Northern District of Georgia

ATLANTA – Fredrick Crawford, a convicted child molester, robber, and stalker, has been sentenced to prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm at an Atlanta gas station where he was impersonating a police officer and threatening customers.

"If a real officer had not caught this armed felon pretending to be a cop, someone could have been seriously injured,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Thanks to my office’s close partnership with the Atlanta Police Department, which referred this case for federal prosecution, the community is safer because Crawford is back in prison, where he belongs.”

“Impersonating a law enforcement officer is a serious crime that undermines public trust and safety. Fredrick Crawford’s actions not only endangered the lives of innocent citizens but also posed a significant risk to legitimate law enforcement efforts. The ATF is committed to working alongside our partners to ensure that individuals who engage in such reckless behavior are held accountable,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ryan Todd.

“This case underscores the vigilance and professionalism of our officers, even when off duty,” said Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum. “An armed felon impersonating a police officer poses a grave threat to public safety and to the integrity of law enforcement. Thanks to the quick actions of our sergeant and the coordinated response that followed, a dangerous individual was taken off the streets.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges and other information presented in court: On April 12, 2024, an off-duty Atlanta Police Department (APD) sergeant who was buying fuel at a gas station saw Fredrick Crawford, who was armed and wearing a uniform labeled “Fugitive Task Force.” Crawford was arguing with customers, claimed he was a police officer, and repeatedly threatened to issue tickets to people at the gas station.

Concerned by Crawford’s behavior, the sergeant approached him. As their conversation unfolded, the sergeant began to suspect that Crawford was not a real police officer. The sergeant flagged down two marked APD vehicles. When Crawford saw the other officers approaching, he fled and tossed his firearm.

When Crawford was apprehended, officers discovered he was a previously convicted felon and prohibited from possessing a firearm. Along with a prior conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Crawford also had previous criminal convictions for child molestation, family violence battery, aggravated stalking, and robbery by force. Initially, Crawford was prosecuted in Fulton County, where the district attorney’s office recommended a sentence of just nine months of imprisonment. To achieve more appropriate punishment for this violent recidivist, the Atlanta Police Department requested successive prosecution of Crawford in federal court.

Fredrick Crawford, 34, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mark H. Cohen to four years in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Atlanta Police Department. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas L. Evert and Chloe Cobb Smith prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA - Antonio DaShawn Daniels, a/k/a “Freckleface Shawn,” a/k/a “Pecas,” who was convicted at trial in June of 2025, has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for trafficking heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine, and for possessing 40 firearms in his Atlanta stash house.

“Supplied by the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), Daniels’s drug trafficking organization devastated hundred, if not thousands, of lives through its large-scale distribution of heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Daniels was one of the largest heroin and fentanyl distributors to ever operate in Georgia, and his conviction and sentencing are the direct result of the tireless efforts of skilled prosecutors, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and our local law enforcement partners.”

“This investigation tore apart a drug trafficking network responsible for dealing drugs in communities across the region,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “This operation shows what can be accomplished when there is collaboration between federal and local law enforcement agencies.”

“This drug trafficking organization is part of a ruthless criminal network that profits from drugs, guns, and bloodshed,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division.

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court:  Daniels was the leader of a large-scale drug trafficking organization that operated from at least August of 2018 until Daniels’s arrest on July 27, 2020. The investigation began in 2019, when federal agents discovered a drug ledger that showed that Daniels had received over 1,000 kilograms of cocaine in an 18-month span, and that Daniels paid over $31 million for it. Agents secured several court-approved wiretaps on Daniels’s phones, enabling them to identify key members of the Daniels organization and discern its large-scale reach.

The investigation culminated in a July 27, 2020 takedown that resulted in record-setting drug seizures. Specifically, agents seized approximately 28 kilograms of heroin (17 of which were mixed with fentanyl), six kilograms of cocaine, eight kilograms of marijuana, and more than $2.1 million in cash inside the apartment in Atlanta where Daniels was arrested. Forty firearms were stashed throughout the apartment, along with kilo-presses, scales, strainers with white powder residue, and a money counter.

Agents also searched a residence in Atlanta that served as another stash location for the organization. Inside that home, agents seized over 142 kilograms of heroin, nearly all of which was mixed with fentanyl. At the time of the takedown, this was the largest seizure of heroin in Georgia’s history.

Several members of Daniels’s organization have already been sentenced to federal prison. They are as follows:

• Darryl McCrary, Jr., 52, was sentenced to 25 years of imprisonment on August 27, 2025. After a trial by jury, McCrary was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
• William Daniels, 41, was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment on June 6, 2024. After pleading guilty, Daniels was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
• Quinton Oliver, 46, was sentenced to ten years and one month of imprisonment on December 4, 2023. After pleading guilty, Oliver was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.
• Michael Peeker, 57, was sentenced to a year and a half of imprisonment on October 24, 2023. After pleading guilty, Peeker was convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
• Lorene Reeves, 53, was sentenced to four years and nine months of imprisonment on March 16, 2023. After pleading guilty, Reeves was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.
• Niteria Patterson, 37, was sentenced to ten years of imprisonment on October 4, 2022. After pleading guilty, Patterson was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.

Yesterday, U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr. sentenced Antonio DaShawn Daniels, a/k/a “Freckleface Shawn,” a/k/a “Pecas,” 51, of Atlanta, Georgia, to 40 years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release.  On June 13, 2025, a jury convicted Daniels of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine; possession with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation with valuable assistance provided by the Doraville Police Department and the DeKalb County Police Department.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric White, Sandy Strippoli, and Laurel Milam, as well as former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas Hartigan and Alison Prout.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. 

These prosecutions are also part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA – Karen L. Bennett, who resigned from her position as an elected member of the Georgia House of Representatives on January 1, 2026, has pleaded guilty to making false statements to fraudulently obtain thousands of dollars of emergency pandemic unemployment assistance payments.

“Bennett was elected to represent her fellow citizens and took a solemn oath to promote the best interests and prosperity of the State of Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Instead, she violated that oath and, during an unprecedented emergency, lied to line her own pockets with taxpayer money intended to help community members in need.”

“Public trust is fundamental to our system of government, and elected officials are expected to uphold the law—not exploit it,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and hold accountable anyone who abuses emergency relief programs, especially those who knowingly divert critical assistance away from individuals and families who truly need it during times of crisis.”

“Karen Bennett, while serving her constituents as an elected member of the Georgia House of Representatives, unlawfully enriched herself with taxpayer funds from an unemployment program intended to assist American workers who lost their jobs through no fault of their own,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. “We will continue our efforts to investigate and bring to justice all who defraud taxpayers by exploiting Department of Labor programs.”

“Karen Bennett lied to obtain personal benefits and as an elected official should rightfully be considered the lowest of the low,” said Nigel Lange, Inspector General, State of Georgia Office of Inspector General. “Her sentencing should serve as a warning for others who have taken an oath of office that there is zero tolerance for this type of crime in Georgia.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In 2020, in response to the forced closures of businesses and unprecedented economic hardship resulting from the COVID-19 emergency, the U.S. Congress created special unemployment compensation programs to provide cash assistance to individuals who lost their jobs due to the pandemic. Applicants for the programs had to provide their recent work histories and confirm, among other things, that COVID-19 was the reason they were unemployed. Applicants also had to provide a certification for every week for which they wished to claim benefits, attesting to whether they were actively seeking work for the week and the reason they were unemployed.

Bennett, while serving as the Georgia House Representative for District 94 in 2020, applied for and submitted weekly certifications to claim pandemic unemployment assistance benefits for weeks in March through August 2020. In those forms, she claimed that her only earnings were $300 per week from the Georgia General Assembly, that her other employer – Metro Therapy Providers, Inc. – would not let her return to her office because of COVID-19 protocols, and that she was actively looking for other work. 

However, in reality, Bennett was concealing that she was also receiving a steady paycheck of $905 every week from her employment at a church. Additionally, she was the sole owner of Metro Therapy Providers, Inc., and her work for that company consisted of administrative functions she performed from her home even prior to the pandemic. The business continued to function and generate revenues for her, she continued her work to support it from her home office, and she was not looking for any other employment.

As a result of the false statements in her application and weekly certifications, Bennett collected $13,940 of pandemic unemployment benefits to which she was not entitled.

Karen Bennett, 70, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, pleaded guilty to making false statements to obtain funds administered by the U.S. Department of Labor. Sentencing is scheduled for April 15, 2026, at 10:30 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Eleanor L. Ross.

This case is being investigated by the Georgia Office of the State Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Garrett L. Bradford is prosecuting the case.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA – Todd Burkhalter, the founder and chief executive officer of the Georgia-based financial advisory group Drive Planning LLC, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud for masterminding a years-long Ponzi scheme that allowed him to live a lavish lifestyle while causing thousands of investors to lose hundreds of millions of dollars.

“Todd Burkhalter perpetrated what is likely the largest Ponzi scheme in Georgia history,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Unbelievably, Burkhalter shamelessly continued to scam his victims even while under federal investigation. Today’s guilty plea is just the first step in holding Burkhalter accountable for the considerable harm he caused.”

“Todd Burkhalter built a massive Ponzi scheme on lies, exploiting trust to steal hundreds of millions of dollars from more than 2,000 victims while funding an extravagant lifestyle,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI will continue to aggressively pursue those who weaponize fraud and deception against investors, and we are committed to holding them fully accountable and seeking justice for every victim harmed.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: between September 2020 and June 2024, Drive Planning, at Burkhalter’s direction, marketed several investment opportunities, including the “Real Estate Acceleration Loan” opportunity (“REAL”) and the “Cash Out Real Estate Fund” (“CORE Fund”). Drive Planning claimed that investing in REAL and the CORE Fund was “easy and simple,” telling prospective investors that they did not need to be accredited investors to participate and encouraging them to invest money from retirement accounts, savings, and lines of credit.

REAL was Drive Planning’s primary investment vehicle, which Burkhalter fraudulently marketed as a bridge loan opportunity that would guarantee investors a 10% return every three months. Drive Planning claimed that it offered short-term loans—the bridge loans—to real estate developers who needed immediate cash flow to complete existing projects or fund new ones. Burkhalter and Drive Planning deceived investors into believing their investments were safe by claiming that they were fully collateralized by real estate. To perpetuate these lies, Burkhalter directed Drive Planning to prepare fraudulent “collateral sheets” identifying properties—some of which did not even exist—with fictitious valuations that purportedly served as collateral for investments.

Burkhalter and Drive Planning also falsely represented the extent of its relationship with real estate developers. In particular, Drive Planning highlighted its supposed relationship with a well-known real estate developer in Atlanta, Georgia (“Real Estate Developer-1”). In promissory notes with investors, Drive Planning falsely claimed investments were secured by real property within Real Estate Developer-1’s portfolio of properties. Eventually, Real Estate Developer-1 became aware that Drive Planning and Burkhalter were fraudulently using its name to promote the REAL investment. Real Estate Developer-1 sued Drive Planning and Burkhalter seeking to enjoin them from further using Real Estate Developer-1’s name. 

For the CORE Fund, Drive Planning falsely claimed that it provided “100% Passive Income from Tax Liens.” Drive Planning guaranteed investors a return of 10% every six months or a 22% return per year for up to three years. Drive Planning further misrepresented that investors’ contributions to the CORE Fund were pooled together, government-protected, and fully collateralized. Additionally, Burkhalter and others at Drive Planning failed to disclose that Drive Planning did not invest any funds in the CORE Fund after approximately December 9, 2022. In total, Drive Planning received at least $4.1 million from individuals who sought to invest in the CORE Fund.

Burkhalter operated REAL as a Ponzi-scheme from its inception. In September 2020, after Drive Planning received its first $50,000 investment in REAL, Burkhalter used at least $21,000 to repay an earlier Drive Planning investor. None of the REAL funds were used for their supposed intended purpose—to finance bridge loans or enter joint ventures with real estate developers. Instead, within the first couple of months of marketing REAL, Burkhalter used at least $80,000 in investor money to pay his ex-wife’s attorneys and expenses related to recreational vehicles.

Throughout the scheme, investors’ monies were used to pay off other Drive Planning investors, make commission payments to Drive Planning’s agents, and pay for personal expenditures. For example, Burkhalter spent approximately:

• $2 million to purchase a yacht;
• $2.1 million as part of a purchase of a luxury condo in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico;
• $800,000 on multiple luxury vehicles, including a 2020 Prevost Marathon motorcoach and two 2024 Land Rovers;
• Millions of dollars on luxury travel, including chartering private jets; and
• $320,000 on clothing, jewelry, and beauty treatments. 

Even after the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) began investigating Drive Planning in approximately March 2024, Burkhalter and others continued to solicit tens of millions of dollars in investments for REAL and the CORE Fund. Over the course of the scheme, Burkhalter defrauded more than 2,000 investors out of approximately $380 million.  

In August 2024, the SEC obtained a temporary restraining order against Drive Planning and filed civil enforcement actions in federal court against Drive Planning and others related to the above-described scheme. Court-appointed receiver Kenneth D. Murena is responsible for attempting to recover funds and sell assets to repay Drive Planning’s many victims.

Sentencing for Todd Burkhalter, 54, of St. Petersburg, Florida, will be scheduled at a later date before U.S. District Judge Tiffany R. Johnson. Pursuant to a plea agreement, the government has conditionally promised to recommend that the Court sentence Burkhalter to 17 and a half years of imprisonment. The Court is not bound by the government’s recommendation, and, in determining the actual sentence, it will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, among other factors.

David Bradford, the former chief operating officer of Drive Planning, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud on December 16, 2025, based on his involvement in the CORE Fund scheme. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 17, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. before Judge Johnson.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with substantial assistance from the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex R. Sistla is prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA – Following his extradition from Mexico to the United States, Roberto Najera Gutierrez, a/k/a Kunfu Panda and a/k/a La Gallina, pleaded not guilty in the Northern District of Georgia to a federal charge of conspiring to manufacture and distribute cocaine that he knew would be imported into the United States. 

"Thanks to President Trump’s leadership and our brave DEA agents, the cartels are no longer free to import poison into our communities,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We appreciate the work of our Office of International Affairs which secured the extradition of this alleged narco-terrorist, and our attorneys in the Northern District of Georgia will ensure he’s met with swift justice in the United States.”

“As a senior member of the brutal Sinaloa Cartel, Najera Gutierrez is allegedly responsible for distributing massive amounts of cocaine from South America and through Mexico that were intended to poison communities in the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “This federal indictment, as well as the recent arraignment in Atlanta of alleged Sinaloa Cartel trafficker Zhi Dong Zhang, demonstrates the global reach of the Drug Enforcement Administration and underscores that narco-terrorists abroad will ultimately face justice in American courtrooms.”

“This indictment is part of a multi-agency collaboration dedicated to dismantling transnational criminal organizations responsible for drug trafficking and violence,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “Through sustained cooperation, we are holding cartel leaders accountable and reducing the harm they cause to our communities.”

“IRS-CI is proud to stand alongside our law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle criminal networks responsible for trafficking massive amounts of cocaine and other illegal drugs into the United States,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office.

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the indictment, and other information presented in court: In 2013, agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began an investigation of drug traffickers working with the Sinaloa Cartel to transport cocaine from South America to Mexico for importation into the United States, including into the Northern District of Georgia. The Sinaloa Cartel is a transnational criminal group based in Mexico. On February 20, 2025, the Sinaloa Cartel was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.

As part of the investigation, agents identified Roberto Najera Gutierrez as a then-high-ranking member of the cartel who allegedly led and coordinated the transportation of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine by boat from Colombia and Ecuador to Honduras and Guatemala. Once the drugs were in Central America, they were smuggled across the Guatemalan border into Mexico. Najera Gutierrez allegedly distributed that cocaine to other high-level drug traffickers in Mexico who imported the cocaine into Atlanta, Chicago, and the states of Florida, New York, and California. Najera Gutierrez also allegedly coordinated the collection and remission of drug proceeds through bank accounts.

Roberto Najera Gutierrez, 48, of Tizimín, Yucatán, Mexico, is in federal custody. The recently unsealed indictment against Najera Gutierrez was returned in March 2018. In October 2023, Najera Gutierrez was served with a warrant pursuant to the U.S. request for his extradition. On January 8, 2026, he was extradited from Mexico and surrendered to the United States.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges.  The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by the DEA and IRS Criminal Investigation.  The U.S. Marshals Service assisted in transporting Najera Gutierrez from Mexico to appear before the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Georgia.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laurel Milam and Jonell L. Lucca are prosecuting the case.

The Justice Department Criminal Division Office of Enforcement Operations assisted in the investigation, and the Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and January 8, 2026, extradition of Najera Gutierrez.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

These prosecutions are also part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

Following his extradition from Mexico to the United States, Roberto Najera Gutierrez, also known as “Kunfu Panda” and “La Gallina,” pleaded not guilty in the Northern District of Georgia to a federal charge of conspiring to manufacture and distribute cocaine that he knew would be imported into the United States.

“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership and our brave DEA agents, the cartels are no longer free to import poison into our communities,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We appreciate the work of our Office of International Affairs which secured the extradition of this alleged narco-terrorist and our attorneys in the Northern District of Georgia will ensure he’s met with swift justice in the United States.”

“As a senior member of the brutal Sinaloa Cartel, Najera Gutierrez is allegedly responsible for distributing massive amounts of cocaine from South America and through Mexico that were intended to poison communities in the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg for the Northern District of Georgia. “This federal indictment, as well as the recent arraignment in Atlanta of alleged Sinaloa Cartel trafficker Zhi Dong Zhang, demonstrates the global reach of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and underscores that narco-terrorists abroad will ultimately face justice in American courtrooms.”

“This indictment is part of a multi-agency collaboration dedicated to dismantling transnational criminal organizations responsible for drug trafficking and violence,” said Special Agent in Charge Jae W. Chung of the DEA Atlanta Division. “Through sustained cooperation, we are holding cartel leaders accountable and reducing the harm they cause to our communities.”

“IRS-CI is proud to stand alongside our law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle criminal networks responsible for trafficking massive amounts of cocaine and other illegal drugs into the United States,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman of IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) Atlanta Field Office.

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the indictment, and other information presented in court: In 2013, DEA agents began an investigation of drug traffickers working with the Sinaloa Cartel to transport cocaine from South America to Mexico for importation into the United States, including into the Northern District of Georgia. The Sinaloa Cartel is a transnational criminal group based in Mexico. On Feb. 20, 2025, the Sinaloa Cartel was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.

As part of the investigation, agents identified Roberto Najera Gutierrez as a then-high-ranking member of the cartel who allegedly led and coordinated the transportation of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine by boat from Colombia and Ecuador to Honduras and Guatemala. Once the drugs were in Central America, they were smuggled across the Guatemalan border into Mexico. Najera Gutierrez allegedly distributed that cocaine to other high-level drug traffickers in Mexico who imported the cocaine into Atlanta, Chicago, and the states of Florida, New York, and California. Najera Gutierrez also allegedly coordinated the collection and remission of drug proceeds through bank accounts.

Roberto Najera Gutierrez, 48, of Tizimín, Yucatán, Mexico, is in federal custody. The recently unsealed indictment against Najera Gutierrez was returned in March 2018. In October 2023, Najera Gutierrez was served with a warrant pursuant to the U.S. request for his extradition. On Jan. 8, 2026, he was extradited from Mexico and surrendered to the United States.       

This case is being investigated by the DEA and IRS-CI. The U.S. Marshals Service assisted in transporting Najera Gutierrez from Mexico to appear before the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Georgia.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laurel Milam and Jonell L. Lucca for the Northern District of Georgia are prosecuting the case.

The Justice Department Criminal Division’s Office of Enforcement Operations assisted in the investigation, and the Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and Jan. 8 extradition from Mexico of Najera Gutierrez.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

These prosecutions are also part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.

Atlanta – Luis Sanchez-Acevedo, an illegal alien from Mexico, appeared in federal court yesterday afternoon on charges related to his alleged distribution of fentanyl from a Forest Park farmers market produce stand. 

“Sanchez-Acevedo allegedly distributed deadly “tranq” pills containing fentanyl and xylazine at a farmers market where he sold fruits and vegetables,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Our community is a safer place now that this illegal alien and his lethal pills are off the streets.”

“This defendant is accused of distributing fentanyl, a drug responsible for countless overdose poisonings across our country,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “In support of DEA’s Fentanyl Free America Initiative, DEA remains committed to targeting those who traffic in this poison and holding them accountable through the federal justice system.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court:  DEA agents learned that Sanchez-Acevedo was allegedly selling counterfeit “M-30” pills containing fentanyl in the Forest Park, Georgia area. The investigation revealed that, in September and October 2025, Sanchez-Acevedo allegedly sold a total of 3,000 pills from or in the vicinity of his produce stand at a Forest Park, Georgia farmers market. DEA agents ultimately recovered the pills, and laboratory testing revealed that the pills contained fentanyl and xylazine, a powerful large animal sedative that is extremely dangerous to humans.

On January 13, 2026, agents arrested Sanchez-Acevedo at his produce stand. During a search of the stand, agents recovered approximately 1,000 additional counterfeit pills.

The investigation further revealed that Sanchez-Acevedo is a citizen of Mexico and illegally present in the United States. 

Luis Sanchez-Acevedo, 41, of Tehuacán, Mexico, appeared before a U.S. magistrate judge yesterday on a criminal complaint that charged him with possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl.

Members of the public are reminded that the criminal complaint only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with valuable assistance provided by the Clayton County Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Herskowitz and Edward C. Robinson Jr. are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA – Attallah Williams has been charged with a muti-year scheme to steal over $3.5 million from four separate COVID-19 emergency relief programs by obtaining employment at both the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and wrongfully approving fraudulent applications in exchange for bribes and kickbacks. She allegedly recruited participants into her scheme through advertisements and direct messages on Instagram that highlighted her insider access to the programs and by promising referral payments to conspirators who recruited additional people into the scheme.

“Williams allegedly exploited her federal employment, stole millions of dollars from generous government programs, and brazenly recruited other participants through social media advertisements,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “This prosecution is yet another example of this office’s commitment to hold accountable those who abused their government positions or stole from pandemic relief programs.”

“Using a position of public trust as a means to fraudulently grant access to federal programs for personal gain will not be tolerated,” said SBA Office of the Inspector General’s Eastern Region Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite. “Our Office will remain relentless in the pursuit of fraudsters who seek to exploit SBA’s vital economic programs. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and commitment to seeing justice served.”

“This defendant is accused of exploiting trusted positions inside the federal government to steal millions of dollars meant to keep struggling businesses afloat during a national crisis,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and hold accountable anyone who abuses public trust and defrauds critical government programs for personal gain.”

“Attallah Williams allegedly obtained positions of trust for the purpose of defrauding the U.S. government of COVID-19 economic relief funds,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation special agents and our law enforcement partners continue initiating new investigations and forwarding for prosecution people who diverted COVID-19 relief money for their personal gain at the expense of businesses that needed those funds to keep workers employed.”

“The DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office works diligently with its federal law enforcement partners to root out bad actors within the government in order to maintain public trust in our institutions,” said DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston. “Defendant Williams is accused of a bold scheme to embed herself in agencies responsible for the distribution of funds, steal millions of dollars from pandemic relief programs, and recruit others to participate in the deception. This violation of public trust and government funds will not be tolerated.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Williams allegedly orchestrated a three-year scheme to fraudulently obtain funds from four separate emergency pandemic relief programs: 

First, Williams submitted fraudulent applications to the SBA to obtain Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) in the names of businesses that were not operational.

Second, Williams submitted a fraudulent application for a Paycheck Protection Program loan, guaranteed by the SBA, for a business that was not operational.

Third, Williams obtained a position as a loan officer with the SBA, enabling her to use her insider access to wrongly approve applications to the EIDL Advance grant program. Williams then advertised on Instagram to recruit accomplices who, under her instructions, submitted fraudulent applications using the names of nonexistent or ineligible businesses. Williams, using her position at the SBA, improperly approved those applications in exchange for a share of the proceeds. Williams then encouraged her conspirators to recruit additional participants, promising them referral fees for every person brought into the scheme.

Fourth, Williams left the SBA and obtained a position as a tax examining technician at the IRS. Williams again advertised on social media to recruit accomplices who, under her instructions and with her assistance, submitted fraudulent tax documents to the IRS to claim payments under the Employee Retention Tax Credit program with Williams receiving a fee for each application.

In total, Williams submitted false claims for more than $3.5 million of pandemic emergency assistance funds intended to help struggling businesses.

Attallah Williams, 32, of Hampton, Georgia, was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Elizabeth McBath on a criminal information containing a federal charge of conspiracy to defraud the government with respect to claims. Members of the public are reminded that the criminal information only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charge, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by the U.S. Small Business Administration – Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service, and U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, with valuable assistance from the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Garrett L. Bradford is prosecuting the case.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA – Kory Keon Solomon, Antonio Pierre Ashmeade, and Rodrigus Dartez Williams have been convicted by federal juries for their roles in a drug trafficking operation based in Ellenwood, Georgia. On January 8, 2026, Solomon was found guilty of conspiracy and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine. On December 17, 2025, Ashmeade and Williams, who are members of the “Paper Gang Family,” were found guilty of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

“These defendants set up their drug operation in metro-Atlanta, blatantly peddling their poison around students’ bus stops,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Due to a tenacious investigation and determined prosecution, they were convicted at trial and now face significant sentences in federal prison.”

“This case sends a clear message: violent drug traffickers who threaten public safety will be aggressively targeted, dismantled, and held accountable,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division.

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In 2019, a DEA investigation revealed that individuals associated with the “Paper Gang Family” (PGF), an ostensible rap music label, were distributing large quantities of narcotics in the metro-Atlanta area. During the investigation, agents observed PGF members openly conduct drug deals on the same streets where school buses dropped off children.

In addition:

• In July and August 2021, Williams sold methamphetamine to an individual in Ellenwood. After one drug deal, Williams posted a video to a social media website that depicted him flaunting the cash he had just received.
• In February 2022, agents observed Solomon meet with a suspected PGF member and known drug trafficker in Ellenwood. Agents followed Solomon to a gas station and observed him retrieve a bag from his trunk and conceal suspected narcotics inside. Shortly thereafter, a Georgia State Patrol trooper stopped Solomon traveling on Interstate 75, searched Solomon’s vehicle, and found two kilograms of cocaine and a 9mm handgun.   
• In April 2023, agents observed Ashmeade give a plastic shopping bag to a drug customer in a southeast Atlanta restaurant parking lot. When a Georgia State Patrol trooper attempted to stop his vehicle, the drug customer fled and tossed the plastic shopping bag. Law enforcement recovered half a kilogram of methamphetamine from the bag and surrounding area. 

On a date yet to be determined, U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr. will sentence Antonio Ashmeade, 42, of Atlanta, Georgia, Rodrigus Dartez Williams, 39, of Atlanta, Georgia, and Kory Solomon, 40, of Macon, Georgia. Ashmeade and Williams each face the possibility of life imprisonment and a mandatory minimum of 10 years. Solomon must be sentenced to at least five years of imprisonment and may be sentenced to up to 40 years.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with valuable assistance provided by the Georgia State Patrol and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Johnny Baer, C. Brock Brockington, Teresa Stolze, and Elizabeth M. Hathaway are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF is comprised of agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA – Michael Dwayne Banks and Victor Valente-Reynoso, an illegal alien, have each been sentenced to more than a decade in prison for possessing illegal drugs with intent to distribute and possessing firearms in furtherance of their drug trafficking crimes.                                                                                                                   

“Our community is safer thanks to the agents and prosecutors who removed thousands of deadly fentanyl pills, nearly a half-dozen firearms, and two dangerous drug dealers from the streets,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “The significant punishment imposed on these pill peddling poison pushers should serve as a warning to other criminals who threaten our public safety and welfare by trafficking fentanyl in north Georgia.” 

“Fentanyl is one of the most lethal drugs our country has ever faced,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “When traffickers choose to deal this poison while carrying firearms, they amplify the threat to our neighborhoods and to law enforcement. This federal sentence removes a dangerous individual from our streets.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On August 23, 2022, Victor Valente Reynoso, an illegal alien from Mexico, sold 536 fentanyl pills outside a gas station in Clayton County, Georgia. Following that deal, Reynoso and his conspirators arranged to sell 5,000 fentanyl pills at a church parking lot in Fulton County, Georgia. Law enforcement foiled the drug deal and arrested Reynoso, in possession of 4,000 fentanyl pills and 1,000 fake Xanax pills, as well as Banks, who was armed with a loaded handgun to protect the deal. 

Agents later searched Banks’s residence and recovered more fake Xanax pills, blue fentanyl pills, oxycodone, cocaine, and several large bags of marijuana there. Agents also found another loaded handgun and three rifles, including a short barrel machine gun. 

On January 8, 2026, U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones sentenced Michael Dwayne Banks, 31, of Atlanta, Georgia, to 13 years, eight months in prison followed by four years of supervised release. Banks was convicted of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on October 9, 2025, after he pleaded guilty.

On July 12, 2023, Judge Jones sentenced Victor Valente-Reynoso, 27, of Acapulco, Mexico, to 10 years and 10 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Valente-Reynoso was convicted of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on January 31, 2023, after he pleaded guilty.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dwayne Brown, Jr. and Phyllis Clerk, and former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebeca Ojeda and Miguel Acosta, prosecuted the case.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with valuable assistance provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Georgia State Patrol, and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ROME, Ga. - Donny Campbell, a former maintenance department employee at the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, has pleaded guilty to theft of government funds for submitting false overtime entries on his timesheets.

“Federal employees are expected to be responsible stewards of taxpayer money,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “When they abuse that trust, it diminishes public confidence that those dollars are spent appropriately. Federal employees and anyone else who chooses to steal from the public fisc will be held accountable.”

“We are happy to see the results of this case come to fruition,” Katie Balestra, Special Agent in Charge at the Interior Department’s Office of Inspector General, stated. “Our office will continue to investigate these types of cases to ensure government resources are expended appropriately.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Campbell, while working as maintenance staff for the National Park Service, submitted timesheets claiming overtime pay for hundreds of hours that he did not work. The false timesheets spanned a period of January 2017 through June 2019 and caused nearly $40,000 of wrongful payments. As part of his plea agreement, Campbell agreed to resign, never seek any future federal employment, and pay full restitution to the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Campbell, 48, of Ringgold, Georgia, pleaded guilty on October 2, 2025, to theft of government funds. Sentencing is scheduled for January 23, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge John H. Rains IV. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.

This case is being investigated by the Department of the Interior - Office of the Inspector General.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Garrett L. Bradford and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevor C. Wilmot prosecuted the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA - Maurice Lynch has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in a nationwide cocaine trafficking conspiracy, during which he sold approximately two million dollars’ worth of cocaine from a Fairburn, Georgia residence.

“Lynch was part of a large network of cocaine traffickers that peddled millions of dollars of deadly drugs from a metro-Atlanta residence,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Our office will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to hold dangerous drug dealers accountable.” 

“This case demonstrates how illegal drug and firearms possession can create a serious public safety threat,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “DEA will continue working alongside our federal, state, and local partners to identify and dismantle drug operations that endanger our communities.”

“Let the word get out that if you spread poison in our community there is no way you can run and hide from the U.S. Marshal’s service,” said U.S. Marshal Thomas E. Brown.  “We will hunt and find you, there is no rock large enough to conceal your whereabout from us.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Lynch participated in a conspiracy that distributed cocaine from stash houses located across the United States, including in the Northern District of Georgia; Baltimore, Maryland; Buffalo, New York; Charlotte, North Carolina; Chicago, Illinois; and northern New Jersey. Lynch operated one of the organization’s stash houses in Fairburn, Georgia. From there, Lynch distributed 86 kilograms of cocaine, worth approximately two million dollars, during the summer of 2022.  

On July 18, 2022, Lynch departed the Fairburn stash house in a ride-share vehicle, carrying two bags. When a Georgia State Patrol trooper attempted to stop the vehicle, Lynch fled on foot, tossing the two bags into nearby trees. He was quickly apprehended, and troopers found two kilograms of cocaine inside the bags. Law enforcement subsequently searched the Fairburn stash house and found two firearms under a couch, over $100,000 in cash, and a drug ledger.

Maurice Lynch, 50, of Tacoma, Washington, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Lynch was convicted of conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute on September 25, 2025, after he pleaded guilty.

Lynch was charged with eight other defendants, four of whom have pleaded guilty:

• Tyronne Johnson, Jr., 49, of Queens, New York, pled guilty to possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute on August 20, 2025. He was sentenced to six years, six months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release on November 19, 2025.
• Elisa Johnson, 35, of Kirkland, Washington, pled guilty to conspiring to maintain a premise to distribute a controlled substance on August 20, 2025. She was sentenced to two years, six months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release on November 21, 2025.
• Jovan Jackson, Sr., 49, of Snellville, Georgia, pled guilty to conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and conspiracy to commit money laundering on July 23, 2025. Jackson’s sentencing is set for February 16, 2026.
• Dominique Gwinn, 29, of Atlanta, Georgia, pled guilty to conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute and conspiracy to commit money laundering on August 6, 2025. Gwinn’s sentencing is set for March 2, 2026.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew R. LaGrone, Sandra E. Strippoli, Elizabeth M. Hathaway, and Nicholas L. Evert, and former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua May and Norman L. Barnett, prosecuted the case.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Marshals Service, with valuable assistance provided by the Georgia State Patrol. 

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

This prosecution is also part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA - Ramiro Contreras-Sandoval, an illegal alien from Mexico, will serve a 30-year prison sentence following his convictions for operating two conversion laboratories containing over 135 kilograms of liquid methamphetamine concealed in paint buckets and for possessing firearms as an illegal alien and in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes. 

"This case should send a clear message to anyone thinking about running drugs or using deadly weapons to protect their operation: the federal government will relentlessly seek justice and protect the community from drug traffickers,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “The successful prosecutions of Contreras-Sandoval and his codefendant illustrate the positive impact collaboration among law enforcement agencies has on the community.”

“Operating methamphetamine labs is a reckless and dangerous crime,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division.  “This conviction underscores that DEA will aggressively pursue anyone who engages in drug trafficking activities that put lives at risk.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Between March 2019 and October 2021, Contreras-Sandoval and Genaro Davalos-Pulido operated two separate clandestine liquid methamphetamine conversion laboratories in the Atlanta area. On April 23, 2019, law enforcement seized over 135 kilograms of a methamphetamine mixture concealed in paint buckets that Contreras-Sandoval and Davalos-Pulido removed from the Morrow, Georgia conversion lab and attempted to transport in a vehicle driven by a conspirator. After law enforcement stopped the drug-laden vehicle, both Contreras-Sandoval and Davalos-Pulido fled the jurisdiction to avoid arrest. 

In the fall of 2021, agents located Contreras-Sandoval and Davalos-Pulido back in the Atlanta area – this time in a Norcross, Georgia neighborhood. On October 21, 2021, agents searched a Norcross residence and found Davalos-Pulido inside with a full-scale liquid methamphetamine conversion operation, a loaded Baretta handgun, $84,000 in cash, and a .50 caliber rifle that appeared ready to be shipped to Mexico. Agents arrested Contreras-Sandoval nearby and found approximately $12,000 in his vehicle and pockets. 

In June 2024, Davalos-Pulido pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Davalos-Pulido was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison in October 2024.

Earlier today, U.S. District Judge Eleanor L. Ross sentenced Contreras-Sandoval, a/k/a Manuel Santiago Vazquez, a/k/a Jorge Gomez-Sandoval, a/k/a Mirin, 41, of Michoacán, Mexico, to 30 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Contreras-Sandoval was convicted by a federal jury on September 16, 2025, of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of firearms by an alien illegally present in the United States.  

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with valuable assistance provided by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia State Patrol, Lawrenceville Police Department, Clayton County Police Department, and the Long Beach, California Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bethany L. Rupert and Thomas M. Forsyth, III prosecuted the case.

This case was part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

This case was also part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Atlanta comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA – Anthony Noto pleaded guilty today to knowingly transmitting a threat to injure the wife of a federal deportation officer.

“Threatening to harm a federal agent’s spouse, child, or other loved one is inexcusable, outrageous, and illegal” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Through swift and aggressive prosecution, my office will bring to justice anyone who commits or threatens violence against federal agents and their families.”

“Threatening law enforcement officers or their families will not be tolerated,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “The FBI will continue to work with our partners to hold accountable those who threaten violence against law enforcement officers and anyone connected to them.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: After an individual posted to Instagram identifying information for a federal deportation officer and the officer’s wife, Anthony Noto commented under a picture of the officer’s wife, “Anybody wanna test the sites [sic] on their new A-R? There’s a pretty good target right there!” “A-R” refers to a semiautomatic rifle.

Sentencing for Noto, 63, of Ronkonkoma, New York, is scheduled for April 16, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Steven D. Grimberg. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders. Noto was previously indicted on September 23, 2025.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brent Alan Gray and Eric White are prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA – Quartez Rashad Goodman, a multi-convicted felon and domestic abuser who robbed two women at gunpoint, discharged a pistol near a playground after beating a dog, and engaged police in an armed standoff in a southwest Atlanta park, has been sentenced to federal prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm.

“While on state probation for another felon-in-possession offense, Goodman repeatedly fired a gun in a city park and used that weapon to rob two women, frighten parkgoers, and threaten police officers,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “The brave men and women of the Atlanta Police Department who apprehended Goodman performed their duty admirably. But because Goodman was undeterred by the state criminal justice system, federal prosecution was necessary to remove this repeat offender from the community and protect the public.”

“Guns in the wrong hands are just plain wrong and will not be tolerated,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “So much trauma and damage has stemmed from the actions of one person. I commend the responding officers for stopping a very dangerous situation.”

“This sentence sends a clear message that violent, repeat offenders who endanger our neighborhoods will be held accountable,” said Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum. “This federal sentence removes a dangerous individual from our community. Our priority is protecting the community and keeping dangerous individuals off our streets through strong partnerships with our law enforcement partners.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On May 21, 2024, more than a dozen police officers responded to D.H. Stanton Park in Atlanta, Georgia, where witnesses reported that a shirtless individual later identified as Quartez Rashad Goodman was beating a dog and fired a gun in the park. Additional officers arrived and located Goodman near a splash pad with a pistol in his hand. Although he threatened the officers when first encountered, Goodman ultimately tossed his weapon and was apprehended while officers tried to render lifesaving aid to the dog, who had been fatally shot. 

Before officers arrived, Goodman assaulted two women who had been bicycling on the Beltline Trail near the park. Goodman approached the women while brandishing a firearm, demanded that one of the women give him everything she had, and stole that woman’s bicycle as she fled from Goodman.

Goodman has a lengthy criminal history that includes multiple convictions for violence against women, violence against law enforcement, weapon possession, and drug trafficking:

• Between 2008 and 2013, Goodman was convicted of selling cocaine, stealing a car and leading deputies on a high-speed chase that resulted in a crash, possessing marijuana with intent to distribute, receiving stolen property, obstructing law enforcement, and using a brick to smash the windows of a woman’s car.
• In 2013, Goodman struck a police officer with handcuffs, choked another officer, hit a third officer in the mouth, fought two others, intentionally hurt his grandfather, and punched another man in the face. Goodman was convicted of five counts of obstructing law enforcement officers by violence, three counts of battery, and one count of family violence battery.
• In 2015, while on probation, Goodman was convicted of battering a woman. A year later, Goodman pled guilty to battering the same woman again. According to the indictment in that case, Goodman struck the woman on the head with a nail gun, dragged her by the hair, pushed her face into the mud, threatened to kill her, and bit her.
• In July 2019, Goodman chased after an ex-girlfriend, stomped on her, pulled her hair, and pointed a gun at her head. When another man intervened, Goodman charged at him with a gun. Goodman was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, battery, and possession of a firearm during commission of a felony.

Prior to 2024, Goodman had been prosecuted by local authorities exclusively, and he had never served more than one year of confinement for any of his 15 prior felony convictions. Most of his Fulton County Superior Court sentences were probated, suspended, or commuted to time served. By contrast, all federal sentences must be served without the possibility of parole.

U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Geraghty sentenced Quartez Rashad Goodman, 34, of Atlanta, Georgia, to 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Goodman was convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on April 24, 2025, after he pleaded guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Atlanta Police Department. The Georgia Department of Community Supervision provided valuable assistance.

U.S. Attorney Hertzberg prosecuted the case himself.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA - Tracy Denise Jones, a Senior Vice President at the Atlanta Housing Authority, has been charged with engaging in a scheme to fraudulently collect Section 8 housing assistance payments for her own rental property and family members. She was also charged with making fraudulent applications to collect pandemic relief funds and committing mortgage fraud when refinancing her rental property.

“A long-time senior executive of one of the largest housing authorities in the nation, Jones was entrusted to deliver vast sums of government assistance to our community’s neediest members,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “But Jones allegedly exploited a variety of assistance programs and chose to line her own pockets using an alternate identity, multiple business entities, a false affidavit, and a cadre of associates willing to lie on her behalf.”

“Tracy Jones’s alleged actions not only showed a blatant disrespect for the law and multiple federal programs, but also jeopardized the availability of HUD-assisted housing for those in our most vulnerable communities who rely on housing assistance programs,” said Special Agent in Charge Jerome Winkle with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG). “HUD OIG will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to vigorously pursue those who seek to profit by abusing HUD-funded programs.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Since April 2017, Jones has served as Senior Vice President over the Housing Choice Voucher Program at the Atlanta Housing Authority, overseeing one of the largest Section 8 programs in the country. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funds Section 8 programs, including rental assistance payments to landlords on behalf of low-income families and individuals. Section 8 funds are limited, and there is often a long waiting list of low-income families seeking acceptance into the program. Housing authority staff are generally prohibited from receiving Section 8 payments for their own properties, and Section 8 landlords are typically prohibited from leasing to their own family members.

Instead of upholding the integrity of the housing assistance program, Jones allegedly defrauded the program by using a series of falsified forms to have her family members admitted to the Section 8 program and then to receive Section 8 payments for them to live in her own rental house. To conceal her identity, Jones allegedly used a fake name and a shell business entity to execute housing authority documents. As a result, she improperly obtained more than $36,000 of Section 8 funds. Jones then allegedly obstructed subsequent investigations by submitting a false affidavit and convincing friends to lie and present false documents on her behalf.

At the same time, Jones allegedly used her shell business and another business to collect more than $27,000 from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s COVID-19 pandemic relief programs, falsely claiming that the businesses were functioning, had multiple employees, and received over $56,000 of gross revenues in 2019. When the SBA denied one of Jones’s applications, she allegedly appealed the denial, pleading for the SBA to approve her request, stating:

• “I am truly a[n] honest business owner[.]”
• “I hear the stories how people abused the PPP loans to establish a lavish lif[e] style. That is not me. My business is small and is growing, but I [am] one of the legitimate and honest business that can use all the help I can.”
• “I also serve a community of low income families in my business, renting one of my three homes to a low income family as well as serve other owners of low income rental properties.”

Jones also allegedly committed mortgage fraud when she refinanced her Section 8 rental property, falsely claiming on her application for a $219,780 loan that the property was her primary residence, that the residence was not a rental property, and that she did not own any other property.

On December 19, 2025, Tracy Denise Jones, 61, of Atlanta, Georgia, was arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge John K. Larkins III on a criminal information containing federal charges of conspiracy to commit theft of government funds, wire fraud, and credit application fraud.

Members of the public are reminded that the criminal information only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General.

Assistant United States Attorney Garrett L. Bradford is prosecuting the case.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

The Justice Department today announced the seizure of a web domain and database used in furtherance of a scheme to target and defraud Americans through bank account takeover fraud. The domain, web3adspanels.org, was used by those involved in the scheme as a backend web panel to store and manipulate illegally harvested bank login credentials. This domain seizure comes approximately one month after the FBI issued a Public Service Announcement relating to Account Takeover Fraud via Impersonation of Financial Institution Support.

According to the affidavit filed in support of the domain seizure, the criminal group perpetrating the bank account takeover fraud delivered fraudulent advertisements through search engines, including Google and Bing. These fraudulent advertisements imitated the sponsored search engine advertisements used by legitimate banking entities. While the fraudulent advertisements appeared to send users to the websites of legitimate banks, victims were in fact redirected to fake bank websites controlled by the criminals. When victims entered their login credentials to access their bank accounts, the criminals harvested those credentials through a malicious software program embedded in the fake website. The criminals then used those bank credentials on the corresponding legitimate bank websites to access victims’ bank accounts and drain their funds.

To date, the FBI has identified at least 19 victims throughout the United States, including two companies in the Northern District of Georgia, whose bank accounts have been compromised through this account takeover scheme, resulting in attempted losses of approximately $28 million dollars and actual losses of approximately $14.6 million dollars. The seized domain hosted a server that contained the stolen login credentials of thousands of victims, including the credentials of the victims mentioned above. Based on the FBI’s investigation, the seized domain continued to host a backend server used in furtherance of the bank account takeover fraud as recently as November 2025.

Since January 2025, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received more than 5,100 complaints reporting bank account takeover fraud, with reported losses exceeding $262 million. The public is encouraged to stay vigilant, including by regularly monitoring financial accounts, using “Bookmarks” or “Favorites” for navigating to login websites and guarding against phishing attempts.

A splash page on the web3adspanels.org website notifies visitors that the domain has been seized by law enforcement. This domain seizure disrupts the criminals’ ability to access the stolen credentials and utilize those credentials to steal bank account funds.

According to foreign officials, Estonian law enforcement also preserved and collected data from servers hosting the phishing pages and the stolen login credentials used in furtherance of the scheme.

U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg for the Northern District of Georgia, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown of the FBI Atlanta Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Atlanta Field Office is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica C. Morris of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia and Trial Attorney Brian Mund of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) are prosecuting the case.

Substantial assistance was provided by the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the Estonian Office of the Prosecutor General, the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board and the Georgian Central Criminal Police Department.

CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cybercriminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

The Justice Department today announced the seizure of a web domain and database used in furtherance of a scheme to target and defraud Americans through bank account takeover fraud.The domain, web3adspanels.org, was used by those involved in the scheme as a backend web panel to store and manipulate illegally harvested bank login credentials. This domain seizure comes approximately one month after the FBI issued a Public Service Announcement relating to Account Takeover Fraud via Impersonation of Financial Institution Support.

According to the affidavit filed in support of the domain seizure, the criminal group perpetrating the bank account takeover fraud delivered fraudulent advertisements through search engines, including Google and Bing. These fraudulent advertisements imitated the sponsored search engine advertisements used by legitimate banking entities. While the fraudulent advertisements appeared to send users to the websites of legitimate banks, victims were in fact redirected to fake bank websites controlled by the criminals. When victims entered their login credentials to access their bank accounts, the criminals harvested those credentials through a malicious software program embedded in the fake website. The criminals then used those bank credentials on the corresponding legitimate bank websites to access victims’ bank accounts and drain their funds.

To date, the FBI has identified at least 19 victims throughout the United States, including two companies in the Northern District of Georgia, whose bank accounts have been compromised through this account takeover scheme, resulting in attempted losses of approximately $28 million dollars and actual losses of approximately $14.6 million dollars. The seized domain hosted a server that contained the stolen login credentials of thousands of victims, including the credentials of the victims mentioned above. Based on the FBI’s investigation, the seized domain continued to host a backend server used in furtherance of the bank account takeover fraud as recently as November 2025.

Since January 2025, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received more than 5,100 complaints reporting bank account takeover fraud, with reported losses exceeding $262 million. The public is encouraged to stay vigilant, including by regularly monitoring financial accounts, using “Bookmarks” or “Favorites” for navigating to login websites and guarding against phishing attempts.

A splash page on the web3adspanels.org website notifies visitors that the domain has been seized by law enforcement. This domain seizure disrupts the criminals’ ability to access the stolen credentials and utilize those credentials to steal bank account funds.

According to foreign officials, Estonian law enforcement also preserved and collected data from servers hosting the phishing pages and the stolen login credentials used in furtherance of the scheme.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg for the Northern District of Georgia and Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown of the FBI Atlanta Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Atlanta Field Office is investigating the case.

Trial Attorney Brian Mund of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica C. Morris of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia are prosecuting the case.

Substantial assistance was provided by the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the Estonian Office of the Prosecutor General, the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board and the Georgian Central Criminal Police Department.

CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cybercriminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds. 

ATLANTA - Matthew Neet has been arraigned on federal charges of wire fraud after allegedly scamming real estate investors and college football fans seeking tickets for University of Georgia (“UGA”) games.

“Neet allegedly defrauded at least two dozen football fans and investors out of hundreds of thousands of dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “As we enter the college football playoff, fans should exercise caution when purchasing tickets for games. Unfortunately, scammers may seek to exploit the rich history and tradition of college football for quick cash. And, as always, investors should be wary of too-good-to-be-true wealth building opportunities.”

“Neet allegedly exploited college football fans and investors for personal gain, and the FBI is committed to holding those who engage in fraud accountable,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta.  “As the popularity of college football continues to grow, we urge fans and investors alike to be vigilant and verify the legitimacy of any offers they receive, particularly when large sums of money are at stake.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Matthew Neet allegedly defrauded investors and college football fans by offering fraudulent property investment opportunities when he had no intention of actually investing the funds he received. He also fraudulently offered to sell tickets for UGA football games when he had no intention of providing tickets. Two dozen individuals paid Neet approximately $943,000 for the investment opportunities or college football tickets. Neet allegedly used the money for his own purposes.

Neet waived indictment and agreed to proceed by criminal information on December 19, 2025. According to the information, Neet duped investors by offering purported investments in teak/timberland property in Costa Rica. He also claimed to have for sale UGA football tickets for games against the Universities of Alabama, Texas, and Mississippi. These claims were allegedly false, and Neet never provided the tickets.

Matthew Neet, 43, of Alpharetta, Ga., was arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge John K. Larkins III. Members of the public are reminded that the information only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Samir Kaushal is prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA – David Bradford, the former Chief Operating Officer of the Georgia-based financial advisory group Drive Planning LLC (“Drive Planning”), pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud arising from a multi-year Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors out of millions of dollars.

“Bradford betrayed the trust of his clients, family, and friends by encouraging them to make millions in bogus investments,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and aggressively prosecute all forms of investment fraud.”

“Justice is served in this latest reminder of the significant impact white collar crime continues to have on everyday Americans,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI is aggressively pursuing fraud and will continue to ensure crime does not pay in the end. If you steal from others, you are gambling with your freedom.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: from late 2021 until in or about June 2024, Drive Planning marketed several investments, including the “Cash Out Real Estate Fund,” or “CORE Fund,” as “easy and simple,” advising prospective investors that the fund provided “100% Passive Income from Tax Liens.” Drive Planning guaranteed investors a return of 10% every six months or a 22% return per year for up to three years. Drive Planning further materially misrepresented that investors’ contributions to the CORE Fund were pooled together, government-protected, and fully collateralized. As part of the scheme, Bradford created a marketing brochure to promote the CORE Fund, which was shared with Drive Planning’s sales agents to solicit investors. 

In actuality, the investors’ monies were being used for other purposes, including to pay off other Drive Planning investors, make commission payments to Drive Planning’s agents, and pay for personal expenditures. Bradford and others at Drive Planning further concealed the scheme to defraud by failing to disclose that Drive Planning did not invest any funds in the CORE Fund after approximately December 9, 2022. To the contrary, even after the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) began investigating Drive Planning in approximately March 2024, Bradford and others continued to solicit investments for the CORE Fund. In total, Drive Planning received at least $4.1 million from CORE Fund investors.

In August 2024, the SEC obtained a temporary restraining order against Drive Planning and filed separate civil enforcement actions against Drive Planning and others in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia related to the above-described scheme. 

Sentencing for David Bradford, 53, of Peachtree Corners, Georgia, is scheduled for March 17, 2026 at 11:00 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Tiffany R. Johnson. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Assistant United States Attorney Alex R. Sistla is prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA - Johann Rainer Nix has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for production of child sexual abuse material. Nix used social media platforms to entice minors to send him sexually explicit images of themselves.

“Nix used popular social media platforms to lure and exploit minors,” said Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Parents should monitor their children’s social media use because predators like Nix are lurking online. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to pursue, arrest, and prosecute child sex offenders like Nix.”

“Nix exploited vulnerable minors on social media for his depraved desires, and the FBI will relentlessly use every tool at our disposal to put predators like him behind bars,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “We urge parents to closely monitor their children’s social media use and have open conversations about online safety to protect them from predators.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: throughout 2022 and 2023, Nix used popular social media applications to groom four children who he met online. Nix coerced and enticed all four minors to create and send him sexually explicit images and/or videos. He also sent several minors photographs of his genitalia.

Johann Rainer Nix, 36, of Dacula, Ga., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee to 20 years in federal prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release. On November 18, 2025, Nix pled guilty to one count of production of child sexual abuse material.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren E. Renaud and L. Skye Davis prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

NEWNAN, Ga. - Norman Dixson has been arraigned on federal charges of sponsoring and exhibiting a dog in an animal fighting venture, promoting an animal fighting venture, animal crushing, and wire fraud. 

“The indictment alleges that Dixson viciously abused dogs and repeatedly lied to obtain COVID relief funds,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “This depraved and deceitful conduct cannot be tolerated and commands aggressive prosecution.”

“An important part of the mission of the Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations of fraud involving the unemployment insurance program. This collaborative investigative effort with our federal partners reaffirms our commitment to investigate these types of allegations,” said Mathew Broadhurst, Special Agent-in-Charge, Southeast Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Dixson is accused of sponsoring and exhibiting dogs in animal fighting ventures on seven occasions. He is also accused of promoting an animal fighting venture and purposefully suffocating a dog.

In addition to the dogfighting- and animal abuse-related offenses, Dixson was charged with defrauding the Small Business Administration and a commercial lender by corruptly obtaining Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. The indictment alleges, among other untruths, that Dixson submitted a false tax form when obtaining the PPP loans and then lied again when seeking forgiveness for the PPP loans he received.

Finally, Dixson was charged with conducting Unemployment Insurance (UI) fraud by submitting fraudulent claims to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. The indictment alleges that, to steal UI benefits, Dixson filed false and fraudulent applications for UI benefits on behalf of himself and others.

Norman Dixson, 34, of Griffin, Ga., was arraigned on December 4, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Russell G. Vineyard. He was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 28, 2025.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges.  The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alex Sistla and Samir Kaushal are prosecuting the case.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA – A former correctional officer, Jabin Bethea, has pleaded guilty to depriving a pretrial detainee at the Clayton County Jail of his civil rights by tasing him multiple times without justification. 

“Corrections officers work long hours in challenging circumstances to maintain order in our district’s jails and prisons, but wanton abuse cannot be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg.  “This former officer must be held accountable for using excessive force against a detainee who was complying with his orders and was not acting violently.”

“Correctional officers are entrusted with authority, and with that authority comes the responsibility to treat every detainee with basic dignity and respect. This officer chose to abuse that trust and violate the civil rights of someone in his custody,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI will continue to investigate and hold accountable anyone who uses unlawful force inside our jails and prisons.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and information presented in court:  On May 16, 2024, while employed as a correctional officer at the Clayton County Jail in Jonesboro, Georgia, Jabin Bethea was transferring two detainees between housing units.  One of the detainees asked Bethea, “Where am I going?”  In response, Bethea handcuffed that detainee and told him to shut up. The two argued on the way to the second housing unit before Bethea removed the detainee’s handcuffs and dared the detainee “to buck.” 

After the detainee cursed and insulted Bethea, Bethea slammed the detainee’s head into a wall, threw him on the floor, and ordered him to put his hands behind his back.  Video evidence from surveillance and body worn cameras confirms that, even though the detainee remained on the floor and obeyed Bethea’s orders, Bethea tased the detainee at least six times.  The detainee suffered bodily injury during the assault.

Sentencing for Jabin Bethea, 29, of Chamblee, Georgia, is scheduled for March 10, 2026 at 11:00, before U.S. District Judge Tiffany R. Johnson.  In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.

The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bret R. Hobson and Brent Alan Gray are prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

GAINESVILLE, Ga. – Former Athens-Clarke County Police Officer Amber Nicole Ferguson has been indicted on charges of production and attempted production of child sexual abuse material, possession of child sexual abuse material involving a minor under the age of 12, and production of obscene material. 

"Sexual predators who prey upon children or sexually abuse animals for the purpose of disseminating images of the abuse face significant prison time if convicted in federal court,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg.  “To protect the community and its most vulnerable members, my office will aggressively prosecute anyone who commits such crimes.” 

“The actions alleged in this indictment represent a profound betrayal of the trust and responsibility placed in law enforcement officers. Those who are sworn to protect our communities—especially our children—must be held to the highest standards, said Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama Steven N. Schrank. “Homeland Security Investigations is committed to ensuring that individuals who exploit their positions to harm the most vulnerable will be brought to justice.”

“Few crimes are as vile as those committed against children. When the offender is someone who swore an oath to protect the public and uphold the law, it is an even deeper violation. We remain unwavering in our commitment to working alongside our partners to safeguard our most vulnerable and bring offenders, regardless of their title or authority, to justice,” said Chris Hosey, Director, Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: After a family member of the two minors reported suspicions to the Commerce Police Department, an investigation led to the discovery of child sexual abuse material on Ferguson’s phone.  As the investigation continued, images involving horse and dog bestiality allegedly possessed by Ferguson were discovered as well. The indictment alleges that Ferguson produced the bestiality images and child sex abuse material.

Amber Nicole Ferguson, 34, of Commerce, Ga., was arraigned on December 4, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Anna W. Howard.  She was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 2, 2025.  Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges.  The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

If convicted of production or attempted production of child sex abuse material, Ferguson would face at least 15 years in prison.  In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.

This case is being investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Commerce Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Keen is prosecuting the case.

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA - Mitchell Parsons Hughes has pleaded guilty to committing a federal crime by flying a drone over Truist Park during the Major League Baseball All-Star game in July 2025 and was sentenced to six months’ probation. 

“Anyone attempting to fly a drone in a prohibited manner can expect to be prosecuted,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Flight restrictions are implemented for the safety of everyone, whether at the event or nearby.  My office and its partners will enforce the law to protect the community whenever a major event, such as the upcoming FIFA World Cup, is hosted in our district.”

“Flying a small drone means you are flying an aircraft, and unsafe behavior will cost you,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “These actions can be dangerous to the public and interfere with security operations.”

"Drone regulations protect the public and ensure the safety of our national airspace,” said Joseph Harris, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General’s Southern Region. “Flying drones illegally—especially above large sporting events filled with families, friends, and fans—poses serious risks. This guilty plea highlights our continued dedication to working with our law enforcement partners to hold offenders accountable and avert dangerous incidents.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) put a temporary flight restriction (TFR) in place for Truist Park during the July 15, 2025, Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star game, designating it a No Drone Zone.  A TFR restricts certain aircraft, including an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), commonly known as a “drone,” from operating within a one nautical mile radius of the stadium.

Introducing a TFR for stadiums or sports venues hosting regular or post-season contests is standard practice for the NFL, MLB, NCAA Division I, Major League Soccer, and NASCAR.  The TFR goes into effect one hour before the scheduled start time and lasts until one hour after the end of a qualifying event.

There is a zero-tolerance policy regarding drone use anywhere within the FAA’s No Drone Zone.  Anyone who attempts to fly a drone in any prohibited manner is subject to arrest, prosecution, fines, and/or imprisonment.

During the MLB All-Star game, Mitchell Parson Hughes flew a drone directly over Truist Park despite being warned about the flight restrictions on his UAS’s control panel. Hughes also admitted that his drone was not registered and that he lacked the required training and licensing, including a remote pilot certificate, to operate a UAS.

On December 5, 2025, Mitchell Parsons Hughes, 47, of Decatur, Ga., pleaded guilty to a criminal information charging him with knowingly violating national defense airspace.  Hughes was sentenced by U.S. Magistrate Judge Russell Vineyard to six months’ probation and a $500 fine. 

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Transportation - Office of the Inspector General.  U.S. Attorney Hertzberg also commended the FAA and the Cobb County Police Department for their work in the investigation.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA - Sharon Henderson, a member of the Georgia House of Representatives, was arrested today and should appear in court this afternoon after a federal grand jury charged her with two counts of theft of government funds and ten counts of making false statements.

“It is shocking that a public official would allegedly lie to profit from an emergency program designed to help suffering community members,” said United States Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Politicians who violate the public trust and steal from the needy to enrich themselves will be held accountable.”

“Sharon Henderson allegedly chose greed over compassion by fraudulently obtaining funds meant to help those in need, some in her own Georgia House district,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “We remain committed to find those who take advantage of federal programs meant to help those truly in need.”

“An important part of the mission of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations of fraud involving unemployment insurance programs. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate these types of allegations,” said Mathew Broadhurst, Special Agent in Charge, Southeast Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.

“Nobody is above the law, especially Georgia’s elected officials. This indictment should send a clear message that theft of government funds intended for qualified citizens will not be tolerated,” said Georgia State Inspector General Nigel Lange. “GA-OIG appreciates the efforts of our state and federal partners in bringing this case for prosecution.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In 2020, in response to the forced closures of businesses and unprecedented economic hardship resulting from the COVID-19 emergency, the U.S. Congress created special unemployment compensation programs to provide cash assistance to individuals who lost their jobs due to the pandemic. Applicants for the programs had to provide their recent work histories and confirm, among other things, that COVID-19 was the reason they were unemployed. Applicants also had to provide a certification for every week for which they wished to claim benefits, attesting to whether they were actively seeking work for the week and the reason they were unemployed. 

In June 2020, while a candidate for a Georgia House seat, Henderson allegedly applied for federal pandemic unemployment benefits claiming that her current employer was Henry County Schools. Although Henderson had worked as a substitute teacher for Henry County Schools for five days in 2018 (almost two years prior), she had not worked for Henry County Schools since then. Additionally, the Substitute Teacher Agreement Henderson signed in 2018 included an acknowledgment that substitute teachers are not eligible to draw unemployment wages. Nevertheless, Henderson allegedly stated in the application that she had worked for the school system throughout 2019 and as recently as March 10, 2020; that she had paystubs as evidence of that employment in 2019; and that her place of employment was closed as a direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency. She then allegedly submitted weekly certifications stating that she was unable to reach her place of employment because of a COVID-19 quarantine. She allegedly submitted eight of those certifications in June 2021, after she was sworn in and serving as the state representative for District 113, which covers western Newton County and part of Covington, Georgia.

Henderson allegedly collected $17,811 of pandemic unemployment benefits to which she was not entitled as a result of false statements in her application and weekly certifications.

Henderson should appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Justin S. Anand at 1:00 p.m. today and is expected to enter a not-guilty plea. Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, Georgia Office of the State Inspector General, and DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Garrett L. Bradford is prosecuting the case.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

Atlanta – Gerardo Solorio-Alvarado, an illegal alien from Mexico who previously served time in federal prison, and Nelson Enrique Sorto face federal drug charges related to a recent seizure of a combined 1,585 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in blackberry shipments at locations in Southeast Atlanta and Gainesville, Georgia.

“These repeat offenders, including an illegal alien, allegedly attempted to conceal and traffic an enormous quantity of deadly methamphetamine in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “We are thankful for the quick action of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners who apprehended these individuals and stopped nearly 1,600 pounds of methamphetamine from hitting the streets.”

“The FBI will never waver in our commitment to disrupt traffickers and prevent their dangerous drugs from reaching our streets, no matter where they try to hide them," said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown.  “Thanks to the quick response and dedicated efforts of our law enforcement partners, these repeat offenders will be held responsible for their crimes.”

“This indictment serves as a clear message that drug trafficking has no place in our communities.  It shows what can be accomplished when law enforcement works together with determination and purpose.  We remain committed to working alongside our federal, state, and local partners to pursue and disrupt the plans of those who threaten our communities through drug trafficking,” said Chris Hosey, Director, Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

“These arrests and the confiscation of this massive amount of methamphetamine represent a major disruption to the criminals who traffic this dangerous poison in our communities,” said Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch. “Hall County Sheriff’s Office investigators worked tirelessly in this case to hold accountable those who threaten the well-being of people in our county and communities across Georgia. I’m incredibly proud of the teamwork displayed by our investigators and our state and federal partners.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court:  On November 20, 2025, law enforcement surveilled a cold storage warehouse in Fulton County, Georgia, and observed three refrigerated box trucks parked outside. Agents followed one of the trucks as it traveled in tandem with an SUV, driven by Sorto, to a residence in southeast Atlanta. Sorto then opened the rear door of the truck and examined the storage area and its contents. Shortly after midnight, Sorto departed in the SUV with two passengers. Georgia State Patrol troopers initiated a traffic stop on the SUV and located two firearms and several containers of blackberries in the vehicle. During a subsequent search of the box truck parked outside the Atlanta residence, Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents assisted by the FBI recovered approximately 924 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in pallets of blackberries.

At the same time, another team of federal agents and sheriff’s deputies followed a second box truck from the cold storage facility to a gas station in Gainesville. Solorio-Alvarado arrived, picked up the box truck driver, and departed the gas station. After a K9 alerted to the odor of narcotics, agents searched the abandoned box truck and recovered approximately 661 pounds of methamphetamine hidden amongst pallets of blackberries. Solorio-Alvarado was later arrested at his Gainesville residence as he attempted to flee from the back of the home. Inside the home, deputies found keys to the abandoned truck.

The investigation revealed that Solorio-Alvarado, an illegal alien from Mexico, has a prior federal conviction for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Solorio-Alvarado served 17 years of imprisonment for those offenses. Law enforcement also learned that Sorto is currently on probation for a 2024 conviction for possession of methamphetamine in Hall County, Georgia.

Gerardo Solorio-Alvarado, 44, of Mexico, was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 2, 2025, on charges of conspiracy and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Nelson Enrique Sorto, 36, of Atlanta, Ga., was charged in a criminal complaint on December 1, 2025, with possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment and criminal complaint only contain charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

The cases are being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Hall County Sheriff’s Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the Georgia State Patrol, and the Hall County District Attorney’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Keen and Dwayne Brown, Jr. are prosecuting the cases.

The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

These prosecutions are also part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA - Following a six-week trial, Jared Wheat and his dietary supplement company, Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Hi-Tech”), were convicted by a federal jury of wire fraud after fabricating documents to deceive customers into believing that the company was certified as compliant with industry manufacturing standards. Hi-Tech, which is headquartered in Norcross, Georgia, was also convicted for laundering millions of dollars in proceeds from the fraudulent scheme.

“After two prior federal felony convictions, Wheat yet again put profits over product quality and consumer safety by forging documents purporting to show that an independent, third-party audit company had certified Hi-Tech as complying with Good Manufacturing Practices. As a result of the defendants’ deceit, Hi-Tech received millions of dollars from customers who relied on the fabricated documents,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “The defendants’ fraudulent scheme was uncovered through years of dedicated investigation and collaboration among law enforcement partners, and the verdict signals that companies that lie will face stern consequences.”

“Making fraudulent claims about FDA-regulated products shows a reckless disregard for public health and safety,” said Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Kelly McCoy. “We remain committed to pursuing and bringing to justice those who misrepresent key aspects of their products to unsuspecting customers.”

“Hi-Tech’s conviction for money laundering provides the expected outcome for any business engaging in this illegal activity,” said Demetrius Hardeman, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS-CI special agents are experts at following the money to uncover the various money laundering schemes carried out by business entities or criminals to hide illegal profits, including their use of layering, cyber laundering, and shell companies.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and information presented at trial: Wheat is the founder, owner, and Chief Executive Officer of Hi-Tech, a large dietary supplement company that claims to have $100 million in annual revenue. In 2007, the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) issued new mandatory rules governing proper sanitary, hygienic, and production and process control standards for dietary supplement companies, called Good Manufacturing Practices (“GMP”), that were designed to ensure the safety of dietary supplements. The FDA does not certify that companies are following GMP, so many dietary supplement manufacturers seek certification from third-party, independent audit companies to provide a marketing advantage in a competitive industry. 

In November 2010, the Defendants retained a reputable third-party audit company to inspect its facilities, and the audit company identified grave deficiencies in Hi-Tech’s compliance with GMP. For example, the audit report listed 75 categories that were not compliant with GMP, which was roughly 40 percent of the total criteria, including gaps and holes in facility doors that could permit rodents to enter, products exposed to dust and other contaminants before packaging, and critical lapses in its product specifications and testing for both raw materials and finished products. 

Instead of fixing these quality and safety issues, Wheat and Hi-Tech fabricated a certificate in March 2011 purportedly issued from a company called PharmaTech Consulting (“PharmaTech”) stating that Hi-Tech complied with GMP. The defendants listed one of Wheat’s former attorneys in Belize as the General Manager of PharmaTech and forged the attorney’s signature on the certificate. The defendants did not disclose that PharmaTech was owned by Wheat, had conducted no inspection or audit of Hi-Tech, and was not an independent third-party auditor. 

In addition, Hi-Tech doctored the inspection report issued by the third-party audit company to make it appear that PharmaTech had issued a favorable audit report. Specifically, after the legitimate audit report revealed 75 GMP deficiencies, Hi-Tech changed each category from “Not Acceptable” to “Acceptable,” and listed PharmaTech as the auditor. 

Hi-Tech also fabricated FDA export certificates called Certificates of Free Sale, which indicate that food products are marketed in the United States and eligible for export, by altering dates and product names. Between 2011 and 2013, Hi-Tech sent fraudulent PharmaTech audit reports and GMP certificates, as well as Certificates of Free Sale, to its customers on dozens of occasions. 

In many cases, customers forwarded the fraudulent documents to foreign regulators, which permitted Hi-Tech products to be sold abroad based on the fabricated certifications of its compliance with GMP. From March 2011 through April 2013, customers who received the fraudulent documents paid at least $4,763,292 to Hi-Tech. 

On November 21, 2025, a jury convicted Wheat, 53, of Alpharetta, Georgia, of wire fraud. He faces a maximum of 20 years of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. Wheat was previously convicted of drug trafficking conspiracy in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama in 1991, and he was convicted of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and to introduce misbranded, adulterated, and unapproved drugs into interstate commerce in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia in 2009. 

The jury also convicted Hi-Tech of wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and money laundering. Hi-Tech faces a fine of up to twice the value of the criminal proceeds involved in the offenses, which could total nearly $10 million, and probation of up to five years. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.

The sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg has not yet been scheduled.

This case is being investigated by the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations and IRS Criminal Investigation.

First Assistant United States Attorney Nathan P. Kitchens and Assistant United States Attorney Kelly K. Connors are prosecuting the case. The FDA Office of Chief Counsel provided substantial assistance during the prosecution.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA - Rico Deville Buice and David Estevan Montillo Diaz have been arrested and charged by criminal complaints with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. Buice and Diaz appeared in federal court on November 19, 2025, to face charges after law enforcement executed a search warrant on at a Forest Park rental home, where they discovered and seized 21 kilograms of fentanyl, $380,000 in suspected drug proceeds, and a firearm. 

“These arrests and seizures demonstrate the live-saving impact the Homeland Security Task Force has in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “The collaborative effort of different law enforcement agencies united in the fight to eliminate transnational criminal organizations kept a staggering amount of deadly fentanyl from hitting our streets. The resulting charges send a strong message: fentanyl traffickers in our district may run, but they cannot hide. Instead, they will find themselves in federal custody, and their drugs and money seized.”

“This operation is an example of the power of the Task Force in disrupting deadly drug trafficking operations,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The seizure of 21 kilograms of fentanyl and over $380,000 in drug proceeds is a direct hit to those who seek to poison our communities. The FBI, in partnership with our law enforcement colleagues, will relentlessly pursue these criminals and hold them accountable.”

“This seizure is a clear reminder of the devastation these criminal networks are willing to inflict on our communities for profit,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “Working as part of the Homeland Security Task Force, our agents are committed to stopping these dangerous organizations before their poison ever reaches our streets. This result reflects the power of our partnerships and our shared resolve to protect families from lethal narcotics and the violence that comes with them.”

“It is with great honor that the Clayton County Police Department partnered with the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) during the execution of a search warrant in Forest Park, Georgia. Members of the Clayton County Police Department’s Narcotics Unit and CAGE Unit assisted in the operation,” said Clayton County Police Chief Kevin Roberts. “This significant seizure will undoubtedly save thousands of lives affected by this highly addictive opioid. The efforts of HSTF have made the streets of Clayton County safer by removing two suspected drug traffickers, disrupting a criminal network, and intercepting dangerous narcotics and illicit proceeds.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and information presented in court: On November 14, 2025, agents from the FBI Atlanta and DEA Atlanta field offices, along with officers from the Clayton County Police Department, executed a search warrant at a rental property in Forest Park, Georgia. As law enforcement approached the house, Rico Deville Buice ran out of a side door and attempted to flee. Agents quickly apprehended Buice and found approximately $4,000 in cash in his possession. 

After David Estevan Montillo Diaz exited the residence, law enforcement discovered in the kitchen and a bedroom an estimated 21 kilograms of fentanyl, approximately $300,000 in rubber-banded stacks of cash, a money counter, a food sealer machine, and a Glock 19 pistol. Approximately $80,000 of additional cash was found in a designer bag allegedly belonging to Buice.

Rico Deville Buice, a/k/a Casino, 41, of Atlanta, Georgia, and David Estevan Montillo Diaz, 23, of Coachella, California, are currently in custody.

Members of the public are reminded that the criminal complaints only contain charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. The charges carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Clayton County Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas M. Forsyth, III and Calvin A. Leipold, III are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Atlanta comprises agents and officers from FBI Atlanta Field Office, the DEA Atlanta Division, Homeland Security Investigations, ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

GAINESVILLE, Ga. - Ricardo Trejo-Martinez, an illegal alien from Mexico, has pleaded guilty to assaulting an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Deportation Officer. The defendant, during a traffic stop, shoved a deportation officer into oncoming traffic, endangering the officer’s life. 

“All law enforcement officers must be allowed to perform their duties free from violent attacks,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “My office will prosecute anyone who assaults a federal officer in this district.”

“Violence against law enforcement is unacceptable and will never be tolerated,” said Steven N. Schrank, the Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI, alongside our law enforcement partners, is committed to holding accountable those who resort to violence against the brave men and women who work tirelessly to protect our communities.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On May 20, 2025, an ICE deportation officer conducted a vehicle stop in Commerce, Georgia to execute an administrative arrest warrant for an illegal alien. The driver, Ricardo Trejo-Martinez, was the sole occupant of the vehicle. He refused to comply with the officer’s requests to provide identification and identify himself. Once outside the vehicle, Trejo-Martinez shoved the deportation officer into the four-lane highway where vehicles were passing.

Ricardo Trejo-Martinez, 41, of Querétaro, Mexico, pleaded guilty to assaulting a federal officer. Trejo-Martinez was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 1, 2025. Sentencing has been scheduled for January 20, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.

This case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cathelynn Tio is prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

Zhi Dong Zhang, also known as “GG,” “Kun Li Hernandez,” “Chang Li Gong Sun,” “Memo,” “Brother Wang,” “BW,” “Pancho,” “HeHe,” “HaHa,” “Chino,” and “Summor Ownor,” 38, was arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Clay H. Kaminsky for the Eastern District of New York at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, New York, on a second superseding indictment (the Indictment) charging him with international cocaine distribution conspiracy, international cocaine distribution, cocaine importation conspiracy, cocaine and methamphetamine possession and distribution conspiracy, and money laundering crimes. The defendant, a Chinese citizen, was arrested in Mexico after Mexico issued an arrest warrant based on extradition requests from the Eastern District of New York and the Northern District of Georgia and was returned to the United States on October 23.  The defendant was ordered detained pending trial. On October 24, the defendant had an initial appearance in the Southern District of Texas, where he was arraigned on this Indictment and on the indictment in the Northern District of Georgia.

The defendant has been designated a Consolidated Priority Organization Target (CPOT) by the Department of Justice, a designation given to the most significant narcotics traffickers in the world.

“The defendant stands accused of running a global enterprise that pumped massive quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine into our communities and laundered millions in narcotics proceeds,” said U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd W. Blanche. “His return to the United States is a major step in dismantling a network that has fueled addiction, violence, and death. I’m grateful for the outstanding work of our prosecutors, agents, and international partners who refused to let him hide behind aliases, shell companies, or foreign borders. The Department of Justice will continue to target the world’s most dangerous traffickers, wherever they operate, and bring them to justice.”

“As alleged, the defendant is a leader of one of the most prolific drug trafficking and money laundering organizations in the world who, together with his co-conspirators, imported thousands of kilograms of narcotics, including cocaine and methamphetamine, into the United States and other countries,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York. “The indictments he faces in the Eastern District of New York and the Northern District of Georgia will hold him responsible for the great harm he has caused.”

“Zhang’s transnational network was allegedly intricate, well-coordinated, and well-funded,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg for the Northern District of Georgia. “However, through the great work of dedicated law enforcement agencies and valued cooperation from our international partners, Zhang’s poison pipeline has been shut off. Whether the perpetrators are here or hiding abroad, my office will continue to vigorously pursue anyone who is trafficking illegal narcotics in and through the Northern District of Georgia.”

“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)’s arrest of Zhi Dong Zhang marks a decisive blow against the ruthless criminal enterprises responsible for flooding our streets with cocaine, meth and deadly fentanyl,” said Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel of HSI New York. “The defendant’s alleged actions on behalf of the Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG have bolstered the operations of transnational criminal organizations responsible for peddling death in nearly every form – fueling an overdose epidemic, spreading violence, and destabilizing communities across the United States and beyond. One by one, year after year, the HSI New York Homeland Security Task Force will continue to wage an unyielding campaign against those who empower cartels to sow destruction and death for greed, ensuring that no corner of their criminal empire is beyond the reach of justice.”

“This arrest represents a critical milestone in a long-running investigation into an alleged high-level narcotics trafficker with international reach,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert J. Murphy of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Atlanta Division. “A defendant wanted on warrants out of Eastern District of New York and the Northern District of Georgia has now been taken into custody, thanks to years of coordinated work by DEA and our partners. We will continue to follow the evidence and the money until the leadership of these organizations is dismantled.”

The Justice Department also expressed appreciation to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, HSI Mexico City, HSI Rio Grande Valley, and the Government of Mexico.

The EDNY Indictment

As set forth in court filings, since June 2016, Zhang has operated a massive narcotics trafficking and money laundering organization in Mexico and the United States, importing thousands of kilograms of narcotics, including cocaine and methamphetamine, into the United States and other countries. Law enforcement has made numerous seizures of narcotics traced to the defendant’s organization, including 46 kilograms of cocaine, 58 kilograms of methamphetamine, and almost seven kilograms of fentanyl.

Zhang and members of his organization also laundered millions of dollars of criminal proceeds from these narcotics sales through the creation and use of shell companies in the United States, which were opened using false social security numbers and other fraudulent documents. The organization recruited individuals known as “banqueros” to open bank accounts at various banks on behalf of the shell companies, engage in money pickups at different money drop locations throughout the United States, deposit that money into the shell company bank accounts, and wire the funds to other beneficiary accounts to be laundered outside of the United States. The organization employed supervisors in Mexico, known as “coordinators,” who directed the banqueros at every step of the process, including coordinating the money pick-ups, buying and booking travel, and providing the fraudulent documentation to open bank accounts. In total, law enforcement identified more than 100 shell companies tied to Zhang’s organization that were used to launder at least $77 million in narcotics proceeds.       

If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.

This case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section as part of the work of the Office’s Transnational Criminal Organizations Strike Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Miranda Gonzalez and Vincent Chiappini of the Eastern District of New York are in charge of the prosecution.

The NDGA Indictment

As set out in Court filings, Zhang was allegedly a leader of a vast drug trafficking and money laundering organization that began operating in Mexico at least as early as 2016. Zhang allegedly used an extensive network of coordinators and couriers to get cocaine and fentanyl to multiple destinations in the United States. In January and February 2022, Zhang personally negotiated and coordinated the delivery of 11 kilograms of cocaine and one kilogram of fentanyl to Atlanta for distribution. 

Once the cocaine and fentanyl were distributed, Zhang allegedly oversaw the use of stash houses in Georgia and California to collect the drug proceeds which were then deposited into bank accounts. The money laundering was massive and involved 150 companies, 170 bank accounts and approximately $20 million in drug proceeds.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

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

ATLANTA - After a four-day jury trial, a federal district court jury found Traon Turk guilty of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Turk previously pleaded guilty in the same case to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.  

“Turk is a multi-convicted felon who peddled deadly drugs and illegally carried a loaded firearm,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “My office is proud to partner with federal and local law enforcement so we can aggressively prosecute violent drug dealers like Turk in order to keep the community safe.”

“This case is a reminder of the critical work we do to combat violent crime and drug trafficking. The ATF’s partnership with local police and federal prosecutors is vital in our mission to keep our neighborhoods safe. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that offenders like Turk face justice for their actions,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka.

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On April 4, 2020, Cobb County Police officers observed a vehicle that allegedly had been involved in a drive-by shooting in Marietta days earlier. Law enforcement attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver, Turk, fled at a high rate of speed. Turk bailed out of the vehicle while it was still in motion, leaving his five passengers inside. While running from the police, Turk dropped a loaded .40 caliber pistol, which was quickly recovered by law enforcement. About an hour later, the police found Turk hiding in a different abandoned vehicle.  

Law enforcement found a bag of 24 pills containing methamphetamine in Turk’s pants pocket. Additionally, Turk was carrying an iPhone that was replete with evidence of drug dealing activity. From the vehicle Turk had been driving, law enforcement seized a larger bag of ecstasy pills containing methamphetamine, numerous pieces of pills that matched the pills recovered from Turk’s pocket, counterfeit Percocet pills containing methamphetamine, counterfeit Xanax pills, and individually packaged bags of marijuana.

Prior to his arrest, Turk had been convicted of numerous felonies, including violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, possession of cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and theft by receiving stolen property.

Traon Turk, 31, of Austell, Georgia, will be sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr. on February 24, 2026.  In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.  

This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Cobb County Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Hwang, Michael Herskowitz, Laurel Milam, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Annalise Peters are prosecuting this case. 

This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA - Rodericus San Juan Warner has been charged on a criminal complaint with allegedly distributing hundreds of carfentanil and fentanyl pills, as well as methamphetamine. Carfentanil, a fentanyl analogue, is approximately 100 times more potent than fentanyl, and is used by veterinarians to sedate large animals like elephants.  Warner was denied bond and will remain in custody.

“Synthetic opioid abuse continues to claim lives, and now fentanyl has become a gateway to an even more dangerous drug, carfentanil,” said U.S Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “A convicted felon, Warner allegedly showed no fear of the law and absolutely no concern for the deadly risk drugs and guns posed to the small children at the residence he occupied.”

“Carfentanil is a deadly synthetic narcotic — used to tranquilize elephants, not meant for human consumption. Yet this offender chose to sell it alongside fentanyl and methamphetamine, showing total disregard for human life,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. Our agents are relentless in targeting those who bring this level of danger into our communities.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: During an investigation in October 2025, DEA agents identified Rodericus San Juan Warner as a drug trafficker in Atlanta. Agents allege Warner sold hundreds of pills containing carfentanil and fentanyl and over 100 grams of methamphetamine. While continuing to investigate, agents obtained federal search warrants to search four residences and multiple vehicles that Warner used to further his drug trafficking enterprise.

On November 6, 2025, DEA agents executed the search warrants, and Warner was arrested in the home he shared with his girlfriend and her three school-aged children. From that home, law enforcement recovered two loaded firearms, $20,000 in U.S. currency, and assorted high-end jewelry. Warner, a five-time convicted felon, is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Additionally, in one of Warner’s vehicles outside the residence, law enforcement recovered suspected fentanyl pills and suspected oxycodone pills.

At another residence Warner allegedly used to sell drugs, DEA agents searched another vehicle registered to him and found four loaded firearms, approximately 6,000 suspected fentanyl pills, 258 grams of suspected methamphetamine, 201 grams of suspected cocaine, 60 suspected oxycodone pills, and one kilogram of suspected marijuana.

Rodericus San Juan Warner, 45, of Atlanta, Ga., appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Regina D. Cannon, on a federal criminal complaint. Warner was remanded to custody and ordered detained pending the outcome of his case.

Members of the public are reminded that the complaint only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Schwarzl is prosecuting the case.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA - Brice E. Anderson and Terrance Lockett have pleaded guilty to conspiring with Barbara Furlow-Smiles, a former diversity program manager at Facebook, to steal from the company. The defendants’ fraud schemes involved fraudulent vendors, fictitious invoices, and cash kickbacks.

“These defendants conspired with a DEI executive at Facebook to steal significant sums from the company, based on false claims that they had worked on various DEI projects,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Instead, the defendants did little to no work, paid kickbacks to the Facebook executive, and lined their pockets with stolen money. They are now being held accountable for their brazen fraud.”

“Furlow-Smiles created a complex web of lies, all for her personal gain. Anderson and Lockett joined in this fraud for their own excessive greed,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “The FBI remains steadfast in our commitment to root out financial fraud.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Barbara Furlow-Smiles served as Lead Strategist, Global Head of Employee Resource Groups and Diversity Engagement at Facebook, Inc., now known as Meta Platforms, Inc., doing business as Meta. From January 2017 to September 2021, she led Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs at Facebook and was responsible for developing and executing DEI initiatives, operations, and engagement programs. She later held a similar position at Nike, Inc. At both companies, Furlow-Smiles had access to corporate credit cards and was able to submit purchase requisitions and approve invoices for authorized vendors.

Furlow-Smiles used her positions at Facebook and Nike to cheat and defraud the companies. She caused the companies to pay friends, relatives, and others associates for goods and services that were never provided, and she then directed those individuals to kick back the fraudulent proceeds to her, often in cash. Anderson and Lockett were two of the individuals who conspired with her at Facebook.

Anderson owned a business called Titan Branding LLC. Using that business, he conspired with Furlow-Smiles to fraudulently obtain nearly $1.2 million from Facebook. First, Furlow-Smiles used her Facebook credit cards to pay Titan Branding for work that was never done. She then submitted fraudulent expense reports to Facebook to cover up the bogus charges. Second, Furlow-Smiles caused Facebook to approve Titan Branding as an authorized vendor. She then approved fraudulent and inflated invoices for fake work. Furlow-Smiles and Anderson fraudulently claimed that Titan Branding had provided media services related to a Juneteenth event, for example, and other DEI projects.

After Anderson received fraudulent payments from Facebook, he kicked back substantial sums to Furlow-Smiles. He paid the kickbacks in cash and through transfers to accounts held in the names of Furlow-Smiles’s husband and others. Anderson sometimes wrapped cash in other items, such as T-shirts or hats, which he sent by FedEx to Furlow-Smiles. When Furlow-Smiles was in Los Angeles, California, Anderson flew there with cash and drove with Furlow-Smiles to ATMs and banks to withdraw cash to pay her.

In a separate conspiracy, Lockett conspired with Furlow-Smiles to steal over $243,000 from Facebook. Lockett hosted a podcast called the “Officially Outed Podcast” and owned a business called Officially Outed Media. Using her Facebook credit cards, Furlow-Smiles paid Lockett for services that were not provided. She also caused Facebook to approve Officially Outed Media as an authorized vendor. Furlow-Smiles and Lockett fraudulently claimed that Officially Outed Media had provided marketing services related to a Global Pride Initiative project, for example, and other DEI events. Lockett paid kickbacks to Furlow-Smiles by returning a substantial portion of the fraudulent proceeds that he received from Facebook to her.

On November 13, 2025, Brice E. Anderson, 31, of Fairburn, Ga., pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud. Sentencing for Anderson is scheduled for March 9, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Steven D. Grimberg.

On November 5, 2025, Terrance Lockett, 52, of College Park, Ga., pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud. Sentencing for Lockett is scheduled for February 18, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr.

Barbara Furlow-Smiles, 40, of Marietta, Ga., previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud. She stole more than $5 million through her schemes. On May 13, 2024, Judge Grimberg sentenced her to five years, three months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,981,783.58 to Facebook and $121,054.50 to Nike, for a total of $5,102,838.08. 

These cases are being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen H. McClain and Bernita B. Malloy are prosecuting the cases.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA - Fabian Taylor, Jr. has been sentenced to additional time in prison for headbutting a federal correctional officer while Taylor was an inmate at the federal prison in Atlanta. 

“Corrections officers have a demanding job, and they must be allowed to perform their duties free of violent attacks,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Inmates are not beyond the reach of the law, and they may not perpetrate assaults or other crimes with impunity while in custody. Anyone who assaults a federal officer in North Georgia, whether on the street or in a prison, will be prosecuted and held accountable.”

“Every day, corrections officers go to work not knowing what dangers they may face,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “The FBI stands ready to investigate such crimes against federal officers and we thank our law enforcement partners for their collaboration.

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Fabian Taylor, Jr. was serving a sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution in Atlanta for unlawfully possessing a firearm, violating conditions of release, and escape. Correctional officers noticed Taylor had covered the window on his cell door with paper. As officers approached to investigate, Taylor threw urine on one officer. When the officers entered his cell, Taylor swung his arms and kicked his legs. 

Once guards restrained Taylor, prison staff performed medical checks to ensure his safety Taylor then berated all of the officers verbally and headbutted one in the face. The officer who Taylor attacked suffered from headaches, dizziness, vomiting, sleepiness, and was later diagnosed with a concussion. 

On November 12, 2025, Fabian Taylor, Jr., 38, of Columbia Heights, Minnesota, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Geraghty to one year, four months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Taylor was convicted of assault on a federal officer on July 31, 2025, after he pleaded guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Boylan prosecuted the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA – Sterling Breynard Bell was sentenced to federal prison for firearms charges related to the murder of a young woman whose body was found along a highway near Macon, Georgia, nearly a decade ago. 

“The diligence of a federal special agent solved a murder and prevented the conviction of an innocent man,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “By using tools designed to test ballistics, the federal agent linked a gun seized from Bell to shell casings recovered from a murder scene two years earlier. The man initially charged the murder was exonerated, and Bell was brought to justice.”

“This case underscores the vital role that the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network plays in solving violent crimes,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “By linking the firearm used in this tragic murder to Sterling Bell, our agents demonstrated the power of technology in the pursuit of justice.” 

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On August 7, 2016, the body of 27-year-old Kendra Roberts was found along a highway near Macon, Georgia. Roberts had been shot multiple times at close range, including twice to the face and once to the back of the head. The next day, Roberts’s boyfriend was charged with the murder. 

Roberts’s boyfriend remained in custody for months. However, without realizing any connection to Roberts’s murder, the Clarkston Police Department seized a Glock 9mm pistol from Sterling Bell just ten days after the murder. The Bibb County deputies who were investigating Roberts’s murder were unaware that Bell had purchased that Glock mere weeks before the murder by lying to the seller about his daily drug use. 

In 2018, an ATF special agent used the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) to confirm that Bell’s gun was the murder weapon. ATF continued to investigate Bell and learned that he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and refused to take his prescribed medication. Bell was arrested on federal firearms charges in October 2018, while the charges against Roberts’s boyfriend were dismissed. Bell later admitted to killing Roberts and was sentenced by a state judge to 20 years of imprisonment with the possibility of parole after serving 1/3 of the sentence. 

On October 1, 2025, Chief U.S. District Judge Leigh Martin May sentenced Sterling Breynard Bell, 35, of Clarkston, Georgia, to 25 years in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. While on supervised release, Bell will be required to submit to mental health and substance abuse treatment. On July 3, 2025, Bell pleaded guilty to one count of false statements to a federal firearms licensee and two counts of illegal possession of a firearm as an unlawful user of a controlled substance.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laurel B. Milam and Phyllis Clerk prosecuted the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA - After a five-day trial, Jarvis Matthews was convicted for his role in leading a multi-million-dollar drug trafficking and money laundering operation from the confines of Calhoun State Prison. A jury found Matthews guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl, five counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. At the time of his federal crimes, Matthews was serving sentences of life without parole for murder and felony murder.

“Matthews audaciously used contraband cell phones to run a drug trafficking operation from his state prison cell,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Now, as a result of a diligent federal investigation and close coordination with state and local partners, this convicted murderer faces a substantial sentence in federal prison on top of his state sentence.”

“Jarvis Matthews used the confines of a prison cell to orchestrate a multi-million-dollar drug trafficking and money laundering operation, exploiting his family and the prison system to further his criminal enterprise,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This case underscores the FBI’s commitment to dismantling transnational criminal organizations and holding accountable those who think they can operate beyond the reach of the law.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: While imprisoned at Georgia Department of Corrections facilities, Jarvis Matthews used contraband cellphones to direct the distribution of drugs in and around Atlanta. Matthews used his fiancée, girlfriends, nephew, and his own two adult sons to distribute drugs and collect and launder money.

In early 2022, FBI agents identified a social media account that Matthews used to conduct dozens of drug deals. Agents made a controlled purchase of two kilograms of methamphetamine from Matthews in April 2022, through his adult son, Charvis Harris, who previously pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to possess controlled substances with intent to distribute. Ultimately, the FBI obtained a court-authorized wiretap on Matthews’s phone and installed a camera at one of his drug trap houses. With these tools, the FBI was able to apprehend Matthews’s drug customers after they received drugs from Matthews’s sons. Testimony at trial showed that Matthews masterminded the distribution of multiple kilograms of internationally-sourced drugs in the metro-Atlanta area and laundered hundreds of thousands of dollars of drug proceeds.

Jarvis Matthews, 46, of Morgan, Georgia, faces a mandatory minimum 25 years in federal prison, to run consecutively to the state prison sentence he is already serving. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders. The sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Georgia Department of Corrections, Georgia State Patrol, Coweta County Sheriff’s Office, Dooly County Sheriff’s Office, Etowah County (Alabama) Sheriff’s Office, Fayetteville Police Department, Newton County Sheriff’s Office, Marshall County (Alabama) Drug Task Force, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Johnny Baer and John DeGenova are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.

This prosecution is also part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA – Marco Cueto-Rosales, an illegal alien from Mexico, has been arraigned in connection with the seizure of 325 pounds of methamphetamine from a Norcross storage unit on October 10, 2025.

“Cueto-Rosales, who was illegally in the United States, allegedly hid a large amount of methamphetamine in a public storage unit,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Although the Mexican cartels stockpile and peddle their poison in our community, the quick actions of law enforcement thankfully took these deadly drugs off the streets.”

“This operation is about more than drugs – it’s about protecting families and giving our communities a chance to live free from the violence and addiction that meth brings,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division.

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On October 10, 2025, agents from the DEA observed Cueto-Rosales enter an outdoor storage unit in Norcross and move items around in plastic tote bins and trash bags. Later that same day, a Gwinnett County Police Department K9 alerted to the odor of narcotics emanating from the storage unit. Agents then obtained a federal search warrant for the unit. 

Upon execution of the search warrant, agents found nearly 1,500 rectangular packages of methamphetamine located in trash bags and plastic tote bins.  The methamphetamine weighed a total of 325 pounds.

Prior to the search, agents detained Cueto-Rosales, who they determined was an illegal alien unlawfully in the United States.

Marco Cueto-Rosales, 47, of Malinalco, Mexico, was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Regina D. Cannon, on federal charges of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Cueto-Rosales was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 28, 2025.   

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges.  The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with valuable assistance provided by the Gwinnett County Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew R. LaGrone is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ROME, Ga. – Shane Jacquces Barfield, a multi-convicted felon and domestic abuser, has been sentenced to federal prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm that he shot at local law enforcement.

“Dangerous felons like Barfield forfeit the right to bear arms,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Barfield broke the law when he possessed and discharged a stolen gun, endangering the safety of police officers and bystanders alike. Thanks to the brave, on-scene efforts of the Cartersville Police Department and subsequent collaboration with the FBI, Barfield will now serve a significant sentence in federal prison without the possibility of parole.”

“Shane Barfield knew he was not supposed to be in possession of a gun, much less fire one, but he violated the law,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “His actions could have been deadly. Thankfully, no law enforcement nor citizens were hurt.”

“Not only was Barfield a threat to our officers that day, but a violent, convicted felon with an illegal firearm is a continual threat to our community,” said Cartersville Police Chief Frank McCann.  “A threat that the Cartersville Police Department will not tolerate. We appreciate the FBI for their assistance, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their steadfast commitment to supporting the Cartersville Police Department in its public safety mission.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On September 17, 2023, Shane Barfield was driving through Cartersville, Georgia, with a stolen gun and methamphetamine in his vehicle. Barfield lost control of his vehicle, skidded through an intersection, and crashed into the side of the road. Bystanders called 911 to report the accident and told dispatchers that Barfield had walked away from his vehicle with a gun in his hand. 

Barfield returned to his vehicle with the gun, and the Cartersville Police Department (CPD) responded shortly thereafter.  Despite clear instructions to toss the firearm and exit his car, Barfield ignored law enforcement. As a CPD officer crossed in front of his vehicle, Barfield fired a shot. Three officers returned fire, striking Barfield’s vehicle multiple times.  Officers then arrested Barfield and seized a spent 9mm casing, a stolen pistol, and methamphetamine from his vehicle. A federal investigation requested by CPD determined that the spent casing had been expelled from the stolen firearm.   

On November 4, 2025, U.S. District Judge William M. Ray, II sentenced Shane Jacquces Barfield, 39, of Cartersville, Georgia, to 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Barfield was convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence on May 15, 2025, after he pleaded guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cartersville Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Terry prosecuted the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA - Former mail carrier Vershun Weaver has pleaded guilty to stealing U.S. Government treasury checks from recipients on his U.S. Postal Service mail route and fraudulently obtaining a pandemic-era Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan.

"Weaver abused his position and undermined the work of honest public servants,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Citizens should have absolute confidence that their mail is being handled, and delivered, by carriers of impeccable integrity. We will continue to work with our federal partners to root out and hold accountable government employees who compromise their integrity and violate the public’s trust.”

“This case sends a strong message to any U.S. Postal Service employee who decides to violate the public’s trust in this manner,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Ulrich of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. “Our special agents, along with our law enforcement partners, will aggressively investigate these federal crimes to protect the sanctity of the U.S. Mail and maintain the public’s trust.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In 2023, Vershun Weaver worked as a mail carrier with the U.S. Postal Service. In July 2023, a postal employee who borrowed Weaver’s mail delivery truck found Weaver’s wallet and turned it in to a supervisor. The supervisor looked inside the wallet for identification and saw two U.S. treasury checks addressed to customers on Weaver’s delivery route. One check was for approximately $2,500, and the other was for $1,500. 

During a subsequent investigation, federal agents located in Weaver’s personal vehicle several additional pieces of mail addressed to other victims on Weaver’s delivery route. Agents also discovered that Weaver had fraudulently obtained a PPP loan. To support his application for the loan, Weaver submitted a fake income tax document that he knew had not been filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Weaver spent the proceeds of his PPP fraud on clothes and other personal items that were prohibited under the terms of the pandemic relief loan.

Vershun Weaver, 33, of Atlanta, Ga., pleaded guilty to a criminal information charging him with making a false statement to the Small Business Administration and two counts of theft of mail by a Postal Service employee. Sentencing is scheduled for February 9, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Tiffany R. Johnson.

This case is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General with valuable assistance from the Small Business Administration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Dwayne A. Brown, Jr. is prosecuting the case.

On May 17, 2021, the Department of Justice established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the Department’s resources in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA – Billy Joe Cagle, a convicted felon, has been charged via criminal complaint with attempted violence at an international airport, interstate communications containing threats to injure the person of another, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

“As alleged in this complaint, Cagle senselessly threatened to do heinous violence to innocent travelers, at the world’s busiest airport, with a high-powered weapon that he had no legal right to possess,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Thanks to the vigilance of other citizens and the quick action of law enforcement, a horrible tragedy was averted.”

“This is a perfect example of ‘See Something, Say Something’ in action,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “When Billy Joe Cagle’s family noticed something wasn’t right, they alerted authorities. Their quick thinking—combined with the swift, heroic response of our law enforcement partners—undoubtedly saved lives.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On October 20, 2025, Billy Joe Cagle was on a FaceTime call where he allegedly threatened to “shoot up the airport.”  The airport he referenced was Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.  On the call while he was driving, Cagle allegedly stated, “I’m at the airport, and I’m gonna go rat-a-tat-tat,” after which he abruptly ended the call. 

The person he was talking to drove to the Cartersville Police Department to report his threat.  Officers then contacted the Atlanta Police Department to alert them, passed along images of Cagle, along with a description of the vehicle he was alleged to be driving.

After a brief search, officers located Cagle in the airport terminal and arrested him.    Just outside the terminal doors, officers located his Chevrolet truck parked blocking a crosswalk in front of the terminal entrance.  Inside the vehicle, officers discovered an AR-15-style firearm, and 27 rounds of ammunition. 

Billy Joe Cagle, 49, of Cartersville, Ga., has been charged with violations of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 37(a) attempted violence at an international airport, 875(c) interstate communications containing threats to injure the person of another, and 922(g)(1) possessing a firearm after having previously been convicted of a felony offense.

The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with valuable assistance provided by the Cartersville and Atlanta Police Departments, and the Clayton County District Attorney’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Jones is prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA – A federal grand jury has charged two out-of-state men with knowingly transmitting threats to injure a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation officer and his wife.

“Federal agents deserve to perform their duties free of harassment from keyboard warriors and other agitators,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Threatening law enforcement officers and their families is not only illegal—it’s disgusting. My office will ensure that anyone who threatens a federal agent in North Georgia, or who hides behind a computer screen to intimidate that agent’s immediate family, is found, arrested, prosecuted, and held accountable.”

“Threats of violence against law enforcement officers and their families are not only reprehensible, but also a direct attack on the safety and integrity of our justice system,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “These charges serve as a clear reminder that threats of this nature will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Frank Andrew Waszut allegedly posted a video on Instagram that identified and displayed photographs of an ICE deportation officer who resides and works in the Northern District of Georgia. With those images on the screen, Waszut said: “And he’s an ICE agent. This is him unmasked . . . . So, go ahead and make him famous. And if you see this [expletive] out in public give him the cell block one treatment. You know, catch him when he’s alone.” “Cell block one treatment” allegedly refers to subjecting a detainee to physical violence.

Similarly, Anthony Patrick Noto allegedly posted a comment on Instagram under the picture of the same deportation officer’s wife, with Noto saying: “Anybody wanna test the sites [sic] on their new A-R? There’s a pretty good target right there!” “A-R” refers to a semiautomatic rifle.

Noto, 63, of Ronkonkoma, New York, was taken into federal custody and arraigned on his federal indictment. Waszut, 41, of Knoxville, Tennessee, is currently in the custody of state law enforcement officials in Texas, where he has been charged for making separate terroristic threats against Republican lawmakers there. Both defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury on September 23, 2025.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictments only contain charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brent Alan Gray and Eric White are prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

Georgia Tech Research Corporation (GTRC) has agreed to pay the United States $875,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act and federal common law by failing to meet cybersecurity requirements in connection with certain Air Force and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) contracts. GTRC contracts with government agencies, including the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), for research performed at its affiliate, the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech).

“When contractors fail to follow the required cybersecurity standards in their DoD contracts, they leave sensitive government information vulnerable to malicious actors and cyber threats,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Together with DoD and other agency partners, the Department of Justice will continue to pursue and litigate violations of cybersecurity requirements to hold contractors accountable when they violate their cybersecurity commitments.”   

“Defense contractors’ adherence to their cybersecurity obligations is essential to safeguarding sensitive government information from malicious actors,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg for the Northern District of Georgia. “Contractors who fail to implement required cybersecurity controls, provide false information to the government, and otherwise fail to fulfill their cybersecurity obligations will be held accountable.”’

“Failure to follow required cybersecurity requirements puts all of us at risk,” said Stacy Bostjanick, Chief Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity, Deputy Chief Information Officer for Cybersecurity, Office of the Chief Information Officer. “Those who knowingly provide deficient cybersecurity products or services, misrepresent their cybersecurity practices or protocols, or violate obligations to monitor and report cybersecurity incidents and breaches must be held accountable. Enforcement efforts like this should serve as a reminder to industry to prioritize DoD cybersecurity compliance.”

“Deficiencies in cybersecurity controls pose a significant threat to our national security and jeopardize sensitive DoD programs that put our servicemembers at risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason Sargenski of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Southeast Field Office. “As force multipliers, we place a substantial amount of trust in our contractors, and those who ignore the rules will be held accountable.”

“AFOSI is committed to pursuing allegations related to the security of our information systems and neutralizing threats malicious actors pose when contractors fail to meet their contractual obligations,” said Special Agent in Charge Derrell Freeman of Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), Procurement Fraud Detachment 5.   

The settlement resolves a lawsuit against GTRC and Georgia Tech where the United States alleged that until December 2021, those entities failed to install, update or run anti-virus or anti-malware tools on desktops, laptops, servers and networks at Georgia Tech’s Astrolavos Lab while the lab conducted sensitive cyber-defense research for DoD. The United States also alleged that until at least February 2020, there was no system security plan in place for the Astrolavos Lab to set out the cybersecurity controls that GTRC’s contracts required.

Finally, the United States alleged that in December 2020 GTRC and Georgia Tech submitted a false summary level cybersecurity assessment score to DoD which supposedly applied campus-wide. That summary level score of 98 was allegedly false because (1) there was no campus-wide IT system at Georgia Tech and (2) the score was premised on a “fictitious” or “virtual” environment and did not apply to any actual covered contracting system at Georgia Tech that would process, store or transmit covered defense information. The United States alleged the submission of a cybersecurity assessment score was a condition of contract award for GTRC’s DoD contracts. The obligation to implement security controls specified in National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-171 (NIST SP 800-171) to protect certain DoD information has applied to DoD contracts, subcontracts, and similar contractual instruments since 2017 and will continue under the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program that DoD recently finalized. The CMMC program further bolsters the assessment requirements applicable to DoD contractors and subcontractors. 

The settlement announced today stems from a complaint filed by Christopher Craig and Kyle Koza, former members of Georgia Tech’s Cybersecurity Team, under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private persons to bring a lawsuit on behalf of the government and to share in any recovery. The Act also permits the Government to intervene and take over the lawsuit, as it did in this case as to certain allegations. The United States intervened in the qui tam suit and filed its complaint in August 2024. The settlement in this case provides for Craig and Koza to receive $201,250 as their share of the recovery.

The investigation, litigation, and resolution in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, DCIS, AFOSI, the Air Force Materiel Command Law Office Procurement Fraud Division, and DARPA. The matter was handled by Trial Attorney Joanna Persio of the Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melanie D. Hendry and Adam D. Nugent for the Northern District of Georgia.

The lawsuit is captioned United States ex rel. Craig v. Georgia Tech Research Corporation et al., No. 1:22-cv-02698 (N.D. Ga.).

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

ROME, Ga. - DeWayne Allen McGill, a convicted felon and methamphetamine dealer who bit two law enforcement officers and unlawfully possessed a firearm, has been sentenced to prison.

"Caught red-handed with almost three-quarters of a pound of methamphetamine, McGill violently—but unsuccessfully—resisted arrest by brave, front-line crimefighters,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “My office will aggressively prosecute anyone who threatens or injures a federal agent. In North Georgia, criminals will be held accountable for any attack on law enforcement.”

“This violent repeat offender thought he could continue to distribute deadly drugs with impunity,” stated Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “This sentencing protects innocent families and shows DEA’s commitment to stopping violent drug traffickers.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On March 10, 2023, McGill sold approximately 56 grams of methamphetamine from his apartment in Calhoun, Georgia. On April 6, 2023, agents followed McGill from Calhoun to the Atlanta metro area, where he picked up methamphetamine from another man in a parking lot. Law enforcement stopped McGill and found over 300 grams of pure methamphetamine in his vehicle.

McGill tried to run from officers and resisted arrest, biting a DEA special agent and a Calhoun Police detective in the fracas. Agents later executed a search warrant on McGill’s apartment where they found additional methamphetamine and a loaded 9mm handgun. As a twice-convicted felon, McGill was prohibited from possessing a firearm.

DeWayne Allen McGill, a/k/a “Domino,” 40, of Calhoun, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William M. Ray II, to 11 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. McGill was convicted of possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute, assaulting a federal officer, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon on March 3, 2025, after he pleaded guilty.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with valuable assistance provided by the Calhoun Police Department and the Georgia State Patrol.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas M. Forsyth, III prosecuted the case.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at www.justthinktwice.gov.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at;USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is;http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA – Abdurrahim Jalal has been sentenced for blowing up a bank automated teller machine and possessing illegal explosive devices at his home.

“Jalal used deadly explosives to steal tens of thousands of dollars and then shamelessly gambled with the loot at a casino,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Although Jalal refused to wager his own money at the gaming tables, he will now pay the price for his crimes.”

“Abdurrahim Jalal chose greed over the safety of our community when he used an explosive to steal money,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “Violence and destruction of property will never be tolerated, and the FBI and our partners will continue to work together to ensure criminals like Jalal are held accountable.”

“The successful prosecution of Abdurrahim Jalal is a testament to our unwavering commitment to public safety. We will not tolerate the use of explosives in criminal activity, and we will work tirelessly to ensure that those who threaten our communities are brought to justice said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges and other information presented in court: At approximately 3:11 a.m. on March 29, 2023, Jalal blew up an ATM at the Bank of America branch located at the North DeKalb Mall in Decatur, Georgia. After the explosion, Jalal took approximately $90,000 from the vault of the machine. He then embarked on a multi-day gambling spree at a North Carolina casino. Investigators identified Jalal and obtained a warrant to search his home. They found eight fully assembled or nearly completed pipe bombs during that search.

On September 22, 2025, U.S. District Judge Michael L. Brown sentenced Abdurrahim Jalal, 55, of Decatur, Georgia to 12 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Jalal was found guilty of bank theft, use of an explosive to commit a felony, arson, and two counts of possession of an unregistered destructive device, after a bench trial on June 25, 2025.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, DeKalb County Police Department and the DeKalb County Fire Rescue.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Dash A. Cooper prosecuted the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

This release has been corrected to accurately reflect that the defendant was sentenced for 12 years, not 14 as previously published.

Atlanta – Wilber Castellanos Villazana, Yamilet Calixto Sotelo, Jorge Lorenzo Manzanarez, Esteban Jacobo-Suarez, and Damien Gomez-Guijarro, four of whom are illegal aliens from Mexico, appeared in federal court on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, following the combined seizure of more than 1,000 pounds of methamphetamine last week from an apartment complex and single-family residence in unincorporated DeKalb County. DEA identified one of the primary traffickers as allegedly working on behalf of the violent Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (“CJNG”).

“Within just a few days, undercover investigations in the metro Atlanta area led to the seizure of more than half a ton of methamphetamine, the arrests of four illegal aliens allegedly responsible for distributing those deadly drugs, and the disruption of two drug trafficking rings,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “My office will continue to proudly partner with federal, state, and local crimefighters to protect the public and eliminate the scourge of drug trafficking.”

“The CJNG cartel is a significant threat to public safety, public health, and the national security of the United States,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “DEA will target every level of their supply chain to disrupt and destroy their networks.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: 

On September 15, 2025, Wilber Castellanos Villazana allegedly sold one kilogram of methamphetamine to a DEA undercover agent at an apartment complex in DeKalb County. Law enforcement thereafter saw Castellanos Villazana allegedly sell additional narcotics to two other people from an Acura vehicle.

The next day, agents observed Castellanos Villazana, Jorge Lorenzo Manzanarez, and Yamilet Calixto Sotelo leave an apartment at the complex, pull a collapsible wagon to a parked Acura, and move two large black trash bags from the wagon into the Acura. Law enforcement arrested the defendants and searched the car and apartment. Agents found approximately 22 kilograms of methamphetamine in the car trunk and approximately 309 kilograms of methamphetamine in the apartment. 

One day later, on September 17, 2025, Esteban Jacobo-Suarez and Damien Gomez-Guijarro allegedly sold a kilogram of methamphetamine to an undercover agent at a gas station on the outskirts of Stone Mountain, Ga. After this transaction, agents followed Jacobo-Suarez and Gomez-Guijarro to a nearby residence.

The next day, after DEA scheduled a second undercover drug purchase, agents observed Jacobo-Suarez and Gomez-Guijarro leave the residence and place a black trash bag in the backseat of a car. A DeKalb County police officer stopped that car after Jacobo-Suarez and Gomez-Guijarro arrived at the designated meeting spot for the drug buy. Subsequent searches allegedly revealed 10 kilograms of methamphetamine in the car and approximately 131 kilograms of methamphetamine, one firearm, and approximately $12,000 cash in the residence.

On September 19, 2025, Wilber Castellanos Villazana, 38, Yamilet Calixto Sotelo 22, Jorge Lorenzo Manzanarez, 35, Esteban Jacobo-Suarez, 44, and Damien Gomez-Guijarro, 32, who are all citizens of Mexico, were charged with possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine in federal criminal complaints. Castallanos Villazana, Calixto Sotelo, Lorenzo Manzanarez, and Jacobo-Suarez are illegal aliens. Jacobo-Suarez was previously deported from the United States twice.

Members of the public are reminded that the criminal complaints only contain charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

These cases are being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Atlanta-Carolinas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program, with valuable assistance provided by Homeland Security Investigations, the DeKalb County Police Department, and the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant United States Attorney Michael Herskowitz is prosecuting the cases.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

Atlanta – Dontrell Lamar Brown, a three-time convicted felon, was arraigned in federal court earlier today on charges related to his alleged distribution of large amounts of “purple” fentanyl and possession of numerous firearms in his Midtown Atlanta condominium. Brown’s girlfriend, Karleah Edwards, also faces charges for allegedly moving the fentanyl out of Brown’s condominium to conceal it from law enforcement. 

“Despite three prior drug felony convictions, Brown allegedly continued his criminal activities by distributing fentanyl and illegally possessing numerous weapons to protect his drugs and money,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Due to strong law enforcement partnerships, Brown now faces serious federal drug and weapons charges, and his lethal fentanyl and weapons cache are off of the street.”

“This case exemplifies the importance of collaboration among law enforcement agencies,” said ATF Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge Brian “Chris” Johnson. “By working together, we can effectively combat the threats posed by drug traffickers and keep our neighborhoods safe from violence and illegal firearms.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court:  On June 19, 2025, Brown was arrested on outstanding warrants after he fled from a traffic stop in DeKalb County. While in the DeKalb County Jail, Brown allegedly made recorded jail calls instructing Edwards, in coded language, to remove drugs from his midtown condominium and give them to another individual. Using a ruse concocted by Brown, Edwards allegedly gained access to the condominium and removed a briefcase containing over eight pounds of fentanyl. The DeKalb County Police Department later recovered this “purple” fentanyl at a residence in Stone Mountain. On June 24, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Brown’s condominium and seized six firearms scattered throughout the residence, including a rifle with a large capacity magazine, over $30,000 in cash, a wrapper containing purple residue, a kilogram press, and a money counter. 

Brown has three prior felony convictions from the Gwinnett County Superior Court, including sale of methamphetamine and cocaine, in 2015; possession of cocaine, in 2017; and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and theft by receiving stolen property, in 2023.

Dontrell Lamar Brown, 32, of Atlanta, Georgia, was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 9, 2025, on charges of conspiracy and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of firearms by a convicted felon, and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The indictment also charges Karleah Edwards, 26, of Scottdale, Georgia, with conspiracy and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl.  

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the DeKalb County Police Department’s HIDTA, Narcotics, and Gang Units. Valuable assistance has been provided by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant United States Attorney Michael Herskowitz is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA - Following a five-day federal trial, a jury convicted Ramiro Contreras-Sandoval, 41, an illegal alien originally from Michoacan, Mexico, of distributing over 135 kilograms of a liquid methamphetamine mixture and possessing firearms as an illegal alien and in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes. 

“Without any regard for the safety of our community, Contreras-Sandoval operated two methamphetamine conversion labs in homes in the Atlanta area,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “He also possessed a firearm to protect his methamphetamine operation, as well as a Bushmaster .50 caliber rifle. Thanks to the relentless efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration and local law enforcement partners, the methamphetamine, weapons, and nearly $100,000 in drug proceeds were seized, and Contreras-Sandoval was convicted by a jury for his crimes.”

“This case represents the continued commitment of the DEA to identify and hold accountable those who engage in the distribution of dangerous drugs,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “This guilty verdict is a critical step toward protecting our neighborhoods and ensuring these violent drug traffickers are removed from our streets.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Between March 2019 and October 2021, Contreras-Sandoval and Genaro Davalos-Pulido operated two clandestine liquid methamphetamine conversion laboratories in the Atlanta area. On April 23, 2019, DEA agents seized over 135 kilograms of a methamphetamine mixture in paint buckets that Contreras-Sandoval and Davalos-Pulido attempted to transport in a vehicle driven by a conspirator. Both men fled to avoid arrest.  

In August 2021, DEA located Contreras-Sandoval and Davalos-Pulido at a second methamphetamine conversion lab in a Norcross, Ga. residence. On October 21, 2021, agents searched the home and found Davalos-Pulido inside with a full-scale liquid methamphetamine conversion operation; a loaded firearm on the couch’s center armrest, which also concealed over $84,000 in cash; and a .50 caliber rifle that appeared ready to be shipped to Mexico. Agents arrested Contreras-Sandoval outside the home and found approximately $12,000 in his vehicle and pockets.

On September 16, 2025, following a jury trial, Contreras-Sandoval was convicted of all charges against him: one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of distribution of methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by an illegal alien.

Contreras-Sandoval’s sentencing hearing will be scheduled soon. U.S. District Judge Eleanor L. Ross sentenced Davalos-Pulido to 20 years in federal prison on October 11, 2024, after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with substantial assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Long Beach (California) Police Department, Georgia State Patrol, Lawrenceville Police Department, and Clayton County Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorneys Bethany L. Rupert and Thomas M. Forsyth, III are prosecuting the case.

This case was part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA – Walter Alexander Argueta-Aguilar, an illegal alien from El Salvador, and Jorge Manuel Zamora Cano have been sentenced for their roles in shipping and distributing tens of thousands of fentanyl-laced pills disguised as prescription medication.

“Argueta-Aguilar and Cano profited from the opioid epidemic and endangered thousands of lives by trafficking fentanyl-laced pills resembling actual medicine,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg “Thanks to collaboration among our law enforcement partners, these defendants, including an illegal alien, have been prevented from causing further harm in our community.”

“The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General is committed to combating the deadly fentanyl crisis facing our nation by holding those accountable that believe they can misuse the U.S. Mail to traffic drugs,” said Tammy Hull, Inspector General, U.S. Postal Service. “Our special agents, along with our federal and local law enforcement partners, will always work together to aggressively investigate these federal crimes to ensure the integrity of the nation’s postal system. We appreciate the U.S. Attorney's Office in Atlanta for their support and prosecution of this case.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In February 2024, federal agents began investigating Argueta-Aguilar, an illegal alien who was living in Norcross, Georgia, for receiving mail parcels containing counterfeit pills with the imprint M30, which is a common imprint on legitimate oxycodone tablets. On March 19, 2024, federal agents intercepted a package Cano shipped to Argueta-Aguilar from Arizona. The package contained more than 125 grams of fentanyl-laced blue M30 pills in a vacuum-sealed plastic baggie.

The investigation revealed that, between July 2023 and March 2024, Cano mailed dozens of packages containing over 50,000 blue M30 fentanyl pills to the Atlanta area. Argueta-Aguilar received more than 28,000 of the pills. The pills were often concealed in items such as stuffed animals to avoid detection.

Both defendants subsequently pled guilty to drug trafficking-related offenses and received the following sentences:

• Walter Alexander Argueta-Aguilar, 21, of Sonsonate, El Salvador, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and attempted possession with intent to distribute fentanyl on March 5, 2025. He was sentenced to five years in prison on July 7, 2025, and will face deportation from the United States.
• Jorge Manuel Zamora Cano, 23, of Mesa, Arizona, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and unlawful use of a communication facility on May 8, 2025. He was sentenced to ten years in prison and five years of supervised release on September 17, 2025.

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, with support from Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Gwinnett County Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jamil A. Favors, Laurel B. Milam, and Benjamin Wylly prosecuted the case.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at www.justthinktwice.gov and www.getsmartaboutdrugs.gov. Additional resources on fentanyl and fentanyl pills, as well as prevention and treatment, are available at www.dea.gov/onepill.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ROME, Ga. - Darrlin Vernard Warner was sentenced to fifteen years in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine while in possession of multiple firearms and more than $175,000 in drug proceeds.   

“Fentanyl and methamphetamine are wreaking havoc on north Georgia, leading to addiction, crime, and loss of life,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “As a result of key collaboration of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, a significant drug trafficker is out of the community. His deadly drugs are off the street, his weapons have been seized, and his drug proceeds now belong to law enforcement.”

“Drug traffickers like Warner fuel addiction and violence by pushing fentanyl and meth into our communities while stockpiling weapons and cash,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Thanks to the outstanding partnership between federal, state, and local law enforcement, we have dismantled a dangerous operation and made northern Georgia safer.”

“This sentencing is a significant victory in protecting the citizens of Georgia from the dangers drug traffickers bring into our communities. Traffickers of deadly substances like fentanyl and methamphetamine leave behind addiction, violence, and devastation that tear families apart,” said Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey. “The GBI, alongside our local, state, and federal partners, remains committed to ensuring these criminals face justice and that these dangerous drugs are removed from our communities.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In October and November 2024, Warner conspired with others to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine in Paulding and Douglas counties. On November 13, 2024, federal, state, and local agencies searched Warner’s home and car, and seized more than two pounds of fentanyl, one pound of methamphetamine, five firearms, and $177,119 in cash. 

Earlier today, United States District Judge William M. Ray, II sentenced Darrlin Vernard Warner, a/k/a “Juice,” 40, of Hiram, Georgia, to fifteen years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. As part of the sentence, Warner forfeited the cash seized from his residence. Warner was convicted on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on June 5, 2025, after he pleaded guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Northwest Georgia Drug Task Force, with valuable assistance provided by the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, and the Paulding County Fire Department.

Assistant United States Attorneys Calvin A. Leipold, III, Thomas M. Forsyth, III, and Jeffrey Brown prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

Anyone with information about drug sales/trafficking in their area can report it to the GBI at 1-800-597-TIPS (8477) or DEA’s Atlanta Division Office at (404) 893-7000. Online tips can be submitted at https://www.dea.gov/submit-tip.

The Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia encourages parents and children to learn about the dangers of fentanyl and other drugs at the following websites: www.justthinktwice.gov, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com, www.operationprevention.com/, www.CampusDrugPrevention.gov, and www.dea.gov/onepill.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.