Southern District of Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Richard (Tyler) Campbell, 36, of Columbus, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 300 months in prison for child exploitation and pornography crimes.

Campbell is one of five defendants implicated in a child pornography investigation that began with cyber tipline reports to the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Other defendants include Christian Toms and Carson Bigham, who were sentenced in recent months to 420 months and 80 months in prison respectively. 

According to court documents, between December 2024 and February 2025, Campbell solicited the sexual abuse of a minor victim. He also posed online as both an adult with access to a minor and as a minor himself. 

Campbell distributed child pornography to other individuals, including three of the other defendants. He told others he was looking for someone to have sexual relations with both him and his fictitious son, claiming the minor in the sexual abuse materials was his son.

Forensic review of the child pornography led investigators to Toms, who was sentenced in May to 35 years in prison for sexually abusing the minor depicted in the images, an 11-year-old non-verbal boy with Autism. Digital communications between Campbell and Toms revealed that Campbell made specific requests about how to sexually abuse the minor. Further, court documents detail that Campbell and Toms met up in person at an area Kroger, where they exchanged used children’s underwear.  

Campbell possessed 165 files of child sexual abuse material, including that of infant, prepubescent and pubescent minors engaged in sex acts and subjected to bondage.

Campbell pleaded guilty in November 2025 to sexual exploitation of a minor, distribution and receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography. 

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and other members of the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man pleaded guilty in federal court here today, admitting he received and laundered more than $1 million in proceeds of a business email compromise scam.

Benjamin O. Alexander, 43, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit money laundering.

According to court documents, from June until October 2020, Alexander conspired to launder proceeds from a scheme related to a contract for personal protective equipment (PPE) for a health-care provider in response to COVID-19. In June 2020, workers at the New Jersey health-care provider received email messages purporting to be from the contracted safety-equipment supplier and requesting payments be sent to a new bank account. 

The new bank account where the health-care provider was directed to send payments was one controlled by Alexander in the name of a business he established in April 2019 called BOA Building Maintenance and Cleaning Services LLC. 

As a result of the business email fraud scheme, four ACH transfers were sent to Alexander’s bank account totaling approximately $1.1 million. Alexander then quickly withdrew the money via official checks, cash withdrawals, ACH payments and other transactions, in order to launder the funds.

Alexander was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2025. 

Conspiring to commit money laundering is a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. 

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Todd Strom, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate is representing the United States in this case.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

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DAYTON, Ohio – Michael Chang, 55, of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to his role as a source of supply in a narcotics conspiracy punishable by at least 10 years and up to life in prison.

Chang admitted to conspiring with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The defendant was found responsible for the distribution of more than 4.5 kilograms of methamphetamine.

According to court documents, in late 2024 and early 2025, Chang orchestrated the delivery of bulk quantities of methamphetamine from California to customers, including in the greater Dayton area. While in Los Angeles, Chang obtained and distributed narcotics to other members of the drug trafficking organization, who then trafficked the drugs in southwest Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.

Chang is the lead defendant in this case, and three other defendants have been charged and pleaded guilty as part of the drug conspiracy. The following defendants are awaiting sentencing:

• Erika Garcia, 45, of Trotwood;
• Dennis Campbell, 41, of Hamilton; and
• Kathryn Tucker, 47, of Bourbon County, Kentucky.

As part of this case, law enforcement officials seized two firearms and seven pieces of jewelry including diamond and gold tennis bracelets and necklaces.

Sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Joseph O. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Detroit; announced the guilty plea offered before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter B. Silvain, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders and Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Amy M. Smith are representing the United States in this case.

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CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury indicted Lamont Champion, 27, of Cincinnati, charging him with three counts of federal firearms crimes. Champion allegedly possessed ammunition or firearms connected to at least two homicides and three total shootings.

Champion was originally charged by criminal complaint on Sept. 11. 

According to charging documents, law enforcement officials recovered a firearm from Champion in June 2026 from which ballistics results matched casings from a February homicide of two victims at the Villages of Roll Hill. Law enforcement seized that firearm.

Champion was later involved in two separate shootings. First, Champion allegedly shot a victim on East Clifton Avenue in July 2026. Then, in August, Champion allegedly fired gunshots at the occupants of a car in the area of the Enclave Event Center. 

Analysis from National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) indicates the same firearm was used in the July and August shootings.  

Agents executed a search warrant at Champion’s residence on the morning of his arrest and recovered two 9mm handguns, both with extended magazines.

Champion’s phone was searched and allegedly contained a series of text and audio messages in which Champion referred to himself as the “reaper,” explained how good he was at shooting/killing people, how he did it with a smile on his face and how “hittin a mother***er” would make him happy for a whole month. The messages also contained Champion describing the events of one of the shootings and mockingly describing the way the victim reacted to being shot.

Champion has prior felony convictions for fentanyl and firearms crimes. Possessing a firearm or ammunition as a previously convicted felon is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Champion is charged with two counts of illegally possessing ammunition and one count of illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition. 

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); Cincinnati Interim Police Chief Adam Hennie; and Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Frederic C. Shadley and Special Assistant United States Attorney Allison Oswall from Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson’s Office are representing the United States in this case.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – A high-level narcotics trafficker was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 240 months in prison for drug and gun crimes.

David Ector, 51, of Columbus, pleaded guilty in October 2025 to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute narcotics, illegally possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon and conspiring to commit money laundering. 

According to court documents, between 2012 and 2024, Ector generated millions of dollars through illicit drug sales. Ector served as a source of supply of large quantities of cocaine, heroin and fentanyl to drug traffickers operating on the west side of Columbus. Ector would also fly to California to obtain bulk amounts of narcotics to send back to Ohio.

Investigations by the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force (COHTTF), Columbus Division of Police, Ohio Attorney General's Office (AGO) Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission (OOCIC) and High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, and Internal Revenue Service- Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) revealed that Ector kept notes in his cell phone that contained coded references to drug sales and a ledger including nicknames for individuals and how much money they owed.

Ector conspired to launder proceeds of his drug trafficking, in part through a front business called “Daze Auto Sales.” The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles has no records of the business ever buying, selling or owning any vehicles in Ohio. He also orchestrated numerous deposits of money to various bank accounts and obtained properties. One of those properties that Ector purchased with drug trafficking proceeds was a multiunit apartment building in Columbus being utilized as a sober living facility.  

As a part of his plea agreement, the Court ordered the forfeiture of two real properties owned by Ector as well as five firearms, a Cartier watch and a Rolex watch. 

Ector was charged by a bill of information in October 2025.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the sentence imposed on Sept. 22 by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Timothy D. Prichard are representing the United States in this case.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Six central Ohio men are now convicted in a case involving the trafficking of at least 17 firearms. 

Khalid Dorsey, 21, pleaded guilty in federal court today to possessing and transferring a machinegun. He faces up to 10 years in prison. 

According to court documents, Dorsey was one of six defendants trafficking in guns and/or drugs that the ATF investigated between May and November 2025. 

Dorsey admitted to trafficking a pistol with an attached Glock switch on Sept. 16, 2025, near the Dirty Franks on North Fourth Street in Columbus. Co-defendant Rashied Houston, 23, was with Dorsey during the sale. Houston also pleaded guilty earlier this month to possessing and transferring a machinegun. Additionally, Houston sold two other firearms with attached conversion devices making them fully automatic weapons.

Lead defendant William Turner, 57, pleaded guilty in June to dealing cocaine and trafficking in at least six firearms. Turner either facilitated the sale of the guns or directly sold firearms himself. He coordinated firearms sales through co-defendants Robert Phillips, 45, and Jeffrey Perry, 62.

Kevin Fowler, 55, pleaded guilty in March to illegally possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon after selling at least two firearms. 

Sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.

Vipal J. Patel, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); announced the guilty plea entered before U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin W. Kelley and Special Assistant United States Attorney Heidy Carr are representing the United States in this case.

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

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Remedi SeniorCare Holding Corporation (Remedi), headquartered in Towson, Maryland, has agreed to pay over $5.3 million to the United States to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by billing the Medicare and Medicaid programs for prescription drugs despite lacking valid prescriptions. The settlement is based on Remedi’s ability to pay and will be paid over time.

The United States alleged that, from Jan. 1, 2015 through March 31, 2021, Remedi submitted false claims to the Medicare and Medicaid programs for prescription drugs that lacked valid prescriptions and were dispensed to residents of assisted living facilities in various states. 

“When pharmacies dispense drugs without valid prescriptions, they undermine both patient safety and the integrity of vital federal healthcare programs,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s resolution demonstrates the Department’s commitment to protecting vulnerable populations and holding accountable pharmacies that fail to comply with their obligations under the False Claims Act.”

“Billing Medicare and Medicaid for prescription drugs without a valid prescription is unlawful and can present serious risks,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II for the Southern District of Ohio. “As evidenced by this settlement, my Office will enforce the FCA to hold responsible those who improperly bill federal programs.”

“Billing Medicare and Medicaid for drugs dispensed without valid prescriptions puts residents of assisted living facilities at risk and undermines essential safeguards designed to protect patient health and federal health care programs,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS OIG, working closely with our law enforcement partners, will continue to hold accountable those who disregard requirements meant to ensure the safety of patients and the integrity of taxpayer funded programs.”

The settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Maureen Gearhart and Laura Griffieth, former employees of Remedi. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Gearhart & Griffieth v. Remedi SeniorCare Holding Corp., et al., No. 1:20cv970 (S.D. Ohio). The settlement provides for the whistleblowers to receive a share of the settlement payments made over time. 

The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio, with assistance from HHS-OIG and the Attorney General’s Office for the State of Ohio.

The matter was handled by Fraud Section Senior Litigation Counsel Laurie A. Oberembt of the Justice Department’s Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandi Stewart for the Southern District of Ohio.

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

This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.

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

Note: This release was updated from a previous version

CINCINNATI – Polo Alexander, 37, of Cincinnati, pleaded guilty in federal court here today to illegally possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. 

Alexander was one of nine defendants indicted by a grand jury in March for violations of federal firearms laws.

According to court documents, Cincinnati police officers encountered Alexander while patrolling the Price Hill neighborhood in October 2025. The defendant attempted to flee on bicycle and fought the officers, requiring the use of a taser twice. Officers discovered a loaded firearm on Alexander.

Alexander was previously convicted of felony offenses, including armed robbery.

Possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Cincinnati Interim Police Chief Adam Hennie announced the guilty plea entered before Senior U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett. Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Springer is representing the United States in this case.

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DAYTON, Ohio – Two men charged with illegally possessing firearms as previously convicted felons pleaded guilty in federal court here.

Kaylon Bradley, 34, pleaded guilty today before Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Rose. 

Bradley was arrested in late March during operations conducted by the Ohio Investigative Unit, Dayton Police Department and the Ohio State Highway Patrol as part of the Violent Crime Reduction Initiative between the City of Dayton and the State of Ohio. 

On March 27, investigators observed Bradley at Salem Beverage and Market on Salem Avenue in Dayton. A pistol grip and magazine baseplate were visible in Bradley’s pants pocket as he entered the liquor store. The store had “no firearms” signage, which made it a crime under state law for Bradley to enter the business with a weapon. Officers stopped Bradley and recovered a loaded 9mm pistol. 

Bradley has prior felony convictions of burglary, possession of heroin, weapons under disability and failure to comply causing serious physical harm. He was also on federal supervised release at the time of his most recent crime after being convicted as a co-defendant in a 2025 narcotics case. 

Yesterday, Jason Smith, 46, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael J. Newman. According to his court documents, Dayton police officers encountered Smith on April 15 and, when asked if he had a firearm on him, the defendant fled on foot. Smith was apprehended and officers discovered a loaded 9mm pistol. 

Smith has prior felony convictions of robbery, felonious assault with a deadly weapon and trafficking in drugs.

Possessing a firearm or ammunition as a previously convicted felon is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division;  Dayton Police Chief Eric Henderson and officials with the Ohio State Highway Patrol and Ohio Investigative Unit announced the guilty pleas. Deputy Criminal Chief Brent G. Tabacchi and Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth L. McCormick and Erica D. Lunderman are representing the United States in these cases.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio today announced a conviction as part of a nationwide enforcement action led by the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Small Business Administration, and the SBA Office of Inspector General targeting fraud in the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

From June 12 to September 1, federal prosecutors across the country facilitated fraud enforcement actions spanning over 160 criminal defendants, including approximately 80 newly charged defendants, reaching approximately $245 million dollars in intended loss to American taxpayers.

“The case we are announcing today as part of this nationwide surge is now the second pandemic loan relief fraud case that we have announced this summer,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “Our district, in conjunction with the National Fraud Enforcement Division and our federal and state investigative partners, remains resolute in its determination to fight all forms of taxpayer-funded fraud.”   

“Pandemic loan relief was meant to keep American small businesses alive during government lockdowns—not line the pockets of fraudsters,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The defendants charged during our summer surge allegedly fabricated businesses, submitted false payroll and revenue claims, stole identities, and concealed foreign ties on their applications— but they will now be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

“This summer surge shows what is possible when dedicated public servants across the country work together with a single purpose,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Our mission is clear: protect taxpayer funds, safeguard the integrity of federal relief programs, and deliver justice to those who exploited them. We will remain steadfast every day—standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners—to identify fraud, pursue those responsible, and restore confidence in the programs meant to help American small businesses thrive.”

“Today’s announcement represents the largest-ever action against perpetrators of SBA fraud, with 870,000 suspended borrowers tied to $39 billion in suspected fraudulent PPP and COVID EIDL activity. In partnership with Vice President Vance and the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, we’re putting fraudsters on notice: the federal government will no longer turn a blind eye to those who stole from taxpayers and exploited programs designed to sustain small businesses during the pandemic,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “With demand letters going out to suspected fraudsters, we’re also sending a clear message that they must repay their debts or face Treasury collections and possible federal law enforcement. Under this Administration, the free ride is over. We are restoring accountability, recovering taxpayer dollars, and protecting SBA programs for the legitimate small businesses they were created to serve.”

“Operation No Doze brings a focused and coordinated approach to pursuing fraud in SBA’s pandemic relief programs,” said SBA Inspector General William Kirk. “By concentrating our investigative resources and working closely with SBA and our law enforcement partners, we are strengthening our ability to identify fraud, recover taxpayer funds, and hold accountable those who exploited programs created to help small businesses in a time of extraordinary need. This initiative makes clear that the passage of time does not diminish our commitment to accountability.”

In the Southern District of Ohio, U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II announced that a defendant pleaded guilty to PPP-related fraud involving approximately $440,000 in losses. Pierre-Maurice D. Harris, 36, of Columbus, was stopped by the TSA on his way to Miami, Florida, and found to be in possession of $25,000 and seven debit cards in other peoples’ names. Agents identified Ohio PUA fraud, California PUA fraud, PPP fraud, and EIDL fraud connected to the stolen identities.

Harris pleaded guilty in July to conspiring to commit mail fraud and wire fraud (up to 20 years in prison), aggravated identity theft (mandatory addition of two years in prison) and money laundering (up to 20 years in prison).  

This case was investigated by IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

In June, the Southern District of Ohio announced charges against four defendants in a conspiracy scheme to defraud the government out of more than $1.4 million in COVID-19 relief funds. 

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

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

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ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A former youth minister for a Northern Virginia church was arrested and made an initial appearance in court yesterday on charges of enticement of minors for illegal sexual activity and traveling with the intent to engage in illegal sexual activity with minors.

According to court documents, Jeffrey Turner Taylor, 66, now of Milford, Ohio, served as a youth minister at The Falls Church from 1990 to 2002. Taylor allegedly sexually groomed multiple boys under the guise of spiritual guidance. His alleged grooming behaviors included sexual horseplay, probing inquiries into the sexual secrets and habits of boys, and detailed revelations about his own sexual experiences. On multiple occasions, Taylor traveled with the alleged intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct by taking boys with him to ministry events in another state or country. On several occasions, Taylor allegedly engaged or attempted to engage in sexual molestation of multiple boys.

According to court documents, Taylor served as a youth minister at two other churches in Atlanta, where he allegedly groomed and sexually abused a boy in his ministry there. Of the conduct known to investigators, Taylor’s alleged sexual grooming and abuse spanned from at least 1990 until 2008.

 Anyone with information not yet provided to this investigation or who may have been a victim of Jeffrey Taylor is encouraged to contact the FBI Washington Field Office at this link.

Taylor is scheduled for arraignment in the Eastern District of Virginia on Sept. 24. If convicted, Taylor faces up to 105 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Jeffrey L. Tyler, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal Division, made the announcement.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Vanessa K. Strobbe is prosecuting the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio provided substantial assistance with this case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Court documents may be obtained through PACER for the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio, under Case Nos. 1:26-mj-750 and 1:26-mj-737.

CINCINNATI – Federal agents arrested a Cincinnati man this morning who allegedly possessed firearms connected to at least two homicides and three total shootings.

Lamont Champion, 27, appeared in federal court for an initial appearance this afternoon.

“As alleged in the complaint, Champion possessed a firearm that had previously been used to murder two individuals in Cincinnati and himself used a second firearm to commit two other shootings,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “We continue to work with our partners at the ATF and the Cincinnati Police Department in leveraging the capabilities of the Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) to identify these crime guns and hold shooters to account.”  

According to charging documents, law enforcement officials recovered a firearm from Champion in June 2026 from which ballistics results matched casings from a February homicide of two victims at the Villages of Roll Hill. Law enforcement seized this firearm.

This morning, agents recovered a second firearm from Champion that he allegedly used in two separate subsequent shootings. Champion allegedly shot a victim on East Clifton Avenue in July 2026. In the second shooting, in August, Champion allegedly fired gunshots at the occupants of a car in the area of the Enclave Event Center. 

Analysis from National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) indicates the same firearm was used in the July and August shootings.  

Agents executed a search warrant at Champion’s residence this morning and recovered both the 9mm handgun allegedly used in the July and August shootings and a second firearm. 

Champion’s phone was searched and allegedly contained a series of text and audio messages in which Champion referred to himself as the “reaper,” explained how good he is at shooting/killing people, how he does it with a smile on his face and how “hittin a mother***er” would make him happy for a whole month. The messages also contained Champion describing the events of one of the shootings and mockingly describing the way the victim reacted to being shot.

Champion has prior felony convictions for fentanyl and firearms crimes. Possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison. 

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Cincinnati Interim Police Chief Adam Hennie announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Frederick C. Shadley and Special Assistant United States Attorney Allison Oswall from Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson’s Office are representing the United States in this case.

A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – A repeat sex offender was sentenced in federal court here today to 235 months in prison for receiving and possessing child pornography. 

Christopher McInturf, 56, of Newark, Ohio, pleaded guilty to the crimes in February.  

According to court documents, in February 2025, the Homeland Security Investigations Cyber Crime Center referred an investigative lead regarding McInturf using CashApp to pay for child pornography. Further investigation revealed that McInturf met an individual online who he believed to be in Paraguay. McInturf would pay the person typically $80 or $86 for bundles of child pornography.

In January 2025, McInturf messaged the individual asking for “something new? Rape is good. 10 to 15 yr…”

Investigators discovered child sexual abuse material of prepubescent female victims on McInturf’s digital devices. For example, one video was a 70-minute compilation of 55 children being sexually assaulted who were approximately two to 10 years old.

On a thumb drive, McInturf had an explicit photo of a minor previously identified as the victim in a case against the defendant in Licking County. McInturf was convicted in 2011 in Licking County of two counts of rape and two counts of sexual battery. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison in his local case.

McInturf was charged federally in February 2025.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and HSI Detroit Acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey, announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Tyler J. Aagard is representing the United States in this case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has indicted Wendell Terrence Swan, 56, of Cincinnati, charging him with assaulting a federal employee.

According to the indictment, on Aug. 5, Swan intentionally assaulted a United States Postal Service mail carrier while the victim was engaged in his official duties. Swan allegedly struck the mail carrier several times and threw him to the ground, inflicting bodily injury. 

Swan was indicted on Sept. 2 and brought into custody today. 

Assaulting a federal employee carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison. 

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Lesley Allison, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Springer is representing the United States in this case.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – James Strahler II, 37, of Columbus, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 180 months in prison for cybercrimes that included both real and AI-generated sexually explicit images and threats of violence to numerous victims. 

Strahler had installed more than 24 AI platforms and more than 100 AI web-based models on his phone. The defendant used telephone calls, voicemails, text messages and web postings to engage in a campaign of harassment against his victims. 

Strahler pleaded guilty in April to cyberstalking, producing obscene visual representations of child sexual abuse and publication of digital forgeries. His conviction of publication of digital forgeries is part of the Take It Down Act, a law enacted in 2025 that prohibits non-consensual online publication of intimate visual depictions and AI forgeries. 

“I’m proud of my Office’s prosecution of this case—the first in the Nation under the Take It Down Act,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “Thanks to this new law, we can now show offenders like Strahler that they will not get away with producing and posting disturbing AI-generated content. Today’s sentence should serve as a warning that significant prison time will result from this repulsive conduct.”

“The Take It Down Act was enacted to protect innocent victims from AI-generated deepfakes or intimate images shared online without permission,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Jason Cromartie. “The FBI will continue to investigate these digital crimes used to harm real people and ensure offenders are brought to justice.”

“This case demonstrates the importance of taking these types of crimes seriously and working together to protect victims and hold offenders accountable,” said Hilliard Police Chief Mike Woods. “We are proud of the work our officers and detectives did to help bring this case forward and grateful to our federal and local partners for seeing it through to justice.”

From December 2024 until June 2025, Strahler sent harassing messages to at least six adult female victims. These messages included nude images of the victims, both real and AI-generated. 

For example, Strahler used AI to create pornographic videos depicting at least one adult victim engaged in sex acts with her father. He then distributed those videos to the victim’s co-workers.  He also messaged the mothers of the adult females and demanded nude photos of them, threatening to circulate explicit or obscene images he created of their daughters if they did not comply. He often called the victims and left voicemails of him masturbating or threatening rape. He referred to the victims’ specific home addresses in his threats. 

Strahler also posted online AI-generated obscenities he created of children. He generated these files using the faces of minor boys from his community. He then morphed the face of the minor boys onto the bodies of other adults or children and created videos that depicted the boys engaged in sex acts.  Strahler specifically created AI-generated obscenity of the minor boys having sex with their mothers and/or grandmothers. 

Strahler created more than 700 images of both real victims and animated persons and posted them to a website dedicated to child sexual abuse. An additional 2,400 images and videos on his phone were flagged as depicting nudity, morphed child sexual abuse material or violence. 

Strahler’s criminal conduct was first reported to the Hilliard Police Department and the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office before being referred to the FBI. He was arrested on federal charges in June 2025.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Hilliard Police Chief Mike Woods and officials with the Maryland AI and Synthetic Media Threats Task Force (MASTTF); announced the sentence imposed today by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

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An Ohio corporation pleaded guilty this week in federal court in the Southern District of Ohio to a charge of negligent endangerment. The criminal charge is related to an explosion that resulted in the death of one employee and injuries to several more. 

Yenkin Majestic Paint Corporation operated a coatings and resin manufacturing facility in Columbus. As part of the resin manufacturing process, Yenkin would heat ingredients in large steel vessels known as “kettles.” In 2020 Yenkin decided to fabricate and install a new door, known as a “manway” on the top of Kettle 3. Working in conjunction with a local fabrication company, Yenkin installed the new manway in December 2020. Despite several examples of Kettle 3 seeing high pressure spikes, Yenkin never pressure tested the new manway before placing it back in service. Once installed, it immediately began leaking. Nevertheless, Yenkin continued to utilize Kettle #3, opting instead to add a thicker gasket, which Yenkin erroneously believed to be made of Teflon (but was actually silicone). 

On April 8, 2021, Yenkin was in the process of producing a resin in Kettle #3. Unbeknownst to the operator, the agitator inside Kettle 3 had stopped, likely due to electrical work Yenkin was conducting at the time. Around midnight, the operator turned the agitator back on, causing the contents to vaporize and increasing the pressure inside the kettle. Moments later, Kettle 3’s closed manway and gasket could no longer contain the pressure and began to release a mixture of hot resin liquid and flammable solvent vapor into the resin plant and then into adjacent operating areas of the plant. 

Multiple flammable gas detectors inside the facility started detecting an increasing concentration of flammable vapors during the release. However, the flammable gas detectors were not configured to sound an audible alarm. At 12:04 a.m., the released flammable vapors found an ignition source and exploded, which led to the death of one employee and severe injuries to several others. The explosion also damaged the resin plant and nearby structures.

“When safety protocols aren’t followed, pressurized equipment can cause terrible accidents like the tragedy at Yenkin in 2021,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “The company is pleading guilty to negligent endangerment, because their actions, or inactions, created a manufacturing environment that resulted in death and severe injury. Our hope in highlighting this case is that other manufacturers will vigilantly protect the safety of their workers and properly operate their equipment.”

“Companies that use hazardous chemicals have a responsibility to prevent releases that put people in danger of death and serious bodily injury,” said Assistant Administrator Jeffrey A. Hall of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “The resulting incident caused a tragic loss of life, injuries, and property damage. EPA will continue to hold companies accountable when they put workers and the public at risk by ignoring basic safety and emergency procedures.”

“Employees deserve to be protected from danger in the workplace – and we will hold companies accountable to that obligation,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II for the Southern District of Ohio. “This tragic circumstance serves as a stark reminder to all manufacturers that safety requirements must be followed.”

“Companies have an obligation to protect their workers,” said Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson. “Yenkin failed to keep its employees safe, and as a result, one person died and several others were injured. This guilty plea provides a measure of accountability for Yenkin’s failures.”

“This devastating incident underscores the serious consequences of why environmental safeguards and proper operating procedures matter,” said Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Director John Logue. “Ohio EPA remains committed to protecting Ohio’s communities and natural resources and holding regulated facilities accountable for meeting their environmental obligations.” 

The case was investigated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Criminal Investigation Division, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Special Investigations Unit, with support from the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Senior Trial Attorney and Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Cullman for ENRD and the Southern District of Ohio and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Twombly for the Southern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – John Bojorquez, 35, of Columbus, pleaded guilty in federal court to trafficking in counterfeit goods by importing counterfeit airbags from China – claiming they were Honda airbags – for vehicles he sold at his auto dealership JB Ohio Auto Sale, LLC.

According to court documents, in August 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection at Chicago O’Hare International Airport seized 20 counterfeit Honda airbags that were sent from China. The boxes were falsely described as containing “desktop night lights” and were addressed to Bojorquez at JB Ohio Auto Sale in Galloway.

The same shipper in China sent four similar additional shipments of counterfeit Honda airbags in August 2024, each labeled as “desktop night lights” or “blue desktop nightlights.”

When law enforcement executed a search warrant at JB Ohio Auto Sale in May 2025, they seized multiple counterfeit airbags, some of which were piled in a clothes hamper and covered by a towel. 

Bojorquez admitted to intentionally trafficking in at least 44 counterfeit airbags from August 2024 until May 2025.

Trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime punishable by up to ten years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and officials with the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT-OIG) announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate is representing the United States in this case.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued consumer safety advisories to alert vehicle owners and repair professionals to the dangers of counterfeit airbags, including consistent malfunctioning ranging from non-deployment of the airbag to the expulsion of metal shrapnel during deployment.

If you own a vehicle purchased from JB Auto Sale with a suspected counterfeit airbag, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office by calling 888-529-2820. 

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CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has indicted the former superintendent and operator of a local community school and a business partner with wire fraud and other crimes related to an $8 million fraud and kickback scheme.

Leondo Ramone Davenport, 50, of Cincinnati, and Jonathan Larry Ballew, 62, of Phoenix, Arizona, were arrested this morning by federal agents. 

“We’re putting an end to fraudsters exploiting public trust and profiting off of the American taxpayer,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “Offenders should know that my Office will work hard to ensure that those responsible for fraud end up paying the price and come to understand that the juice is not worth the squeeze.”

“This indictment alleges a brazen scheme that stole from both taxpayers and students,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Education dollars exist to support the learning and development of American children—not to fund the lifestyles of unscrupulous school officials. The Fraud Division commends the work of our federal and state partners whose efforts were essential in bringing these charges and ensuring that those who abuse positions of trust are held accountable.”

“Fraud against the government is fraud against every taxpayer and we are all victims of these schemes,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Jason Cromartie. “The FBI and Department of Justice are committed to rooting out fraud and holding accountable those who conduct illegal activities.” 

“This was an egregious kickback scheme by individuals using taxpayer resources to enrich themselves,” Auditor Faber said. “Thanks to the good work of the U.S. Attorney, the FBI and our other partners in law enforcement for pursuing justice in this case. Our investigation also continues, and we look forward to working alongside the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office to ensure everyone involved in these crimes is held accountable for their actions.”

Davenport served as the superintendent of Dohn Community High School from 2015 to 2019. Through an  LLC he incorporated, Dohn served as the operator of the school from 2019 until 2024.

Dohn was incorporated in Ohio as a not-for-profit organization around 1999 to serve as an addiction recovery program for high school students. It operated as a community school under Ohio law from approximately 2001 until 2025. In Ohio, a community school created under state law is a public school, independent of any school district.

Ballew incorporated at least four entities allegedly purporting to provide educational services, training, technology, staffing, and school construction and remodeling services to Dohn. 

The eight-count indictment alleges that, from 2021 to 2024, Davenport and Ballew participated in a kickback scheme to defraud the school. Ballew allegedly submitted false and fraudulent invoices to Dohn on behalf of the entities he controlled. Davenport allegedly authorized Dohn to pay the invoices and received a kickback in return. In total, during this time, Davenport allegedly authorized Dohn to pay over $8 million to Ballew and Ballew correspondingly paid over $4 million back to Davenport.

The charging document details that the defendants allegedly spent the money on luxury automobiles and rental properties. For example, in October 2023, Davenport and Ballew both signed a two-year rental agreement for a luxury vacation property near Miami, Florida, for $30,000 per month.

Davenport and Ballew are each charged with wire fraud, a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison and engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from unlawful activity, which carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew C. Singer is representing the United States in this case.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

# # #

CINCINNATI – A Cincinnati man pleaded guilty in federal court here today to vandalizing Vice President JD Vance’s Cincinnati home.

Specifically, William D. DeFoor, 26, pleaded guilty to engaging in acts of physical violence against government officials or property and causing willful injury or depredation to property of the United States. 

“Acts of violence directed against our political leaders, their families, or property, have no place in our society and will not be tolerated. Our elected leaders, at all levels of government, must be permitted to carry out their duties free from threats, vandalism, and other forms of violence,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “Perpetrators like DeFoor, who put that freedom at risk, particularly through violent, destructive actions, will, like here, be vigorously prosecuted.”

DeFoor was charged by criminal complaint and indicted by a federal grand jury in January and has remained in custody since his arrest.

According to court documents, around midnight on Jan. 5, United States Secret Service (USSS) agents observed DeFoor running along the front fence of the protected residence. DeFoor breached the property line at the driveway and attempted to break the driver’s side window of an unmarked federal law enforcement vehicle blocking the driveway entrance. DeFoor used a hammer and struck a vehicle window three times.

DeFoor refused law enforcement commands to stop and drop the weapon. DeFoor ignored all commands and began to use the hammer to break large, historic glass windows across the front of the protected residence. DeFoor’s hammer strikes also caused damage to the enhanced security assets on each window owned by the United States government and valued at approximately $28,000.

The defendant then attempted to flee on foot and was detained by USSS agents and Cincinnati police officers.

Engaging in acts of physical violence against government officials or property and causing willful injury or depredation to property of the United States are each federal crimes punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Rees, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Cincinnati Police Acting Chief Adam Hennie announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Douglas R. Cole. Executive Assistant United States Attorney Christy L. Muncy is representing the United States in this case.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Grove City man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to receiving and possessing child pornography.

Neil R. Brown, 41, worked at multiple cell phone stores in Columbus and, in addition to receiving child pornography files, Brown admitted that he also captured nude photos and videos from customers’ phones.

A cyber tipline report received in January 2025 led investigators to search Brown’s digital accounts and devices. 

Investigators discovered more than 75 images and videos of child pornography on Brown’s cell phone, including child sexual abuse material of prepubescent minors approximately 7 to 9 years old. Brown paid virtual currency on an app to receive videos of child sexual abuse material.

According to court documents, Brown was employed by Cellular Sales and would take the phones of female customers and search through them for sexual or illicit content. Brown then captured the content on his own phone.

Agents also recovered 59 sexual images and videos of Cellular Sales customers that Brown had captured on his phone. 

Brown was charged federally in December 2025.

Receipt of child pornography is a federal crime punishable by five to 20 years in prison and possessing child pornography carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and other members of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

# # #

CINCINNATI – Kyle Rist, 39, of Cincinnati, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to two child exploitation crimes involving online conduct with a teenager and in-person conduct with a 7-year-old.

Rist admitted to coercion and enticement and sexual exploitation of children and faces 15 to 30 years in prison. 

According to court documents, in September 2023, the grandparents of a teenaged victim alerted law enforcement in Oregon that their granddaughter had been sending and receiving sexually explicit videos of herself and of Rist through Facebook and SnapChat.

Rist referred to himself as daddy to the victim and told the victim they were in a relationship. Rist – pretending to be another man by the name of Jeremy Hadley – had ongoing online discussions with the same teenage victim. 

Between August and November 2024, Rist sexually exploited a 7-year-old child by creating videos and images of the victim engaging in and assisting another person in sexually explicit conduct.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Douglas R. Cole. Assistant United States Attorney Danielle E. Margeaux and Kyle J. Healey are representing the United States in this case.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Lancaster man was sentenced in federal court today to 80 months in prison for receiving child pornography.

Carson A. Bigham, 24, was originally arrested on federal charges in May 2025. Bigham was charged in a bill of information filed in January 2026 with receipt of child pornography. 

According to court documents, law enforcement received two separate Cybertips from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) related to a Columbus man who was charged with federal child pornography crimes in March 2025, including exploitation of a minor. 

As part of their investigation, devices were seized from the Columbus man. Law enforcement’s forensic review of the devices revealed conversations between the Columbus man and Bigham. The conversations between the two men were sexual in nature and included discussions about engaging in sex with minors. Between August 2024 and May 2025, Bigham received child pornography during these discussions, including files that depicted prepubescent minors engaged in sex acts with adults.  He also solicited the Columbus man for images of a fictitious female minor Bigham believed existed.

Law enforcement officers learned that Bigham was at the time employed as a Columbus firefighter and photographs of Bigham match those sent to the Columbus man during their conversations. 

Bigham pleaded guilty in February.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin; other members of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force; and officials from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Columbus Airport Group and Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ryan C. Driscoll, 42, of Columbus, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 264 months in prison for distributing and receiving child pornography. 

According to court documents, in June 2025, HSI Columbus received a tip from HSI Hague regarding Driscoll, who was communicating online with the username “diaperundiesdude.” Driscoll was a registered sex offender at the time and was a member of multiple online groups dedicated to the distribution of child sexual abuse material. 

Driscoll’s online activity involved child pornography depicting infants, toddlers and young children, as well as a category known as “hurtcore.”

A forensic review of Driscoll’s cell phone revealed more than 1,000 videos and 800 images of child sexual abuse. 

Driscoll also had a former federal conviction in the Southern District of Ohio for possessing child pornography. He was sentenced in 2012 to five years in prison. Driscoll was under federal supervised release at the time of his new offense. As such, he was sentenced to an additional 10 months in prison for violating the rules of his supervised release to be served consecutively to the 22-year term of imprisonment.  

The defendant was charged in this current case in July 2025 and pleaded guilty in November 2025. 

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit, announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

# # #

CINCINNATI – A Cincinnati man who was arrested in March as part of a federal, state and local violent crime reduction initiative pleaded guilty in federal court here to illegally possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon.

Austin Fowler, 46, has previous convictions for aggravated robbery, drug possession, drug trafficking and weapons under disability.

According to court documents, Cincinnati police officers were conducting an investigation into a high-crime area in November 2025 when they saw Fowler commit a pedestrian violation. When an officer attempted to contact Fowler, Fowler ran and attempted to jump a fence to avoid capture. The defendant was apprehended and had a loaded pistol in his jacket pocket. 

Fowler was arrested on March 9 and remains in custody pending sentencing.

Possessing a firearm or ammunition as a previously convicted felon is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Cincinnati Interim Police Chief Adam Hennie announced the guilty plea entered on Aug. 12 before Senior U.S. District Judge Susan J. Dlott. Assistant United States Attorney Ashley N. Brucato is representing the United States in this case.

# # #

CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has indicted a Butler County registered sex offender who allegedly committed aggravated sexual abuse against a 10-year-old victim.

Adam Kendel, 43, of Fairfield Township, was arrested on related local charges in April. He was indicted federally in late July and taken into federal custody on Aug. 12. Kendel is due to appear in U.S. District Court on Aug. 18 for a detention hearing.

According to charging documents, on Feb. 28, Kendel crossed a state line with the intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor when he allegedly traveled from Ohio to Kentucky to engage in sexual conduct with the child victim. The indictment also alleges that, from August 2025 through March 2026, Kendel coerced and enticed the 10-year-old Kentucky girl to engage in sexual activity and produce child pornography. The final count in the indictment charges Kendel with committing new sex crimes while already registered as a sex offender.

Aggravated sexual abuse is punishable at least 30 years and up to life in prison. Coercion and enticement carries a potential penalty of at least 10 years and up to life in prison. Committing these crimes while registered as a sex offender adds a mandatory 10-year prison sentence to any other sentence imposed.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and the Ashland, Kentucky, and Fairfield Township police departments announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorneys Kyle J. Healey and Ryan A. Keefe are representing the United States in this case.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A defendant convicted at trial in February of six counts of drug and gun crimes related to 28 kilograms of drugs found stashed in hidden compartments of a vehicle being hauled from California to Polaris Fashion Place was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 322 months in prison.

The case against Terrance Colvin, 39, of Columbus, Ohio, involved 27 kilograms of narcotics.  

According to court documents and trial testimony, in May 2024, local HSI agents were notified by HSI Albuquerque that the New Mexico State Police stopped a commercial car hauler. One of the vehicles was to be delivered to Polaris Fashion Place in Delaware County. That vehicle had two hidden compartments and inside, investigators discovered 21 kilograms of methamphetamine and six kilograms of cocaine.

Federal and local law enforcement officials arranged for the controlled delivery of the vehicle to the Polaris mall parking lot. 

Colvin took an Uber to Polaris Fashion Place to retrieve the vehicle upon delivery and drove the vehicle to his apartment in the 801 Polaris Apartments. Colvin parked the vehicle in a private parking garage next to a 2015 Cadillac Escalade and accessed the hidden compartments to transfer the narcotics, which law enforcement had primarily replaced with sham narcotics, into a duffel bag before being apprehended by law enforcement.

In a subsequent search of Colvin’s apartment, agents discovered and seized additional bulk amounts of narcotics, including fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine. They also seized three loaded firearms. 

As a previously convicted felon, Colvin is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. His criminal history includes arrests and convictions for various narcotics and weapons-related charges, kidnapping, receiving stolen property, driving under the influence, obstructing justice and disorderly conduct. 

Colvin was originally indicted in June 2024. 

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and officials with the Delaware County Drug Task Force announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin W. Kelley represented the United States in this case.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A couple from Logan County pleaded guilty in federal court to participating in a narcotics conspiracy involving bulk amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the mail.

Justin Salsburey, 44, pleaded guilty today, and Ruthann Rankin, 39, pleaded guilty last week.

According to court documents, in early November 2025, the Ohio High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force received information from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office that Salsburey was receiving parcels of bulk narcotics at his residence in Bellefontaine and that his wife was involved in the narcotics trafficking. 

Further investigation revealed that between August 2024 and December 2025, the husband and wife received in the mail approximately 260 parcels from throughout the United States. 

Law enforcement surveillance showed Salsburey and Rankin retrieving the parcels and then placing drugs in a cooler on their porch for pickup. Salsburey also drove to a Post Office in Dublin to mail fentanyl and methamphetamine pills out to customers. For example, he sent 52 parcels from addresses in Bellefontaine to a man in Middleburg Heights. 

When law enforcement officials conducted a search warrant at the couple’s residence, they discovered bulk fentanyl and methamphetamine pills, suspected steroid virals and 12 firearms. 

Rankin told authorities she assisted Salsburey in selling steroids and “Adderall” pills and that her husband started selling steroids and progressed to other drugs. 

Salsburey and Rankin each pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine and at least 40 grams of fentanyl, which carries a potential penalty of at least 10 years and up to life in prison. 

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; David Cunningham, Acting Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); and Logan County Sheriff Randall J. Dodds announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Pakiz and Jennifer M. Rausch are representing the United States in this case.

# # #

CINCINNATI – A repeat offender pleaded guilty in federal court here today to illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

Terrill Hill, 21, of Cincinnati, was previously convicted of a local firearms felony in 2025 and sentenced to 24 months of community control. He was charged federally in February 2026.

According to his plea documents, in November and December 2025, photos on Instagram showed Hill possessing a unique firearm. The firearm was a Glock with an extended magazine, a switch on the back, and a flashlight/laser pointer under the barrel. A switch is a metal device that effectively converts semi-automatic firearms into machineguns. 

Agents executed a search warrant at a residence used by Hill and recovered the same firearm Hill had been seen holding in social media posts. 

Possessing a firearm as a convicted felon is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) announced the guilty plea entered today before Jeffery P. Hopkins. Assistant United States Attorney Frederic C. Shadley is representing the United States in this case.

# # #

CINCINNATI – Three defendants were convicted and sentenced in the Southern District of Ohio as part of a law enforcement operation against a dark web drug trafficking organization. 

The coordinated multinational operation led to arrests of key members of the group in Florida, North Carolina, and Medellin, Colombia. 

Between July 2017 and May 2023, the Undertaker45 drug trafficking organization operated as a sophisticated, transnational criminal enterprise that used the dark web marketplaces DarkMarket, White House, Dark0de, Dark0de Reborn and ASAP, along with encrypted messaging platforms like Wickr and Telegram, to distribute: (1) counterfeit OxyContin pills that actually contained fentanyl; and (2) counterfeit Adderall pills that actually contained methamphetamine. The organization was led from Medellín, Colombia, and supported by U.S.-based cell leaders in Miami, Florida, and Charlotte, North Carolina. 

In Cincinnati, Cesar Augusto Olmos Usaquen, 51; Juan Carlos Carroll Borrero, 43; and Eduardo Villarroel Bellorin, 37; were prosecuted for participating in the drug and money laundering conspiracies. 

According to court documents, Olmos Usaquen led the organization from Medellin, Colombia, where he ran the organization’s dark web presence. This included taking orders over the dark web and coordinating the shipment of counterfeit pills with his co-defendants.  

In Miami, Carroll Borrero was responsible for receiving bulk shipments of counterfeit pills and then distributing those pills throughout the United States to the organization’s clients. The pills were commonly shipped in old DVD cases to avoid detection.  

Villaroel Bellorin worked in North Carolina. There, he received bulk pill shipments and provided them to Carroll Borrero for further distribution. Villaroel Bellorin also coordinated the group’s money laundering efforts. The group received payments in cryptocurrency, largely bitcoin, before moving those funds through a variety of wallets to avoid law enforcement detection and eventually withdraw the funds in fiat currency. 

In all, the group sold approximately 40 kilograms of methamphetamine and fentanyl pills and laundered $2.5 million in drug proceeds.

Usaquen and Borrero were each sentenced to 90 months in prison. Bellorin received a term of imprisonment of 38 months in prison.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Cincinnati Division; Joseph O. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); and Mason Police Chief Levi Wells; and officials with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, Department of Justice Office of International Affairs, Colombian National Police and DEA Colombia announced the sentences imposed. Assistant United States Attorney Frederic C. Shadley is representing the United States in this case.

This case part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Cincinnati comprises agents and officers from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A previously convicted felon currently on federal supervised release pleaded guilty in federal court here today to new gun and drug crimes.

Jashon Tatum, 29, of Columbus, led Columbus police officers on a high-speed chase in August 2024, striking another vehicle, before ultimately being caught with a firearm and machinegun conversion device and narcotics. He admitted in court today to possessing a machinegun, possessing ammunition as a previously convicted felon and possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances.

According to court documents, on Aug. 28, 2024, Columbus police officers used a phone ping to locate Tatum near Sullivant and South Wayne avenues as Tatum had active felony warrants. Officers observed Tatum driving a Mercedes Benz with the license plate “2BLK4U.” A police helicopter was deployed. 

Tatum began to drive erratically on I-71, almost causing several accidents. He exited near 11th Avenue and struck another car. After crashing, Tatum then attempted to flee on foot, throwing things as CPD SWAT and task force officers with the ATF pursued him. He was ultimately taken into custody. 

Investigators discovered a pistol with an attached machinegun conversion device, a magazine with ammunition and narcotics containing fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine base. 

Tatum admitted to having fentanyl and crack cocaine but told officers he cut his fentanyl with sugar to make it less dangerous. He said he had been selling drugs to make money to pay for legal counsel in his other criminal cases.

Tatum was indicted and arrested in this case in July 2025.

Possessing a machinegun conversion device is a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Possessing ammunition as a previously convicted felon carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison. The narcotics charge in this case involves a prison term of five to 40 years. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the guilty plea offered today before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Courter M. Shimeall. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth A. Geraghty is representing the United States in this case.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal jury has convicted Stephen Sullens, 29, of Columbus, on all counts as charged, finding him guilty of three drug and gun crimes.

The verdict was announced today following a trial that began on Aug. 4 before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson.

According to court documents and trial testimony, on July 18, 2024, Sullens possessed with intent to distribute fentanyl within 1,000 feet of Saint Mary’s Catholic School. Marietta police officers responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle. Sullens was in the vehicle in an alley behind a residence on 5th Street. When officers encountered the vehicle and its occupants, a police canine alerted, and officers discovered fentanyl and a pistol with a loaded magazine.

As a previously convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. 

Sullens was originally indicted in this case in June 2025. He was convicted of three counts as charged in a superseding indictment in July 2026.

Sullens faces at least six years and up to life in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); Marietta Police Chief Katherine Warden; and officials with the Southeast Major Crimes Task Force announced today’s verdict. Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin W. Kelley and Nicole Pakiz are representing the United States in this case.

# # #

DAYTON, Ohio – An illegal alien from Mexico pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to participating in a narcotics conspiracy that involved approximately a kilogram of fentanyl being brought to the Dayton area from Philadelphia. He separately pleaded to an immigration offense charging him with eluding inspection of immigration authorities.   

Luis Gomez-Andres, 27, and Jonathan Salomon-Muguel, 22, of Dayton, were caught traveling with approximately a kilogram of fentanyl they obtained in Philadelphia to bring back to Dayton. 

According to charging documents, in September 2025, Gomez-Andres was stopped for a traffic violation by law enforcement in Dayton, Ohio, and discovered to be illegally in the United States. Soon thereafter, immigration authorities returned Gomez-Andres to his country of citizenship.  

Four months later, in January 2026, law enforcement developed information that Gomez-Andres illegally had returned to the United States. Based on that information, federal agents obtained an arrest warrant against Gomez-Andres for a criminal immigration offense and began to search for him in the community.

On Jan. 21, 2026, as federal agents continued their search, Gomez-Andres was stopped in a vehicle for a traffic violation in the state of Delaware. Salomon-Muguel was with him.  During a search of their vehicle, officers discovered hidden within it a black metal safe containing bulk fentanyl bound for Dayton, Ohio. 

The narcotics conspiracy in this case is punishable by at least 10 years and up to life in prison. Charges remain pending against Salomon-Muguel.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Joseph O. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Detroit announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Michael J. Newman. Assistant United States Attorney Rob Painter is representing the United States in this case.

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

# # #

CINCINNATI – A Mexican citizen living in West Chester with an expired visa, who owned bars in Cincinnati and Middletown, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiring to distribute drugs from the businesses. The defendant also participated in the buying and selling of stolen vehicles.

Sergio Velasco-Cortes, 42, also known as Piojo, Gordo, and Bruno, was a member of a drug trafficking organization that distributed kilogram shipments of cocaine throughout the Southern District of Ohio, including the Cincinnati area. He owned and operated Ibiza Restaurant and Lounge in Cincinnati and Bar Bunny in Middletown. 

In fall 2024, Velasco-Cortes purchased Ibiza from another drug trafficking organization member for $250,000 in cash. Velasco-Cortes admitted to engaging in drug trafficking activity at both bar locations. 

In December 2024 and January 2025, Velasco-Cortes drove to a mechanic shop in Indianapolis to buy bulk amounts of narcotics to bring back to southern Ohio. The defendant was also connected to a coconspirator obtaining shipments of cocaine from Puerto Rico. The coconspirator delivered drugs to Velasco-Cortes at Bar Bunny in February 2025. 

When executing search warrants in March and April 2025, agents discovered seven stolen vehicles at Velasco-Cortes’s residence. Several of the vehicles had falsified VINs. Further investigation revealed Velasco-Cortes and others discussed buying, “cleaning,” and selling stolen cars.

Velasco-Cortes and five others were charged federally on April 1, 2025.

Velasco-Cortes faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Joseph O. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), announced the guilty plea entered on Aug. 4 before Senior U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett. Assistant United States Attorney David P. Dornette is representing the United States in this case.

This case part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Cincinnati comprises agents and officers from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Shannon “Michael” McTighe, 46, formerly of Thornville, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 480 months in prison for sexually exploiting at least four minor victims.

“McTighe committed horrific hands-on offenses against four young girls and amassed hundreds of thousands of videos and images of child sexual abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “Putting this defendant in federal prison for the next 40 years protects these victims from further abuse and online exploitation.”

According to court documents, McTighe possessed 300,000 images and videos of child pornography on his electronic devices. The content also included newly created material which depicted McTighe sexually abusing four minor victims to whom he had access. The abuse of one victim began when she was 7 years old.

McTighe was arrested by FBI agents in Canton, Ohio, on June 12, 2025. At the time of his arrest, agents recovered numerous digital media devices and three pairs of female juvenile underwear in a safe in McTighe’s residence. His cell phone history included terms like underage, jailbait girls and extremely young.

McTighe pleaded guilty in February 2026 to sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of child pornography.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the sentence imposed by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Two illegal aliens from Mexico were sentenced in federal court here to 10 years in prison for cocaine and gun crimes.

Laura Reyes Esquivel, 49, and Mario Gamino Sanchez, 30, both of Lewis Center, possessed with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and possessed a firearm in furtherance of their drug trafficking crimes. Reyes Esquivel was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Sanchez was sentenced last week by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson.

According to court documents, in June 2025, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop in which the couple were the sole occupants of the vehicle. Officers discovered more than two kilograms of cocaine and a loaded handgun inside the car. The couple planned to distribute the cocaine in the Columbus area for personal profit.

Sanchez and Reyes Esquivel were both charged in June 2025. Sanchez pleaded guilty in December 2025 and Reyes Esquivel in April 2026.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit, announced the sentences imposed. Assistant United States Attorney Sheila G. Lafferty is representing the United States in this case.

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

# # #

CINCINNATI – An illegal alien who was convicted locally of causing a head-on car crash that injured a Cincinnati Children’s Hospital nurse pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to illegally reentering the United States. 

Johan Perez-Ventura, 27, was deported from the United States in February 2019 near Houston, Texas. 

In November 2025, he was found by law enforcement in Butler County. Perez-Ventura was arrested on local charges after driving left of center and colliding with another vehicle. He was convicted at the local level in May 2026 of aggravated vehicular assault and sentenced to 54 months in prison. 

The defendant has also been convicted of several other offenses, including assault and two convictions for operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs in October 2024 and September 2023.

Illegally reentering the United States is a federal crime punishable by up to two years in prison.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Kevin Raycroft, Acting Field Office Director, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Detroit Field Office; announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Jeffery P. Hopkins. Assistant United States Attorney Danielle E. Margeaux is representing the United States in this case.

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

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A previously convicted felon whose toddler died by gunshot wound from an unsecured gun was indicted by a federal grand jury today for illegally possessing the firearm.

Deshawn Levelle Butler, 35, of Columbus, was arrested by federal agents on July 16 after originally being charged by criminal complaint.

According to charging documents, on July 11, Columbus police officers responded to a report of a shooting on Quinby Drive in Columbus. When officers arrived, they located a 21-month-old child suffering from an apparent gunshot wound and were told the child had accidentally shot himself. The victim was transported to Mount Carmel East Hospital and later pronounced deceased.

An affidavit details that Butler was allegedly with the child during the shooting and had fled the scene prior to law enforcement officials’ arrival. 

Butler turned himself in the next morning to Columbus police headquarters, where he allegedly told officers his son had discovered Butler’s 9mm handgun in an open safe in a bedroom. 

Butler was previously convicted of aggravated burglary and, as a result, is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Butler also had outstanding warrants for misdemeanor domestic violence charges.

Possessing a firearm as a convicted felon is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth A. Geraghty is representing the United States in this case.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

# # #

CINCINNATI – Robert Grimmett, 25, of South Point, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 360 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for creating child pornography of his sexual abuse of a toddler.

“Thanks to swift work and international coordination by our HSI colleagues, this defendant—who posed an active threat to a toddler—was in handcuffs in a matter of hours,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “I am grateful to the agents of HSI and to our prosecution team for saving this child from further abuse at the hands of Grimmett, who will now serve 30 years behind bars.”

According to court documents, on May 28, 2025, HSI Netherlands received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding newly produced child sexual abuse materials. 

Account data for the Kik application used to distribute the child pornography led investigators to Grimmett. His Facebook photos also confirmed his identity as the same man featured in the child sexual abuse materials.

Within one day of HSI Netherlands receiving the cyber tip, HSI Cincinnati obtained and executed a search warrant at Grimmett’s home and Grimmett was subsequently arrested.

Grimmett pleaded guilty in September 2025.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit, announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew W. McFarland. Executive Assistant United States Attorney Christy L. Muncy is representing the United States in this case.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

# # #

CINCINNATI – A federal jury has convicted Marico Keeling, 36, of Hamilton, Ohio, with three counts of narcotics crimes. Keeling was a drug dealer who distributed narcotics and conspired with others to distribute large quantities of narcotics into communities in the Southern District of Ohio and elsewhere. 

Specifically, Keeling was found guilty of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, distributing methamphetamine and distributing fentanyl. The verdict was announced yesterday afternoon following a trial that began on July 20 before U.S. District Judge Douglas R. Cole.

According to court documents and trial testimony, from at least August 2023 through October 2024, Keeling participated in a narcotics conspiracy.

Keeling had been the source of supply of nearly two pounds of methamphetamine and fentanyl discovered during an undercover drug operation in Wisconsin on Dec. 19, 2023. 

In Cincinnati, Keeling often met other drug dealers at Dewey Avenue, where Keeling’s co-defendant brother lived. 

While executing search warrants of his brother’s residence on Dewey Avenue as well as Keeling’s vehicle and residence in October 2024, investigators discovered both fentanyl and methamphetamine. 

The government proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Keeling was responsible for the distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl. He faces at least five years and up to 40 years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

Keeling was arrested and charged federally in October 2024. 

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Joseph O. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Detroit, announced the verdict. The DEA Cincinnati Resident Office was assisted in this investigation by members of the DEA Green Bay Resident Office, the Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group, the Sharonville Police Department, the Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center, the Covington Police Department and Ohio State Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony Springer and Ebunoluwa Taiwo are representing the United States in this case.

# # #

CINCINNATI – Kyle D. Lawrence, 43, of Buffalo, New York, pleaded guilty in federal court in Cincinnati today to transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Lawrence was arrested in late February after investigation into a missing Colerain teenager revealed he was previously involved with the minor.

Transporting a minor with the intent to engage in sexual activity is punishable by at least 10 years in prison.

According to court documents, on Feb. 16, Colerain Township police began investigating the circumstances surrounding a missing teenager. Officers reviewed video surveillance from the minor’s home and discovered that in January, the teenager entered a black Jeep Grand Cherokee with New York license plates. License plate readers and receipts confirm that Lawrence rented the vehicle and that he and the minor stayed at a Cincinnati hotel together on Jan. 31. 

It was discovered that Lawrence was the subject of a report to the FBI in May 2024. Lawrence was confronted by a citizen vigilante group while in Canada for traveling to Canada to have sexual contact with a purported 15-year-old girl. Agents in Buffalo had previously been in contact with Lawrence in response to the report. 

Further investigation by the FBI revealed two cyber tip reports to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding Lawrence’s Snapchat account and child exploitation activity. 

On Feb. 26, FBI agents in Buffalo executed a federal search warrant at Lawrence’s residence and seized several electronic devices, which contained child sexual abuse material.

Court documents detail that Lawrence told agents he communicated with the minor from Colerain on Snapchat and traveled to the Cincinnati area twice in January to meet up. He used the location services on Snapchat to locate the minor when he picked her up. 

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Colerain Township Police Chief Edwin C. Cordie III and Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Matthew W. McFarland. 

This was a joint investigation being conducted by the FBI divisions in Cincinnati and Buffalo, Colerain Township Police Department, New York State Police and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Healey is representing the United States in this case.

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

# # #

CINCINNATI – A local man was sentenced in federal court here today to 40 months in prison for defrauding victims out of more than $6.5 million through an online laundry and dry-cleaning pickup and delivery business.

Benjamin Cantey, 43, of Cincinnati, lied to investors and potential investors about his business’s financial stability, growth, and potential growth, and he lied about his business experience and prior business success.

According to court documents, in 2019, Cantey started Carbon IQ Inc., doing business as Rumby, as a Delaware corporation that he operated out of Cincinnati. Rumby was a venture-backed startup that purported to provide an e-commerce platform for pickup and delivery of laundry and dry cleaning. Cantey sought to raise investment money as the founder and CEO of the company. 

From 2020 through 2022, Cantey communicated false information that overstated Rumby’s revenue, profits, bank balance, growth and potential growth. He sent false presentation decks to victims. 

For example, Cantey claimed that Rumby ended May 2022 with a $1.5 million bank balance when in reality the account had a negative balance of approximately -$53,000. 

The defendant spent $850,000 in investor money to help purchase a 5,000-square-feet, $1.7 million home on Garden Place in Cincinnati. 

Cantey was indicted in December 2024 and pleaded guilty in October 2025 to wire fraud.

Vipal J. Patel, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Matthew W. McFarland. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew C. Singer is representing the United States in this case.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

# # #

An Ohio man was sentenced to prison today in connection with his involvement with online groups dedicated to creating and distributing videos depicting acts of extreme violence and sexual abuse against monkeys.

Nicholas T. Dryden, of Cincinnati, was sentenced to 108 months in prison and three years of supervised release for creating so-called “animal crush videos,” and for conspiring to create and distribute animal crush videos. 

According to court documents, in 2023 Dryden paid a minor residing in Indonesia to create videos of monkeys being tortured and abused. Dryden sold the resulting videos through various online groups which he administered to numerous other individuals. 

According to statements of facts signed by Dryden, the videos in question included depictions of baby and adolescent monkeys being tortured in a multitude of ways, including having their genitals burned and cut off.

“The conduct perpetrated by these defendants was reprehensible,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “Congress has said clearly that this conduct has no place in our society, and the Department of Justice stands ready to prosecute those who engaged in these heinous practices to the fullest extent of the law.” 

“Dryden, who resided in Cincinnati, paid a minor on the other side of the world to film the torture and abuse of monkeys and then sold those videos to others,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II for the Southern District of Ohio. “This sadistic and obscene conduct is unacceptable in any civilized society and Dryden will rightfully spend time in prison for his actions.” 

“This was an extraordinarily disturbing and heinous case of animal cruelty,” said Assistant Director Doug Ault of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement. “Orchestrating the deliberate torture and murder of baby primates is unconscionable. Our agents worked tirelessly to support the pursuit of justice. Today’s sentencing reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting the most vulnerable and sends a clear warning to anyone who would commit such acts: we will find you, and you will be held accountable.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and FBI investigated the case.

Senior Trial Attorney Adam C. Cullman of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section is prosecuting the case. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Oakley for the Southern District of Ohio also helped prosecute the case.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A previously convicted felon whose toddler died by gunshot wound from an unsecured gun now faces a federal charge for illegally possessing a firearm.

Deshawn Levelle Butler, 35, of Columbus, was arrested by federal agents earlier today and appeared in federal court in Columbus at 1:30pm. 

“As a previously convicted felon, Butler was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition at the time of this incident,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “Nothing can bring back the toddler who tragically died at the hands of Butler’s weapon, but we will use every federal tool at our disposal to ensure justice is accomplished in this matter.”

According to charging documents, on July 11, Columbus police officers responded to a report of a shooting on Quinby Drive in Columbus. When officers arrived, they located a 21-month-old child suffering from an apparent gunshot wound and were told the child had accidentally shot himself. The victim was transported to Mount Carmel East Hospital and later pronounced deceased.

An affidavit details that Butler was allegedly with the child during the shooting and had fled the scene prior to law enforcement officials’ arrival. 

Butler turned himself in the next morning to Columbus police headquarters, where he allegedly told officers his son had discovered Butler’s 9mm handgun in an open safe in a bedroom. 

Butler was previously convicted of aggravated burglary and, as a result, is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Butler also had outstanding warrants for misdemeanor domestic violence charges.

Possessing a firearm as a convicted felon is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth A. Geraghty is representing the United States in this case.

A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

# # #

CINCINNATI – A local man who ordered the murder of his own uncle during the summer of 2021 was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to life plus a mandatory consecutive 10 years in prison.

Jamal Binford, 34, of Dallas and Cincinnati, was convicted following a jury trial in February 2025.

“The evidence at trial proved that Binford ordered the cold-blooded execution of his own uncle and he did so simply to protect his drug trafficking organization,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “The defendant may not have pulled the trigger, but he ordered the execution and is equally responsible for the murder. A sentence of life in prison reflects the seriousness of Binford’s offenses and is just punishment.”

According to court documents and trial testimony, Binford purported to manage two co-defendants as boxers, presenting himself as a successful boxing promoter aiding young men he wanted to help off the streets. Binford sold young boxers on the dream of becoming pro fighters. Instead, used them as his soldiers in his drug trafficking enterprise.

Between May and November 2021, Binford sold kilograms of fentanyl and cocaine and hundreds of pounds of marijuana. To protect his drug trafficking operation, he ordered co-defendants Antwan Coach, Jr., 23, of Cincinnati, and Markel Hardy, 24, of Cincinnati, to murder his own uncle, Deonte Nuckols.

As the government outlined at trial, Binford paid the two other men $2,000 total to kill Mr. Nuckols, who had had been texting Binford that day about Binford paying a drug debt. 

Binford also assisted the co-defendants after the July 2021 robbery and murder of Kamar Williams in North College Hill. Mr. Williams was robbed of marijuana and a firearm and shot to death. Binford helped Hardy flee the scene. 

Binford was found guilty at trial of participating in the narcotics conspiracy, being an accessory after the fact, murder in connection with the drug trafficking conspiracy, use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and use of a firearm to commit murder.

Binford was arrested in February 2023 at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); Cincinnati Interim Police Chief Adam Hennie; North College Hill Interim Police Chief Craig Chaney; and St. Bernard Police Chief Michael Simos announced the sentence imposed today Senior by U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs of the Department’s Criminal Division also aided during the investigation.

Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley N. Brucato and Frederic C. Shadley represented the United States in this case.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – An illegal alien from Venezuela pleaded guilty in federal court here today to assaulting a federal officer.

Kendry Jose Cubian-Perez, 40, admitted to punching a federal officer during apprehension.

According to court documents, on May 8, law enforcement officials were conducting surveillance of a residence in Powell, attempting to apprehend a known criminal alien. Cubian-Perez exited the residence and entered a vehicle registered to the target of the enforcement operation. 

When an apprehension team officer turned on their emergency vehicle lights, Cubian-Perez attempted to flee. The defendant encountered an Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officer and punched the officer in the face, causing the officer’s tooth to puncture his bottom lip. Cubian-Perez tried to escape as the officer and others on scene responded to apprehend him and place him in handcuffs. 

Cubian-Perez was charged by criminal complaint on May 8 and indicted by a federal grand jury the same month. 

Assault of a federal officer inflicting bodily injury is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and Kevin Raycroft, Acting Field Office Director, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Detroit Field Office; announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Pakiz and Jennifer M. Rausch are representing the United States in this case.

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

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DAYTON, Ohio – A Georgia man who continued to traffic drugs after being indicted federally was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 170 months in prison.

David Gullatte, 39, of Lithonia, Georgia, was a prolific drug trafficker who brought bulk amounts of methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine into the Southern District of Ohio from a source of supply in California.

According to court documents, between 2020 and 2021, law enforcement intercepted multiple kilograms of narcotics being mailed to Gullatte. Gullatte would buy the drugs from California then arrange for the supplier to mail the drugs to homes in Atlanta and Dayton. Upon receiving the drug shipments, Gullatte resold them in southern Ohio and elsewhere.

For example, in September 2020, Gullatte obtained a drug shipment of more than 20 kilograms of methamphetamine in Atlanta and then arranged for another person to transport the drugs for delivery and resale in Dayton.

While under indictment for this conduct and pending trial, investigators caught Gullatte supplying cocaine and other drugs to a drug trafficking ring in Xenia.

Throughout the drug conspiracies, Gullatte was responsible for the trafficking of more than 30 kilograms of various controlled substances including cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl.  

Gullatte was originally indicted in May 2024. He was charged for his continued drug trafficking in March 2025. He pleaded guilty in both cases in September 2025.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the sentence imposed by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Walter H. Rice. Deputy Criminal Chief Brent G. Tabacchi, Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Amy M. Smith and Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth McCormick are representing the United States in these cases.

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DAYTON, Ohio – Christopher Creamer, 40, of Urbana, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to distributing child pornography.

The plea agreement includes a recommended sentence of between 60 and 210 months in prison.

According to court documents, from June to August 2025, Creamer communicated online with who he believed to be a Telegram user but was actually an FBI agent. Creamer admitted to sending two images and 16 videos of child pornography to the agent. He also discussed his interest in the sexual abuse of children.

In a subsequent search of Creamer’s electronic devices, agents discovered more than 3,000 images and 130 videos depicting child pornography, including images of the sexual abuse of infants and toddlers and sadomasochistic abuse. 

Creamer was arrested and charged by federal criminal complaint in March 2026.

Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division,  announced the guilty plea entered today before Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Rose. Assistant United States Attorney Christina E. Mahy is representing the United States in this case.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Approximately two years after he was released from prison for starving, beating and locking a 5-year-old child in a room for months, Timothi L. Cramer, 45, of Columbus, sexually exploited an 8-year-old. Cramer was sentenced in federal court here on July 10 to 393 months in prison. 

According to court documents, cyber tips were received regarding Cramer uploading hundreds of child pornography files in February and March 2024.

Metadata for one image was flagged as “newly produced content” and indicated it had been created in February 2024 at or near the Baymont Inn in Columbus. The explicit photo depicted an 8-year-old victim. Cramer admitted to asking the child to pull down her pants for him for the photo. 

Subsequent investigation of images and videos in Cramer’s Gmail accounts revealed that Cramer seemed to have regular access to at least three minors. 

In addition, investigation of his electronics showed that Cramer had obtained a voluminous catalog of child sexual abuse images and videos from the internet, including of toddlers and videos that depicted minors engaged in bestiality and subjected to sadistic and masochistic abuse. 

The defendant was previously convicted in 2006 in Lake County, Florida, of Cruelty Toward Child Aggravated Child Abuse Torture and was sentenced to 20 years in prison with credit for 504 days served. He was released from prison in 2022. 

Cramer pleaded guilty in this case in February 2025 to sexually exploiting a minor and possessing child pornography.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

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DAYTON, Ohio – The final of four fugitives charged in June as part of “Operation Fly City” were arrested by federal agents yesterday evening.

U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II announced on June 22 with federal law enforcement partners the results of an eight-week operation to fight gun violence and drug trafficking in Dayton. Forty-seven defendants face federal charges.

During the operation, which began on April 27, agents seized 176 firearms, as well as machinegun conversion devices and kilogram quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine.  

At the time of the announcement, four defendants remained at large: Isaiah Chancellor, 25, of Dayton; Anthony Scott, 23, of Dayton; Eucelf Taste Sr., 46, of Trotwood; and Eucelf Taste Jr., 22, of Dayton. 

Father and son Taste Sr. and Taste Jr. were arrested yesterday by officials with the Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (SOFAST), which is led by the United States Marshals Service. SOFAST arrested Taste Sr. and Taste Jr. in the parking lot of a business complex in Oakwood.  

Taste Jr. allegedly sold fentanyl and a machinegun to undercover officers. He told officers he was a member of the 41 Boyz, a violent drug trafficking organization that law enforcement knows to offer protection services to other drug dealers. Charging documents detail that Taste Jr. allegedly offered these services to undercover officers, saying he and others would willingly provide armed security at a five-kilogram drug deal. Taste Jr. allegedly showed up to the purported deal site on June 9, armed, and brought with him two other associates who were also armed. 

Taste Jr. also allegedly discussed his father, saying his father was a major drug trafficker with direct drug connections to Mexico. 

Taste Sr. allegedly received kilograms of narcotics every month from his drug source. The son showed undercover officers a June 8 photo of his father holding up a trash bag purportedly filled with half a million dollars in cash from drug sales. Through an introduction from Taste Jr., Taste Sr. then allegedly sold a kilogram of fentanyl to an undercover officer.

The two other fugitives were taken into custody last month. Chancellor was arrested June 23. He is charged with conspiring to distribute fentanyl and distributing 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Scott, who was arrested on June 30, is charged with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. 

The charges against all 47 defendants were brought via 20 federal indictments and three federal criminal complaints. Indictments and criminal complaints merely contain allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Deputy Criminal Chief Brent G. Tabacchi, Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Amy M. Smith, Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly K. Rossi, Elizabeth L. McCormick, Rob Painter, Brendan Sullivan, Erica D. Lunderman, Christina E. Mahy and Ryan A. Saunders and Special Assistant United States attorney Allison Oswall are representing the United States in these cases. 

These cases are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Cincinnati comprises agents and officers from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

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DAYTON, Ohio – Dylan Hiner, 20, of Dayton, was sentenced in federal court here to 27 months in prison for illegally receiving a firearm or ammunition while under indictment for another felony crime.

According to court documents, Hiner was attending a Halloween party on Nov. 1, 2025, at the University of Dayton. While at the party, Hiner participated in a shootout. The defendant fired multiple rounds of ammunition into the air. A student was shot in the leg by another suspect who was also firing a weapon.

The Dayton Police Department and University of Dayton Police Department arrived on scene and discovered multiple rounds of ammunition and observed home surveillance footage. Video surveillance shows Hiner discharging a firearm between houses on Evanston Avenue.

At the time of this incident, Hiner was under indictment in Montgomery County for allegedly carrying a concealed weapon and improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle and therefore was prohibited by federal law from receiving a firearm or ammunition.

Hiner has been suspected of multiple shootings and other acts of violence in 2025. The United States detailed in its sentencing memorandum that Hiner was captured on surveillance and in Instagram posts possessing and firing weapons.

Hiner was arrested and charged federally on Nov. 10, 2025. He pleaded guilty in this federal case in February.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); Dayton Police Chief Eric Henderson and University of Dayton Police Chief Steve Durian announced the sentence imposed on July 14 by U.S. District Judge Michal J. Newman. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders is representing the United States in this case.

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

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