Northern District of Ohio

CLEVELAND – A 34-year-old, previously convicted sex offender, was sentenced to prison for producing child pornography and hosting a server dedicated to trafficking in child pornography. 

Gareth S. Schakel, of Lakewood, was sentenced to 312 months (26 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge J. Philip Calabrese, after pleading guilty Jan. 8, to the following charges in the indictment:

• Sexual Exploitation of Children,
• Receipt and Distribution of Visual Depictions of Real Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct, and
• Possession of Child Pornography, or Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM).

He was also ordered to serve a lifetime of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $52,000 in restitution to victims. Judge Calabrese imposed sentence on April 16.

In 2023, Schakel produced CSAM on a server he hosted out of his Lakewood home. He created an “invite only” platform to share explicit content with other child predators. In April 2023, agents located hundreds of CSAM files when executing a search warrant of Schakel’s electronic devices. These files included sexual abuse of infants and toddlers, torture and rape of prepubescent children, and bestiality. The investigation also revealed a 15-year-old victim whom Schakel was sexually exploiting in the spring of 2023. Schakel enticed the minor into sending him sexually graphic content of herself. He also sent her sexually explicit photos of himself. Investigators learned that Schakel had a previous state conviction for pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor in 2011 as well as convictions for failing to register as a sex offender.

The investigation was led by the FBI Cleveland Division and the Ohio Adult Parole Authority.

Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer J. King for the Northern District Ohio led the prosecution.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC.

To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

TOLEDO, Ohio – Five aliens have been sentenced for illegally entering the United States after being previously deported from the country. These cases are separate and not related. Upon completion of their sentences, they will be subject to a detainer from United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and will be taken into administrative immigration custody for removal from the U.S.

The following defendants previously pleaded guilty to Illegal Entry of a Removed Alien, in violation of Title 8 U.S. Code 1326:

• Francisco Constancio-Mariscal, 38, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to time served. He was previously removed from the U.S. on at least two occasions, with the most recent being April 28, 2011. He was found in Port Clinton, Ottawa County, on Jan. 4.
• Oscar Mendoza, 52, a citizen of Honduras, was sentenced to time served. He was previously removed from the U.S. on at least one occasion with the most recent being Jan. 17, 2008. He was found in Maumee, Lucas County, on Jan. 12.
• Guillermo Gutierrez-Rivas, 36, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to time served. He was previously removed from the U.S. on at least one occasion with the most recent being June 29, 2024. He was found in Benton Township, Ottawa County, on Dec. 19, 2025.
• Alvaro Veliz Gonzalez, 35, a citizen of Guatemala, was sentenced to 10 months in prison. He was previously removed from the U.S. on at least four occasions, with the most recent being Oct. 11, 2021. He was found in Toledo, Lucas County, on Dec. 8, 2025.
• Marcos Alberto Bardales-Lopez, 27, a citizen of Honduras, was sentenced to time served. He was previously removed from the U.S. on at least one occasion, with the most recent being Dec. 6, 2019. He was found in Maumee, Lucas County, on Jan. 12.

Additionally, Jhofran Andres Laya-Gutierrez, 29, a citizen of Venezuela, was sentenced to 36 months in prison after pleading guilty to Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding a Federal Officer, Falsification of Records, and Misuse of a Social Security Number.

These investigations were conducted by the U.S. Border Patrol-Sandusky Bay Station.

The prosecutions were led by Assistant United States Attorneys Ava Rotell Dustin, Robert Melching, Sara Al-Sorghali, Alissa Sterling, and Matthew Simko for the Northern District of Ohio.

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

CLEVELAND – A 46-year-old woman has been arrested for her role in preparing and filing false federal income tax returns on behalf of her clients.

Sherita Booker, of Cleveland, was charged by criminal complaint on April 9 for Aiding or Assisting in the Preparation of False and Fraudulent Federal Income Tax Returns.

According to court documents, she learned to prepare returns while working at a national tax return preparation company from about June 2016 to April 2017. Thereafter, she started her own tax return preparation business under different entity names, as well as her own name.

During the investigation, agents discovered that when Booker prepared tax returns for clients, she allegedly attached fraudulent Schedule C documents (used to indicate business profit and losses) to clients’ Form 1040—even though the clients did not own businesses. Booker also employed other schemes to avoid tax due and owing to the IRS by her clients.

If convicted, Booker faces up to three years in prison per count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Services-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).

Assistant United States Attorneys Brenna L. Fasko and Elliot Morrison for the Northern District of Ohio are leading the prosecution.

A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

About IRS-CI

IRS Criminal Investigation is the law enforcement arm of the IRS, responsible for conducting financial crime investigations, including tax fraud, narcotics trafficking, money laundering, public corruption, healthcare fraud, identity theft and more. IRS-CI special agents are the only federal law enforcement agents with investigative jurisdiction over violations of the Internal Revenue Code, obtaining a 90% federal conviction rate. The agency has 19 field offices located across the U.S. and 14 attaché posts abroad.

TOLEDO, Ohio – A 49-year-old man has pleaded guilty in federal court to receiving and distributing files depicting the sexual abuse of children throughout a nearly seven-year period.

Brian C. Sargent, of Bowling Green, Ohio, pleaded guilty to Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography, also known as Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM).

According to court documents, in July 2025 agents were conducting an investigation to identify offenders sharing CSAM on a peer-to-peer platform and Sargent was identified as a suspect. In August 2025, a search warrant was executed at his residence and agents seized his personal laptop. During a forensic analysis, almost 700 CSAM files were located that depicted minors engaged in sex acts and bondage. Sargent’s cellphone was also seized, and it contained similar material. The investigation revealed that he had been receiving and distributing CSAM from November 2018 to August 2025. During the time period in which these offenses occurred, Sargent was employed with the Ohio Investigative Unit which enforces laws regarding alcohol, tobacco, and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.

Sargent is scheduled to be sentenced July 22 and faces a minimum of five—and up to 20—years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The investigation leading to the indictment was conducted by the United States Secret Service and members of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Assistant United States Attorney Tracey Ballard Tangeman for the Northern District of Ohio leads the prosecution.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC.

To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

CLEVELAND – A 46-year-old man has been sentenced to prison for committing a firearm violation while he was out on parole for a separate, but similar, offense.

John Ward, of Maple Heights, Ohio, has been sentenced to 129 months (10.75 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams, after pleading guilty in December 2025 to being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment.

According to court documents, in August 2025, law enforcement was conducting a liquor law compliance inspection at a bar in Cleveland when they observed several individuals consuming alcohol outside the establishment. As they approached the group, one man, later identified as Ward, moved away toward a vehicle. Officers then heard a hard object hit the ground. The object recovered near the vehicle was found to be an FN, Model 509, 9mm caliber pistol, loaded with 17 rounds in a 24-round magazine. Agents noted that Ward appeared highly intoxicated and was taken into custody. The investigation further revealed that Ward had previous convictions for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition in 2022, and for Aggravated Robbery in 2010.

This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

Assistant United States Attorneys Stephanie A. Wojtasik and Scott C. Zarzycki for the Northern District of Ohio led the prosecution.

CLEVELAND – A 45-year-old man who embezzled millions from his employer and a local fraternal police organization—to fund a lavish lifestyle and his election campaign—has been sentenced to prison.

Jonathan Leissler, of Stow, Ohio, has been sentenced to 48 months (four years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Pamela A. Barker, after pleading guilty in December 2025 to three counts of Wire Fraud. He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $4,421,154.54 in restitution.

According to court documents, in March 2022 Leissler was hired as the chief financial officer for an industrial supply company in Warrensville Heights, Ohio. In this role, he was entrusted to manage payroll, expenditures, accounts payable, and company credit cards. However, in his first month on the job—and despite already receiving a six-figure salary—he created fake payroll records to add unauthorized extra money to his paychecks in the form of bonuses, commissions, and other payments. Investigators determined that by November 2024 he stole $3.8 million across 70 pay periods.

While Leissler continued to add unauthorized payments to his paychecks, he was also using the company’s credit cards to make donations to his own election campaign in his bid for a seat on the Ohio Senate during the November 2024 general election. He utilized an online fundraising platform to collect more than $700,000—charged on the company’s credit cards—toward his failed election campaign. When his employer confronted him about the credit card charges, Leissler processed refunds from the fundraising platform. However, the online platform was left on the hook for refund amounts because he had already changed the bank connected to the account to a different one that did not exist.

Another source of funds Leissler accessed was through a local Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) organization. While serving as their treasurer, he was issued a debit card and checkbook for the FOP account, which he then used to write checks to himself, withdraw cash, and pay his personal credit card bills. Ultimately, he stole more than $50,000 from the FOP on 69 separate occasions. The amount accounted for 80% of the organization’s funds which had been earmarked to provide scholarships for the children of police officers.

Federal investigators learned that Leissler used the embezzled funds to live an extravagant lifestyle. He traveled by chartered private planes and bought a vacation property in South Carolina. He also used funds to pay for mortgage payments, credit cards, vehicles, cryptocurrency mining equipment, and start a business.

This investigation was conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division.

Assistant United States Attorney Megan R. Miller for the Northern District of Ohio led the prosecution.

CLEVELAND – A 26-year-old woman has pleaded guilty in federal court to sexually abusing two children in her care while she was employed as their nanny.

Molly Elisabeth Duncan, of Beachwood, Ohio, pleaded guilty to the charges in the indictment:

• Sexual Exploitation of Children (two counts)
• Distribution of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct
• Possession of Child Pornography, or Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM)

Federal District Court Judge Pamela A. Barker accepted Duncan’s plea April 6.

According to court documents and evidence, the defendant was working as a nanny in Northeast Ohio from about November 2023 to July 2024.  Duncan sexually abused one victim in Portage County and another in Geauga County—both under the age of two—and recorded the visual depictions on her cellphone. She then distributed the files through a popular social media platform which she shared with multiple users. During a forensic analysis of Duncan’s electronic devices, investigators found several CSAM files of each victim.

Duncan is scheduled to be sentenced July 22. She faces a maximum prison sentence of 30 years per count of Sexual Exploitation of Children and a 20-year maximum for each of the distribution and possession charges.

A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case is being investigated by the Cleveland Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations and the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, with assistance from the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Margaret A. Kane and Michelle M. Baeppler for the Northern District of Ohio.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC.

To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

TOLEDO, Ohio – A Lucas County man, who was previously convicted of raping children, has been sentenced to federal prison after hundreds of Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM) were discovered on his computer.

Paul A. Speer, 56, of Toledo, Ohio, has been sentenced to 240 months (20 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey J. Helmick, after pleading guilty in November 2025, to Receipt of Child Pornography. He was also ordered to serve a lifetime of supervised release after imprisonment, pay $3,000 in restitution to victims, and pay $2,000 toward the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Assistance Act, which was established in 2018 to provide monetary assistance for victims of child sexual abuse.

According to court documents, in December 2024, staff members of a Best Buy in Toledo called the Toledo Police Department to report that a desktop computer dropped off for repair by Speer was suspected of containing CSAM. Pursuant to a search warrant execution, a forensic analysis of his electronic devices was conducted and agents found more than 570 images and videos of CSAM. The files included depictions of toddlers being raped and molested. Several files also included molestation of prepubescent children and bestiality. During the investigation, agents conducted a criminal history search of Speer and learned that in November 2000 he was convicted of three counts of rape of a child under age 13.

The investigation leading to the indictment was led by the FBI Toledo Resident Agency and the Toledo Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Tracey Ballard Tangeman for the Northern District Ohio led the prosecution.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC.

To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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TOLEDO, Ohio – A 29-year-old man pleaded guilty in federal court to assaulting a federal officer while the officer was performing his official duties.

Damarko Amir Kimble, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty April 2 to Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers or Employers.

According to court documents, on Oct. 7, 2024, federal agents encountered Kimble at a service plaza parking lot on the I-80/90 turnpike in Sandusky County. Kimble’s rental vehicle had expired registration tags. A K-9 officer working with the agents alerted to the presence of illegal substances in Kimble’s vehicle. Agents then conducted a probable cause search of his car and located a backpack on the rear floorboard. Inside, agents found a plastic bag that was suspected—and later confirmed— to contain 577.7 grams of pure methamphetamine. As agents attempted to arrest Kimble, he rushed towards one of the agents to knock him off his feet, throwing him to the ground. Kimble attempted to flee but was apprehended.

Kimble is scheduled to be sentenced July 14. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The investigation leading to the indictment was conducted by the U.S. Border Patrol Sandusky Bay Station.

Assistant United States Attorney Dexter L. Phillips for the Northern District of Ohio leads the prosecution.

AKRON, Ohio – A 42-year-old man has been sentenced to prison for his role in a large-scale conspiracy to sell illegal narcotics throughout Summit County and the surrounding areas.

Antonio Guice, of Akron, Ohio, was sentenced to 327 months (27.25 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams after pleading guilty in November 2025 to the following charges:

• Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine
• Distribution of Methamphetamine

He was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release after imprisonment.

Guice was one of more than 30 people arrested last September as part of an ATF-led law enforcement initiative that was conducted over a 60-day period and focused on Akron’s most violent neighborhoods.

According to court documents, in August 2025 investigators suspected that Guice was the source of large quantities of methamphetamine being trafficked throughout the Akron metropolitan area. During the investigation into the conspiracy, federal agents linked the sale of approximately 470 grams (more than one pound) of methamphetamine directly to Guice.

Co-defendant Troy Miller, 54, of Akron, previously pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy and is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence. A second co-defendant, Wathen Milliner, 40, also of Akron, pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing.

The investigations leading to the indictments in this law enforcement initiative were conducted by the ATF Columbus Division’s Cleveland Field Office, Akron Police Department, Summit County Sheriff’s Office, Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Barberton Police Department, University of Akron Police Department, and the Ohio Adult Parole Authority.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Toni Beth Schnellinger Feisthamel for the Northern District of Ohio.

CLEVELAND – After a multi-year federal investigation, a 38-year-old man has been sentenced to prison for his role as the leader of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed deadly controlled substances throughout Northeast Ohio.

Jerone Tate, 38, of Westlake, Ohio, was sentenced to 292 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams after pleading guilty in July of 2025 to the following offenses:

• Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances (fentanyl and cocaine)
• Distribution of a Controlled Substance (cocaine)
• Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance (fentanyl)
• Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance (cocaine)

Tate was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release after imprisonment.

According to court documents, in 2021, federal agents began an investigation into a large-scale drug trafficking organization suspected of being led by Tate. During the investigation, it was discovered that Tate was responsible for organizing and distributing large quantities of cocaine and fentanyl throughout Northeast Ohio. Agents executed multiple search warrants related to the DTO and raided a residence in Cleveland, Tate’s personal residence in Avon Lake, and a restaurant he owned in Richmond Heights.

Throughout the investigation agents seized:

• Approximately 1,902 grams of cocaine
• Approximately 494.2 grams of fentanyl
• Approximately 112.53 grams of fentanyl analogue
• Approximately 19 kilograms of marijuana
• Approximately $63,111 in cash
• A drug press, cellphones, drug ledgers, and other drug paraphernalia.

Co-conspirator Terrill Colbert, 40, of Cleveland, previously pleaded guilty to his role in the DTO and is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence.

This investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Payum Doroodian for the Northern District of Ohio.

CLEVELAND – A 43-year-old man has been sentenced to prison for selling illegal narcotics throughout Cuyahoga County and the surrounding areas.

Omari Clifton, of Garfield Heights, Ohio, was sentenced to 292 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Patricia A. Gaughan for the following offenses:

• Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine
• Felon in Possession of a Firearm; previous convictions include Drug Trafficking in 2021 and 2018; Drug Possession in 2015; and Felonious Assault in 2013
• Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime

Clifton was also ordered to serve four years of supervised release after imprisonment.

According to court documents, in October 2024, a local drug task force began an investigation into suspected trafficking of crack cocaine in Northeast Ohio. Clifton was identified as a drug trafficker.  In December 2024, a search warrant was executed at his residence in Garfield Heights, where task force officers seized distribution quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base (crack), scales, baggies multiple cellphones, and cash. Two loaded firearms— a Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun and a Glock 23 .40 caliber handgun —and ammunition were also seized.

This investigation was conducted by the Southeast Area Law Enforcement Task Force and the FBI Cleveland Division Cartel, Gang, Narcotics, and Laundering Task Force.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Payum Doroodian for the Northern District of Ohio.

CLEVELAND – A 53-year-old Cuyahoga County man has been sentenced to federal prison for trafficking thousands of Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM) across the internet.

Ernest A. Fuller II, of Brook Park, Ohio, has been sentenced to 168 months (14 years) in prison by U.S. District Benita Y. Pearson, after pleading guilty in December 2025, to Receipt and Distribution of Visual Depictions of Real Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct. He was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $71,500 in restitution to victims.

Court documents show that throughout a nearly three-year period, Fuller was regularly distributing CSAM using peer-to-peer computer applications. During a search warrant executed at his residence, Fuller’s electronic devices were seized. A forensic analysis of his devices revealed hundreds of saved images depicting the rape, torture, and abuse of children ranging from toddlers to teenagers. Most of the nearly 2,000 files in the defendant’s possession were of minors who were under the age of 12. In addition, investigators found evidence that Fuller regularly deleted CSAM files using a program to optimize speed and disk space. Along with the electronic devices, agents also found CDs that contained CSAM and a child-sized sex toy. 

The investigation leading to the indictment was led by the FBI Cleveland Division.

Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer J. King for the Northern District Ohio led the prosecution.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC.

To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

CLEVELAND – A Summit County man has been sentenced to prison for trafficking controlled substances and for having a pistol in his possession while he was out on parole.

Travon Robinson, 32, of Akron, Ohio, was sentenced to 130 months (10.83 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Pamela A. Barker after pleading guilty in November of 2025 to the following charges:

• Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
• Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Prior conviction of Trafficking in Heroin in 2016

Robinson was also ordered to serve four years of supervised release after imprisonment. Due to his previous drug convictions, he was designated as a career offender.

According to court documents, in early 2022 investigators learned that Robinson was trafficking drugs while he was out on parole after serving prison time for a previous drug offense. A parole search of Robinson’s bedroom revealed a grocery bag containing 450 grams of methamphetamine. Investigators also seized several cellphones, cash, drug trafficking paraphernalia, and more than four grams of fentanyl. Robinson was also found to be in possession of a Beretta, 32 caliber pistol and ammunition.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Ohio Adult Parole Authority with assistance from the Akron Police Department.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin E. Bringman for the Northern District of Ohio.

CLEVELAND and TOLEDO, Ohio – Federal grand juries returned indictments charging 12 individuals from Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico with violating immigration laws. These are separate cases and not related.

The following defendants were charged with illegal reentry of a previously removed alien, in violation of Title 8 U.S. Code 1326. They were found in the Northern District of Ohio without the consent of the U.S. Attorney General or the Secretary for Homeland Security for readmission.

• Alonso Diaz-Espinosa, 38, a citizen of Mexico, was previously removed from the U.S. on at least two occasions with the most recent being Feb. 13, 2026. He was found near Fremont, Ohio, (Sandusky County) on March 7.
• Fredy Garcia Rosa, 26, a citizen of Honduras, was previously removed from the U.S. on at least one occasion with the most recent being Aug. 14, 2023. He was found in Elyria (Lorain County) on March 5.
• Santos Antonio De Jesus Gomez, 46, a citizen of Mexico, was previously removed from the U.S on at least two occasions with the most recent being Oct. 26, 2024. He was found near Fremont, Ohio (Sandusky County) on March 7.
• Mario Gregorio-Arias, 49, a citizen of Guatemala, was previously removed from the U.S. on at least four occasions with the most recent being April 17, 2018. He was found in Norwalk (Huron County) on Feb. 17.
• Cuauhtemoc Hernandez-Marquez, aka Ramon Velarde-Marquez, aka Rafael Partida, aka Ramon C. Velarde, aka Cuatemoc Ramon Velarde-Marguuez, aka Cuatemoc Ramon Velarde-Marques, aka Ramon Velarde, aka Abraham Perez-Rodriguez, 56, a citizen of Mexico, was previously removed from the U.S. on as least one occasion with the most recent being May 2, 2003. He was found in Oregon, Ohio, (Lucas County) on March 4.
• Candelaria del Rosario Lopez-Bautista, 38, a citizen of Mexico, was previously removed from the U.S. on at least one occasion with the most recent being Nov. 16, 2010. She was found in Sandusky, Ohio (Erie County) on Feb. 20.
• Cesar Mazariegos-Lopez aka Cesar Masariegos-Lopez aka Cesar M. Lopez, 45, a citizen of Mexico, was previously removed from the U.S. on at least one occasion with the most recent being Nov. 16, 2010. He was found in Sandusky, Ohio (Erie County) on Feb. 20.
• Wiliam A. Mendez-Rivera, aka William Rivera-Santos, aka Wuilian Mendes-Santos, 32, a citizen of Honduras, was previously removed from the U.S. on at least three occasions with the most recent being April 6, 2016. He was found in Akron (Summit County) on Jan. 10.
• Alan Ramos-Capultitla, 21, a citizen of Mexico, was previously removed from the U.S on at least one occasion with the most recent being Feb. 14, 2026. He was found near Fremont, Ohio (Sandusky County) on March 7.
• Jeyson Rodriguez-Lanza, 35, a citizen of Honduras, was previously removed from the U.S. on at least one occasion with the most recent being March 15, 2023. He was found in Norwalk, Ohio (Huron County) on Feb. 17.
• Genry Sanchez-Espinoza, 29, a citizen of Honduras, was previously removed from the U.S. on at least one occasion with the most recent being Feb. 9, 2018. He was found in Sandusky, Ohio (Erie County) on Feb. 16.
• Carlos Sauceda-Alvarez, 38, a citizen of Honduras, was previously removed from the U.S. on at least two occasions with the most recent being Sept. 23, 2025. He was found near Fremont, Ohio (Sandusky County) on March 7.

The investigations in these cases leading to the indictments were conducted by U.S. Border Patrol-Sandusky Bay Station and the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ava Rotell Dustin, Matthew D. Simko, Frank H. Spryszak, Jennifer King, and Brett S. Hammond for Northern District of Ohio.

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

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

CLEVELAND – A 57-year-old man has been charged with committing several violations of drug trafficking laws after a nearly year-long federal investigation.

A grand jury returned an indictment charging Marcus Hopper, of Cleveland, with Possession with the Intent to Distribute cocaine, MDMA (ecstasy), and cocaine base (crack).

According to court documents, federal agents executed search warrants in February 2026 at two residences after an intensive, multi-state investigation that was conducted over several months. Locations on Edgehill Road in Cleveland Heights, and Penrose Avenue in East Cleveland, were identified and suspected of being used to facilitate large-scale drug trafficking operations throughout Greater Cleveland.

Among the items that federal agents seized were:

• More than 15 pounds of MDMA (ecstasy)
• Nearly 12 pounds of cocaine
• 21 grams of cocaine base (crack)
• 10 grams of fentanyl
• Bulk amounts of marijuana
• More than $211,000 in cash
• 1 cocaine brick press and several smaller presses

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to the case, including his prior criminal record, if any, his role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.

The investigation leading to the indictment was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Assistant United States Attorney Payum Doroodian is leading the prosecution for the Northern District of Ohio.

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

CLEVELAND – A 44-year-old Columbiana County man has been sentenced to prison for using a social media platform to receive and distribute images and videos of children being sexually abused.

Myrl M. Reynolds Jr., of Wellsville, Ohio, has been sentenced to 151 months (12 years and six months) in prison by U.S. District Judge Patricia A. Gaughan, after pleading guilty in December 2025 to Receipt and Distribution of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct, and to Possession of Child Pornography, also known as Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM). He was also ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $13,000 in restitution.

According to court documents, investigators found that Reynolds used a social media platform to connect with others to trade CSAM and have discussions about sexual abuse of children. However, some of those he connected with were, in fact, undercover federal agents. In one instance, Reynolds bragged to an undercover agent that he sexually abused a 10-year-old minor and that he was interested in “younger/incest” pornography. Separate from those interactions, the social media platform received cyber tip reports after nearly 70 CSAM files were flagged for being trafficked by Reynolds.

Reynolds’ electronic devices were seized during a search warrant execution, and he was found to possess nearly 500 CSAM images and videos. His files included the sexual abuse of infants and the torture and rape of prepubescent children. Investigators also found evidence that he specifically sought out children through the social media platform to discuss his sexual fantasies.

The investigation leading to the indictment was led by the FBI Youngstown Resident Agency.

Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer J. King for the Northern District Ohio prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC.

To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

CLEVELAND – A 59-year-old Chinese national has been sentenced to federal prison for possession and distribution of child pornography.

Tong Chen, residing in Hudson, was sentenced to 160 months (13 years and three months) in prison by U.S. District Judge Christopher A Boyko, after pleading guilty in December 2025 to Receipt and Distribution of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct, and Possession of Child Pornography or Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM). He was also ordered to serve 15 years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $67,500 in restitution. Chen also faces deportation from the United States upon completion of his sentence.

According to court documents, in May 2024, federal agents began an investigation after the Circleville Police Department identified suspected CSAM linked to the defendant’s Summit County residence. In July 2024, agents executed a federal search warrant at Chen’s residence and seized a desktop computer and external hard drives. During forensic analysis of these items, agents located more than 5,400 CSAM images and videos, as well as a software program capable of downloading and sharing the sexually explicit content with others. The recovered images were sadistic and masochistic in nature and included bondage, bestiality, and infants and toddlers being assaulted. Investigators determined that Chen had been viewing CSAM for approximately 12 years.

The FBI Cleveland Division led this investigation with assistance from the Circleville Police Department and Hudson Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Margaret Kane for the Northern District of Ohio was responsible for prosecuting this matter.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC.

To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

AKRON, Ohio – Three Akron men have been indicted for conspiring to traffic methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine throughout Summit County and the surrounding regions.

According to the allegations in the superseding indictment, from about April 2025 to February 2026 Erin House, 53, and Ishmael Wahid, 52, supplied Roy Wimberly, 50, with methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl to sell throughout Northeast Ohio. Investigators found that Wahid communicated often with House, who was the owner of House Brothers Trucking. During a search at a traffic stop on Interstate 71 in Medina County, approximately 8 kilograms of cocaine and approximately $144,000 in cash was found hidden in a compartment of a Peterbilt semi-truck driven by House and owned by House Brothers Trucking. At a separate search conducted at a public storage facility rented by Wahid, agents found approximately 25 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1 kilogram of cocaine, and approximately 5 kilograms of fentanyl. Wahid was later arrested at a traffic stop after agents seized additional methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine and more than $84,000 in cash from his vehicle. Wimberly’s residence was also subject to a court-authorized search warrant, and agents found approximately 2 kilograms of methamphetamine, fentanyl pills, and an arsenal of firearms.

All three men are charged with Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, and Cocaine. Each defendant faces the following additional charges:

House is charged with:

• Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine.

Wahid is charged with:

• Distribution of Cocaine.
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl.
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine.
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin.
• Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition; prior convictions include Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine in 1996; Possession of Cocaine in 2003; Illegal Manufacturing of Drugs in 2003; and Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute Heroin and Cocaine in 2015.

Wimberly is charged with:

• Distribution of Methamphetamine
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
• Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense
• Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; prior conviction for Murder in 1996.

Items that federal agents seized throughout the investigation include:

• Approximately 27 kilograms of methamphetamine
• Approximately 5 kilograms of fentanyl
• Approximately 9 kilograms of cocaine
• More than $229,000 in cash
• DPMS AR Rifle, .233 caliber, and ammunition
• Bushmaster Carbon 15 Rifle, .223 caliber
• Glenfield Model 20 Rifle
• Ithaca Shotgun Model 37
• Smith and Wesson, 9mm caliber pistol
• Smith and Wesson, Model M&P, .380 caliber pistol, (with serial number removed)
• Kahr CW 45, .45 caliber pistol
• Ruger PC Rifle
• Mossburg 12 Gauge Shotgun

If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to the case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, their role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.

The investigations leading to the indictment were conducted by the Homeland Security Investigations Cleveland Office.

Assistant United States Attorney Joseph P. Dangelo is leading the prosecution for the Northern District of Ohio.

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

CLEVELAND – A 41-year-old Mahoning County man has been sentenced to prison for possessing more than 2,700 images and videos of children being sexually abused and using social media to receive and distribute the files.

Christopher Helmick, of Youngstown, Ohio, has been sentenced to 280 months (23 years and three months) in prison by U.S. District Judge Christopher A. Boyko, after pleading guilty in December 2025 to Receipt and Distribution of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct, and to Possession of Child Pornography, also known as Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM). He was also ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $63,500 in restitution.

During a search warrant executed at the defendant’s residence in July 2024, officers seized several electronic devices. Analysis of Helmick’s electronic devices led to the discovery of 1,898 images and 848 videos that depicted the sexual abuse of infants and the torture and rape of prepubescent children. In addition, investigators learned that Helmick used social media chat groups to engage with others for the purpose of exchanging CSAM.

Helmick was also found to be communicating with underage girls through social media platforms. He would befriend the minors and give them his credit card number to buy sexual toys and lingerie. Helmick also sent sexually explicit photos of himself and manipulated the girls into sending him nude photos.

The investigation leading to the indictment was led by the FBI Youngstown Resident Agency and the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force.

Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer J. King for the Northern District Ohio prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC.

To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

CLEVELAND – A 34-year-old Lorain County man has been indicted on drug trafficking charges that resulted in one person’s overdose.

A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Roderick Cross, Jr., AKA Chubb, of Elyria, Ohio, with the following:

• Distribution of Cocaine Base (Crack)
• Distribution of Cocaine and Fentanyl
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Para-fluorofentanyl
• Felon in Possession of a Firearm; prior convictions include Attempted Murder and Felonious Assault in 2010; Robbery in 2018; and Drug Trafficking and Drug Possession in 2025.

According to the allegations, on March 15, 2025, Cross intentionally distributed several controlled substances to a person, J.K., who then fatally overdosed. The victim was found to have ingested cocaine and fentanyl which investigators connected to the defendant. During search warrant executions at two locations suspected of being connected with Cross, agents seized firearms, fentanyl, and drug paraphernalia.

The investigation in this case is being conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division and the Elyria Police Department-Narcotics Unit, with the assistance of the FBI’s Lorain/Elyria Safe Streets Task Force.

Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth M. Crook and Stephanie A. Wojtasik for the Northern District of Ohio are leading the prosecution.

If convicted, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years and up to life in federal prison. The sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violations. Cross faces enhanced sentencing penalties as a result of the victim’s death resulting from illegal drug distribution and for prior serious felony convictions.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

CLEVELAND – A 45-year-old Lake County man has been sentenced to prison for sharing sexual abuse images and videos of children with others on a social media platform.

Todd Oravecz, of Kirtland, Ohio, has been sentenced to 240 months in prison by U.S. District Chief Judge Sara Lioi, after pleading guilty in October 2025 to Receipt, Distribution, and Transportation of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct, and Possession of Child Pornography or Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM). He was also ordered to serve 15 years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $39,000 in restitution.

Court documents show that federal agents received a tip from The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about suspected CSAM activity on a social media platform. Investigators found that the sexual abuse materials observed online were linked to an account in the Cleveland area and Oravecz was identified. In December 2024, agents executed a search warrant at his residence and among the items seized were six cellphones, a laptop, a computer tablet, a handgun, and ammunition. During the investigation and analysis of his electronic devices and online accounts, agents found more than 100 CSAM images and videos that included prepubescent minors under the age of 12. Other evidence presented in court includes a 2021 police report accusing the defendant of sexually assaulting a five-year-old minor.

The investigation leading to the indictment was led by Homeland Security Investigations and the Kirtland Police Department. The USAO would also like to acknowledge valuable assistance from the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office.

Assistant United States Attorney Margaret Kane for the Northern District of Ohio led the prosecution.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC.

To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

TOLEDO, Ohio – Two Guatemalans and a Honduran have been sentenced for illegally entering the United States after being previously deported from the country. These cases are separate and not related. All defendants previously pleaded guilty to Illegal Entry of a Removed Alien, in violation of Title 8 U.S. Code 1326. Upon completion of their sentences, they will be subject to a detainer from United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and will be taken into administrative immigration custody for removal from the U.S.

• Nixion Lopez-Peralta, 28, a citizen of Honduras, was sentenced to time served.
• Wilson Lux-Solis, aka Jose Roberto Lemus-Solis, 25, a citizen of Guatemala, was sentenced to six months in prison.
• Manuel Lux-Tum, 51, a citizen of Guatemala, was sentenced to time served.

These investigations were conducted by the U.S. Border Patrol-Sandusky Bay Station.

The prosecutions were led by Assistant United States Attorneys Frank Spryszak and Matt Simko for the Northern District of Ohio.

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

CLEVELAND – Federal, state, and local law enforcement investigations that ultimately led to successful outcomes throughout 2025 were recognized at the U.S. Attorney Office’s (USAO) Law Enforcement Awards ceremony held recently.

“Here in our Northern District of Ohio, we have unique relationship with our partners, and that’s not always the case in other regions,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “It is my honor to recognize these men and women whose diligent investigations allow us to prosecute dangerous criminals to the fullest extent of the law. Criminal investigators can face roadblocks and dead ends. But because of the persistence of these professionals, and their unwavering commitment to protect and help victims, our office can ensure that justice is served.”

The awards recognized outstanding criminal investigations based out of each of the four Northern District’s offices in Toledo, Cleveland, Akron, and Youngstown. These recognitions spanned a range of cases including Department of Justice (DOJ) mission critical areas such as child sexual exploitation, drug trafficking operations, ransomware, and cybercrime.

Akron/Canton Region

Agent of the Year: FBI Special Agent Pete Mauro

The award was given for exceptional performance in several child exploitation cases that resulted in significant sentences for multiple defendants who distributed, received, produced, and possessed child pornography, thus taking dangerous predators off the street.

Task Force Officer (TFO) of the Year: FBI TFO Heather Blohm Stover, of the Medway Drug Enforcement Agency

The award was given to a local law enforcement officer who is a designated member of the FBI Task Force for her exceptional performance in two cases which involved child sex abuse and several cases involving illegal drug trafficking and firearms.

Partnership of the Year: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Operation Double Eagle

The award was given for exceptional performance in the takedown of an Akron drug trafficking operation that resulted in 17 indictments that charged thirty defendants with drug trafficking and firearms violations. Several defendants have already been sentenced to federal prison and other cases are still pending.

Cleveland Region

Agent of the Year: FBI Special Agent Jeff Kassouf

The award was given for exceptional performance in a multinational and extremely complex cybercrime investigation.

Task Force Officer of the Year: FBI TFO Craig Payne, of the Lorain Police Department

The award was given to a local law enforcement officer who is a designated member of the FBI Task Force for his exceptional performance in two drug trafficking investigations. One case resulted in criminal charges against 15 defendants of the Whitaker drug trafficking organization for possession with intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances. The second case resulted in a sentence of 21 years in the Freddie Sanchez trial.

Partnership of the Year: FBI Special Agent Milan Kosanovich and FBI Special Agent Matt Richter            

The award was given for exceptional performance in a cryptocurrency fraud investigation where the victim lost approximately $425,000. The investigation resulted in a (civil) forfeiture case in federal district court. In the case, the United States forfeited a total of $947,883 and the victim was able to obtain full recovery.

Toledo Region

Agent of the Year: FBI Special Agent Alexander Hunt

The award was given for exceptional performance in a child exploitation case that resulted in criminal charges for coercion and enticement, and for receipt and distribution of child pornography. The investigation also led to the arrest of at least eight other individuals for child exploitation related offenses across Northwest Ohio.

Task Force Officer of the Year: United States Secret Service (USSS) TFO Justin Craig, of the Ohio State Highway Patrol

The award was given to a local law enforcement officer who is a designated member of the USSS Task Force and was given for his exceptional performance in a child exploitation case that resulted in a receipt and distribution of child pornography criminal charge that carries a mandatory minimum of five years in prison up to a maximum of 20.

Partnership of the Year: Northwest Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force

The award was given for exceptional performance in the investigation of a child exploitation case that resulted in the receipt and production of child pornography criminal charges and a sentence of 360 years, as well as a state prosecution for hands-on sex offenses.

Youngstown Region

Agent of the Year: ATF Special Agent Jason Petaccio

and

Task Force Officer of the Year:

DEA TFO Michael Bender, of the Adult Parole Authority

These two awards were given for exceptional performance in the investigation of a fatal shooting that occurred in Warren, Ohio, in August of 2025. SA Petaccio and TFO Bender’s work resulted in the apprehension of multiple suspects and criminal charges that carry up to 15 years in prison.

Partnership of the Year: Homeland Security Investigations/Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force

The award was given for exceptional performance in a drug investigation that resulted in criminal charges of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance and a sentence of 23 years.

District Agency of the Year

United States Marshals Service (USMS)

Under the Leadership of U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott, the USMS received an award for outstanding collaboration with other law enforcement partners. The USMS leads the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF), which is comprised of seven divisions that include Cleveland, Lorain, Painesville, Akron, Canton, Youngstown, Richland, and Toledo.  The NOVFTF finds and arrests dangerous fugitives in the Northern District of Ohio. In 2025, NOVFTF arrested 2,709 offenders, seized 106 firearms and over 3,400 rounds of ammunition, approximately $75,000, and over 7 kilograms of narcotics. In addition to apprehending fugitives, the USMS Missing Child Unit dedicates full-time investigators to locating missing and endangered youth. A dedicated team also locates and prosecutes sex offenders who fail to register as required.

Several regional agencies attended the recognition ceremony including:

• Akron Police Department
• University of Akron Police Department
• Adult Parole Authority
• The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)
• Barberton Police Department
• Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• FBI – Northweast Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force
• High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area-Youngstown
• U.S. Homeland Security Investigations
• Lorain Police Department
• Mahoning County Sheriff Office
• Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force
• Medway Drug Enforcement Agency
• Ohio State Highway Patrol
• Summit County Sheriff Office
• Toledo Police Department
• United States Marshal Service

CLEVELAND – A Mexican national has been sentenced to federal prison for illegally entering the United States and then trafficking kilogram-quantities of cocaine in Northeast Ohio.

Jaime Ortega-Urquidi, 63, was sentenced to 188 months (15 years and 6 months) in prison by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams after pleading guilty in November 2025 to the following charges:

• Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, with Notice of Prior Serious Drug Felony Conviction; and
• Illegal Reentry of Alien Following Removal, with Notice of Prior Aggravated Felony Conviction.

According to court documents, on May 28, 2025, Lorain police officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in which Ortega-Urquidi was a passenger. During the stop, a drug detection K-9 alerted to the odor of illegal drugs in the vehicle. Officers searched the vehicle and found cocaine weighing approximately two kilograms. Officers also seized more than $29,000 in cash. During further investigation into Ortega-Urquidi, law enforcement discovered he was part of an organization that smuggled kilograms of cocaine across the US-Mexico border. The organization then shipped the cocaine from Texas to Ohio, where Ortega-Urquidi distributed it to local drug dealers in the city of Lorain. Investigators also learned that Ortega-Urquidi was in the United States illegally at the time of his arrest. He was previously removed in October 2017, after serving a sentence for Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. 

The investigation was conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division, the Lorain Police Department, the U.S. Border Patrol-Sandusky Bay Station, and the Elyria Police Department.

The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney James Lewis for the Northern District of Ohio.

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 to protect communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

CLEVELAND – A 21-year-old man has pleaded guilty to his role in robbing a postal carrier of the key used to open U.S. Mail collection boxes. The robbery was part of a larger conspiracy to steal checks and later cash them for personal benefit and use.

Je’Vion Tolliver-Maddox, of Cleveland, pleaded guilty on March 9 to the following charges in the superseding indictment:

• Robbery of Mail, Money, or Other Property of the United States
• Stealing Keys Adopted by the Post Office
• Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud
• Bank Fraud

According to court documents, Tolliver-Maddox was one of the individuals who robbed a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) worker while delivering mail on Cleveland’s West 48th Street on the afternoon of Sept. 9, 2025. Co-conspirator Terran Johnson, 29, also of Cleveland, allegedly used a firearm to threaten the postal worker with violence and demanded the arrow key that opens USPS mailboxes. The postal worker complied, and the defendants fled the scene in Tolliver-Maddox’s white Ford sport utility vehicle (SUV). Later that same evening, Tolliver-Maddox went to the Cleveland Division of Police’s Fifth District to report that his car, a white Ford SUV, was stolen, despite evidence showing he was in the car during the robbery.

Following the robbery of the arrow key, agents discovered Tolliver-Maddox was altering checks—that had been stolen out of USPS mailboxes—with his name to deposit into his bank accounts. He also recruited others on social media platforms to further the conspiracy and fraudulently deposit checks into their own bank accounts. Victim banks implicated in the scheme were insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and included: U.S. Bank, Citizen’s Bank, PNC Bank, Huntington, Citi Bank, Fifth Third Bank, and First Bank.

A federal grand jury indicted co-conspirator Johnson on March 4 for his role in the conspiracy and was additionally charged with using a firearm to threaten the postal worker with violence. He faces up to 30 years in prison. An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Tolliver-Maddox is scheduled to be sentenced July 9 and faces a maximum prison sentence of 30 years.

The investigation in this case was conducted by The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the Cleveland Division of Police.

Assistant United States Attorney Brenna L. Fasko for the Northern District of Ohio led the prosecution.

About the United States Postal Inspection Service

USPIS is the law enforcement branch of the United States Postal Service. To report mail theft or other crimes committed through, or towards, the United States Postal Service, call the USPIS at 1-877-876-2455 or visit uspis.gov/report. For more information about combatting mail theft visit uspis.gov/project-safe-delivery.

AKRON, Ohio – A Summit County man has been sentenced to prison for possessing and intending to distribute more than 1,400 grams of methamphetamine, as well as distribution quantities of fentanyl and cocaine, and for possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon.

Cedric Thomas, 47, of Akron, Ohio, was sentenced to 240 months (20 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge J. Philip Calabrese after pleading guilty in December 2025 to the following charges:

• Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine
• Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition; prior convictions include Trafficking in Cocaine and Possession of Cocaine in 2008; and Trafficking in Marijuana in 2020.

Thomas was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release after imprisonment. Due to Thomas’ previous drug convictions, he was designated as a career offender.

According to court documents, detectives from the Akron Police Department Narcotics Unit began investigating Thomas’ suspected drug trafficking activity in November 2023. On Jan. 24, 2024, investigators executed a search warrant at his residence and caught Thomas attempting to flush drugs down a toilet. Investigators found that Thomas possessed 1,400 grams of methamphetamine, 29 grams of fentanyl, and 28 grams of cocaine, all intended for distribution throughout Northeast Ohio. Agents also seized:

• $2,132 in U.S. currency
• A Smith & Wesson model Bodyguard .380 caliber semiautomatic pistol
• A Taurus model GC3 9mm caliber semiautomatic pistol
• Miscellaneous ammunition

The investigation was conducted by the Akron Police Department Narcotics Unit.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter E. Daly for the Northern District of Ohio.

TOLEDO, Ohio – A 44-year-old Hancock County man has been charged for allegedly harassing, intimidating, and threatening two men and their families over the course of four months. 

A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Simon Andrew Tuck, of Findlay, with the following:

• Stalking
• False Information and Hoaxes
• Threatening Communications

According to the allegations in the indictment, beginning around November 2025 through February 2026, Tuck used several methods to carry out a course of conduct to harass and intimidate the victims. These included submitting several false reports and complaints to law enforcement, a sexual assault hotline, and the employer of one of the victims. The stalking and harassment became increasingly threatening, resulting in substantial emotional distress to the victims and their families.

The investigation in this case is being conducted by the FBI Toledo Resident Agency.

Assistant United States Attorney Tracey Ballard Tangeman for the Northern District of Ohio is leading the prosecution.

If convicted, the defendant faces up to five years in federal prison on each count. The sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violations. 

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

AKRON, Ohio – A 35-year-old repeat sex offender has been sentenced to prison for downloading and uploading images and videos of the sexual abuse of children to a social media platform.

Daniel Nutt, of Brewster, Ohio, has been sentenced to 122 months in prison by U.S. District Chief Judge Sara Lioi, after pleading guilty in December 2025 to Receipt and Distribution of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct and Possession of Child Pornography or Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM). He was also ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay a $6,000 assessment toward the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Assistance Act, which was established in 2018 to provide monetary assistance for victims of child sexual abuse. Judge Lioi imposed the sentence on March 3. After imprisonment, Nutt will be required to register as a sex offender and undergo behavioral and psychological treatment.

Court documents show that in August 2024, federal agents began to investigate CSAM uploads to, and downloads from, a social media platform. The investigation led them to identify Nutt, and they learned that he was downloading CSAM while he was on the job at a car dealership. In December 2024, agents executed a search warrant and seized his cellphone and discovered more than 230 CSAM images, including images of a prepubescent minor under the age of 12. Investigators also learned that Nutt had been previously convicted of Illegal Use of a Minor in a Nudity Oriented Material and sentenced to seven years imprisonment with the Ohio Department of Corrections.

This investigation leading to the indictment was led by the FBI Canton Resident Agency.

Assistant United States Attorney Joseph P. Dangelo for the Northern District of Ohio led the prosecution.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC.

To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

CLEVELAND – Three Ohio men have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a conspiracy to traffic dangerous and illegal drugs—including fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine—throughout Greater Cleveland.

The defendants were each sentenced to imprisonment by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent after pleading guilty to their roles in the drug trafficking conspiracy. All three men were previously incarcerated for drug convictions and were therefore eligible to be designated as career offenders to receive enhanced penalties. The defendants’ sentencings are as follows:

Chantez Moore, 45, of Westlake, Ohio, was sentenced to 276 months (23 years) in prison and ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release after imprisonment. He previously pleaded guilty to:

• Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with the Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances
• Distribution of Methamphetamine
• Possession with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
• Possession with the Intent to Distribute Fluorofentanyl
• Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine

Kevin Lanier, 42, of Highland Heights, Ohio, was sentenced to 240 months (20 years) in prison and ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release after imprisonment. He previously pleaded guilty to:

• Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with the Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances
• Distribution of Fentanyl
• Distribution of Methamphetamine
• Possession with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
• Possession with the Intent to Distribute Fluorofentanyl

James C. Lang, 36, of Cleveland, was sentenced to 120 months (10 years) in prison and ordered to serve five years of supervised release after imprisonment. He previously pleaded guilty to:

• Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with the Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances
• Possession with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
• Felon in Possession of a Firearm

The case began in early 2023 when federal agents were investigating significant drug trafficking activity in the Cleveland area believed to be connected to Mexican drug cartels. According to court documents, from about February 2023 to May 2024, defendants Moore, Lanier, and Lang were observed conducting drug transactions and making frequent visits to several apartments. Some apartments in question were later discovered to be rented under false names. Moore was found to be leasing apartments under fake names at two locations, and Lang also used a fake name to lease an apartment. During executions of search warrants at residences suspected of being connected to the drug conspiracy, agents seized:

• 67 kilograms of fentanyl with 57 kilograms in pill form disguised as Percocet 30s
• One kilogram of cocaine
• One kilogram of methamphetamine
• Numerous firearms: a Taurus G3C 9mm pistol, a Glock 42 .380 pistol, an Anderson AM-15 rifle, and a KelTec Sub 2000 9mm rifle.

The investigation was led by the FBI Cleveland Division, the Cleveland Division of Police, and the Cartel, Gang, Narcotics, and Money Laundering Task Force, a Cleveland-area, multi-agency entity comprised of federal, state, and local law enforcement.

Assistant United States Attorney Vasile C. Katsaros for the Northern District of Ohio led the prosecution.

TOLEDO, Ohio – The United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) announced immigration enforcement actions in the Northern District of Ohio. These are separate cases and are not related. The following individuals pleaded guilty Feb. 19, unless otherwise noted, to illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8 U.S. Code 1326.

• Francisco Constancio-Mariscal, 38, a citizen of Mexico, was previously removed from the U.S. on at least two occasions with the most recent being April 28, 2011. He was found in Port Clinton, Ottawa County, on Jan. 4. Sentencing is set for April 2.
• Marcos Alberto Bardales Lopez, 27, a citizen of Honduras, was previously removed from the U.S. on at least one occasion with the most recent being Dec. 6, 2019. He was found in Maumee, Lucas County, on Jan. 12. Sentencing is set for April 2.
• Oscar Mendoza, 52, a citizen of Honduras, was previously removed from the U.S. on at least one occasion with the most recent being Jan. 17, 2008. He was found in Maumee, Lucas County, on Jan. 12. Sentencing is set for April 2.
• Alvaro Veliz Gonzalez, 35, a citizen of Guatemala, was previously removed from the U.S. on at least four occasions with the most recent being Oct. 11, 2021. He was found in Toledo, Lucas County, on Dec. 8, 2025. Sentencing is set for April 2.
• Guillermo Gutierrez-Rivas, 36, a citizen of Mexico, was previously removed from the U.S. on at least one occasion with the most recent being June 29, 2024. He was found in Benton Township, Ottawa County, on Dec. 19, 2025. Sentencing is set for April 2.
• Juviny A. Sabillon-Fernandez, 38, a citizen of Honduras, was previously removed from the U.S. on at least one occasion with the most recent being Nov. 8, 2016. He was found in Saybrook, Ashtabula County, on Jan. 19. He pleaded guilty Feb. 17 and is scheduled to be sentenced March 23.

Federal grand juries also returned indictments charging two individuals with violating Title 8 U.S. Code 1326. They were found in the Northern District of Ohio without the consent of the U.S. Attorney General or the Secretary for Homeland Security for readmission.

• Jorge Alfaro-Rosales, 34, a citizen of Guatemala, was previously removed from the U.S. on at least one occasion with the most recent being May 31, 2013. He was found in Toledo, Ohio, Lucas County, on Feb. 2.
• Hugo Hernandez Lopez, aka Pedro Hernandez, aka Pedro Hernandez-Lopez, 36, a citizen of Mexico, was previously removed from the U.S. on at least four occasions with the most recent being Sept. 22, 2024. He was found in Toledo, Ohio, Lucas County, on Jan. 28.

Additionally, on Feb. 19, Jaime Sanchez-Tlehuactle, 37, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to 20 months in prison after pleading guilty to illegal reentry. He was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the most recent being April 21, 2021. He is subject to a detainer from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and will be taken into administrative immigration custody for removal from the U.S. following the completion of his sentence.

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

The investigations in these cases leading to the indictments were conducted by the U.S. Border Patrol-Sandusky Bay Station.

Prosecutions are being led by Assistant United States Attorneys Ava Rotell Dustin, Sara Al-Sorghali, Jennifer King, Robert N. Melching, Matthew D. Simko, Alissa M. Sterling, and Tracey Ballard Tangeman for the Northern District of Ohio.

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

TOLEDO, Ohio – A 55-year-old Lucas County man has been sentenced to prison for sharing sexually explicit photos of children in online child sexual abuse chat groups.

Steven Nowak, of Toledo, Ohio, has been sentenced to 180 months (15 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge James R. Knepp, after pleading guilty in September 2025 to Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography, or Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM). He was also ordered to serve a lifetime of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $18,000 in restitution. Judge Knepp imposed the sentence March 3.

According to court documents, federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New England were investigating online groups that trafficked CSAM. From about January through April of 2025, Nowak was identified as a member of several groups and found to be actively sharing content showing the sexual abuse of children. Some of the victims in the videos included infants and toddlers. During a search warrant executed at Nowak’s residence, agents seized his electronic devices. The investigation of his cellphone revealed that he was in possession of numerous images and videos of CSAM. Nowak later admitted that he shared photos of a minor family member online to elicit sexual feedback and engagement from others involved in the group.

This investigation was led by U.S. Homeland Security Investigations.

Assistant United States Attorney Sara Al-Sorghali for the Northern District of Ohio led the prosecution.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC.

To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

TOLEDO, Ohio – Two men have been charged for their involvement in a scheme to deceive senior citizens into giving them cash and gold bars amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

A federal grand jury returned an indictment Feb. 19 charging Tejas Bhupendrabhai Patel, 31, a resident of Toledo, and Navya Umeshkumar Bhatt, 22, a citizen of India registered to study at the University of Toledo on an F1 visa, with the following:

• Money Laundering Conspiracy,
• Concealment Money Laundering, and
• Promotion Money Laundering.

Over the course of an ongoing wire fraud and money laundering investigation, federal agents discovered a scheme in which victims were falsely made to believe that they were communicating with their bank or federal agents from the FBI, Social Security Administration, and Federal Trade Commission. The victims were manipulated through fear tactics – including in some cases threats that they faced criminal charges. Once misled, victims were directed to withdraw funds from their savings and retirement accounts, convert it to cash and/or gold bars, and provide it to scheme participants posing as bank employees or federal agents. The defendants and their co-conspirators physically traveled hundreds of miles to the victims’ locations to pick up the cash and the gold.

According to the criminal complaint and underlying affidavit, the defendants and/or their co-conspirators drove from Toledo to victims residing in Toledo, Hudson, Sylvania, and Columbus, Ohio; Oscoda and Ann Arbor, Michigan; West Newton, Pennsylvania; and South Bend, Indiana.

The investigation in this case is being conducted by the FBI Toledo Resident Agency.

The prosecution is being led by Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Melching for the Northern District of Ohio.

If convicted, each defendant faces up to 20 years in federal prison. The sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendants’ role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violations. 

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

TOLEDO, Ohio - A 41-year-old Lucas County man was indicted in federal court for flashing a laser pointer at an aircraft while in flight.  

In January, a grand jury returned an indictment charging Branden Jay Lounsbury, of Toledo, with one count of Aiming a Laser Pointer at an Aircraft or its Flight Path. Lounsbury was arrested in Michigan on Feb. 10. According to a recently unsealed indictment, he allegedly aimed a laser pointer at an Ohio State Highway Patrol helicopter while on its flight path on June 2, 2025.  Because the helicopter was flying in United States’ airspace, this alleged action is a violation of Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 39A(a). Pointing a laser at an aircraft while in flight can create a risk of permanent injury to the pilot’s eyesight and can cause the aircraft to crash. 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tracey Tangeman, following an investigation by the FBI Toledo Resident Agency, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, and the Toledo Police Department.

If convicted, Lounsbury faces up to five years in federal prison. The sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violations. 

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

AKRON, Ohio – A 38-year-old Summit County man has been sentenced to prison for engaging in the receipt and distribution of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) and then attempting to destroy files in his possession.

Alejandro James Sosa, of Akron, Ohio, has been sentenced to 108 months (nine years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Charles Esque Fleming, after pleading guilty in November 2025 to the following charges:

• Receipt and Distribution of Visual Depictions of Real Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct
• Possession of Child Pornography
• Destruction, Alteration, or Falsification of Records in a Federal Investigation
• Obscene Visual Representations of the Sexual Abuse of Children

He was also ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release after imprisonment. Judge Fleming imposed the sentence Feb. 20.

According to court documents, federal agents were investigating individuals in Portage, Summit, and Medina counties who were suspected of viewing and sharing CSAM. During the investigation, agents discovered that Sosa received or transmitted more than 10,000 CSAM files from about January through August 2025. During a search warrant execution conducted at Sosa’s residence, agents seized multiple electronic devices that contained CSAM which included infants and toddlers. Sosa later admitted that he attempted to delete evidence of CSAM from his electronic device as agents arrived to conduct the search.

The investigation was led by the FBI Akron Resident Agency, with valuable assistance from the Ohio State Highway Patrol Office of Criminal Investigation, the Vermilion Police Department and the FBI Task Force.

The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Toni Schnellinger Feisthamel for the Northern District of Ohio.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC.

To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

TOLEDO, Ohio – A 34-year-old man has been sentenced to prison for making threats to harm law enforcement officers, advocating for a violent revolution against the federal government, and for illegally possessing a firearm.

Jerime Graham-Woods, of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, was sentenced to 42 months (3.5 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge James R. Knepp after pleading guilty last November to the following charges in the indictment:

• Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person; conviction for Domestic Violence in 2012.
• Interstate Communications with a Threat to Injure

He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment. 

According to court documents, from about June to September 2023, Graham-Woods made several threatening and hostile comments on a popular social media platform which advocated for violence against law enforcement and government officials. Some of these comments included the following: “I can’t wait to be a part of the violent revolution;” “I can’t wait to start shooting law enforcement;” “lotta bodies in my future;” and “I’m very much for shooting police.” Additionally, he made suggestive comments to others encouraging violent actions such as “start killing politicians,” “start killing federal agents,” “let’s just show the government what all of our guns are for. Stop talking and start loading,” and “start shooting.”

During the investigation into the dangerous threats, law enforcement discovered a video posted on a popular social media platform depicting Graham-Woods shooting a Heckler & Koch model MP5SD 9mm submachine gun at an indoor shooting range, which he was prohibited from possessing due to his prior misdemeanor domestic violence conviction.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the FBI Toledo Resident Agency.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank H. Spryszak for the Northern District of Ohio.

CLEVELAND – A federal employee and his accomplice have been sentenced for their roles in a scheme to resell electronic and digital devices that were purchased with a government-issued credit card.

Dustin Jagger, 41, of Canton, Ohio, and Damarco McKinley, 26, of Cleveland, were each sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in prison by U.S. District Judge Dan A. Polster. Last October, Jagger pleaded guilty to Theft of Government Property, and McKinley pleaded guilty to Interstate Transportation of Stolen Goods. Each defendant was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release. Additionally, Jagger was ordered to pay $198,183.84 in restitution, which includes $29,124.56 to be paid joint and several with McKinley.

According to court documents, Jagger worked for the Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), where he used his position as a logistics employee to purchase $198,183.84 worth of iPads, iPhones, and other electronics and goods. Jagger kept some items while reselling others for cash through an online marketplace website. He sold a portion of these items to McKinley, who was stopped on a traffic violation in Indiana while in possession of more than $29,000 worth of electronics that Jagger purchased with the VAMC credit card. McKinley had been on route to Chicago to resell the items. During the investigation into McKinley, federal agents also seized from him:

• Apple products including 16 iPhones and 8 iPads purchased with the VAMC credit card
• A Glock 43 handgun with one round in the chamber
• A loaded magazine
• Credit cards in other people’s names
• $4,262 in cash

At Jagger’s residence, investigators found additional items that he purchased with his work-issued credit card including speakers, soundbars, adapters, and headphones.

“Any federal employee who abuses their position for personal gain, contributes to the erosion of the public’s trust,” said United States Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “We will not tolerate such dishonest actions that waste tax dollars and show disrespect for our veterans. We commend the work of VA investigators, which has led to putting a stop to this egregious behavior.”

“These sentences send a message that corrupt VA employees and those who profit from their illegal activities will be rooted out and prosecuted,” said Special Agent in Charge Gregory Billingsley with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Central Field Office. “These fraudulent activities erode public trust and divert taxpayer money intended for our nation’s deserving veterans. The VA-OIG thanks the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their efforts in this investigation.”

This case was investigated by Veterans Affairs-Office of the Inspector General, the Department of Veterans Affairs Police Department, and the Lake County Indiana Sheriff's Department.

The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Joines for the Northern District of Ohio.

Today, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the City of Cleveland jointly filed a motion to terminate the 2015 police consent decree in the case of United States v. City of Cleveland, marking the parties’ recognition of more than a decade-long, successful effort to reform the Cleveland Division of Police (CDP). CDP now has resolved the DOJ’s 2014 findings about constitutional policing. CDP has implemented court-approved policies and training covering use of force, searches and seizures, misconduct investigations, community policing, and other areas — all resulting in contemporary assessments showing CDP now polices Cleveland constitutionally.

“We are proud to stand by the men and women of CDP as we take this significant step to end federal oversight and return control of local law enforcement to the City of Cleveland,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.  “We believe the City and CDP have demonstrated their commitment to constitutional policing, and it is time for Cleveland to fully utilize CDP’s resources to protect Clevelanders from crime.”

“For more than a decade, the Monitoring Team’s assessments have shown the tremendous strides that CDP has made to ensure constitutional policing, thereby increasing the community’s trust,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “The Division’s officers should be proud of what they have accomplished. As a valuable law enforcement partner, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work closely with CDP to reduce gun violence and drug trafficking, and to keep dangerous gang activity off the streets. We appreciate the dedication of these men and women in uniform and the hard work they do each day in their mission keep the people of Cleveland safe.”

On March 14, 2013, the DOJ announced the initiation of an investigation into CDP under the Violent Crime and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, 42 U.S.C. § 14141 (Section 14141) focused on allegations of excessive force by CDP officers. That investigation determined that structural and systemic deficiencies and practices — including insufficient accountability, inadequate training, ineffective policies, and inadequate engagement with the community — contributed to the use of unreasonable force by CDP officers, in violation of the Constitution and Federal law. The U.S. District Court incorporated the parties’ agreed reforms into a consent decree issued on June 12, 2015. Now, the parties have asked the Court to end that consent decree while leaving in place the reformed structures to ensure ongoing constitutional policing.

The Special Litigation Section of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, Civil Division jointly handled the investigation and litigation of this matter.

CLEVELAND - Today, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the City of Cleveland jointly filed a motion to terminate the 2015 police consent decree in the case of United States v. City of Cleveland, marking the parties’ recognition of more than a decade-long, successful effort to reform the Cleveland Division of Police (CDP). CDP now has resolved the DOJ’s 2014 findings about constitutional policing. CDP has implemented court-approved policies and training covering use of force, searches and seizures, misconduct investigations, community policing, and other areas — all resulting in contemporary assessments showing CDP now polices Cleveland constitutionally.

“We are proud to stand by the men and women of CDP as we take this significant step to end federal oversight and return control of local law enforcement to the City of Cleveland,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.  “We believe the City and CDP have demonstrated their commitment to constitutional policing, and it is time for Cleveland to fully utilize CDP’s resources to protect Clevelanders from crime.”

“For more than a decade, the Monitoring Team’s assessments have shown the tremendous strides that CDP has made to ensure constitutional policing, thereby increasing the community’s trust,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “The Division’s officers should be proud of what they have accomplished. As a valuable law enforcement partner, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work closely with CDP to reduce gun violence and drug trafficking, and to keep dangerous gang activity off the streets. We appreciate the dedication of these men and women in uniform and the hard work they do each day in their mission keep the people of Cleveland safe.”

On March 14, 2013, the DOJ announced the initiation of an investigation into CDP under the Violent Crime and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, 42 U.S.C. § 14141 (Section 14141) focused on allegations of excessive force by CDP officers. That investigation determined that structural and systemic deficiencies and practices — including insufficient accountability, inadequate training, ineffective policies, and inadequate engagement with the community — contributed to the use of unreasonable force by CDP officers, in violation of the Constitution and Federal law. The U.S. District Court incorporated the parties’ agreed reforms into a consent decree issued on June 12, 2015. Now, the parties have asked the Court to end that consent decree while leaving in place the reformed structures to ensure ongoing constitutional policing.

The Special Litigation Section of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, Civil Division jointly handled the investigation and litigation of this matter.

CLEVELAND – United States Attorney David M. Toepfer announced that for fiscal year 2025 (FY2025), the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio (USAO) collected a total of $134,018,633.20 from criminal and civil actions. This includes amounts collected for both the district, as well as other components of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The USAO collected $18,220,994.34 in total, with $9,650,947 derived from criminal actions and $8,570,047.34 from civil actions. In cases pursued jointly with other DOJ components, the USAO collected an additional $115,797,638.84. Of this amount, $57,063.17 was collected from criminal actions and $115,740,575.67 was collected from civil actions.

In addition to the criminal and civil collections, the USAO, working with partner agencies and divisions, garnered $14,523,149 in asset forfeiture funds in FY2025. Forfeited funds deposited into the Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Fund are used to restore monies to crime victims and for a variety of other law enforcement purposes. 

“These amounts represent the dedication of the men and women in our office who come to work each day on a mission to make sure that justice is served and victims of crime are made whole,” said U.S. Attorney Toepfer. “We are grateful to our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners who work with us to hold both individuals and organizations accountable for breaking federal laws.”

U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country, along with the DOJ’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of some federal crimes, who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid directly to a victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to DOJ’s Crime Victims’ Fund, which then distributes the funds to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.

Notable cases that contributed to the amounts collected in FY25 include:

U.S. v. Lima Refining Co. – The USAO’s Civil Division and DOJ’s Environmental and Natural Resources Division settled a lawsuit against the Lima Refining Company for violations of the Clean Air Act.  This suit related to violations of federal regulations governing emissions standards. The settlement required the Allen County oil refinery to pay a $19 million civil penalty and implement approximately $150 million in capital improvements to reduce emissions of benzene, a carcinogen, as well as other hazardous air pollutants and volatile organic compounds. The civil penalty has been paid in full.

U.S. v. ex rel Novik v. Cosmax USA et al. – This lawsuit was filed by a former employee of Cosmax USA, alleging that false information was submitted in connection with eligibility for Paycheck Protection Program funds. Cosmax USA agreed to pay $6 million to resolve the allegations. Of that amount, $3 million was earmarked for restitution payable to the Small Business Association. The settlement has been paid in full.

Fresh Mark, Inc. – Fresh Mark, Inc., a nationwide supplier of specialty meat products, entered into a non-prosecution agreement with the USAO, related to a former hiring manager’s involvement in an identity theft scheme, that involved undocumented, alien employees working at the company’s processing plants. Fresh Mark paid a $3,719,997 penalty as part of the agreement. Pursuant to the Victims of Crime Act, the money will go to the federal Crime Victims Fund.

BBR Investments v. Michael’s, Inc. – In 2024, the USAO appeared in a state foreclosure proceeding against Michael’s, Inc., a hospitality and catering company, and asserted an interest on behalf of the U. S. Small Business Association (SBA).  The SBA’s interest arose from a second mortgage between the SBA and Michael’s. The USAO worked quickly to establish priority to the foreclosure proceeds and secured $767,773.99 for the SBA.

U.S. & State of Ohio v. City of Youngstown – Pursuant to a 2002 Clean Water Act Consent Decree, the City of Youngstown was required to adhere to a long-term control plan to control the overflow of untreated wastewater. The city failed to meet requirements of the plan and paid a penalty of $739,500 as a result. The funds will go to the Environmental Protection Agency.

U.S. v. Mark Brant – The defendant pleaded guilty to one count of Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises. On Sept. 11, 2024, Brant was sentenced to 18 months incarceration and ordered to pay a $500,000 fine. The full amount was paid and deposited into the federal Crime Victims Fund.

U.S. v.  Paul Spivak et al. – The defendant and his co-conspirators were convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Securities Fraud. The fraud resulted in a loss to investors of more than $6 million. In FY25, the USAO recovered over $360,000 in restitution owed to the fraud victims.

Notable cases that contributed to forfeitures in FY25 include:

U. S. v. 8,207,578 Tether (USDT) Cryptocurrency –This cryptocurrency investment fraud scam was perpetrated against victims throughout the country. In May 2025, the subject $8.2 million USDT in cryptocurrency was forfeited to the United States. The final order of forfeiture provided that, “Returning forfeited assets to victims is one of the primary goals of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Asset Forfeiture Program.” Accordingly, the USAO and the FBI are taking steps to allow all 38 identified victims the opportunity to recover their stolen monies.

U. S. v. Edward Oluwasanmi and Joseph Oloyede – The defendants pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Money Laundering, and tax charges related to COVID business loan programs. In addition to being ordered to pay more than $5.6 million in restitution, the defendants also forfeited approximately $715,162.21 seized from financial accounts and properties valued at approximately $1.2 million.          

U. S. v. $774,830.00 – Defendant Alexandre Haussmann was driving a rental car from Chicago to New York when he was stopped for a traffic violation on the Ohio Turnpike. During the stop, a state trooper’s drug canine alerted to the trunk of the vehicle, which resulted in a search of the trunk and the seizure of $774,830 in cash. During discovery in the civil forfeiture case, Haussmann refused to answer any questions about the source of the currency. This resulted in the district court ultimately striking his claim and entering a default judgment for the $774,830 in favor of the government.

CLEVELAND – A Cleveland man has been sentenced for using his role at a local municipal court to pocket thousands of dollars in cash.

Orlando Chappell, 61, was sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to pay $37,931.47 in restitution by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams after he pleaded guilty to Federal Program Theft in August 2025.

At various times from 2012 to 2023, Chappell was employed as a deputy clerk with the City of East Cleveland Municipal Court. According to his plea agreement, his role entailed performing various administrative and clerical duties to support court operations, such as collecting fines and fees on behalf of the City of East Cleveland. One of his responsibilities was to assist landlords with rental property evictions and to facilitate the processing of forcible entry and detainer filings. Landlords were required to pay a fee to the municipal court to start the filing process which Chappell would then collect as the deputy clerk. Cash payments were accepted, and it was the deputy clerk’s responsibility to enter a record of the payment into the court’s digital financial management system. However, Chappell admitted to not recording the transactions, and instead embezzled the cash fees he collected from the landlords which totaled $37,931.47. Because the city of East Cleveland was a recipient of federal grants and other assistance during the time of his employment, Chappell was eligible to be charged in a U.S. District Court for defrauding the U.S. government.

This case was investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Brydle for the Northern District of Ohio.

Fully Blooded Felon gang member Dontez Hammond, 36, of Cleveland, was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy, drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a person under indictment.

As the defendant admitted during his plea hearing and in other court documents, the Fully Blooded Felons have existed in Ohio since approximately 2012, operating primarily out of the eastside of Cleveland, as well as Akron, Youngstown, and elsewhere. They are also active in the Ohio prison system.

The Fully Blooded Felons’ structure includes a “Commission,” which is a group of members tasked with maintaining the structure and organization of the enterprise through physical discipline and by determining which illicit means the organization would use to make money.

The Fully Blooded Felons had rules that members were required to follow. The rules were sent to members online, by text message, and in face-to-face communications. Members were required to abide by “omerta,” or the code of silence, and were required to memorize and recite at meetings the “Fully Five,” a set of rules that included following all orders issued by the Commission. If a member did not know the “Fully Five,” they were punished.

To further their drug trafficking, Fully Blooded Felon members used two separate stash-houses at a local apartment complex in Cleveland. During the execution of two search warrants, law enforcement recovered over 300 grams of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and 7 firearms.

Text messages and wiretap calls showed that Hammond regularly supplied Fully Blooded Felon members with cocaine. On Nov. 13, 2023, Hammond obtained a Mac-10 semi-automatic handgun from other Fully Blooded Felon members. Afterwards, Cleveland Police officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Hammond. Hammond fled, tossing the gun as he did. Police recovered the discarded firearm. At the time, Hammond was under a state indictment for felony drug charges.

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U. S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio made the announcement.

The FBI investigated this case, with substantial assistance from the Cleveland Division of Police.

This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Brian W. Lynch and Alyssa Levey-Weinstein as well as Assistant United States Attorneys Paul E. Hanna, Robert F. Corts, and Margaret A. Sweeney for the Northern District of Ohio. 

CLEVELAND - As Valentine’s Day approaches, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio warns the public to remain vigilant against romance scams. The criminals behind these scams shamelessly exploit the trust and emotion of their victims through online relationships.

Fraudsters will target victims on dating websites, social media platforms, and messaging apps and pose as potential romantic partners. They patiently cultivate relationships over weeks or months before they ask the victim to give them money for fake emergencies, travel expenses, investment opportunities, or medical crises. Hundreds of millions of dollars are lost each year due to these scams which are often operated by organized criminal networks, including transnational fraud rings.

“Romance scammers are not looking for love—they are looking for money,” said United States Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “They prey on trust and emotion and often target older Americans and vulnerable individuals. We urge everyone to slow down, verify identities, and never send money to someone they have not met in person.”

Scammers will:

• Create fake profiles using stolen photos.
• Claim to work overseas in the military, on oil rigs, or in international business.
• Quickly profess love or deep commitment.
• Move conversations off dating and social media platforms over to private messaging apps.

If they do any of the following, consider it a red flag:

• Declare strong feelings very early in the relationship.
• Refuse to meet in person, or make excuses for why they can’t meet in person.
• Have constant emergencies requiring financial assistance.
• Request payment in the form of gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer.
• Keep changing their stories or use poor grammar, inconsistent with their claimed background.
• Ask you to receive and/or forward funds or packages—sometimes turning victims into unwitting “money mules.”

U.S. Attorney’s Office recommendations to protect yourself:

• Never send money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency to someone you have not met in person.
• Conduct reverse image searches of profile photos.
• Consult a trusted friend or family member before sending funds.
• Report suspicious activity immediately.

If you believe you are a victim of a romance scam:

• Stop all communication immediately and do not delete or erase any evidence. Save all correspondence and financial records and contact your bank or financial institution right away.
• Make a report to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov or call your local law enforcement.

Some examples of scams that happened here in Northern Ohio include:

• Ghanaian National Charged with Running Romance Scams That Took Over $8 Million From Elderly Victims
• Ohio Woman Loses Life Savings in Cryptocurrency Investment Scam

The Department of Justice works with domestic and international partners to dismantle these criminal enterprises and is committed to investigating and prosecuting those responsible.

If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of a romance scam, call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311 seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hotline staff are experienced professionals who guide callers through the steps to make a report to assist authorities identify fraudsters. Submitting a report may increase the likelihood of recovering financial losses if done promptly. For more information, visit https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/stop-elder-fraud/providing-help-restoring-hope.

AKRON, Ohio – The last defendant in a drug trafficking conspiracy has been sentenced to prison for his role as an illegal supplier of a schedule II controlled substance throughout Summit County and the surrounding areas.

Maurice A. Stewart, 31, of Akron, Ohio, was sentenced to 120 months (10 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge David A. Ruiz after pleading guilty in October of the following charges:

• Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine
• Distribution of Methamphetamine
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl

He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment.

According to court documents, in October 2022, special agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) opened an investigation into suspected drug and firearms trafficking in the Akron area. Investigators learned that three individuals, including Stewart, were conspiring with one another to obtain large amounts of methamphetamine for the purpose of sale and distribution throughout Northeast Ohio. A search warrant was subsequently executed at Stewart’s residence on West Long Street in Akron. There, agents seized 379.1 grams of methamphetamine, 87.5 grams of fentanyl, four cellphones, and a Glock, Model 19 Gen 5, semiautomatic pistol. Two residences located at East Archwood Avenue and Tonawanda Avenue, and connected to his co-conspirators, were also searched and resulted in additional seizures of methamphetamine, a firearm, drug scales and paraphernalia, and cellphones.

The following co-defendants in the case, also of Akron, are currently serving sentences in federal prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Distribution of Methamphetamine:

• Kevin R. McQuain, age 46, was sentenced to 100 months; additionally pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
• Kenneth L. Pitman, age 54, was sentenced to 90 months; additionally pleaded guilty to being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Portage County Sheriff’s Office Drug and Violent Crime Unit.

Assistant United States Attorney Joseph P. Dangelo for the Northern District of Ohio led the prosecution.

TOLEDO, Ohio – A 27-year-old man who drove from Columbus to Toledo to engage in the sexual exploitation of a child has been sentenced to federal prison.

Jermaine Taylor, Jr., of Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been sentenced to 168 months (14 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge James R. Knepp after pleading guilty in October to Coercion and Enticement. He was also ordered to serve 20 years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay a $3,000 fine.

According to court documents, from about May 19 to June 6, 2025, Taylor communicated with an individual, namely, an undercover agent with a purported 9-year-old daughter, through a social media application. Throughout his communications, he expressed his interest in committing sexual acts with children and provided explicit examples of his desires. Taylor arranged to meet with the purported 9-year-old in Toledo and proceeded to drive there from Columbus where he was located at the time. Upon arrival at the pre-arranged location to sexually exploit the girl, he was promptly arrested by FBI agents and taken into custody.

This case was investigated by the FBI Toledo Resident Agency’s Violent Crimes Against Children Taskforce.

The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Sara Al-Sorghali and Alissa M. Sterling for the Northern District of Ohio.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC.

To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

CLEVELAND – A federal jury has convicted a Chinese national of using his role as a bank employee to access confidential client information to target elderly customers and create a scheme to steal their money and then use it for his personal benefit.

After a five-day trial in front of U.S. District Judge J. Philip Calabrese, Yue Cao, 36, was found guilty on 10 counts of Bank Fraud, four counts of Aggravated Identity Theft, and one count of Money Laundering.

According to court documents and evidence presented before the jury, Cao was a quant analytics manager at an Ohio-based bank who was hired to help protect customers from fraud. Instead, from approximately 2022 to 2023, he used his access to steal the identities and money of elderly customers who had not enrolled in the bank’s online services. He did this by first utilizing an offshore service to create email addresses in the names of more than 100 victims. Then, he used these emails to enroll the victims in online banking—all without their knowledge or authorization. Additionally, Cao directed the victims’ bank statements and other notifications to the email addresses he created. Because he controlled their online banking, he transferred the victims’ money directly to his personal bank and credit card accounts.

He also used the victims’ identities to open accounts in their names without their knowledge and transferred their money into them. Some of these were brokerage accounts, where he then engaged in options trading using their money. He even arranged trades between the unauthorized accounts he set up and his own brokerage account.

Victims resided in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Washington, and Ohio (Canton) and ranged in age from 90-103 years old at the time that Cao secretly enrolled them in online banking. In total, he conducted approximately $2 million in unauthorized transfers using his control of the victims’ accounts.

Sentencing is yet to be scheduled. The defendant faces a minimum, mandatory term of two years, and maximum penalty of up to 30 years in prison.

A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case was investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division. The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Edward D. Brydle and Michael L. Collyer for the Northern District of Ohio. 

TOLEDO, Ohio – A 53-year-old Lucas County man who was convicted of child sexual abuse and exploitation charges has been sentenced to federal prison.

Derran Reebel, of Toledo, Ohio, has been sentenced to 240 months (20 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey J. Helmick, after federal juries convicted him of the following charges at two separate trials:

November 2024 trial:

• Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography
• Possession of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct

March 2025 trial:

• Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor (Production)
• Coercion and Enticement

He was also ordered to serve a lifetime of supervised release after imprisonment.

According to court documents, from Oct. 10-15, 2020, Reebel communicated with a minor, namely, an undercover agent purporting to be a 14-year-old girl, through a social media application. Evidence presented at the March 2025 trial included the sexually explicit communications that Reebel sent through the application's messaging function in repeated attempts by him to persuade the minor to send him sexually explicit photos and commit sexual acts.

At an earlier trial held in November 2024, Reebel was convicted of receiving and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) for nearly eight years, from about Jan. 1, 2014, through Aug. 17, 2022. During the execution of a federal search warrant at his residence, investigators found CSAM that included visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct in his possession. Law enforcement officials also discovered that for years, Reebel was contacting minors and sending them sexually explicit messages and photos of himself through social media platforms.

This case was investigated by the FBI Toledo Resident Agency’s Violent Crimes Against Children Taskforce.

The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Sara Al-Sorghali and Frank H. Spryszak for the Northern District of Ohio.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC.

To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

TOLEDO, Ohio – A Jordanian man residing in Lucas County has been sentenced to prison for possessing a firearm, which he was prohibited from having due to his status as an unlawful alien.

Husam Al Najjar, 43, was sentenced to 27 months in prison after a federal jury found him guilty in October of being an Unlawful Alien in Possession of a Firearm. The sentence was handed down Feb. 3 by U.S. District Court Judge Jack Zouhary. Al Najjar was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release.

Evidence introduced at trial showed that the defendant was admitted to the United States as a nonimmigrant visitor on Oct. 26, 2014.  About four months later, he met a U.S. citizen whom he then married March 12, 2015, in Toledo. However, agents found that Al Najjar overstayed his visa entry conditions when it expired the following month, thus making him eligible for deportation. His wife later submitted forms to U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) for Al Najjar to gain lawful status but those requests were never approved.

According to the original criminal complaint and affidavit filed in the case, agents investigating Al Najjar discovered that he took multiple videos and photos of himself holding or using a variety of firearms that he posted on his social media accounts. While executing a search warrant at his residence, agents seized a Glock Model 45, 9mm pistol.

Al Najjar is subject to a detainer from United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and will be taken into administrative immigration custody for removal from the United States following the completion of his sentence.

This case was investigated by the FBI Toledo Field Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services.

Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Shepherd and Dexter L. Phillips for the Northern District of Ohio led the prosecution.

TOLEDO, Ohio – A federal grand jury returned an indictment earlier this week charging a 33-year-old man with threatening to kill the Vice President of the United States during his visit to the Northwest Ohio region in January.

Shannon Mathre, of Toledo, is accused of making a threat to take the life of, and to inflict bodily harm upon, a successor to the presidency, in violation of Title 18 U.S. Code Section 871(a). In the indictment, he allegedly stated, “I am going to find out where he (the vice president) is going to be and use my M14 automatic gun and kill him.” Mathre was arrested by U.S. Secret Service agents Feb. 6.

The grand jury further charges that from about Dec. 31, 2025, to Jan. 21, 2026, Mathre was also engaged in the receipt and distribution of images that visually depict minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, in violation of Title 18 U.S. Code Section 2252(a)(2). While investigating the threats allegedly made against the vice president, federal agents discovered multiple digital files of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) in Mathre’s possession.

“Our attorneys are vigorously prosecuting this disgusting threat against Vice President Vance,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “You can hide behind a screen, but you cannot hide from this Department of Justice.”

“While arresting this man for allegedly threatening to murder the Vice President of the United States, a serious crime in and of itself, federal law enforcement discovered that he was also in possession of child sexual abuse materials,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Thank you to federal, state and local partners in working together to bring justice twofold to this depraved individual.”

“Hostile and violent threats made against the Vice President, or any other public official, will not be tolerated in our District,” said David M. Toepfer, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. “Anyone threatening this kind of action will face swift justice and prosecution. We commend the actions of our local and state law enforcement who collaborated with U.S. Secret Service to take this individual into custody.”

Mathre made his initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Ohio Feb. 6. He remains in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for Feb. 11.

If found guilty as charged, Mathre faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum statutory fine of $250,000 for threating the life of the vice president. Mathre faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a maximum statutory fine of $250,000 if found guilty of the CSAM charge.

U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio and the U.S. Secret Service Toledo and Cleveland Field Offices made the announcement.

An indictment is merely an allegation. Defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, their role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.

The United States Secret Service leads the investigation, with valuable assistance from the Toledo Police Department and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sara Al-Sorghali and Frank H. Spryszak for the Northern District of Ohio.

TOLEDO, Ohio – A federal grand jury returned an indictment earlier this week charging a 33-year-old man with threatening to kill the Vice President of the United States during his visit to the Northwest Ohio region in January.

Shannon Mathre, of Toledo, is accused of making a threat to take the life of, and to inflict bodily harm upon, a successor to the presidency, in violation of Title 18 U.S. Code Section 871(a). In the indictment, he allegedly stated, “I am going to find out where he (the vice president) is going to be and use my M14 automatic gun and kill him.” Mathre was arrested by U.S. Secret Service agents Feb. 6.

The grand jury further charges that from about Dec. 31, 2025, to Jan. 21, 2026, Mathre was also engaged in the receipt and distribution of images that visually depict minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, in violation of Title 18 U.S. Code Section 2252(a)(2). While investigating the threats allegedly made against the vice president, federal agents discovered multiple digital files of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) in Mathre’s possession.

“Our attorneys are vigorously prosecuting this disgusting threat against Vice President Vance,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “You can hide behind a screen, but you cannot hide from this Department of Justice.”

“While arresting this man for allegedly threatening to murder the Vice President of the United States, a serious crime in and of itself, federal law enforcement discovered that he was also in possession of child sexual abuse materials,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Thank you to federal, state and local partners in working together to bring justice twofold to this depraved individual.”

“Hostile and violent threats made against the Vice President, or any other public official, will not be tolerated in our District,” said David M. Toepfer, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. “Anyone threatening this kind of action will face swift justice and prosecution. We commend the actions of our local and state law enforcement who collaborated with U.S. Secret Service to take this individual into custody.”

Mathre made his initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Ohio Feb. 6. He remains in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for Feb. 11.

If found guilty as charged, Mathre faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum statutory fine of $250,000 for threatening the life of the vice president. Mathre faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a maximum statutory fine of $250,000 if found guilty of the CSAM charge.

U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio and the U.S. Secret Service Toledo and Cleveland Field Offices made the announcement.

An indictment is merely an allegation. Defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, their role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.

The United States Secret Service leads the investigation, with valuable assistance from the Toledo Police Department and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sara Al-Sorghali and Frank H. Spryszak for the Northern District of Ohio.