1,243,397.72 in restitution to the victims of the murder-for-hire scheme. The court further ordered Hollis to pay $19,985.00 in restitution to the SBA for her fraudulent PPP loan, and ordered Rowser and Derks to pay $5,361.00 in restitution to the owner of the stolen vehicle. The court did not impose fines, but Judge Moorer ordered the defendants to pay a total of $1,300 in special assessments.

“These criminals used illegal machineguns to murder, maim, and endanger innocent lives in our community,” said Sean P. Costello, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama. “Thanks to the relentless work and dedication of the federal agents, police, and prosecutors, these three will never be in a position to terrorize or harm anyone else. Together with our partners in law enforcement, we will continue to aggressively investigate, prosecute, and sentence violent criminals who hurt victims and threaten the safety of our community.”

“The ATF recognizes that we are most successful when we work with our state, local, and federal partners. Together, we serve as a force multiplier in the efforts to combat violent crime. Our ability to protect American families, increases by having a comprehensive violent crime reduction strategy in place. We will continue to focus our efforts to decrease violent crime and hold individuals accountable who relentlessly cause harm in the community,” said Jason Stankiewicz, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Nashville Field Division.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement and praised the extraordinary work of the federal and state law enforcement agents involved in the investigation.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Mobile Police Department, and the D’Iberville, Mississippi Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Roller, Gaillard Ladd, and Kasee Heisterhagen prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

According to court documents, Nijel Malik Smith, 22, was arrested by Mobile police in April 2023 following a traffic stop. During that stop, police seized marijuana and a Glock .45 caliber pistol from Smith. The pistol was fully loaded and equipped with an illegal machinegun-conversion device, commonly referred to as a “Glock switch,” which rendered the pistol a fully automatic weapon. The slide of the pistol was marked with “Gretna PD.” It had previously been reported stolen by a law enforcement officer in Louisiana. During an interview with police, Smith admitted that he possessed the marijuana and the illegally modified pistol. He further admitted that he knew what a “switch” was and suspected that the pistol might be stolen due to the “Gretna PD” markings on it.

In January 2025, while under federal conditions of release and pending sentencing, Mobile police again arrested Smith following a traffic stop. During that stop, Smith again possessed marijuana and a pistol. The January 2025 incident led to revocation of Smith’s bond and denial of credit for acceptance of responsibility at his sentencing.

In addition to the 51-month prison term, United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer ordered Smith to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will be subject to drug testing and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Moorer ordered Smith to pay $100 in special assessments.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

According to court documents, James Walker Stewart, 38, was arrested on November 18, 2023, following a traffic stop in Atmore, Alabama. During that stop, agents found Stewart in possession of half a kilogram bulk fentanyl, a small amount of methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia. Stewart admitted that he and a coconspirator, Zachary Heaton Thaggard, had picked up the fentanyl in Atlanta, Georgia, and were transporting it to Pensacola, Florida.

Stewart further admitted that he had coordinated the fentanyl transaction with another coconspirator, Justin Brian Melton, who was incarcerated in an Alabama prison and brokered the deal using a contraband cell phone. Agents seized and searched Stewart’s cell phone, which contained text messages, pictures, videos, and other evidence of his drug-trafficking activities with Melton and other coconspirators.

In addition to the 120-month prison sentence, United States District Judge Kristi K. DuBose ordered Stewart to serve a 10-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will be subject to drug testing and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge DuBose ordered Stewart to pay $200 in special assessments. For their roles in the conspiracy, the court previously sentenced Melton and Thaggard to serve 210 months and 30 months in prison, respectively.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

According to court documents, Antonio Eirby, 34, plead guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon and received 105 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.  Eirby has two prior felony convictions for Domestic Violence Strangulation and Burglary 2nd out of Mobile County Circuit Court.  On October 3, 2023, the Mobile Police Department responded to a location on Highway 90.  A victim reported having encountered Eirby in the parking lot. Eirby robbed him of his firearm. Police apprehended Eirby on foot a short distance away and found the firearm on Eirby’s person.  The firearm was returned to its lawful owner.

U.S. Attorney Sean Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Mobile Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tandice Blackwood prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

According to court documents, on October 23, 2023, Mobile police went to a local residence to arrest Clarence White, 45, for multiple outstanding warrants. After speaking with White through the door, White began shooting out of a window of the home, narrowly missing one of the officers. White has multiple prior felony convictions, including convictions for attempted murder, possession of a controlled substance, and assault. As a convicted felon, White is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

White was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm and pled guilty to the charge.  United States District Court Judge Callie V. S. Granade sentenced White to 151 months in prison followed by a 3-year term of supervised release for illegally possessing the firearm.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica S. Terrill prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

According to court documents, Juan Carlos Ruiz-Agustin, 33, was arrested by Foley Police Department on January 24, 2025, for drunken driving.  Foley Police suspected that Ruiz-Agustin was not a United States citizen, so they contacted law enforcement personnel with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE was able to determine that Ruiz-Agustin had previously been removed from the United States in twice in 2012, once in 2013, and once in 2015.  Ruiz-Agustin had also previously been convicted of Illegal Entry in 2012 and Illegal Reentry in 2015.

At sentencing, Chief Judge Beaverstock imposed a time-served sentence and a 1-year term of supervised release upon his future release.  Ruiz-Agustin had been in custody since his arrest on January 24, 2025.  Upon his release from prison, Ruiz-Agustin is to be referred to immigration officials for deportation proceedings.  Ruiz-Agustin was ordered to pay $100 in special assessments.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, and Foley Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kacey Chappelear prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

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.

According to court documents, Bernaldo Martinez-Chagala, 40, was arrested by the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office on January 29, 2025, for a traffic violation.  A Border Patrol officer responded to the traffic stop.  Border Patrol was able to determine that Martinez-Chagala had previously been removed from the United States in 2010 and in 2020.

At sentencing, Judge Granade imposed a time-served sentence and a 1-year term of supervised release upon his future release.  Martinez-Chagala had been in custody since his arrest on January 29, 2025.  Upon his release from prison, Martinez-Chagala is to be referred to immigration officials for deportation proceedings.  Martinez-Chagala was ordered to pay $100 in special assessments.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Department of Homeland Security, Border Patrol, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kacey Chappelear prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

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.

According to court documents and testimony, Rossie Windham, age 42, and Dylan Jemison, age 21, both of Sylacauga, conspired with a third individual who, due to his age at the time of the conspiracy, is identified only as Minor-1, to fraudulently sell counterfeit precious metals to victims in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.

Starting around April 2023, the minor began advertising gold and silver coins and bars for sale on Facebook Marketplace.  According to the minor, he inherited these items from a relative and was selling them below market value because he wanted to buy a truck and put money towards college.  Between April and August 2023, Windham helped the minor sell these items by communicating with some of the victims to arrange sales and sometimes accompanying the minor to the location where the victim would pay cash for what the victim believed to be genuine precious metals.  On at least one occasion, Windham handled the fraudulent transaction himself.  Around August 2023, Windham stopped operating with the minor, who then recruited then-19-year-old Dylan Jemison into the scheme.  In October 2023, a victim in Foley, Alabama purchased counterfeit gold bars from Jemison and the minor.  After the victim determined that the gold bars were counterfeit and notified police, the Foley Police Department set up a sting operation to purchase more gold. Jemison was arrested when he attempted to sell more counterfeit gold to the victim, and a search of Jemison’s phone revealed the scale of the fraud scheme and the involvement of both the minor and Windham.

In total, Windham, Jemison, and the minor fraudulently obtained over $120,000 from victims.   Some of the victims were reimbursed by Windham during the course of the conspiracy. However, the court ordered both Windham and Jemison to pay $87,000.00 in restitution to seven victims who had not been reimbursed.  In addition to restitution, Windham and Jemison both agreed to forfeit their illicit proceeds to the United States.

The Foley Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case with special assistance from the Foley Coin Shop.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Bodnar prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

According to court documents, Tony Scott, Jr., 28, pleaded guilty to kidnapping a woman in Mobile, Alabama, in December 2019.  Court records show that Scott forced her at gunpoint to drive him across state lines into Georgia where she was able to escape. Law enforcement utilized a K-9 unit to track Scott, and he was ultimately captured in possession of a handgun. In addition to the term of imprisonment, Scott was ordered to serve five years of supervised release following the conclusion of his sentence.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasee S. Heisterhagen prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

Court documents showed that Harding was a heroin supplier in Birmingham who was introduced to a conspirator from Baldwin County, Alabama, by another conspirator in Birmingham.  As a result of the introduction, ounces of heroin were transported from Birmingham to Daphne, Alabama, where they were distributed to local heroin dealers.  The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) obtained a court-authorized wiretap on two of the local conspirators and identified Harding as the primary supplier for heroin. One of the drug shipments being discussed by the conspirators in the monitored phone calls was intercepted on I-65 in Baldwin County by Baldwin County sheriff’s deputies.  The deputies seized approximately 205 grams of heroin hidden in the trunk of a rental car.  The driver of the car, identified as Quantis Clark, was arrested and indicted separately.  Clark pled guilty in federal court to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances during June of 2019.  He was sentenced on August 30, 2022, to five years imprisonment.

When FBI agents involved in the Baldwin County investigation were preparing to arrest Harding in Birmingham, they discovered that Homeland Security agents and Alabama Law Enforcement agents were also investigating Harding on drug charges.  In September of 2019, a search warrant was executed on Harding’s Birmingham residence and agents seized eight firearms, two kilograms of heroin, and additional amounts of cocaine and crack cocaine.  In October of 2019, Harding was arrested on the indictment returned in the Southern District of Alabama.

Court documents also showed that Harding occupied a leadership role in the drug conspiracy.  Court documents further showed that Harding had a long and significant criminal history with prior felony convictions spanning four decades.  United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer imposed the 365-month sentence at the sentencing hearing on March 19.  The judge ordered that the prison sentence will be followed by a four-year term of supervised release.  Harding will undergo testing and treatment for drug abuse. The judge also imposed a special condition that the probation office may search Harding’s person or property upon a showing of reasonable suspicion that he is in violation of any of the conditions of his supervision.  No fine was imposed but the judge ordered that Harding pay $100 in special mandatory assessments.

The FBI, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Baldwin County Drug Task Force, the Foley Police Department, the Daphne Police Department, Gulf Shores Police Department and the Bay Minette Police Department, and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office all participated in the  investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

The investigation was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF)  operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organization that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.     

According to court documents, in September 2024, members of the Mobile Police Department encountered Jones following a traffic stop. Jones’ infant was in the vehicle with him at the time of the stop. During the course of the traffic stop, officers discovered that Jones possessed two firearms and that one of those firearms was equipped with a machinegun conversion device. A machinegun conversion device is commonly referred to as a “Glock switch,” and is capable of converting a pistol into a fully automatic weapon. Jones made a statement to law enforcement following the stop indicating that he was aware how the Glock switch worked and had previously fired the weapon with the device attached.

At sentencing, Judge Granade imposed a 51-month sentence of incarceration and a 3-year term of supervised release upon Jones’ discharge from prison. The firearm and machinegun conversion device were forfeited to the United States as part of the sentence.

The Mobile Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Beth Stepan prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. 

According to court documents, Justin Brian Melton, 35, was convicted of trafficking heroin in the Circuit Court of Mobile County, Alabama in 2022. The state court sentenced Melton to serve 20 years in prison. Melton served that sentence at the Ventress prison in Clayton, Alabama.
Between March 2023 and May 2024, while incarcerated at Ventress, Melton used contraband cell phones to orchestrate shipments of bulk fentanyl and methamphetamine from the Atlanta, Georgia area into southern Alabama and elsewhere. In November 2023, agents arrested one of Melton’s coconspirators in Atmore, Alabama and seized half a kilogram of fentanyl from him. Melton’s coconspirator was on his way back from Atlanta after completing a bulk fentanyl deal that Melton had brokered. Agents extracted the contents of the coconspirator’s cell phone, which contained several messages between Melton and the coconspirator about coordinating bulk fentanyl and methamphetamine transactions.
Agents obtained AT&T records regarding the contraband cell phones that Melton used to broker drug deals while he was in prison. The phones were subscribed in Melton’s name. Cell tower location data for the phones showed that during the conspiracy, the phones consistently pinged off the same cell tower in the vicinity of the Ventress prison. Additionally, agents captured recorded communications between Melton and coconspirators that showed Melton using contraband phones from state prison.
In addition to the 210-month prison sentence, Chief United States District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock ordered Melton to serve a ten-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will be subject to drug testing and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Beaverstock ordered Melton to pay $200 in special assessments.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

According to court documents, Kenny Fernando Castillo, 29, was arrested by Foley Police Department on December 14, 2024, for drunken driving. Foley Police suspected that Castillo was not a United States citizen, so they contacted law enforcement personnel with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).  ICE was able to determine that Castillo had previously been removed from the United States in 2018.  Castillo had also previously been convicted of DUI in 2017.

At sentencing, Judge Moorer imposed the 12-month sentence of incarceration and a 1-year term of supervised release upon his future release. Upon his release from prison, Castillo is to be referred to immigration officials for deportation proceedings.  Castillo was ordered to pay $100 in special assessments.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, and Foley Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kacey Chappelear prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

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.

According to court documents, Brian Christopher Williams III, 25, and Kalaijha Tomeco Ranier Lewis, 29, schemed to defraud various federally insured banks and credit unions between November 2021 and June 2023. To carry out the fraud scheme, Williams recruited Lewis, who worked at the post office on Saint Joseph Street in Mobile, to steal hundreds of high-value business checks and sell them to Williams. In turn, Williams and other coconspirators sold the stolen checks via an illicit online marketplace hosted on a Telegram channel called “Work Related.” Fraudsters who purchased the stolen checks later counterfeited and negotiated many of them, causing substantial financial losses to multiple victims. In total, the value of the stolen checks posted to the “Work Related” channel exceeded $17 million.

In June 2023, investigators began surveillance at the Saint Joseph Street post office in Mobile. On several occasions, agents saw Lewis manipulating the windowed envelopes of checks to see the amounts listed inside while she sorted mail. On June 23, 2023, agents confronted Lewis after capturing her on video stuffing a large stack of stolen checks into her pants before the end of her work shift. Lewis confessed that for several months, she stole business checks for Williams, who paid her $2,000 to $3,000 for each stack of stolen checks that she brought him.

That same day, agents arrested Williams at a gas station in Mobile, where he had arrived to purchase the stolen checks from Lewis. Agents seized more than $10,000 in cash from Williams’s pocket, which Williams admitted was proceeds of his fraud scheme. Agents also searched Williams’s car, seizing a loaded .40 caliber Glock pistol equipped with an extended magazine, ammunition, marijuana, and stolen checks valued at more than $417,000. Williams confessed to selling stolen checks to a coconspirator in Birmingham who marketed the checks for sale on Telegram.

Agents executed warrants to search cell phones and social media accounts belonging to Williams and Lewis, each of which contained extensive communications regarding the scheme. For example, on June 1, 2023, Williams messaged Lewis, “I need a load today!!!!!,” to which Lewis responded, “I done seen 7 [checks] since 6am.” Days later, Williams messaged Lewis about meeting up to purchase high-value stolen checks, emphasizing, “I need like 20k, 15k, 30k and up, majority of this whole damn load low asf, 1000-1600 are lows.”

Chief United States District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock sentenced Williams and Lewis to serve 100 months and 60 months in federal prison, respectively. Following their release from prison, Williams and Lewis will each serve five-year terms of supervised release, during which time they will receive mental health evaluation and treatment, and will be subject to credit restrictions. The court did not impose a fine, but Chief Judge Beaverstock ordered the defendants to pay $234,246.63 in victim restitution and a total of $300 in special assessments. The court also forfeited $10,773.53 in cash seized from Williams to the United States.

Acting U.S. Attorney Keith A. Jones of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement and thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama for its significant partnership and coordination in the investigation and prosecution of this case.

The United States Postal Inspection Service and the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General investigated the case with significant assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Birmingham.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Roller and Scott Gray prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL –A Newnan, Georgia, man involved in Darrin Southall’s drug trafficking organization was sentenced in federal court on February 27, 2025. Edward Ray Antoine, Jr, 42, pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine in April of 2024.  

According to court documents, Antoine, also known as “Easy,” was one of Southall’s associates who had connections with drug suppliers in Texas. During the investigation, telephone calls between Antoine and Southall were intercepted by federal investigators. Antoine and Southall used coded language to attempt to disguise the criminal nature of their calls and conceal their drug trafficking activities from detection. Antoine and Southall shared a courier who transported multi-kilogram cocaine shipments and hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug cash between Southall and the suppliers in Texas.  The courier used a pickup truck registered to Antoine’s wife that was equipped with an exterior fuel tank with a false bottom. The cocaine and the drug money were concealed in the compartment during the trips. Calls between Antoine and Southall initially related to the courier’s whereabouts and availability for trips until January of 2022. As a result of the federal investigation, the courier’s truck was stopped and $322,000 in cash was seized from the compartment. Numerous calls between Antoine and Southall were intercepted in which they discussed the courier’s stop and arrest status, potential ways to recover the seized cash, and what they would disclose to the drug suppliers in Texas who were awaiting the delivery of the drug money. Federal and state investigators arrested Southall and numerous members of his organization during 2021 and 2022. Approximately 30 members of Southall’s organization have been prosecuted in federal court to date.

United States District Court Judge Kristi K. Dubose imposed a sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment in Antoine’s case and ordered that the sentences run concurrently. The judge further ordered that Antoine would also serve 5years on supervised release following his release from imprisonment. As conditions of his supervised release, Antoine will also undergo testing and treatment for drug and/or alcohol abuse, and he will be subject to a search of his person and premises upon reasonable suspicion. The judge also ordered that Antoine pay $200 in special assessments.  

The case was investigated by the Mobile Police Department, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Saraland Police Department, the St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

The investigation was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF)  operation.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organization that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.     
 

MOBILE, AL – On February 18, 2025, United States District Court Judge William H. Steele sentenced Sheldon Terrell Peters to 105 months imprisonment for cocaine trafficking. The sentence was comprised of 75 months for the charged offense of Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine and 30 months for Peters’ violation of his supervised release conditions from a a 2017 federal conviction for Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

Documents filed with the Court established that between September and October 2022 the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Violent Crimes Task Force used an undercover informant to make three separate controlled buys of 47.5 grams of crack cocaine, 46.3 grams of crack cocaine, and 105.6 grams of crack cocaine from Peters at his home in Mobile.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Mobile County Sherriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney George F. May.

Saad Enterprises Inc., doing business as Saad Healthcare, has agreed to pay $3 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly submitting false claims for the care of hospice patients in Alabama who were ineligible for the Medicare hospice benefit because they were not terminally ill.

Hospice care is special, end-of-life care intended to comfort terminally ill patients. Patients admitted to hospice care generally stop receiving traditional medical care designed to cure their terminal condition and instead receive medical care focused on providing them with relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a terminal illness. Medicare patients are considered to be terminally ill and hospice-eligible when they have a life expectancy of six months or less if their illness runs its normal course.

“Respectful and appropriate end-of-life care is the crux of the hospice benefit under Medicare,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department will hold accountable those who exploit this benefit for their own gain.”

“Caring for terminally ill people is a responsibility the United States and the Medicare program take seriously,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Keith A. Jones for the Southern District of Alabama. “Patients and taxpayers deserve not to be cheated, and the Department of Justice will continue to protect them.”

The settlement resolves allegations that between 2013 and 2020 Saad submitted, or caused the submission of, false claims to Medicare for 21 patients who did not meet the eligibility requirements for the Medicare hospice benefit as defined by statute and regulation, despite Saad knowing the patients were ineligible for the Medicare hospice benefit.

The civil settlement resolved a lawsuit filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the Government’s recovery. The qui tam lawsuit was filed by Melissa Wolff and Whitney Sims, former Saad employees, and is captioned United States ex rel. Wolff & Sims v. Saad Enterprises, Inc., Case No. 1:19-cv-00040 (S.D. Ala.). Ms. Wolff and Ms. Sims will receive $540,000 in connection with the settlement.

The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort amongst the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama; and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.

The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nina Herring for the Southern District of Alabama and Trial Attorney Rory Skaggs of the Civil Division handled the matter.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

Note: View the settlement here.

Saad Enterprises Inc., doing business as Saad Healthcare, has agreed to pay $3 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly submitting false claims for the care of hospice patients in Alabama who were ineligible for the Medicare hospice benefit because they were not terminally ill.

Hospice care is special, end-of-life care intended to comfort terminally ill patients. Patients admitted to hospice care generally stop receiving traditional medical care designed to cure their terminal condition and instead receive medical care focused on providing them with relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a terminal illness. Medicare patients are considered to be terminally ill and hospice-eligible when they have a life expectancy of six months or less if their illness runs its normal course.

“Respectful and appropriate end-of-life care is the crux of the hospice benefit under Medicare,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department will hold accountable those who exploit this benefit for their own gain.”

“Caring for terminally ill people is a responsibility the United States and the Medicare program take seriously,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Keith A. Jones for the Southern District of Alabama. “Patients and taxpayers deserve not to be cheated, and the Department of Justice will continue to protect them.”

The settlement resolves allegations that between 2013 and 2020 Saad submitted, or caused the submission of, false claims to Medicare for 21 patients who did not meet the eligibility requirements for the Medicare hospice benefit as defined by statute and regulation, despite Saad knowing the patients were ineligible for the Medicare hospice benefit.

The civil settlement resolved a lawsuit filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the Government’s recovery. The qui tam lawsuit was filed by Melissa Wolff and Whitney Sims, former Saad employees, and is captioned United States ex rel. Wolff & Sims v. Saad Enterprises, Inc., Case No. 1:19-cv-00040 (S.D. Ala.). Ms. Wolff and Ms. Sims will receive $540,000 in connection with the settlement.

The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort amongst the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama; and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.

The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nina Herring for the Southern District of Alabama and Trial Attorney Rory Skaggs of the Civil Division handled the matter.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

MOBILE, AL –A Mobile man involved in Darrin Southall’s drug trafficking organization was sentenced in federal court on January 29, 2025. Nathaniel Hines, 41, pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine in August of 2021.  

According to court documents, Hines was one of Southall’s distributors who was listed in Southall’s drug ledgers. During the investigation, telephone calls between Hines and Southall were intercepted by federal investigators. Hines and Southall used coded language to attempt to disguise the criminal nature of their calls and conceal their drug trafficking activities from detection. Hines received multiple kilograms of cocaine for further distribution in Mobile, which was documented by the phone calls and the information uncovered during an analysis of the cell phones seized following the arrests in the case. Federal and state investigators arrested Southall and numerous members of his organization during 2021 and 2022. Approximately 30 members of Southall’s organization have been prosecuted in federal court to date.

United States District Court Judge Kristi K. Dubose imposed a sentence of 75 months’ imprisonment in Hines’ case. The judge further ordered that Hines would also serve five years on supervised release following his release from imprisonment. As conditions of his supervision, Hines will also undergo testing and treatment for drug and/or alcohol abuse, and he will be subject to a search of his person and premises upon reasonable suspicion. The judge also ordered that Hines pay $100 in special assessments. Any interest Hines had in a long list of seized property was ordered forfeited to the United States.
 
The case was investigated by the Mobile Police Department, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Saraland Police Department, the St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
 

MOBILE, AL –A Mobile man involved in Darrin Southall’s drug trafficking organization was sentenced in federal court this afternoon. Marvin McCaine, 55, pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine in April of 2023.
  
According to court documents, McCaine was one of Southall’s distributors who was listed in Southall’s drug ledgers.  During the investigation, telephone calls between McCaine and Southall were intercepted by federal investigators. McCaine and Southall used coded language to attempt to disguise the criminal nature of their calls and conceal their drug trafficking activities from detection. McCaine received multiple kilograms of cocaine for further distribution in Mobile, which was documented by the phone calls and the information uncovered during an analysis of the cell phones seized following the arrests in the case. Federal and state investigators arrested Southall and numerous members of his organization during 2021 and 2022. Approximately 30 members of Southall’s organization have been prosecuted in federal court to date.

United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer imposed a sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment in McCaine’s case. Because McCaine was under federal supervised release from a previous federal drug conviction, Judge Moorer revoked his supervised release term and ordered that McCaine serve an additional 37 months’ imprisonment, which will run consecutively to the sentenced imposed for the conspiracy count. The judge further ordered that McCaine would also serve an additional 10 years on supervised release following his release from imprisonment. As conditions of his supervised release, McCaine will also undergo testing and treatment for drug and/or alcohol abuse, and he will be subject to a search of her person and premises upon reasonable suspicion. The judge also ordered that McCaine pay $100 in special assessments. Any interest McCaine had in a long list of seized property was ordered forfeited to the United States.  

The case was investigated by the Mobile Police Department, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Saraland Police Department, the St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
 

MOBILE, AL – Four current and former residents of Baldwin County, Alabama were arrested today in Foley on criminal charges related to their alleged participation in a fraudulent lottery scam.

According to court documents, the defendants, all Jamaican nationals, received more than $200,000 in over 100 shipments of cash from victims across the country who had falsely been told that they had won a lottery. The victims, many of them elderly, had been directed to pay “taxes” on their lottery winnings by sending cash to fictitious names at addresses controlled by the defendants in Baldwin County. The following individuals were arrested on a criminal complaint charging them with mail fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud:

   Peter Walcott, Malik Chambers, Romario Nembhard, and Jermaine Smith.

If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama; and Special Agent in Charge Paul W. Brown of the Mobile Division of the FBI made the announcement.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mobile Division, is investigating the case, with the assistance of the agencies participating in today’s enforcement action, including the FBI Baltimore Division, the United States Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Customs and Border Patrol, the Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, the Foley Police Department, the Gulf Shores Police Department, and the Silverhill Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mike Anderson and Kasee Heisterhagen are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

MOBILE, AL – An Atlanta, Georgia man was sentenced to 57 months in prison for bank fraud conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, and illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

According to court documents, Jamontez Jaquavious Cofield, 24, was arrested by an Alabama State Trooper in April 2024 following a traffic stop on Interstate 65 in north Baldwin County. During the traffic stop, Cofield admitted that he had marijuana and a loaded 5.7x28mm caliber pistol in the car, which the Trooper seized. Cofield also admitted that he was not supposed to possess a firearm because he had prior felony convictions. In 2018, Cofield was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony assault in LaGrange, Georgia. Those convictions made Cofield’s possession of the pistol illegal under federal law.

The Trooper searched Cofield’s vehicle, locating 38 stolen business checks with a total face value of $43,482, which had been made payable to various businesses in the Atlanta area. The checks bore the names and personal identifying information of various identity-theft victims who did not authorize Cofield to possess the checks, which had been stolen from the mail. Cofield admitted that he had been provided the stolen checks by a coconspirator he met on social media and communicated with via Snapchat. Cofield was transporting the stolen checks to sell to an individual at a meeting location in downtown Mobile. Agents searched Cofield’s cell phone and found numerous messages, photos, and videos regarding Cofield’s involvement in counterfeit check fraud, as well as his possession of bulk cash, narcotics, and guns.

In addition to the 57-month prison term, United States District Judge Kristi K. DuBose ordered Cofield to serve a five-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will be subject to drug testing and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge DuBose ordered Cofield to pay $100 in special assessments. The court also forfeited Cofield’s gun and related ammunition to the United States.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The United States Secret Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – Umar Abdul Waheed also known as Terry Evans, a Mobile man, has been sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon.  The sentence was imposed by United States Chief District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock.

According to court documents, in June 2024, Waheed reported to the Mobile County Community Corrections office in Mobile, Alabama. At the time he reported, Waheed had outstanding state warrants related to threats he made with a firearm to coworkers at a local construction company’s jobsite a few days prior. After Waheed was taken into custody on the outstanding warrants, officers located a firearm in the vehicle Waheed drove to Community Corrections. Waheed is a convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

At sentencing, Judge Beaverstock imposed a 37-month sentence of incarceration and a 3-year term of supervised release upon Waheed’s discharge from prison.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Beth Stepan prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.  

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
 

MOBILE, AL – A Mobile man was sentenced to 180 months in prison for trafficking drugs and possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes while being a federal fugitive.

According to court documents, Tesean R. James, 30, was convicted of a bulk marijuana trafficking conspiracy in federal court in 2019. After his release from federal prison in September 2021, James absconded from court-ordered supervision and remained a fugitive for more than two years.

In July 2023, federal and local law enforcement agents attempted to arrest James on his fugitive warrant. James led agents on a high-speed vehicle chase through a residential neighborhood in Mobile, bailing out of his vehicle and eluding capture on foot. In James’s abandoned vehicle, agents recovered two pistols and seven pounds of bulk marijuana. Later, in December 2023, agents captured James in Mobile after a brief foot chase. Agents executed a search warrant at the house where James had been staying, recovering more than 34 pounds of bulk marijuana, 1.5 kilograms of psilocybin mushrooms, more than $34,000 in drug proceeds, and two guns, one of which had previously been reported stolen.

James confessed to police that he knew he had active warrants and was a federal fugitive. James admitted that he regularly received shipments of 50 pounds of marijuana at a time, which he coordinated via encrypted apps on his cell phones. Agents searched James’s cell phones, finding evidence that he had been selling marijuana and other narcotics, including mushrooms, prescription pills, and codeine syrup, since being released from federal prison in September 2021. James’s phones also contained evidence that he knew he was a fugitive, including a photo of James that had been posted on the news as “Fugitive of the Week.”

In addition to the 180-month prison term, Chief United States District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock ordered James to serve a five-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will receive mental health treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Beaverstock ordered James to pay $300 in special assessments. The court also forfeited James’s guns and electronic devices to the United States.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
 

MOBILE, AL – A Mobile man was sentenced to 27 months in prison for illegally possessing a machinegun.

According to court documents, Ti’Biasz Tithese Houston, 20, was arrested in November 2023 after Mobile police responded to a shots-fired call in a residential neighborhood. Officers located Houston near the scene of the shots-fired incident in a parked SUV. After detaining Houston and others, police conducted a probable-cause search of the SUV, locating marijuana and several loaded pistols equipped with extended magazines. One of the firearms, seized near where Houston was seated in the SUV, was a Glock .40 caliber pistol equipped with a fully loaded 30-round extended magazine and an illegal machinegun-conversion device, commonly referred to as a “Glock switch,” which rendered the pistol a fully automatic weapon.

Agents seized and obtained a warrant to search Houston’s cell phone, which contained evidence of his illegal possession and sale of Glock switches. The phone contained dozens of pictures and videos of Houston illegally possessing pistols equipped with Glock switches, including the pistol that police seized from him in November 2023. The phone also contained numerous text messages that Houston exchanged with other people about selling Glock switches for profit.

In addition to the 27-month prison sentence, Senior United States District Judge William H. Steele ordered Houston to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will be subject to drug testing and treatment, and mental health evaluation and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Steele ordered Houston to pay $100 in special assessments.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

MOBILE, AL – Ladarius Cannon, a Mobile man, has been sentenced to 96 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. The sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Callie V.S. Granade.

According to court documents, in April 2023, members of the Mobile Police Department responded to a domestic violence call in a neighborhood within Mobile County. The homeowner reported that Cannon was in her home with her adult granddaughter and a firearm. Another occupant of the home witnessed Cannon discharge the firearm at least one time while inside the home. Photographs documented damage to the interior of their home and the investigation led to the collection of three casings within the home. Around the same time as these events, neighbors from a home on the same street called 911 to report that they could see Cannon on their home security camera outside their home. The caller indicated Cannon was at the front door holding a firearm to a female. The preserved footage shows Cannon holding a firearm to a female, at times pressing the firearm to her body. Cannon can be heard saying “don’t run from me.” When the police arrived, they took Cannon into custody and recovered the firearm Cannon possessed near his vehicle. Cannon has been convicted of 8 prior felony offenses, including several violent crimes, and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Cannon was on probation for a state offense of shooting into an occupied building at the time of this offense.

At sentencing, Judge Granade imposed a 96-month sentence of incarceration and a 3-year term of supervised release upon Cannon’s discharge from prison. The federal sentence is to run consecutively to a 15-year state probation revocation sentence Cannon is currently serving.

The Mobile Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Beth Stepan prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.  

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

MOBILE, AL – Gecoby Penn, age 37, was sentenced on Friday to two years in prison after entering guilty pleas to seventeen counts of possessing a dog for the purpose of having the dog participate in an animal fighting venture. Penn entered his guilty pleas on May 3, 2024.

According to court documents, on Saturday, July 29, 2023, law enforcement with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office received a tip that there had been a dogfighting event on Thursday, July 27, 2023, hosted by Gecoby Penn. The source reported that there were multiple dog fighting matches and as a result many dogs had been injured. The source was able to describe lacerations to the dogs’ bodies and one dog had a gaping laceration to the head and facial area. On August 3, 2023, law enforcement officials executed a search warrant on Penn’s property. The officers seized thirty-eight dogs. Twenty-one of the dogs had injuries and/or scarring consistent with dogfighting. The dogs were tied-up outside without access to shelter or water, and temperatures on that day were in excess of 100 degrees. Also seized during the search warrant were modified treadmills (manual and electric) for dog fight conditioning, injectable veterinary canine medications and syringes, a weighted dog vest, chains and weighted collars, a 4-wheeler mounted running collar, a Flying Jinny rotary runner, a training pool, a dogfight corral with bloodstains, a wooden arena, and canine remains. The blood stains on the wooden arena were sent for laboratory testing and were confirmed to contain canine DNA. The remains on the property were examined by a veterinarian and confirmed to be canine remains. The thirty-eight seized dogs were treated by veterinarians. Twenty-two of them had to be euthanized.
    
At sentencing, Judge DuBose imposed a 24-month sentence of incarceration and a 3-year term of supervised release upon Penn’s discharge from prison. During his term of supervised release, Penn will not be permitted to own or possess any dogs. Penn was ordered to pay $62,408.06 in restitution to the Monroe County Animal Shelter, $2,348 to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, and $1,700 in special assessments.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Monroe County Sherriff’s Office investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kacey Chappelear prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – A Mobile woman was sentenced today to 14 months in federal prison for stealing rent money for government-assisted low-income housing.

According to court documents, Shannon Caruso, age 48, of Mobile, was employed as a property manager by two different government housing authorities that providing affordable housing to low-income individuals in the Mobile area.  Caruso admitted that while working for both housing authorities, she fraudulently convinced renters that they needed to make rent checks out to her or to give her their rent checks with the payee line blank.  Rather than depositing this rent money with her employer, Caruso stole the money for her own use.  The two housing authorities absorbed the losses due to Caruso’s theft and did not evict any of the renters who reasonably believed they were properly paying rent by giving their checks to Caruso.

U.S. District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer expounded on how utterly selfish Caruso’s crimes were and how they likely affected innocent people who were already living in a difficult financial situation.  Accordingly, Judge Moorer sentenced Caruso to 14 months in federal prison, which was the high end of her advisory sentencing guidelines range.

“Shannon Caruso admitted to using her position as a property manager to exploit the vulnerability of elderly and low-income individuals by stealing their monthly Housing Choice Voucher rent payments and depositing them into her personal bank account,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Jerome Winkle with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General.  “HUD OIG will continue to work with its law enforcement partners to diligently pursue and hold accountable individuals who prey on vulnerable members of our community.”

“Stealing the rent money of vulnerable victims was a particularly egregious way for this crook to earn her sentence in federal prison,” said Sean P. Costello, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama. “Together with our law enforcement partners, we will hold to account anyone who takes advantage of the citizens of south Alabama.”

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, Birmingham Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tandice Blackwood prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
 

MOBILE, AL – A New York man was sentenced to 81 total months in federal prison for his role in two separate retail theft schemes that affected over 75 retail store locations in at least nine states causing a collective loss of over $250,000.

According to court documents, 33-year-old Christopher Greene-Jackson and 48-year-old codefendant Jason Thomas Macaulay were involved in conspiracy to fraudulently obtain gift cards from retail stores, in seven states including retail stores in Mobile and Bay Minette, Alabama.

From February 2021 through April 2021, Greene-Jackson and Macaulay fraudulently obtained personal operator identification numbers and passwords belonging to retail store employees. Greene-Jackson and Macaulay collected blank gift cards from the store racks. Using the stolen credentials, Greene-Jackson and Macaulay conducted purported gift card transactions at unoccupied point-of-sale terminals. While logged into the terminals using stolen credentials belonging to real employees, Greene-Jackson and Macaulay activated the blank gift cards they had taken from the store racks and loaded funds onto the gift cards. Greene-Jackson and Macaulay stole cash from the point-of-sale terminal drawer and left the stores with fraudulently loaded gift cards and stolen cash. These gift card and cash thefts occurred at over 60 retail locations, resulting in a loss of approximately $59,000.  

In September 2024, Greene-Jackson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory consecutive two-year sentence of imprisonment. Codefendant Macaulay previously pleaded guilty in April 2024 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering for his role in the scheme and was sentenced to 69 total months in federal prison.  Greene-Jackson and Macaulay were both ordered to pay approximately $59,000 in restitution to the victim retailer, representing the total amount of fraudulently loaded gift cards and stolen cash. 

During the investigation and prosecution of the gift card scheme, federal law enforcement identified Greene-Jackson conducting a separate, retail scheme as part of an organized theft group affecting sporting goods retail stores. According to court documents, between July 2023 and March 2024, Greene-Jackson conspired with others to steal golf clubs and golf bags from multiple sporting goods stores in at least five states. The thefts were primarily carried out by conspirators who entered the stores during normal operating hours, grabbed golf clubs and bags, and ran out of the retail stores with thousands of dollars’ worth of golf equipment. Greene-Jackson retrieved the stolen golf equipment from the thieves.  Greene-Jackson shipped the stolen golf equipment to an innocent third-party online retailer in the business of buying and selling used golf equipment. The online retailer purchased the equipment from Greene-Jackson until the online retailer realized that the merchandise had been stolen. The total value of golf equipment stolen during the conspiracy was nearly $200,000 affecting at least ten sporting goods stores in multiple states.

In August 2024, Greene-Jackson was charged in the Northern District of Georgia for conspiracy to transport stolen property in interstate commerce. The case was transferred to the Southern District of Alabama where Greene-Jackson was facing charges for the separate gift card scheme. Greene-Jackson pleaded guilty to the golf merchandise conspiracy charge at the same time he pleaded guilty to charges in the gift card scheme.

On December 20, 2024, Greene-Jackson was sentenced in both cases in the Southern District of Alabama. Greene-Jackson, who had been previously convicted of multiple felony offenses involving fraud, forgery, and theft was sentenced to a total of 81 months in federal prison and ordered to pay over $250,000 in restitution to victims for his roles in both cases.

The gift card theft scheme was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of Walmart Global Investigations and local law enforcement partners. The golf merchandise theft scheme was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations based in Atlanta, Georgia with the assistance of the affected retailers and local law enforcement partners.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin D. Kopf of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama and Kelly K. Connors of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia prosecuted the cases on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – A Honduran national was sentenced in federal court on December 5, 2024, to twenty-one months in federal prison for being unlawfully in the United States after having been previously removed.

According to court documents, on January 1, 2023, the Robertsdale Police Department arrested Marlon Pineda-Enamorado for arson, first degree.  

The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations of Mobile was notified of Pienda’s arrest. ICE officers investigated and determined that Pineda had been previously removed from the United States on two occasions. ICE verified that Pineda did not have any lawful authority to be voluntarily present in the United States when he was arrested by the Robertsdale Police Department for arson-related charges. Pineda was separately convicted in state court for arson first degree, and on November 11, 2024, Pineda was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by the Baldwin County Circuit Court. 
    
Upon release from imprisonment, Pineda will be delivered to a duly authorized immigration official for deportation proceedings. 
  
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Robertsdale Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Kopf prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
 

MOBILE, AL – Three defendants from Foley were sentenced for their roles in various drug, fraud, and identity theft crimes.

According to court documents, Zachary Heaton Thaggard, 32, Randall Lee Cahoon, 45, and Cheryl Ann Morgan, 73, pleaded guilty to various crimes including conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, bank fraud conspiracy, and aggravated identity theft.

Between February 2022 and November 2023, Thaggard, Cahoon, and Morgan conspired with each other and other people to steal checks and personal identifying information from the mail. Thereafter, the defendants used the stolen materials to commit numerous fraudulent bank transactions. For example, in February 2022, Morgan cashed a counterfeit and forged check stolen from the mail at a check-cashing business in Robertsdale. In January 2023, police recovered counterfeit checks made payable to Thaggard, which Thaggard had left behind in a gas station in Loxley. In October 2023, Cahoon conducted fraudulent check transactions at a credit union in Foley. Agents thereafter arrested Cahoon in possession counterfeit checks, stolen debit and credit cards, blank check stock, counterfeit money, drugs, and drug paraphernalia. Investigators seized and searched Cahoon’s cell phone, which contained text messages and other evidence of the defendants’ fraud scheme.

In November 2023, narcotics agents arrested Thaggard and a coconspirator in Atmore. Agents located and seized half a kilogram of fentanyl in Thaggard’s vehicle. Thaggard confessed to his role in the drug-trafficking and fraud conspiracies to which he pleaded guilty. Agents also seized and searched Thaggard’s cell phone, which contained text messages and other evidence of his crimes.

United States District Judge Kristi K. DuBose sentenced Thaggard to serve 30 months in prison and a five-year term of supervised release, during which time Thaggard will be subject to drug testing and treatment, and will receive mental health evaluation and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge DuBose ordered Thaggard to pay $300 in special assessments.

Chief United States District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock sentenced Cahoon to serve 75 months in prison and a five-year term of supervised release, during which time Cahoon will be subject to drug testing and treatment, and credit restrictions. Chief Judge Beaverstock sentenced Morgan to time served and a three-year term of supervised release, during which time Morgan will be subject to credit restrictions. The court did not impose fines, but Chief Judge Beaverstock ordered Cahoon to pay $2,468.80 in victim restitution and $200 in special assessments, and Morgan to pay $350 in victim restitution and $100 in special assessments.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The United States Postal Inspection Service, the Foley Police Department, the Summerdale Police Department, and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the fraud case. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigated the drug case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the cases on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – On December 20, 2024, United States District Court Judge Kristi K. DuBose sentenced Terrell Jermaine Perkins of New Orleans, Louisiana, to 60 months imprisonment for possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl.

Documents filed with the court established that on March 30, 2022, a Mobile County Sheriff’s Office deputy conducted a stop of a black 2020 Dodge Journey Van with a Tennessee license plate for a traffic violation on Interstate 10 eastbound near the McDonald Road exit. As the deputy moved closer to the passenger side window and made contact with the driver, he detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from within the van. Perkins, the driver, was then ordered out of the vehicle. Due to the odor of marijuana from the vehicle, law enforcement conducted a probable cause search of the van.

During the search deputies located a black fanny pack on the front passenger's seat. Inside the fanny pack, officers found a plastic bag that contained several small brownish rocks that appeared to be heroin and twelve pills. Perkins admitted to knowing possession of the narcotics. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of heroin and fentanyl in the brown rocks with a total weight of 40.75 grams. The 12 pills were tested and found to contain 2.2 grams of methamphetamine. Perkins possessed the fentanyl with the intent to distribute it.
    
The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney George F. May.

MOBILE, AL – A Theodore man was sentenced to 32 months in prison for a bank fraud conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, and a wire fraud scheme.

According to court documents, Sean Donnell White, 30, engaged in various fraud schemes between 2020 and 2022. One of White’s fraud schemes involved stealing mail to obtain victims’ bank account and personal identifying information. White recruited a postal employee, Kristen Arieale Williams, to participate in the scheme. Williams illegally sold White an “arrow” key for $2,500 in cash. Arrow keys are government property and will open, among other things, all blue postal collection boxes in a particular geographic area. Law enforcement caught White using the key to steal mail from collection boxes outside the Bel Air Mall in Mobile in November 2022. White stole hundreds of pieces of mail using the key and committed numerous fraudulent bank transactions totaling at least $69,508.69 using counterfeited checks that he generated based on information he stole from the mail.

White’s other fraud scheme was a sophisticated cryptocurrency scam. To carry out the scheme, White bought stolen identities from illicit dark web marketplaces online. Using those stolen identities, White opened Coinbase and associated bank accounts, both of which he controlled. White selected banks that he knew allowed accountholders to overdraw their accounts by as much as $35,000. White then overdrew several accounts, making cryptocurrency trades in the Coinbase accounts using the unsettled funds. White siphoned any profits from the trades into accounts he controlled. The victim banks suffered losses if White lost money on the trades. As part of this “Coinbase scam,” White obtained at least $210,000 in fraudulently derived criminal proceeds.

In addition to the 32-month prison sentence, Judge DuBose ordered White to serve a five-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will undergo drug testing and treatment, and will be subject to credit restrictions. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge DuBose ordered White to pay $35,334.10 in victim restitution, a $210,000 money judgment, and $300 in special assessments.

A federal jury convicted Williams of various fraud offenses in November 2023. Judge DuBose sentenced Williams to three years in federal prison and ordered her to pay victim restitution.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the USPS–Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case. The Brewton Police Department and the U.S. Small Business Administration–Office of Inspector General provided substantial assistance in the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Bodnar and Justin Roller prosecuted the cases on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – A Baldwin County man, Teddy Rivers, 57, was sentenced yesterday in federal court on his conviction for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Rivers pled guilty to the charge in August of 2024.  
  
Court documents show that Rivers is a long-time Baldwin County drug dealer. In August 2022, law enforcement executed a traffic stop on Rivers. Rivers was found to be in possession of 48.8 grams of pure methamphetamine. Rivers admitted that he regularly sold methamphetamine to a number of individuals and had been doing so for some time. Rivers has a prior federal conviction for Conspiracy to Manufacture Methamphetamine in 2007, and a prior state conviction for Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute in 2021.  

United States District Court Judge Callie V.S. Granade sentenced Rivers to 292 months in custody. When Rivers is released from custody, he will serve an eight-year term of supervised release. Rivers will be subject to search upon reasonable suspicion that he has violated the conditions of supervision, and he will also be subject to drug testing and treatment. No fine was imposed in the case, but the judge ordered that Rivers pay $100 in special assessments.
 
The case was investigated by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – Matthew Allyn McDaniel, age 39, was sentenced today to 30 years in prison after entering guilty pleas to two counts of attempting to sexually exploit a minor. McDaniel entered his guilty pleas on August 29, 2024.

According to court documents, in the month of December 2023, law enforcement received a tip from an internet service provider that there was an online storage account associated with an address in Theodore, Alabama, which contained child sexual abuse material (“CSAM”). The email address associated with the account was “pedvid7@gmail.com.”  On December 12, 2023, law enforcement obtained a state search warrant allowing them to search the account associated with pedvid7@gmail.com. In that account, law enforcement discovered approximately 249 videos of CSAM.

On January 9, 2024, law enforcement obtained a state residential search warrant for the address associated with email address and the online storage account. Present at the address was McDaniel. A cell phone was recovered from under the mattress in McDaniel’s room. McDaniel was interviewed. He admitted that the cell phone found belonged to him, and he admitted hiding it when he heard law enforcement enter the residence. A forensic examination was performed on McDaniel’s cell phone. The examiner discovered evidence that McDaniel had used email addresses pedvid1, pedvid2, pedvid3, etc., up through pedvid15@gmail.com. There were approximately 25 images of CSAM found on the phone. Importantly, there were 7 images that appeared be taken via a hidden camera in a bathroom, in front of a shower. The images show two different minor females drying off and getting dressed. The minors were identified, and were 13 years old at the time of the recording.

At sentencing, Chief United States District Judge Beaverstock imposed a 360-month sentence of incarceration and a 15-year term of supervised release upon his future release. During his term of imprisonment, McDaniel will be subject to sex offender treatment, substance abuse testing and treatment, and mental health treatment. McDaniel will be required to register as a sex offender and is to have no contact with minors. McDaniel was ordered to pay $200 in special assessments and to pay $1,337 in restitution to his victims.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Unit investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kacey Chappelear and Tandice Blackwood prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

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 the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc/publications-resources