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23 September 2026
Federal Prison Awaits Wilson Gang Banger for Drug and Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
NEW BERN N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Mijuel Taylor, also known as “Mthang,” 24, of Wilson to almost 12 years in federal prison for possessing meth with intent to distribute it and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
“Stashing a loaded gun in your waistband while standing in a house tied to gang shootings, with a pocket full of meth, is a fast track to federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “Wilson has seen far too many gang‑related shootings and lawlessness. This conduct only fuels more violence in a vicious cycle. The rules for staying out of trouble are simple: no gangs, no illegal guns, and don’t sell drugs. These young thugs destroy their families and communities with guns and drugs and the inevitable violence that follows. If you somehow avoid getting shot, you go to prison to rot. Get smart. Choose better.”
In the summer of 2024, Wilson experienced at least 12 gang‑related shootings. Investigators determined the violence fueled from a dangerous rivalry between two local hybrid gangs; the “600/Snail/Taliban,” tied to the Nine Trey Gangster Bloods, and “D.M.G.,” linked to the 52 Hoover Gangster Crips. During the investigation, law enforcement learned that the gang banger stored firearms tied to the gang shootings at a residence in Wilson.
On July 25, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at that residence suspected of hiding guns tied to gang‑related shootings. As they moved in, officers confronted Taylor near a side door and immediately detained him. During the search, they found a loaded 9‑millimeter handgun tucked into his waistband and more than 48 pills containing meth in his pocket.
“This sentencing underscores the FBI’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the public and dismantling the violent criminal networks that undermine community safety. Gang-related violence remains a significant driver of violent crime nationwide, with federal assessments showing that criminal gangs are responsible for a substantial share of shootings and gun trafficking activity across the United States. Through close coordination with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to disrupt the organizations that fuel this violence, remove illegally possessed firearms from our streets, and ensure that individuals who traffic in narcotics and weapons are held fully accountable under federal law," said Reid Davis, the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina.
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.
W. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The FBI’s Raleigh Durham Safe Streets Task Force and the Wilson Police Department investigated the case.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-00325-FL.
Dual Citizen Convicted of Smuggling Goods from the United States to RussiaRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The President of a freight forwarding company has been convicted by a federal jury in Boston of unlawfully exporting an Orbitrap Exploris GC 240 Mass Spectrometer from the United States into Russia without a license.
Kirill Gordei, 37, was convicted yesterday following a four day trial, of one count of conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States; one count of smuggling goods from the United States; and one count of export of a spectrometer which is a commerce control item. U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun scheduled sentencing for Jan. 12, 2027. Gordei was arrested and charged in June 2024.
Gordei, a citizen of Belarus and the United States who resides in Hallandale, Fla., is the President of Apelsin Logistics, a freight forwarding company, located in Hallandale Beach, Fla. Apelsin also has an address in Russia and two websites both of which are registered and hosted in Russia.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, a series of stringent export controls were implemented that restrict Russia’s access to the technologies and other items that it needs to sustain its attack on Ukraine. As of April 8, 2022, license requirements for exports, reexports and transfers to or within Russia were expanded to cover the most sensitive items subject to controls on the Commerce Control List.
In August 2023, Gordei facilitated the export of an Orbitrap Exploris GC 240 Mass Spectrometer – an item that delivers high data quality and versatility to accelerate scientific discovery for academic, industry research, government and omics laboratories – from the United States to Russia via Turkey, in violation of the licensing requirements. In order to facilitate the transaction, Gordei provided falsified documentation to an American freight forwarding company indicating that the mass spectrometer was destined to Uzbekistan, rather than to Russia. Gordei simultaneously arranged for the mass spectrometer to be shipped directly to Moscow after it arrived in Turkey.
“Mr. Gordei went to great lengths to evade U.S. export controls, falsifying the destination of controlled technology and routing it through Turkey before sending it to Russia,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “Export controls are a vital tool for protecting national and international security. We will continue to hold those who deliberately circumvent export controls accountable.”
“The Bureau of Industry and Security will relentlessly pursue those who violate U.S. export control laws,” stated David Peters, Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement, U.S. Department of Commerce. “This conviction demonstrates our commitment to dismantling these dangerous criminal networks.”
The charge of violating the Export Control Reform Act provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1,000,000. The charge of smuggling goods from the United States provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States provides for a sentence of five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
U.S. Attorney Foley, Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg of the National Security Division and Assistant Secretary Peters made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Marshals Service; and the Transportation Security Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timonthy Kistner and Christopher Looney of the National Security Unit are prosecuting the case with assistance from Trial Attorney Christopher Magnani of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence & Export Control Section.
Defendant Convicted of Violent Robbery of Postal Worker, Theft of Mail, and Bank FraudRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Brooklyn yesterday convicted Mahwanga Campbell, also known as “Mahwanga Elijah Solo Campbell” and “Elijah Campbell,” on all counts of a superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to rob a mail carrier, possession of stolen mail, and the fraudulent deposit of stolen and/or altered United States Treasury checks. The charges arise from Campbell’s participation in the violent assault and robbery of a United States Postal Service (USPS) mail carrier in Queens, New York. The verdict was delivered after a two-week trial before United States District Judge Eric N. Vitaliano. When sentenced, Campbell faces up to 30 years’ imprisonment. Campbell’s co-conspirators remain at large.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, New York Division (USPIS), announced the verdict.
“Today’s verdict holds the defendant accountable for the violent robbery of a United States Postal Service mail carrier,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Mail carriers perform a vital function and are part of the fabric of our communities. Our Office will vigorously prosecute criminals who assault government employees while they are doing their job and we will not rest until the co-conspirators in this cowardly attack are also brought to justice.”“U.S. Postal Service Letter Carriers perform a core function in serving the community every day and they should be able to do so without fear. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will aggressively investigate all those who seek to commit violence against USPS Letter Carriers and with the help of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District Court of New York hold all who would commit such acts accountable,” stated USPS Inspector in Charge Larco-Ward
As proved at trial, on September 2, 2023, a USPS mail carrier was delivering mail in the vicinity of Union Hall Street in Jamaica, Queens, when he was punched in the face, thrown to the pavement, and robbed of his arrow key (a USPS key used by mail carriers to open mailboxes) by two of Campbell’s co‑conspirators, while Campbell acted as the getaway driver. The victim suffered pain to his head and a cracked tooth as a result of the attack. Law enforcement traced the getaway vehicle driven by Campbell using surveillance video and license plate trackers. On February 11, 2025, pursuant to a warrant, Campbell was arrested during a traffic stop by a police officer in Charlotte, South Carolina, and Campbell’s cell phones were seized.
Campbell’s phones were searched pursuant to a judicially authorized search warrant and found to contain images and videos of checks made out to people other than Campbell, as well as identification documents in the names of other people. The checks depicted on Campbell’s phones were issued to various payees other than Campbell by various individuals and companies across multiple states, including New York, Delaware, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Georgia, with issue dates ranging from at least June 2023 to February 2025. Several of the checks depicted on the phones were issued by payors located within the geographic area where mailboxes can be accessed with the stolen arrow key and were dated within three weeks of the date of the robbery in Queens. Campbell’s phone also contained videos showing how stolen checks were altered: first by “washing” the recipient and dollar amount off the stolen checks by dissolving the handwritten ink in acetone or brake fluid, and then by replacing those with a new recipient and dollar amount.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Russell Noble, Alessandra Rafalson, and Andrew Wang are in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Johnson Peow.
The Defendant:
MAHWANGA CAMPBELL (also known as” Mahwanga Elijah Solo Campbell” and “Elijah Campbell”)
Age: 34
Charlotte, North CarolinaE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-218 (ENV)
Columbus drug dealer sentenced to 20 years in prisonRead the Press Release
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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Columbia Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm Offense Related to Columbia Woman’s MurderRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Anthony Detemrius Reese, 56, of Columbia, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm in relation to the murder of a Columbia woman.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on the night of Aug. 29, 2025, Reese left a residence in Cayce with Angela Fuller. In the early morning of Aug. 30, 2025, Reese dumped Fuller’s dead body in a wooded area off Two Notch Road.
The Columbia Police Department identified Reese as the last person with Fuller. On Aug. 31, 2025, Columbia Police officers spotted Reese’s vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but he instead fled, led officers on a high-speed chase, and eventually crashed the car in Lexington. Officers recovered a loaded firearm from Reese’s vehicle. Following an extensive search, law enforcement recovered Fuller’s body. Ballistic testing confirmed that the firearm found in Reese’s possession was used to kill Fuller.
Reese has prior felony convictions for domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature, shoplifting, burglary, and assault and battery. He is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson concluded that Reese was responsible for Fuller’s murder and that the firearm was used to commit the murder. Judge Anderson sentenced Reese to 180 months’ imprisonment, the statutory maximum, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the City of Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar J. Fyall is prosecuting the case.
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Brockton Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brockton man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to drug distribution and conspiracy charges.
Antonio Dossantos-Tirado, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base and one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for Dec. 21, 2026. Dossantos-Tirado was arrested and charged in October 2025.
On May 29, 2025, Dossantos-Tirado sold 55 grams of crack-cocaine in the Sunset Hill housing development in Fall River, Mass. On June 10, 2025 Dossantos-Tirado organized the sale of cocaine, fentanyl and a firearm between a relative and a cooperating witness.
The charge of distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base carries a sentence of no less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, no less than four years and up to a lifetime of supervision and a fine of up to $5 million. The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Fall River Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Reynolds III of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the cases.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Bloomfield Man Pleads Guilty to Fatal StabbingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Bloomfield man pleaded guilty to fatally stabbing a man during an argument.
According to court documents, on May 20, 2026, Seviano Kee, 18, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, got into a physical altercation with John Doe. During the altercation, Kee fatally stabbed John Doe with a kitchen knife and was not acting in self-defense.
Kee pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. At sentencing, he faces up to 15 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Mondragon is prosecuting the case.
Baltimore Man Pleads Guilty to Drug-Trafficking and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A Baltimore man pled guilty in federal court to charges stemming from his role as a drug trafficker.
Kanye Green, 23, admitted to possession of a firearm and ammunition by the respondent of a domestic violence protective order and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).
According to court documents, on October 28, 2025, as BPD officers conducted proactive enforcement in Northwest Baltimore, they observed Green standing on a corner. Officers noticed Green’s jacket seemed to bulge out, indicating that he possessed a heavy object consistent with a firearm.
Then officers approached Green and asked him if he possessed a firearm. Green then lifted his shirt and replied “no,” but stated he had weed on him. As Green removed the packet of marijuana from his clothing, an officer observed the handle of a firearm inside of his jacket. Then officers patted Green down and located a handgun in his jacket pocket.
Officers then arrested Green and subsequently recovered several vials of a controlled substance from his person. Further testing revealed the substance was cocaine and cocaine base.
Additionally, at the time of the arrest, Green was the respondent of a final order of protection for a domestic violence order by the District Court for Baltimore County which prohibited him from possessing firearms and ammunition during the duration of the order.
Green faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of life in prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. He is also facing a maximum of 15 years in prison for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. U.S. District Court Judge Deborah K. Chasanow set sentencing for Friday, Jan. 8, 2027, at 1 p.m.
Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Project Safe Home. These programs bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. Project Safe Home is an initiative under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) through the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) to reduce domestic violence and prevent escalation to lethal violence by targeting offenders who use or possess handguns with a history of Domestic Violence.
In response, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland is working closely with its federal, local, and state partners — along with Baltimore City community organizations — to reduce violent crime and enhance public safety. This partnership and coordination between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the City of Baltimore ensures that federal resources are leveraged effectively to address intimidate-partner firearm violence.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF and BPD for their collaborative efforts in this investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Godwin and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Y. Hagan who are prosecuting this case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.
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10 Indicted in Takedown of Major Philadelphia Cocaine Trafficking Organization That Coordinated with Mexican CartelRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – At a news conference this morning, United States Attorney David Metcalf announced the indictment and takedown of a major Philadelphia drug trafficking organization, resulting in the seizure locally of over $8 million in cocaine and multiple firearms. In total, along with partners in other districts, over $17 million in cocaine was seized over the course of the investigation.
The indictment charges 10 alleged members of the Jones-Basley Drug Trafficking Organization (“DTO”) with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and related offenses.
U.S. Attorney Metcalf discussed the case today alongside FBI Philadelphia Special Agent in Charge Wayne Jacobs and Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel.
“Literal truckloads of cocaine have been seized as a result of this case and kept from flooding our city,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “Know that the investigation is ongoing and there will more arrests to come. We, the FBI, and the Philadelphia Police Department are zeroing in on the drug traffickers and cartels poisoning our neighborhoods and communities.”
“Drug trafficking does not simply end with the transaction. Its impact can reach far beyond those involved in the criminal activity, threatening the safety and well-being of our neighborhoods, and putting families and communities at risk,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “No one agency can do this work alone. We appreciate our partners at the Philadelphia Police Department and the United States Attorney’s Office for their diligent efforts in this investigation. We will continue working alongside them to identify those who bringing dangerous drugs into our city, take down the organizations behind this activity, and bring those responsible to justice.”
“This investigation is another example of what is possible when local and federal law enforcement work together with a shared mission,” said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel. “Drug trafficking organizations operating at this scale fuel violence, destabilize neighborhoods and cause tremendous harm in our communities. I am especially proud of the Philadelphia Police Department members assigned to this task force, whose work alongside our federal partners helped bring this investigation to this point. I want to thank U.S. Attorney Metcalf, Special Agent in Charge Jacobs, the FBI, and every investigator and partner who contributed to this case. We will continue working shoulder-to-shoulder to disrupt these organizations, hold those responsible accountable and make Philadelphia safer.”
As alleged in the indictment, the Jones-Basley DTO, led by Gregory Jones, aka “Smallz,” 48, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Edward Basley, aka “Beeb,” 47, of Wayne, Pa., coordinated with a Mexican drug cartel to transport hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Mexico to Philadelphia, with the DTO pushing between $5 million and $10 million dollars’ worth of cocaine onto the city’s streets every month.
Jones and Basley are both charged with conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.
In addition, Jones is charged with possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine within 1,000 feet of an elementary school, and Basley with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Their eight co-defendants — Shawn Bell, 54, of Cheltenham, Pa., Jabari Savage, 46, Renard Brown, 43, Jermaine Singleton, 52, Farid Haddad, 48, and David McField, 43, all of Philadelphia, Orenthial Bailey, 50, of Temple, Texas, and Eduard Amador, 38, of Manassas, Virginia — are charged with conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. The indictment alleges that they are active members or associates of the Jones-Basley DTO.
Five defendants were arrested by the FBI in coordinated operations yesterday. Five defendants were already in state or federal custody.
If convicted, all the defendants face maximum possible sentences of life imprisonment.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (“HSTF”) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
HSTF Philadelphia is co-led by Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI, and partner agencies include the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Marshals Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Philadelphia Police Department, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Probation Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, Tennessee Highway Patrol, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Delaware State Police, Maryland State Police, and Virginia State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Stram and Christopher Parisi.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
22 September 2026
Valdosta Man Convicted of Domestic Violence Faces 15 Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
Albany, Ga. – A Valdosta resident is facing up to 15 years in federal prison after he admitted to illegally possessing three firearms, including a stolen machine gun, when he was taken into custody for a probation violation for a prior domestic violence misdemeanor conviction.
“Individuals who are prohibited from possessing firearms can expect to be held accountable at the federal level, especially when they have a violent criminal history and illegally possess a machine gun,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “This case underscores that people with prior domestic violence convictions, including misdemeanors, are generally prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law. Working with law enforcement, we are identifying repeat offenders with violent criminal pasts and bringing them to justice.”
“Individuals prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms cannot disregard that prohibition without consequences—especially when the weapons involved include an illegal machine gun,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Brian Graves. “This conviction demonstrates the strength of our partnership with the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and our shared commitment to protecting communities from armed repeat offenders.”
“We appreciate the strong cooperation we have with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, which helps us keep repeat offenders with guns off the streets,” said Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk. “Their collaboration with our office is essential in ensuring these individuals are held accountable.”
Eddie Arnold, 24, of Valdosta, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a crime of domestic violence before U.S. District Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner on September 21. Arnold faces a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment to be followed by a maximum term of supervised release of three years and a maximum fine of $250,000. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents and statements in court, Arnold was wanted for probation violation for a prior domestic violence conviction. Investigators arrested Arnold on Jan. 9, 2025, at his residence on Ponderosa Drive in Valdosta. Investigators obtained a search warrant and found two semiautomatic firearms and a 9mm Glock stolen from Gainesville, Florida, with a machine gun conversion device attached, located in Arnold’s bedroom. Arnold was previously convicted of simple battery family violence in Lowndes County and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sonja Profit is prosecuting the case for the Government.
Two Alexandria Men Sentenced on Federal Drug and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA – On September 15, 2026, United States District Judge Jerry Edwards, Jr., sentenced Terrence D. Taylor, Jr., 28, of Alexandria, to 102 months in federal prison with six years of supervised release, after his guilty plea to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.
On the same day, Judge Edwards also sentenced Mikell Dewayne Boyd, 30, also of Alexandria, to 37 months in federal prison, with two years of supervised release, after his guilty plea to Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition by a Person Subject to a Domestic Violence Protective Order.
TAYLOR
Taylor, a previously convicted felon, was encountered by Louisiana Probation and Parole (LPP) and Louisiana State Police (LSP) on May 9, 2024, for arrest on outstanding warrants. During the arrest, officers saw marijuana in plain view inside his residence. Taylor admitted there was a backpack inside the residence containing methamphetamine and a Glock firearm. A search warrant was executed, and investigators recovered the backpack containing approximately 27.87 grams of methamphetamine—a distribution amount—and a loaded Glock Model 42 firearm that was later determined to be stolen.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), LPP, and LSP. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Daniel Siefker, Jr., with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Denise Duhon.
BOYD
On March 31, 2025, Boyd was in possession of a loaded Omni Hybrid .223 pistol and .223 ammunition. At the time he possessed the firearm and ammunition, Boyd was subject to a Louisiana domestic violence protective order which prohibited him from doing so. Boyd admitted the firearm and ammunition were in his possession despite the court order.
This case was investigated by the ATF and Alexandria Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas A. Johnson with assistance from Legal Assistant Tanya Broussard.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcements.
These cases were prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
Related court documents and information may be found at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer, under Case Numbers 26-cr-00047 (Taylor) and 26-cr-00061 (Boyd).
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Public Affairs
United States Attorney’s Office
Western District of Louisiana cara.alexander@usdoj.gov www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
(337) 262-6704Tucson Man Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison for 2022 Hostage TakingRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Julio Cesar Rodriguez Rojas, 30, of Tucson, was sentenced earlier this month by Senior United States District Judge Raner C. Collins to 13 years in prison. Rodriguez Rojas previously pleaded guilty to Aiding and Abetting Conspiracy to Hostage Take.
Rodriguez Rojas’ co-conspirators, Olegario Lares-De La Rosa and Ivan Heriberto Borboa-Ruiz, both of Mexico, were previously sentenced to 18 years and 14 years in prison, respectively, for their roles in the same offense.
On April 6, 2022, Homeland Security Investigations received a tip from an individual in New York that two of his cousins were being held captive and that their captors had demanded a $16,000 ransom for their release. The cousins were illegal aliens who were part of a group of six individuals abducted in the desert by armed men after they crossed into the United States. The armed captors confiscated their cellphones and then transported the six aliens to a house where they were held for multiple days in a room where the door was screwed shut each night to prevent escape. The two cousins were the final hostages to have their ransom paid.
Investigators learned that Borboa-Ruiz made the phone calls arranging for the ransom and hostage exchange. Rodriguez Rojas then instructed Lares-De La Rosa to bring the cousins from where they were being held.
On April 8, 2022, Borboa-Ruiz arrived at the location of the money exchange in Tucson, Arizona and met with two undercover agents. Borboa-Ruiz was armed with a loaded 9mm pistol that Rodriguez Rojas gave him. Borboa-Ruiz received and counted the $16,000 in cash twice to confirm the ransom had been paid, made a phone call to Rodriguez Rojas stating they were “good,” and that the two victims could be released. In response, Rodriguez Rojas directed Lares-De La Rosa, who was parked nearby, to release the victims. The victims got out of the car and walked to the vehicle where the ransom had been paid. As the victims reached the undercover vehicle, Borboa-Ruiz was immediately arrested by law enforcement.
While agents were arresting Borboa-Ruiz, Lares-De La Rosa sped away, leading agents on a high-speed vehicle chase. During the pursuit, Lares-De La Rosa threw a loaded 9mm pistol out of the window and bailed out of the vehicle. He then fled into a residential neighborhood, hiding in several private backyards before being arrested. Rodriguez Rojas left the scene and was arrested in 2023.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Marana Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Serra M. Tsethlikai and Sarah Precup, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 22-CR-00974-TUC-RCC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-164_Rodriguez Rojas# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Tallahassee Man Pleads Guilty to Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – James Dalton Bryant, 54, of Tallahassee, Florida, has pleaded guilty in federal court to a single count of bank robbery. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This case exemplifies the excellent investigative work of the Tallahassee Police Department to identify, track down, and arrest violent criminals, like this defendant. The safety of our communities is not negotiable, and I am committed to ensuring we aggressively prosecute these crimes to send criminals like this defendant to federal prison.”
Court documents reflect that on June 22, 2026, minutes after opening, a Regions Bank in Tallahassee was robbed by a male who approached a teller with a note demanding cash. The individual was given approximately $3,190 in cash, after which he left the bank. Investigators determined that the robbery suspect, later identified as the defendant, had arrived at the bank as a passenger in a white Mercedes sedan, and after robbing the bank, had fled in the same vehicle. Detectives identified the suspect vehicle and questioned the owners, who were determined to have not been aware of nor involved in the actual robbery. With the aid of information provided by witnesses, as well as through an anonymous Crime Solvers Tip, the defendant was located and arrested. At the time of his arrest, he was found in possession of some of the currency stolen from Regions Bank. When questioned, the defendant confessed to the robbery.
The defendant faces up to twenty years’ imprisonment. Sentencing is scheduled for December 10, 2026, at 10:00am at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Robert L. Hinkle.
This case was investigated by the Tallahassee Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Summer Immigration Prosecutions Under Operation Take Back AmericaRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Pensacola and Gainesville – Today, United States Attorney John P. Heekin announced 22 new indictments since July 2026 against previously deported illegal aliens for illegal reentry into the United States. Since July, a total of 53 illegal aliens have been convicted of federal immigration crimes in the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Each of these defendants brazenly thought they could violate our nation’s laws with impunity, and that they could lie, cheat, and steal their way into remaining in our country. Wrong. American citizens deserve to live in a country with secure borders and law enforcement officials willing to uphold the laws that keep us safe. My office is answering that call with continued aggressive prosecutions and swift punishments for the criminal illegal aliens caught in the Northern District of Florida, and we will continue to do so until our citizens get the safe, crime-free communities that they deserve.”
According to court records, 53 indicted illegal aliens have been convicted and sentenced since July:
- Jose Guadelupe Escobar, 48, of Nicaragua, who was previously removed in July 2009, was encountered in Leon County on October 22, 2025.
- Romeo Escalon, 44, of Honduras, who was previously removed in January 2012, was encountered in Okaloosa County on February 21, 2026.
- Darlin Alvan-Galdamez, 32, of Honduras, who was previously removed in April 2019, was encountered in Okaloosa County on March 1, 2026.
- Leonel Morales-Gaytan, 33, of Mexico, who was previously removed in March 2020 and April 2022, was encountered in Bay County on April 14, 2026.
- Alex Joel Maldonado-Erazo, 38, of Honduras, who was previously removed in November 2015, was encountered in Okaloosa County on March 20, 2026.
- Cirilo Perez-Michua, 39, of Mexico, who was previously removed twice in March 2009, October 2009, December 2024, and January 2025, was encountered in Walton County on April 22, 2026.
- Jose Barahona-Paz, 27, of Honduras, who was previously removed in September 2019, was encountered in Walton County on April 28, 2026.
- Pascual Hernandez-Shilon, 56, of Mexico, who was previously removed in March 2011, May 2011, October 2019, and November 2019, was encountered in Walton County on April 26, 2026.
- Victor Sanchez Lopez, 30, of Guatemala, who was previously removed in February 2017, was encountered in Okaloosa County on April 21, 2026.
- Jose Patzan-Camey, 28, of Guatemala, who was previously removed in October 2018, was encountered in Santa Rosa County on April 21, 2026.
- Marcelino Mendez-Gomez, age, of Mexico, who was previously removed in August 2013 and October 2019, was encountered in Walton County on May 11, 2026.
- Adelmo Alvardo-Lopez, 55, of Honduras, who was previously removed in February 2018 and May 2018, was encountered in Bay County on May 16, 2026.
- Juan Ruiz-Jimenez, 31, of Guatemala, who was previously removed in May 2014 and November 2020, was encountered in Bay County on May 4, 2026.
- Irvin Noe Arias Marquez, 28, of Honduras, who was previously removed in April 2021 and February 2024, was encountered in Washington County on February 15, 2026.
- Angel Gabriel Santos-Guerra, 29, of Honduras, who was previously removed in June 2023 and July 2023, was encountered in Bay County on April 20, 2026.
- Andres Antonio Mendez, 34, of Guatemala, who was previously removed in May 2015, August 2015, and December 2015, was encountered in Jackson County on June 11, 2026.
- Ramon Alfredo Solano-Cruz, 36, of Honduras, who was previously removed in October 2012 and February 2019, was encountered in Bay County on May 15, 2026.
- Hugo Angeles-Cruz, 42, of Mexico, who was previously removed in March 2016, was encountered in Bay County on May 18, 2026.
- Josue Orlando Medina-Lira, 35, of Honduras, who was previously removed in August 2009 and February 2023, was encountered in Escambia County on May 17, 2026.
- Denis Eduardo Garache Moncada, 29, of Honduras, who was previously removed in January 2019, was encountered in Bay County on March 20, 2024 and on or about May 28, 2026.
- David Chavez-Lopez, 32, of Guatemala, who was previously removed in November 2018, was encountered in Escambia County on June 9, 2026.
- Javier Bovadillo-Cedillo, 39, of Mexico, who was previously removed in December 2019, was encountered in Bay County on May 12, 2026.
- Santos Martinez-Sadillo, 33, Mexico, who was previously removed in January 2013, was encountered in Bay County on May 12, 2026.
- Jose Hernandez-Coca, 38, of Mexico, who was previously removed in August 2017 and September 2017, was encountered in Bay County on May 11, 2026.
- Edson Saravia-Romero, 45, of Honduras, who was previously removed in May 2008, was encountered in Bay County on May 13, 2026.
- Fredy Solano-Maldonado, 25, of Honduras, who was previously removed in October 2023, was encountered in Bay County on May 15, 2026.
- Edras Sinaid-Arisandieta, 42, of Guatemala, who was previously removed in May 2006, was encountered in Bay County on June 5, 2026.
- Frederico Ramos-Perez, 27, of Guatemala, who was previously removed in December 2020, was encountered in Jackson County on April 30, 2026.
- Angel Urbina-Meza, 34, of Honduras, who was previously removed in April 2013, was encountered in Bay County on June 19, 2026.
- Osanin Diaz-Cantarero, 46, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Madison County in June 2026, after previously being deported twice in 2019.
- Saul Alvarado-Hernandez, 30, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Santa Rosa County in June 2026, after previously being deported in 2019.
- Rodrigo Quintana-Sanchez, 41, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United Sates illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in June 2026, after previously being deported three times in 2012, once in 2013 and again in 2014.
- Luis Banos-Guzman, 40, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Santa Rosa County in July 2026, after previously being deported in 2016.
- Jose Gomez-Palma, 45, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Santa Rosa County in June 2026, after previously being deported in 2012 and 2019.
- Abelardo de Jesus Gonzalez-Carrilo, 30, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in June 2026, after previously being deported in 2016.
- Carlos Jimenez-Martin, 42, of Guatemala, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in July 2026, after previously being deported in 2017.
- Maria Linares Gonzalez, 47, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Escambia County in June 2026, after previously being deported twice in 2009.
- Jose Guillen-Padilla, 36, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Escambia County in July 2026, after previously being deported in 2020 and 2023.
- Ever Dias-Portillo, 27, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Escambia County in July 2026, after previously being deported in 2019.
- Roman Aguilar-Bedolla, 41, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Santa Rosa County in August 2026, after previously being deported in 2011.
- Natalio Espinosa Lopez, 38, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in July 2026, after previously being deported in 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2019.
- Luis Alonza Garrido Ortiz, 45, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in July 2026, after previously being deported in 2012, 2013, and 2014.
- Augustin Guerrero-Guerrero, 41, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in August 2026, after previously being deported in 2006, 2012, and 2022.
- Saul Mendez-Perez, 43, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Escambia County in June 2026, after previously being deported in 2018 and twice in 2019.
- Luis Fernando Rivera-Luna, 31, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Santa Rosa County in July 2026, after previously being deported in 2019.
- Jeny Paola Ruiz-Pulgarin, 25, of Colombia, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Escambia County in August 2026, after previously being deported in 2021.
- Wilson Yony Velasquez-Perez, 28, of Guatemala, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in August 2026, after previously being deported in 2016.
- Daniel Martinez Aguilar, 40, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Bay County in June 2026, after previously being deported in 2014.
- Daniel Moshan Martinez, 32, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Santa Rosa County in June 2026, after previously being deported in 2016.
- Jose Antonio Ovalle-Pichiya, 32, of Guatemala, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Bay County in May 2026, after previously being deported twice in 2014 and again in 2016.
- Salomon Ruiz-Garcia, 35, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Bay County in June 2026, after previously being deported in 2015, 2019 and 2025.
- Saul Francisco-Marquez, 40, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in May 2026, after previously being deported in 2012.
- Teodoro Emanuel Marcial-Mayo, 29, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in June 2026, after previously being deported in 2017.
According to court records, four illegal aliens are currently under indictment and awaiting a trial:
- Melkin Manueles-Vasquez, 26, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Santa Rosa County in July 2026, after previously being deported in 2019.
- Donato Cazuela-Cazuela, 40, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Lafayette County in June 2026, after previously being deported in 2022. Trial is scheduled for October 21, 2026, in Gainesville, Florida.
- Nelson Paz-Alvarenga, 46, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Escambia County in December 2024, after previously being deported in 2005 and 2010. Trial is scheduled for October 5, 2026, in Pensacola, Florida.
- Ever Paz-Perez, 33, of Guatemala, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Escambia County in June 2026, after previously being deported in 2012, 2013, and 2024. Sentencing set for September 29, 2026, in Pensacola, Florida.
The penalty for illegally reentering the United States after deportation is a maximum of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Cazuela-Cazuela faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine pursuant to allegations of prior convictions qualifying for an increased maximum sentence.
The cases involved investigations by Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations with the assistance of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Highway Patrol, Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office, Walton County Sheriff’s Office, Bay County Sheriff’s Office, Pensacola Police Department, Lynn Haven Police Department, Panama City Beach Police Department, and the Milton Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Tyler Fleming, Alicia H. Forbes, Thomas S.P. Geeker, Brooke Lindsay, James A. McCain, Walter E. Narramore, Joseph A. Ravelo, Emma Schwan, Jeffrey Tharp, and Eric W. Welch prosecuted the cases.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Shiprock Man Charged with Assaulting Victim with Post Hole DiggerRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man has been charged in connection with an alleged assault that left the victim seriously injured.
According to court documents, on August 29, 2026, Tyron Begay, 20, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, assaulted the victim with a post hole digger following a day of consuming alcohol. As a result of the assault, the victim sustained multiple bruised and a large laceration to his head which required 11 stitches.
Begay is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted of the current charge, Begay faces up to 10 years in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Sex offender pleads guilty to downloading child pornographyRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A registered sex offender pleaded guilty to uploading child sexual exploitation material (CSAM) from the internet.
According to court documents, Peter Ferley, 45, of El Dorado pleaded guilty to one count of transportation of child pornography.
In June 2025, Ferley gained access to CSAM using his email address. He used his phone and the internet to send himself images of prepubescent children engaged in sex acts.
Ferley is a registered sex offender based upon a 2012 conviction in Butler County, Kansas.
Ferley is scheduled to be sentenced on December 21, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and El Dorado Police Department are investigating the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.###
Providence Attorney Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Providence attorney pleaded guilty in federal court today to wire fraud and tax evasion in connection with a scheme to defraud immigration clients and evade the payment of federal taxes.
Joseph Molina‑Flynn, 43, formerly a practicing immigration attorney in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of tax evasion. He appeared before U.S. Chief District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 17, 2026. The sentence will be determined by a U.S. District Court Judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Wire fraud carries a statutory maximum sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison; tax evasion carries a statutory maximum sentence of up to five years in. Each count also carries potential fines and periods of supervised release.
Molina- Flynn admitted that between 2019 and 2023, he devised and executed a scheme to defraud some immigration clients by collecting legal and filing fees for services he did not perform and providing some clients with false information related to the status of their immigration matters. Molina-Flynn admitted that he collected approximately $98,000 from immigration clients for legal services not provided and expenses not incurred. He used the fraudulently obtained funds to operate his law practice and pay personal expenses.
Molina-Flynn also admitted that he failed to file a federal income tax return for 2021 and took steps to conceal income and payroll tax obligations, including using his law firm’s operating account to pay personal expenses. Under the plea agreement, the parties will recommend at sentencing that the tax loss attributable to Molina-Flynn’s tax evasion is at least $550,000 but less than $1.5 million.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, Molina-Flynn is required to pay $83,265 in restitution to victims of the wire fraud scheme. He must also file accurate delinquent federal tax returns for tax years 2019 through 2023 and pay the U.S. Treasury outstanding federal taxes, interest, and penalties.
The case was initially prosecuted by former District of Rhode Island Assistant United States Attorney Sandra R. Hebert and is currently being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Milind M. Shah.
The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service, the Providence Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Operation Relentless Justice Delivers 20-Year Federal Prison Sentence for Former Corrections OfficerRead the Press Release
Gainesville, Florida – Devin Scott Waldeck, 35, of Cross City, Florida, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for child exploitation and distribution of child pornography. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Through Operation Relentless Justice, we continue to identify, target, and take down the sexual predators lurking online who seek to sexually exploit and victimize children. This defendant’s abhorrent crimes deserve severe punishment, and thanks to the successful prosecution by my office he will spend decades in federal prison. My office, and our state and federal law enforcement partners, will continue our relentless pursuit of these sick individuals to ensure our kids are safe, both online and in our communities.”
Court documents reflect that, in November 2025, law enforcement became aware the defendant, posing as the mother of a minor child, was using the online Reddit platform to discuss the sexual exploitation of the minor child. The defendant offered the minor child to the Reddit user and graphically described ways the user could sexually exploit the minor. The defendant saved explicit videos and pictures of the minor child in a secret app on his cell phone along with other sexually explicit videos and photos of other named individuals. The defendant had hundreds of communications with other Reddit users discussing sexual “hookups,” including 17 conversations where he stated he either had sexual encounters or wanted to have sexual encounters with minors.
“Devin Waldeck once wore a badge and was trusted to protect others,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley. “Instead, he chose to engage in the exploitation of a child. Protecting children from dangerous predators who target them online remains one of our top priorities. We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue those who exploit children online and use technology to harm the most vulnerable members of our community.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christie S. Utt.
This case was a result of Operation Relentless Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track and arrest child sex predators. For more information, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-edva/pr/justice-department-announces-results-operation-relentless-justice.
These operations underscore the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and combating child sexual exploitation. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
New Orleans Man Sentenced to 147 Months Imprisonment for Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney David I. Courcelle announced that on September 17, 2026, PHALANDERS RASHAAD KING (“KING”), age 37, was sentenced to 87 months as to Counts One, Two, Three, Four, and Six of the superseding bill of information pending against him, and a consecutive term of 60 months as to Count Five, for a total of 147 months.
Count One charged KING with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five (5) grams or more of methamphetamine, forty (40) grams or more of a mixture of fentanyl, and quantities of heroin and marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), 841(b)(1)(C), 841(b)(1)(D) and 846. Count Two charged KING with distribution of heroin, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). Count Three charged KING with distribution of forty (40) grams or more of fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B). Count Four charged KING with possession with intent to distribute five (5) grams or more of methamphetamine, and quantities of heroin and cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 841(b)(1)(C). Count Five charged KING with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i). Finally, Count Six charged KING with maintaining a drug-involved premises, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 856(a)(1).
According to court documents, on August 24, 2023, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted an operation to locate fentanyl distributors in the French Quarter neighborhood of New Orleans. Through this effort, agents located KING’s co-defendants. Through 2023 and into 2024, as a part of the investigation, agents made ten purchases of fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine from KING’s co-defendants, and eventually, from KING himself. Through investigative methods, agents established that KING conspired with his co-defendant to distribute these drugs, utilizing an apartment, and a storefront, that KING maintained in the Central Business District of New Orleans. Agents executed a search warrant on those two locations in May 2024, that uncovered additional controlled substances, fourteen firearms, and over $10,000 in U.S. currency. In total, over the course of the investigation, agents recovered over 300 grams of fentanyl, and over 300 grams of methamphetamine, from members of the conspiracy.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Dawkins and Brittany L. Reed of the Violent Crime Unit.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
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Markham, Illinois Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
MOLINE, Ill., - A Markham, Illinois, man, Orlando Dampier, 47, of the 15000 block of Whipple Street was sentenced on September 16, 2026, to 15 years of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release for distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements in court, in late 2025, Dampier, engaged in multiple pound sales of methamphetamine, culminating in his arrest in January 2026. At the time of his arrest Dampier was found with an additional pound of methamphetamine and fentanyl packaged for resale. That same day, a search warrant was conducted at Dampier’s Markham home. During the search, law enforcement located three firearms, one with a defaced serial number, and additional fentanyl and cocaine.
At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Sara Darrow commented on the devasting impact methamphetamine and fentanyl are having on communities and the concerning volume of these controlled substances that Dampier had access to.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Dampier in January 2026. Dampier has remained in the custody of the United States Marshals Service since his arrest. He pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Sara Darrow in May 2026.
“Armed felons and drug traffickers pose a great risk to the community, and this office will continue to work with local officials to ensure these violent offenders are held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore. “This case is an excellent example of how the federal government assists local law enforcement with resources and support to protect the community from these crimes.”
“The Rock Island Police Department would like to thank the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the United States Attorney's Office for the Central District of Illinois for their continued partnership and assistance in this investigation.” said Rock Island Police Chief Timothy McLoud. “Collaborative efforts such as this are critical to disrupting illegal drug activity, removing dangerous narcotics from our communities, and holding those responsible for their distribution accountable. We remain committed to working with our federal, state, and local partners to protect the public and make Rock Island and the greater Quad Cities area safer.”
“This drug trafficker will no longer poison our communities in Illinois,” DEA Omaha Field Division Special Agent in Charge Dustin Gillespie said. “Without a doubt, the sentencing of Orlando Dampier to 15 years behind bars will save lives. The teamwork and cooperation of law enforcement is at the heart of this sentencing and we’re grateful to have such solid partners in the Rock Island Police Department and U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
The statutory penalties for distribution of at least 50 grams of actual methamphetamine are, not less than 10 years and up to life imprisonment, at least five years up to life of supervised release, and up to a $10,000,000 fine.
The Rock Island Police Department, with assistance from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer L. Mathew represented the government in the prosecution.
Las Cruces Woman Sentenced for Armed Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Las Cruces woman was sentenced to eight years in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl while armed with a stolen handgun after leading deputies on a high-speed pursuit.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on July 30, 2025, Cassidy Shae Montoya, 32, fled from Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office deputies after they attempted to stop her near Vado, New Mexico. Montoya drove toward Las Cruces at speeds of approximately 90 to 110 miles per hour, continued fleeing after spike strips were deployed and eventually struck a curb near Telshor Boulevard and Terrace Drive. She then ran from the vehicle before deputies apprehended her.
Deputies found a loaded handgun on the driver’s side floorboard. The firearm, which contained a magazine loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition, had been reported stolen in March 2025. Deputies also recovered approximately 356 fentanyl pills and approximately $373 in cash.
Montoya admitted that she intended to distribute the fentanyl and possessed the firearm to protect herself, her drugs and the proceeds from her drug trafficking. At the time, Montoya had a prior felony conviction and knew she was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.
The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Maria Y. Armijo and Tanisha V. Henson prosecuted the case.
Las Cruces Man Accused of Pointing Loaded Rifle at Federal AgentsRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Las Cruces man has been charged in federal court after allegedly pointing a loaded AK 47 style rifle at two Homeland Security Investigations agents who were conducting surveillance as part of an unrelated warrant operation.
According to court documents, on September 1, 2026, Charles Reeser, 20, allegedly pointed a loaded AK 47 style rifle at two Homeland Security Investigations agents who were assisting the U.S. Marshals Service with a warrant operation in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The agents were conducting surveillance at an apartment complex for a wanted subject and had no prior interest in Reeser. He was first observed by the HSI agents due to Reeser manipulating the AK 47 inside his car, then stepping outside to point the AK47 at a passing vehicle. Reeser was wearing a ski mask despite temperatures approaching 100 degrees.
The HSI agents relocated to a different area for tactical advantage. As they were relocating, Reeser allegedly stepped into the middle of a residential street, assumed a shooting position and aimed the rifle directly at the agents from approximately 20 yards away. Believing they were about to be fired upon, the agents ducked and took evasive action. One of the agents later told the court that Reeser’s actions, including aiming the rifle at them as they were attempting to leave, led him to believe Reeser was prepared to fire.
Reeser then entered an apartment with the rifle. A short time later, he came outside without the firearm and was taken into custody without incident. Agents recovered the rifle inside the apartment and found it fully loaded with a round in the chamber.
During an interview with the FBI, Reeser allegedly said he believed the two agents had been following him and that he pointed the rifle at them because he could not allow someone to “mess with him.” Before being transported to the Doña Ana County Detention Center, Reeser was allowed to use his cellphone to provide his father with contact information. However, instead of getting the information for his father, Reeser sent a message stating that it had been “homeland.” According to the complaint, Reeser had not yet been told that the two men were HSI agents when he sent the message.
Reeser is charged with assaulting a federal officer and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted of the current charge, Reeser faces up to 20 years in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.
The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Marshal Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria Y. Armijo and Benajamin Suslavich are prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Justice Department Finds UCSF Medical School Discriminates Based on Race in AdmissionsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced today its finding that the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine (UCSF Medical School) discriminated based on race in granting and denying admission to its 2023-2025 incoming classes. UCSF Medical School’s discriminatory conduct violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, and the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard (SFFA), which banned race discrimination in higher education.
“Unfortunately, at UCSF Medical School, MCAT scores and undergraduate GPAs have taken a backseat to race,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Aspiring doctors should be admitted based on their qualifications. The Supreme Court has spoken clearly — federally funded medical schools may not admit students based on misguided and illegal notions of diversity.”
UCSF Medical School’s application process has three stages: the Primary Application, the Secondary Application, and the interview. The Department’s investigation found that race is used to determine which students will advance from one stage to the next, and ultimately be admitted. The Primary and Secondary Applications prompt applicants to identify and discuss their race. And while less than 10% of Secondary Applications advance to the interview stage, black and Hispanic applicants were invited to interview at far higher rates than white and Asian applicants, despite having lower MCAT scores and undergraduate GPAs.
From 2023-2025, UCSF Medical School admitted black and Hispanic applicants who academically underperformed the average rejected white and Asian student. But even where MCAT score, undergraduate GPA, and socioeconomic traits were the same when compared to white applicants, UCSF Medical School was 4.6 times more likely to admit Hispanic applicants and 12.6 times more likely to admit black applicants. When compared to Asian applicants, black and Hispanic applicants had similarly higher chances of admission.
Medical schools receive substantial federal financial assistance and are subject to federal non-discrimination laws. The Department will continue to investigate their compliance with Title VI, as interpreted by SFFA’s prohibition on race-conscious admissions. Where a violation has been found, the Department is engaging in settlement negotiations to ensure the school’s admissions practices are brought into compliance. If those efforts fail, the Department will file suit.
Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at www.civilrights.justice.gov.
Note: Read the Department’s Findings Letter here.
Iowa Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Sex Trafficking Three Women, Drug Distribution, and ObstructionRead the Press Release
Dave Shumpert III, 30, of Des Moines, Iowa, was sentenced today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa to life in prison after being found guilty by a jury on June 11 of charges related to sex trafficking, distribution of a controlled substance, and obstruction.
“This sentence reflects the violent and reprehensible acts of coercion this defendant used to exploit the victims for his own personal profit,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Human traffickers use people like disposable products for an illegal business and violate them in endless ways when doing so. We recognize the courage of the survivors who faced their abuser at trial, and today’s sentence ensures that Dave Shumpert will not victimize anyone else ever again.”
“When the jury returned its guilty verdict in June, I pledged that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa would aggressively prosecute human traffickers who exploit vulnerable victims through violence, coercion, and drug addiction,” said U.S. Attorney David C. Waterman for the Southern District of Iowa. “Today’s life sentence delivers on that commitment. The defendant preyed on three vulnerable young women, profited from their exploitation — even while incarcerated — and attempted to intimidate and threaten a government witness. I commend the extraordinary courage of the victims who testified against him and thank our partners at the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Des Moines Police Department for their outstanding work in bringing him to justice. This sentence sends an unmistakable message: those who prey on the most vulnerable members of our communities will be held accountable.”
“The evidence developed through this investigation helped show the court how Shumpert exploited vulnerable women, profited from their abuse and attempted to obstruct justice even after his arrest,” said Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) St. Paul. “HSI is proud of the investigative work that led to today’s sentence and delivered a measure of justice for the victims. HSI will continue to relentlessly pursue human traffickers who exploit vulnerable people through violence, coercion and fear.”
According to court documents, Shumpert, aided by his co-defendant, Haley Morrison, 30, also of Des Moines, coerced three women to perform commercial sex acts using a combination of physical force, threats of force, a coercive debt scheme, withholding of drugs, and other threats of harm. Shumpert and Morrison targeted vulnerable young homeless women struggling with drug addiction, provided them with shelter and drugs, and then used violence and other coercive means to compel the women to engage in commercial sex. Shumpert and Morrison advertised the women online, set the prices for the commercial sex acts, communicated with the sex buyers, rented hotel rooms, and kept most of the proceeds of the commercial sex acts. Electronic communication evidence between Shumpert and Morrison demonstrated that Shumpert directed Morrison on how to manage and control the victims. One of the victims testified about the physical violence Morrison employed, such as hitting a victim with closed fists and dragging her by the hair. The victims explained their fear of homelessness, drug withdrawal, and of being indebted to Shumpert.
Shumpert kept up his coercive scheme even after being arrested, placing thousands of calls to Morrison to discuss his criminal commercial sex business, and even received over $32,000 on his commissary accounts from the victims’ commercial sex proceeds. While incarcerated, Shumpert sought to intimidate and threaten a government witness by having someone outside of the jail post threatening messages on his social media accounts.
Morrison previously pled guilty to sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion on Nov. 25, 2025, and was sentenced on Aug. 3 to 174 months in prison.
The jury convicted Shumpert of three counts of sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, obstruction of a sex trafficking prosecution, distribution of a controlled dangerous substance to a person under 21, conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, and interstate travel in aid of racketeering.
HSI is investigating the case with assistance from the Des Moines Police Department.
Trial Attorney Slava Kuperstein of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Jennings for the Southern District of Iowa are prosecuting the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
Grand jury indicts prior felon on gun chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Earl Stone, 34, of Buffalo, NY, with being a felon in possession of a firearm, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
According to the indictment and a previously filed complaint, late in the evening on April 12, 2026, Buffalo Police officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle on Route 33 Expressway. During the stop, officers detected the smell of alcohol and asked the driver to step out of the vehicle to conduct a standard field sobriety test. Officers then asked the passengers for a New York State Drivers’ License so someone could move the vehicle to a safe location. All passengers refused, including Stone, who got out of the vehicle and sat on ground of the 33 Expressway. Officers noticed what appeared to be the outline of a slide of a firearm by the right shin of his pantleg. As he stood up at the request of officers, a loaded .40 caliber firearm fell out of his pant leg. Stone was charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon- 2nd Degree: Loaded Firearm and Criminal Possession of a Weapon-3rd Degree: Large Capacity Feeding Device. In December 2013, Stone was convicted of a felony in Erie County Court and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Stone was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was detained.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua A. Violanti and Louis A. Testani. The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Erika Shields and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Fort Erie man going to prison for sneaking meth and fentanyl across the borderRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Eric Hagen, 57, of Fort Erie, Canada, who was convicted of importation of controlled substances, was sentenced to serve 36 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
In June 2024, Hagen was convicted of possessing child pornography in St. Catharines, Ontario. On the morning of August 1, 2025, Customs and Border Protection encountered Hagen at the Peace Bridge Port of Entry, and he was referred for a secondary inspection. During Hagen’s secondary screening, CBP found multiple cellular telephones, hard drives, a laptop, and a baby monitor, as well as two plastic containers, which contained methamphetamine and fentanyl.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Adler and Sasha Mascarenhas. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Patrone.
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Former Waterloo Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
A man who sexually exploited children and distributed, received, and possessed child pornography, was sentenced today to 30 years in federal prison. Steven William Acklin, age 29, formerly from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 23, 2026, guilty plea to sexual exploitation of children and receipt of child pornography.
Information at the sentencing hearing showed that in the fall of 2023, while he was living in Waterloo, Acklin contacted an undercover police officer who was posing as a mother of a 12-year-old child. Acklin asked to see naked photos of the child. Between January 2024 and September 2024, Acklin contacted multiple children online, requesting that they make and send him depictions of themselves engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Acklin successfully obtained child pornography from some of the children. Acklin also distributed child pornography on multiple occasions, and he received and possessed child pornography, including depictions of infants and of sadistic and masochistic conduct.
Acklin was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Acklin was sentenced to 360 months’ imprisonment and was ordered to make $15,000 in restitution. He must also serve a ten-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Acklin is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 25-CR-2057.
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Former Postal Worker Indicted After Allegedly Disposing of Hundreds of Mail-In Ballots in UtahRead the Press Release
Note: View indictment here. View detention memo here.
An indictment was unsealed today charging a former postman with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) with unlawful secretion, destruction, and delay of mail after he allegedly unlawfully threw away mail that he was entrusted to deliver – including approximately 300 mail-in ballots to registered voters in Utah.
Photo of ballotDamon Matai Seei, 34, of Payson, Utah, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Sept. 16. He was arrested and appeared for his arraignment at the Orrin G. Hatch U.S. Courthouse this afternoon.
“When American voters lawfully cast their vote, they should feel confident that it is counted,” said Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter. “Allegedly throwing away hundreds of ballots is a serious federal crime that undermines the integrity of our elections. Ballot integrity is not a partisan issue.”
“When the defendant allegedly threw away the mail he was entrusted to deliver, he also threw away the chance for those citizens to exercise their right to vote,” said U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak for the District of Utah. “Our office, along with our law enforcement partners, takes these offenses seriously and will continue to investigate them to ensure justice is served for anyone whose constitutional right to vote has been infringed.”
“Every eligible voter deserves confidence that our elections are lawful, secure, and fair. Homeland Security Investigations supports the integrity of the voting process by working closely with the Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Offices, and our law enforcement partners to investigate alleged federal criminal violations that may undermine election integrity, including unlawful voting, fraudulent voter registration, false claims of U.S. citizenship, identity fraud, and document fraud,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Executive Associate Director John A. Condon. “HSI’s mission is to safeguard the homeland by conducting evidence-based, thorough, and impartial investigations. We will continue to follow the facts, uphold the rule of law, and refer criminal violations for prosecutorial review in order to protect the integrity of lawful voting.”
“Postal Service employees entrusted with delivering mail must uphold the highest standards of integrity,” said U.S. Postal Service Assistant Inspector General of Investigation Robert Kwalwasser. “Those who destroy mail intended for recipients will be held accountable for their criminal actions. Special agents with the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General remain steadfast in their commitment to protecting the integrity of Postal Service operations through thorough investigations and continued collaboration with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
According to court documents, on June 3, 2026, Seei was working for the U.S. Post Office as a letter carrier where he was entrusted with delivering mail to at least 300 Eagle Mountain, Utah, residents. Among the mail were advertisements and hundreds of mail-in ballots that were sent to Eagle Mountain residents to allow them to vote in a June 23, 2026, primary election. As alleged, Seei threw away some of the mail, which he had been entrusted to deliver, into a dumpster in a church parking lot.
Photo of dumpster in church parking lotSeei’s next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 30.
The case was investigated jointly by The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG) and HSI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd C. Bouton for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Seei Indictment.pdf Seei Detention Memo.pdfFilipino National Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Voting as an AlienRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Bernadette Acaso, 20, a Filipino national residing in Honolulu, Oahu and Kahului, Maui, pleaded guilty on September 18, 2026, to unlawfully voting as an alien.
As admitted in the plea agreement, Acaso was born in the Philippines and came to the United States in or around September 2018 on an immigrant visa and became a Lawful Permanent Resident. Despite not being a U.S. citizen, Acaso voted in the 2024 election by casting a mail-in ballot. Acaso admitted she understood she was not a United States citizen and was therefore not eligible to vote in U.S. elections at the time she voted.
“Voting is a sacred right of United States citizens. When citizens of other countries exploit voting processes to vote in our elections, the collective power of Americans to choose their leaders is badly compromised. Unlawful voting by non-citizens violates federal law and threatens the integrity of our elections,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “We will continue to vigorously enforce laws that seek to preserve the integrity of our elections and ensure that those who disregard them are held accountable.”
“Participation in Federal elections is fundamental to our democracy and reserved for U.S. citizens,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “The FBI remains committed to safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring that anyone who attempts to compromise it through voter fraud is held responsible.”
“Protecting the integrity of our nation’s elections is essential to maintaining public trust in our democratic process,” said CJ Ammons, HSI Honolulu Acting Special Agent in Charge. “HSI will continue to work alongside our federal partners to investigate violations of election laws and ensure those who unlawfully exploit the system are held accountable.”
Acaso faces up to one year in prison, a term of supervised release, and a fine of up to $100,000.
The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heidi Turner is prosecuting the case.
Federal grand jury indicts Buffalo man on multiple gun and drug chargesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Aden Ibrahim, 30, of Buffalo, NY, with being a felon in possession of ammunition, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, and maintaining a drug involved premises, which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
According to the superseding indictment and a previously filed complaint, on the morning of July 9, 2025, Buffalo Police responded to a Woodette Place residence for a report of an “Unwelcomed Guest.” Upon arrival, the complainant told officers that an individual known as “Beano” refused to leave the residence. The complainant also stated that “Beano” was in possession of crack cocaine and a firearm. Officers later observed “Beano,” exit the residence and attempt to flee on foot. He was in possession of a U.S. Permanent Resident Card identifying him as Aden Ibrahim. Detectives were then called to the residence, where they observed in plain view a revolver with tape on the handle lying on the floor in a bedroom. The complainant stated that “Beano” was staying in the room and that all the contents in the bedroom belonged to him.
Detectives subsequently executed a search warrant at the residence, seizing a revolver, ammunition, approximately 26 grams of suspected crack cocaine base, and drug paraphernalia. Ibrahim was convicted of felonies in March 2022 and January 2024 and is legally prohibited from possessing ammunition.
Ibrahim was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Romer and was detained.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys MacCaelin A. Sedita and Joshua A. Violanti. The superseding indictment is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Erika Shields, and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Patrone.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Extradited Nigerian National Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering in Connection with Sextortion and Romance ScamsRead the Press Release
Olamide Shanu, 35, a Nigerian national, pleaded guilty yesterday in the District of Idaho to charges related to his role in several cyber-enabled schemes that defrauded approximately 150 American victims and caused millions of dollars in losses. Shanu made more than $2,500,000 from these fraud schemes.
“This case exposes a sophisticated international scheme that exploited Americans through sextortion and romance fraud, laundering millions in criminal proceeds,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Criminals, like Olamide Shanu, who prey on vulnerable victims in this manner rob them of their savings and sense of decency. The Criminal Division’s Cyber-Enabled Scam Initiative was launched to confront exactly these threats — dismantling networks like this and ensuring justice for those harmed.”
“This prosecution demonstrates our unwavering commitment to holding cybercriminals accountable, no matter where they operate in the world. By securing the extradition of this defendant from Nigeria and bringing him to justice for sextortion and other cyber-enabled fraud schemes, we are sending a clear message that those who exploit victims and launder millions in illicit proceeds will face serious consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis for the District of Idaho. “This guilty plea, involving more than $2.5 million in laundered proceeds, reflects the dedicated efforts of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners to disrupt international criminal networks, protect victims, and ensure that cyber-enabled crime does not go unanswered.”
“Financially motivated sextortion is a heinous crime that preys on fear, shame, and trust to exploit victims in deeply personal ways,” said Assistant Director Brent Daniels of the U.S. Secret Service’s (USSS) Office of Field Operations. “This guilty plea is an important step toward justice for the victims harmed by this international scheme and reflects the Secret Service’s commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who use cyber-enabled fraud to target Americans.”
According to court documents, Shanu and his coconspirators participated in an international, financially motivated sextortion, romance fraud, and money laundering scheme. As part of the sextortion scheme, Shanu and his co-conspirators typically targeted male victims, persuaded them to send sexual images of themselves, and then threatened to send the victim’s sexual images to the victim’s friends and family unless the victim made payments to the co-conspirators. Shanu and his co-conspirators engaged in this extortion of numerous victims across the United States, including an individual located in Idaho. In the romance scams, Shanu and his co-conspirators, using fake identities on social media, made contacts with victims — typically older women and men — and established deceptive emotional relationships. The co-conspirators gained the victims’ trust, persuaded the victims that they had a romantic future together and then convinced the victims to send the co-conspirators money based on various purportedly urgent needs for funds. Proceeds from the schemes were laundered using peer-to-peer payment applications and several cryptocurrency wallet addresses before being transferred to the co-conspirators in Nigeria.
Shanu pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 15 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The USSS and the Boise Police Department are investigating the case.
Senior Counsel Vasantha Rao of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittney Campbell and Sean Mazorol for the District of Idaho are prosecuting the case. Substantial assistance was provided by the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the State Department and the U.K. authorities.
CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime and intellectual property (IP) crime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cyber and IP criminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.
This case is part of efforts being undertaken by the Criminal Division’s Cyber-Enabled Scam Initiative (CSI). The CSI is a dedicated team of prosecutors built to find scammers who prey on Americans, disrupt their networks, and hold them accountable. CSI coordinates across the Criminal Division’s Sections, bringing together prosecutors and subject matter experts in complex frauds and investment schemes, cybercrimes and dismantling cyber infrastructure, online child exploitation, international evidence gathering and extradition, overseas prosecutorial development and assistance, and financial tracing and asset forfeiture.
Defendant Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Activity at Cambria County PrisonRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - A resident of Phoenix, Arizona, pleaded guilty in federal court on September 22, 2026, to a charge of violating federal racketeering laws, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Ashley Aguilar, 27, pleaded guilty to Count Two of the Indictment before United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from in and around July 2023 through in and around October 2023, Aguilar conspired to commit money laundering. Aguilar acted as a facilitator in racketeering activities by sending and receiving payments on behalf of inmates at the Cambria County Prison for smuggled contraband.
Aguilar is among 10 residents of Pennsylvania and Arizona indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2025 for their alleged participation in the racketeer-influenced corruption organization (RICO) conspiracy. Read the Indictment news release here.
Judge Haines scheduled sentencing for February 10, 2027. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, the Cambria County District Attorney’s Office, and the Cambria County Prison conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Aguilar.
Court Allows U.S. Government to Exchange Land with SpaceX in South TexasRead the Press Release
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas yesterday allowed a land exchange to proceed between the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and SpaceX in South Texas. The court denied a preliminary injunction request, finding that the plaintiffs failed to establish an injury in fact to support standing and they failed to establish irreparable harm.
“This land exchange is a win-win for the American people that achieves significant benefits for conservation and national security,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of ENRD. “The United States will acquire several hundred acres of high-quality habitat in the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge that the Fish and Wildlife Service seeks to protect, and SpaceX will acquire land with a lower biological value that will help it achieve its mission for NASA and the Air Force.”
Attorneys in ENRD’s Natural Resources Section handled this matter.
Colombian National Charged with Impersonating ICE Official to Extort Food Truck EmployeeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Colombian national has been charged with impersonating a high-ranking U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official and allegedly using that false authority to threaten and attempt to extort an employee of a Miami Gardens food truck.
According to court records, Jonathan Christian Gonzalez Reyes, 45, residing in Miami, arrived at the food truck in a personal vehicle equipped with blue flashing lights and sounded an air horn resembling one used by law enforcement. Gonzalez Reyes allegedly identified himself to the victim as a high-ranking ICE official and claimed that, in exchange for money, he could assist the victim with immigration-related matters.
Gonzalez Reyes then allegedly threatened to plant drugs in the food truck so that the business would be shut down. He also allegedly unholstered and brandished a firearm and threatened to pistol-whip the victim’s son. Fearing for his life, the victim did not comply with Gonzalez Reyes’s demands. Gonzalez Reyes then allegedly left the scene while activating his vehicle’s police-style siren.
Gonzalez Reyes is charged with one count of false impersonation of an officer of the United States. If convicted, he faces up to three years in federal prison. Any sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge-East of ICE Office of Professional Responsibility and Field Office Director Matthew Elliston for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in Miami made the announcement.
The ICE Office of Professional Responsibility, with the assistance of the ICE Enforcement and Removals Operations Criminal Prosecution Unit, is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jackson Dering is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 26-mj-03725.
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Chicagoland Man Convicted of Sex Trafficking and Forced LaborRead the Press Release
A federal jury in the Northern District of Indiana convicted Anthony Mayers, 36, of Gary, Indiana, of four counts of trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion and other related charges. Mayers lured vulnerable women into his scheme with promises that they would make enormous sums of money or be provided safe housing or other needs, and then he turned violent, coercing them to engage in commercial sex and taking the money they earned. Victims testified that he beat and threatened them by brandishing a firearm and shooting at them inside the house.
“Anthony Mayers is an extremely violent sex trafficker who preyed upon vulnerable women for money,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The jury in this case heard testimony from the victims of how the defendant physically assaulted and intimidated them. He beat them, threatened them with death and bodily harm, and brandished firearms in their presence. The evidence included that he even administered a lethal injection to a heroin-addicted woman in front of one of the victims and forced that victim to help him move the body to an abandoned house. That is the pinnacle of fear and coercion. The jury’s verdict sends a clear message and helps vindicate the perils that the victims endured.”
“We are thankful for the jury’s careful deliberation and attention to detail on each specific count after hearing very difficult evidence and arguments of counsel over a period of nine days,” said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred for the Northern District of Indiana. “Verdicts like this in extremely serious cases only happen after the superior investigative work of our law‑enforcement partners, including the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Marshals, and the Harvey (Illinois) Police Department that worked tirelessly to uncover the truth. That partnership allowed the legal team of Trial Attorney Matthew Thiman of the DOJ Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Caitlin M. Padula and Nadia Wardrip for the Northern District of Indiana to prosecute the case. Most of all, we are thankful for the cooperation of the brave witnesses and survivors of crime who testified in this most difficult case.”
“Traffickers rely on fear and violence to control their victims, but none of that will stop the FBI from bringing them to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley of the FBI Indianapolis Field Office. “This criminal preyed on vulnerable women, abused them, and profited off their suffering. The FBI will relentlessly pursue violent offenders like him, break apart the coercive systems they build, and ensure they are held fully accountable for every act of harm they inflict.”
According to court documents, witness testimony, and evidence presented at trial, Mayers compelled four victims to engage in commercial sex acts in his residence and for his financial benefit using fraud, physical violence, firearms, addictive narcotics, and threats of physical force and death to keep the victims working under his control. Mayers used similar physical abuse and threats to compel another woman to work in his house daily, cleaning the “sex room” where he compelled the other victims to engage in commercial sex. One victim testified that she witnessed Mayers purposefully administer a “hot shot” — a lethal dose of narcotics — to another commercial sex worker causing the woman to fatally overdose. He then told the victim that she would suffer the same fate if she did not follow his rules. A second victim tried to leave Mayers’ residence in a car driven by another individual, only to have Mayers chase the car down the street, pull the victim from the car by her hair, and slam her head into a nearby fence, continuing to beat her until she agreed to return. When a third victim tried to escape, Mayers prevented her from leaving with her friend and fired his gun at the friend’s car as she drove away.
When law enforcement executed a search warrant at Mayers’ residence, they recovered a “ghost gun” with an extended magazine, two rifles, ammunition, and cartridge casings. Law enforcement also observed numerous bullet defects in the walls of the residence.
The jury convicted Mayers of four counts of sex trafficking, one count of forced labor, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm.
The FBI investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Matthew Thiman of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Caitlin M. Padula and Nadia Wardrip for the Northern District of Indiana are prosecuting the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
Cedar Rapids Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
A woman who distributed methamphetamine was sentenced today to more than 16 years in federal prison.
Larissa Marie Ruffin, age 48, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 12, 2026, guilty plea to one count of distribution of a controlled substance.
Information from the sentencing hearing showed that Ruffin distributed methamphetamine to an individual working with law enforcement officers or an undercover officer on multiple occasions between April and July 2023. On September 30, 2023, officers stopped a car that Ruffin had been driving. Officers located a little less than 20 pounds of methamphetamine, approximately half a pound of cocaine, and over a pound of marijuana in the car.
Ruffin was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Ruffin was sentenced to 200 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Ruffin is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
HSTF Kansas City is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, covering Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska. HSTF Kansas City is composed of agents and officers from the Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the State Investigative Agencies for Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska, and the Kansas City Missouri Police Department.
This HSTF case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and was investigated by HSTF Kansas City, with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force consisting of the DEA, the Linn County Sheriff's Office, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Marion Police Department, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 26-CR-18.
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Armenian National Extradited to the United States Sentenced to Federal Prison for Ransomware Extortion SchemeRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—An Armenian citizen, extradited from Ukraine to the United States, was sentenced to federal prison today for his role in RYUK ransomware attacks and an extortion conspiracy targeting companies throughout the United States, including in Oregon.
Karen Vardanyan, 35, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison and 3 years’ supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $1,219,106.00 in restitution to the victims in the case.
According to court documents, Vardanyan, sometimes using the monikers Maneeken or Karl Lagerfeld, was a member of a conspiracy that deployed Ryuk ransomware on victim computer networks to extort over $1 million from several victims. Ransomware is a type of malicious software that attacks a victim’s computer or servers and renders them unusable unless the victim makes a payment to the attackers. These payments were made with some form of cryptocurrency, usually Bitcoin. Vardanyan participated in the conspiracy from March 2019 to approximately June 2020 to deploy the Ryuk ransomware against companies, schools, and other entities throughout the world. One of the victim companies was in Wilsonville, Oregon.
On February 22, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a superseding indictment charging Vardanyan with conspiracy, fraud in connection with computers, and extortion in connection with computers.
On June 20, 2025, Vardanyan made his initial appearance in federal court upon extradition from Ukraine. He was detained by the magistrate judge.
On July 8, 2026, Vardanyan pleaded guilty to conspiracy and fraud in connection with computers.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Rykken.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing Vardanyan’s arrest and extradition from Ukraine. The U.S. Attorney’s Office thanks the Ukrainian authorities for their assistance in this matter.
21 September 2026
Violent Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of Firearms and MachinegunRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Kokou Sanoumegah, 29, of Memphis, has pled guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms and illegal possession of a machinegun. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the guilty plea today.
On April 16, 2025, a private fugitive recovery unit located Sanoumegah, a fugitive with active arrest warrants, in Memphis, Tennessee. According to the evidence, while taking him into custody, they discovered a Glock 17 9mm pistol in Sanoumegah’s waistband and a Diamondback DB-15 AR-style pistol located next to where Sanoumegah had been sitting.
The Glock contained a machinegun conversion device (MCD) known as a “switch”, as well as an extended magazine with 39 rounds and 1 round in the chamber. The Diamondback AR-style pistol was found with a drop-in auto sear, designed to convert it to a fully automatic weapon, with 59 rounds in the magazine and 1 round in the chamber. The AR pistol had been reported stolen, and neither firearm contained a proper serial number.
Sanoumegah is a convicted felon after previously pleading guilty to a 2016 armed robbery offense in Desoto County (MS). While in custody for these firearms offenses, Sanoumegah was charged with aggravated assault and possession of contraband in a penal institution for an incident on August 6, 2025, in which it is alleged that he stabbed another inmate in the Shelby County Jail 17 times with a homemade weapon, causing paralysis to the victim.
In June 2024, Sanoumegah was charged with possession of a firearm, theft of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance, and aggravated criminal trespassing; that case was dismissed about a year later due to lack of prosecution, State court records show.
On September 16, 2026, Sanoumegah pled guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of firearms and possession of a machinegun. Sanoumegah is scheduled to be sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Brian C. Lea on December 16, 2026 and faces a sentence of 144 months in federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “Sanoumegah has a demonstrated history of violence, and has no hesitation about repeatedly committing multiple crimes when the risk to human life is high. Now the federal system will accomplish justice by doing what should have been done a long time ago – imposing a real consequence that will justly punish and incapacitate him for at least 12 years.”
This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department (MPD) as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin N. Frizzell, a United States Marine Corps Judge Advocate, and Assistant United States Attorney Gregory Wagner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department (MPD) as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin N. Frizzell, a United States Marine Corps Judge Advocate, and Assistant United States Attorney Gregory Wagner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
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For more information, please contact our Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Vermont Man Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for Failing to Follow Sex Offender Registration RequirementsRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Vermont resident David Courtemarche, 45, was sentenced today in federal court for violating his sex offender registration requirements, specifically knowingly failing to report his employment in New Hampshire as mandated by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Courtemarche was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Paul J. Barbadoro to 21 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release. On November 14, 2025, Courtemarche pleaded guilty to failing to register his New Hampshire employment since 2021 in violation of federal law.
“Sex offenders are legally required to register their employment so law enforcement can monitor and prevent predatory behavior,” said U.S. Attorney Creegan. “The defendant ignored that requirement, undermining a critical safeguard designed to protect children. Today’s sentencing sends a clear message: law enforcement in the Granite State will hold sex offenders accountable when they attempt to evade oversight and will continue to prioritize the safety of our children.”
SORNA requires individuals convicted of certain sex offenses to report where they live, work, and go to school. Courtemarche is required to register as a sex offender for life due to his 2003 conviction for raping a 14-year-old child in Vermont. Despite knowing his registration requirements, by at least December 2021, he worked in New Hampshire without reporting it. Thereafter, he started dating a co-worker and, to avoid arrest warrants in Vermont, began living with her in New Hampshire. Despite living and working in New Hampshire, the defendant never registered as a sex offender in this state.
The United States Marshals Service investigated this case. Valuable assistance was provided by the New Hampshire State Police, the Littleton Police Department, and the Lancaster Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Hunter and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Anderson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
U.S. Attorney Pirro Announces Major Public Safety Gains from Summer Crackdown Targeting Violent Crime and Narcotics TraffickingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro announced significant outcomes from her multi-agency summer crackdowns aimed at reducing violent crime and dismantling narcotics trafficking networks throughout the District. Over the summer months, federal prosecutors partnered closely with the Metropolitan Police Department, the FBI, DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, ATF, and additional agencies to focus resources on individuals driving violence and drug distribution in D.C. neighborhoods.
“The results of this summer’s enforcement operations demonstrate the impact of sustained, coordinated, neighborhood‑focused federal action,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “We will continue prioritizing individuals driving violence, dismantling organized narcotics networks, and delivering meaningful accountability for those who endanger our communities.”
The achievements outlined below represent federal prosecutions and enforcement actions led by the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking and Federal Major Crimes Sections; they do not encompass local prosecutions pursued in D.C. Superior Court.
During the summer investigative push, law enforcement seized 533 illegal firearms and recovered substantial quantities of narcotics, including 64.1 kilograms of methamphetamine, 46.7 kilograms of cocaine, 3.4 kilograms of crack cocaine, and 3.0 kilograms of fentanyl. These efforts were supported by an aggressive prosecution strategy that resulted in more than 60 defendants being federally indicted. Of the individuals charged, 30 were involved in serious narcotics offenses and 30 were charged in felon‑in‑possession cases. In addition, authorities arrested 28 known gang members whose activities contributed to persistent violence in affected communities.
The summer enforcement push also produced several major takedowns. One investigation led to the dismantling of an 11‑defendant methamphetamine and GBL trafficking conspiracy with international ties to South Korea. Another operation targeted a 14‑defendant crack cocaine distribution ring operating within 1,000 feet of Hendley Elementary School; investigators seized 28 firearms, kilogram quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and additional narcotics during the course of the investigation. A third large‑scale case involved the operator of Forest Floor LLC, who was trafficking MDMA within 1,000 feet of Catholic University. In that case, law enforcement seized more than $250,000 in cash, $200,000 in jewelry, 74 pounds of psychedelic mushrooms, and 18 pounds of marijuana.
The Office also reported significant progress from its International Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) operations. This included indictments of 19 defendants—among them, three Mexican nationals—along with 26 arrests and 15 convictions. Agents seized more than 2,300 kilograms of cocaine and recovered over $1.6 million in drug proceeds stemming from transnational trafficking routes.
Federal prosecutors secured convictions for 11 defendants across multiple federal jury trials during the summer period. These included four defendants convicted in a crew‑related murder conspiracy, who face mandatory minimum sentences of 40 years (lead defendant) and 30 years; three defendants convicted in a felony‑robbery murder case carrying a mandatory minimum of 30 years; and one defendant found guilty of carrying out a spree of armed robberies targeting convenience stores, who faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 31 years. Additional convictions included an Armed Career Criminal charged with felon‑in‑possession, a defendant convicted of felon‑in‑possession connected to a crime of violence, and a convicted sex offender found guilty of illegally possessing a firearm.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia remains committed to strengthening public safety through rigorous federal prosecution, intelligence‑driven investigations, and strong partnerships across federal, local, and community organizations.
Terrytown, Louisiana Man Indicted for Possession of Child Sex Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced today that WILHELM MOLINA FLORES (“FLORES”), age 20, of Terrytown, was charged on September 17, 2026, in a one-count indictment for Possession of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(4)(B) and (b)(2). If convicted, FLORES faces a maximum sentence of twenty (20) years, a term of supervised release of no less than five (5) years and up to life, $250,000.00 fine, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee.
According to court records, beginning at an unknown time and continuing until April 22, 2026, FLORES was found in possession of images and videos of pre-pubescent child pornography.
Through a partnership between state and federal authorities, the U.S. Attorney’s Office adopted the state charges and is now prosecuting FLORES in federal court.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigations. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator, and Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit.
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Six Individuals Charged with Drug Conspiracy that Involved Interstate KidnappingRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A federal Grand Jury returned a superseding indictment charging six individuals in an interstate drug conspiracy that spanned nearly two years and culminated in a drug-motivated kidnapping, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
The superseding indictment charged Tyron Harris, Damarcus Bonner, Nicole Palardy, Jessenialyz Jones, Sheldon Stocker, and Jesse Emerson for their role in the drug conspiracy, which involved conduct in multiple states. Harris and Bonner were charged separately with the kidnapping, and Harris, Bonner, Palardy and Jones were charged with kidnapping conspiracy. According to a prior complaint in the matter and allegations in the indictment, defendants kidnapped an adult victim in Claremont, New Hampshire, and brought her to a residence in Springfield, Vermont. The victim was held there against her will, tortured and beaten, while defendants demanded money from her and others on her behalf. Springfield Police ultimately learned of kidnapping and went to the residence in the early morning hours of January 25, 2026. They rescued the victim from the residence and arrested the defendants. A search of the residence revealed a firearm, drugs packaged for distribution, duct tape that was used to bind the victim, and items used for torture.
The indictment indicates that the kidnapping was part of a pre-existing drug operation that involved drug activity at multiple locations in several states.
Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The FBI is leading the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Vermont State Police, the Springfield, Vermont Police Department, and the Claremont, New Hampshire Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Vicinanzo and Charles DeJoie are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Roseville man pleads guilty to defrauding employer of more than $2.3 millionRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Christopher William Edward Abplanalp, 38, of Roseville, pleaded guilty today to one count of wire fraud, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between February 2023 and July 2025, working as an executive manager at a Placer County business, Abplanalp stole more than $2.3 million, most of which he then spent gambling. In executing this scheme, he diverted money from the business’s account with an online payment processing system to his own personal account, or to various other friends or acquaintances. Abplanalp also repeatedly charged a client’s credit card for items the client had not ordered and for invoices that did not exist, and then transferred the proceeds to himself. He also instructed clients to tender payments directly to him, and told vendors to issue rebates and refunds to his personal account, rather than the business. To conceal his theft, Abplanalp altered, deleted or made false entries to the business’s accounting software.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation with assistance from IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dhruv M. Sharma is prosecuting the case.
Abplanalp is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on Feb. 8, 2027. Abplanalp faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Portage Township Man Indicted for Shooting and Damaging a Firefighting Aircraft that was Actively Fighting a Forest FireRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that Daniel Christian Pettit, 48, of Portage Township, Minnesota, was indicted by a grand jury for one count of damaging an aircraft and one count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
His initial appearance was before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leo I. Brisbois on September 21, 2026.
According to the indictment, on or about May 15, 2026, Pettit knowingly and willfully damaged and disabled a firefighting aircraft using a firearm while the aircraft was in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States. According to state court documents, on the evening of May 15, 2026, a pilot flew a mission actively fighting a forest fire in northern Minnesota. After the pilot landed, he discovered damage to the firefighting aircraft that appeared consistent with damage caused by bullets. In an interview after his arrest on related state charges, Pettit said he fired rounds from a 12-gauge shotgun and a .308-caliber rifle as the firefighting aircraft flew nearby, but Pettit claimed he was only crow hunting.
This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney David B. Green is prosecuting the case.
Nigerian Man Sentenced to 48 Months’ Imprisonment for Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Brad Schimel, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on September 18, 2026, Joseph James Nantomah (aka “The Black Mentor”) (age 49), was sentenced to 48 months’ incarceration for committing an investment fraud scheme that resulted in a loss of more than $2,700,000 to investors across the country and abroad.
According to court records, Joseph Nantomah entered the United States on a visitor’s visa from Nigeria in 2016. Within a few years, he had cultivated a false online persona alleging that he had built a multi-million-dollar real estate enterprise. Nantomah gave himself the moniker, “The Black Mentor,” and hosted conferences and classes in which he purported to share his knowledge of building success in the United States with people he duped into paying for his classes. Nantomah then used these classes to convince his “students” to “invest” in Nantomah’s real estate business.
Nantomah’s online presence, his “Wealth Flow” conferences, and his claims of growing a successful real estate business were all part of his scheme to defraud. Between May 2020 and December 2024, Nantomah stole $2,762,798.37 from at least 39 victims. Nantomah targeted mostly Nigerian immigrants and people who were members of his church. Drawing on their shared cultural heritage and their belief in the American Dream, Nantomah convinced them to send him millions of dollars that he claimed he would invest in real estate. He promised significant returns on investment. In reality, Nantomah had no legitimate business or knowledge in real estate. He spent the majority of his victims’ funds on a lavish lifestyle that included private jets, luxury cars, expensive jewelry, and a yacht. Nantomah also spent significant sums of his victims’ money cultivating his false online persona, including purchasing an honorary doctorate degree for himself and his wife and paying celebrities to attend his conferences.
At his sentencing hearing, United States District Judge Lynn Adelman focused on the extensive harm Nantomah caused his many victims and the fact that the people Nantomah chose to victimize were themselves working class immigrants. Judge Adelman noted that Nantomah’s scheme warranted a significant period of incarceration because it “went on for a long time, caused substantial loss, and dramatically impacted the lives of numerous victims.” Many victims spoke at the sentencing hearing and recounted the tremendous harm that Nantomah caused to them and their families.
In addition to the 48-month period of incarceration, Nantomah was ordered to pay restitution to his victims in the amount of $2,762,798.37. He will serve three years of supervised release after his prison sentence.
“As Judge Adelman noted, the victims were not wealthy people. They were working class immigrants who were devastated by this betrayal by someone they trusted,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Schimel. “I am so proud to work alongside the amazing investigation and prosecution team that worked tirelessly to put this con man in prison where he belongs.”
“Joseph Nantomah defrauded more than 30 victims in Wisconsin and across the United States. Nantomah misrepresented himself as a real estate investor who solicited others to invest with him by promising profits on purchasing, fixing, and flipping real estate. Instead of purchasing real estate with investor money, he utilized more than $2 million for his personal use,” said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Alan Karr. “The FBI will continue to work side-by-side with our partners to protect the American people and their hard-earned money from schemes like these.”
“Fraud like this runs on trust. Nantomah sold his victims the promise of opportunity, then used their hard-earned money to fund his own expenses and keep his scheme afloat,” said Robert J. Kuszynski, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “For some victims, that meant losing retirement, education, and other savings they spent years building. IRS Criminal Investigation follows the money because numbers don’t care about the sales pitch, and in this case, the money told the real story.”
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Wisconsin Department of Financial Investigations also investigated Nantomah. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Julie F. Stewart.
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Monmouth County Man Sentenced to a Year and a Day in Prison for Defrauding Social Security AdministrationRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Monmouth County man was sentenced to a year and a day in prison after being convicted of defrauding the Social Security Administration, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Steven D. Stankovits, 57, of Matawan, New Jersey, was sentenced to a year and a day in prison by U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi in Trenton federal court on July 21, 2026. Stankovits was also ordered to pay a $50,000 fine, restitution of $585,629.80, and to forfeit $480,968 in ill-gotten proceeds. This followed Stankovits’s conviction on March 5, 2026, after a jury trial of four counts of wire fraud and one count of false statements to the Social Security Administration, all related to his receipt of Disability Insurance Benefits.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In May 2010, Stankovits was found eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits, and received benefits retroactive to 2007. This finding of eligibility was based on lies to the Social Security Administration, including that Stankovits was unable to work, could not comfortably sit for more than 15 minutes, could not bend down to put on his clothes, struggled to lift a carton of milk, and had been forced to give up skiing. Stankovits failed to correct and reiterated these lies through statements and written submissions to the Social Security Administration over the next ten years. As a result, the Social Security Administration paid more than $585,000 in disability benefits.
In fact, Stankovits was a licensed funeral director working at two different funeral homes. Stankovits’s work included gardening, shoveling snow, carrying 160-pound caskets down a flight of stairs, and climbing a ladder onto the roof to install a sign. In addition, Stankovits took long flights to go skiing in Cortina, Italy, Lake Tahoe, and Park City, Utah, and purchased a skiing season pass in Killington, Vermont. All of this conduct was incompatible with Stankovits’s repeated lies to the Social Security Administration for nearly 15 years.
U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer credited agents of the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Conor Washington, and the Social Security Administration’s New Jersey-based Cooperative Disability Investigations Unit, under the direction of Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge, Gilberto Camilo.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eli Jacobs and Alison Thompson of the Organized Crime and Gangs Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
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Defense counsel: Charles Alvarez, Esq.
Mexican National Sentenced in Scheme to Bribe Ecuadorian and Mexican Government OfficialsRead the Press Release
Javier Aguilar, 52, a Mexican national living in Houston, Texas, and a former oil trader, was sentenced in Brooklyn, New York, to four years in prison for his role in two separate schemes to bribe foreign officials in Ecuador and Mexico. He was also ordered to pay $7.13 million in forfeiture and a $100,000 fine.
“This sentence makes clear that corrupt actors, like Javier Aguilar, who facilitated and led two major international bribery and money laundering schemes will be brought to justice and punished accordingly,” said Assistant Attorney General Andrew A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “We will root out those who brazenly undermine the rule of law and use our financial system to launder their corrupt funds, and we will prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.”
“This sentence sends a powerful message of deterrence to those who might be tempted to engage in similar bribery schemes,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York. “This sentencing is further demonstration of our office’s long-standing commitment to rooting out corruption in the commodities markets. We will be indefatigable in protecting American interests from corruption that unfairly tilts the playing field and threatens American businesses.”
“Aguilar bribed, falsified, manipulated the system, and engaged in several corrupt financial practices, all while using U.S. financial institutions to carry out his criminal actions,” said Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI Criminal Division. “This case demonstrates the broad reach of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the FBI’s ability to investigate and bring criminals to justice who seek to engage in this type of crime.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Aguilar paid more than $1 million in bribes to officials of Ecuador’s state-owned oil company Petroecuador, and of PEMEX Procurement International (PPI), a subsidiary of Mexico’s state-owned oil company PEMEX, in order to obtain and retain business for his then-employer, Vitol Inc. The trial evidence showed that between 2015 and 2020, Aguilar was a trader at Vitol Inc. (Vitol), the U.S. affiliate of one of the largest energy trading companies in the world. As part of the scheme, Aguilar and his co-conspirators agreed to bribe senior Ecuadorian officials to obtain a $300 million contract to purchase fuel oil for Vitol. Aguilar and his co-conspirators used another Middle Eastern state-owned entity to circumvent Petroecuador’s restrictions on contracts with private companies. In return for the promise and payments of bribes, the Ecuadorian officials then ensured that the Middle Eastern state-owned entity and Vitol were awarded the contract.
To conceal the scheme, Aguilar and his co-conspirators used a series of fake contracts, sham invoices, and shell entities incorporated in Curaçao, Panama, and the Cayman Islands. Aguilar also used alias email accounts to communicate with his co-conspirators.
The evidence at trial also demonstrated that Aguilar used the same system of shell entities and sham invoices to launder bribe payments to two officials at PPI. In total, Aguilar paid approximately $600,000 in bribes to PPI officials to obtain contracts for Vitol to supply hundreds of millions of dollars of ethane gas to PEMEX.
The jury convicted Aguilar of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and violating the FCPA in connection with the Ecuador bribery scheme, and conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with the Ecuador and Mexico bribery schemes. He separately pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the FCPA and to violate the Travel Act in connection with the Mexico bribery scheme.
Seven of Aguilar’s co-conspirators, including three foreign government officials, have pleaded guilty for their roles in the schemes. These individuals have collectively agreed to forfeit more than $63 million in proceeds from the schemes.
In December 2020, Vitol admitted to bribing officials in Ecuador, Mexico, and Brazil in violation of the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA. Vitol entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the Criminal Division’s White Collar and Corporate Enforcement Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. As a part of the resolution, Vitol agreed to pay a combined $135 million in penalties as part of a coordinated resolution with the Justice Department, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and authorities in Brazil.
FBI Miami’s International Corruption Squad investigated the case.
Assistant Chief Derek J. Ettinger of the White Collar and Corporate Enforcement Section, Trial Attorney D. Hunter Smith of the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF), and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick M. Axelrod for the Eastern District of New York are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Deputy Chief Suzanne Elmilady and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherin Daniel for the Southern District of Texas. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan P. Lax for the Eastern District of New York was also responsible for the case. The MNF Special Financial Investigations Unit and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided substantial assistance.
The Criminal Division’s White Collar and Corporate Enforcement Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting FCPA and Foreign Extortion Prevention Act (FEPA) matters. Information about the Justice Department’s FCPA and FEPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.
MNF’s mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations.
MNF’s International Unit investigates and prosecutes cross-border money laundering schemes involving transnational criminal organizations, cartels, foreign official corruption and related money laundering affecting the U.S. financial system and prosecutes criminal cases and civil forfeiture matters to recover the proceeds of those crimes.
Metairie Man Indicted for Possession of Child Sex Abuse Material and Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced today that ENIN GOMEZ RAMOS (“RAMOS”), age 19, of Metairie, was charged on September 17, 2026, in a two-count Indictment for Possession of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(4)(B) and (b)(2) and was also charged as an Illegal Alien in Possession of a Firearm, in violation of the Federal Gun Control Act, Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(5)(A) and 924(a)(8).
If convicted, RAMOS faces a maximum sentence of twenty (20) years, a term of supervised release of no less than five (5) years and up to life as to the possession of child pornography charge. The firearm charge carries a maximum sentence of fifteen (15) years and a term of supervised release of up to three (3) years. Both counts carry a fine up to $250,000 and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee.
According to court records, beginning at an unknown time and continuing until June 26, 2026, RAMOS was found in possession of images and videos of pre-pubescent child pornography. RAMOS is not a U.S. Citizen and was living in the U.S. illegally. Additionally, on or about June 26, 2026, RAMOS was found in possession of a firearm, a Springfield Armory, Model XDM, and a .45 ACP caliber pistol.
Through a partnership between state and federal authorities, the U.S. Attorney’s Office adopted the state charges and is now prosecuting RAMOS in federal court.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigations. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator, and Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s 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.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Memphis Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Water Piks Stolen from Interstate Shipment and Ordered to Pay $420,000 in RestitutionRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Gregory Luss, 44, has been sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to being in possession of goods stolen from an interstate shipment. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, a semi-tractor trailer filled with Water Piks that were intended for shipment to Amazon was stolen from its Bledsoe Cove location in Memphis on October 20, 2023. On the same day, Luss posted a large inventory of Water Pik products to sell on an eBay account registered to him.
Luss delivered many of the stolen Water Piks to an unsuspecting buyer in Texas and later attempted to steal them back from the buyer. When the buyer caught Luss trying to steal them, Luss attempted to escape in his delivery truck, hitting a warehouse manager with his truck before fleeing from law enforcement on the interstate, where Luss hit six cars carrying a total of 18 passengers.
Luss pled guilty on March 3, 2026 and was sentenced by United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker on September 16, 2026 to 24 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Luss was also ordered to pay more than $420,000 in restitution. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Luss not only committed large scale cargo theft that harmed crucial interstate commerce here in Memphis, but also endangered and victimized multiple people in Texas while attempting to avoid capture and consequences. Instead of a luxury Water Pik, inmate Luss will now have a standard prison-issued toothbrush in the Bureau of Prisons.”
"Stealing from an interstate shipment is more than taking property - it is a deliberate violation of the trust and security that keep our commerce moving," said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. "This sentence sends a strong message: these crimes will be aggressively investigated, offenders will be held accountable, and stealing from interstate commerce will carry serious consequences. I commend the FBI Nashville Cargo Theft Task Force for their work on this case and its continued efforts to protect our nation's supply chain."
The case was investigated by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Cargo Theft Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Delery prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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For more information, please contact our Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Maryland Man Charged with Stealing More Than $1 Million from Dozens of SeniorsRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced, today, that authorities arrested a Hyattsville man in connection with a fraud scheme that targeted senior citizens.
Roy Dave Davis, 34, of Hyattsville, is charged by criminal complaint with bank fraud.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the arrest and criminal complaint with Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) – Washington Division.
According to court documents, beginning in May 2023, Davis obtained personally identifiable information for numerous customers of a financial institution. Davis changed the mailing addresses connected to the victims’ accounts to addresses he controlled in Maryland. He then ordered debit cards in the victims’ names and used them to make ATM withdrawals and direct purchases.
Throughout the scheme, Davis made more than 1,500 fraudulent ATM withdrawals that netted more than $1 million. He also used victims’ debit cards to purchase more than $100,000 in luxury fashion items.
Davis defrauded more than 40 victims, targeting senior citizens who averaged 81 years old. Additionally, Davis obtained and used debit cards that belonged to small businesses, deceased individuals, and a charter school.
A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by criminal complaint are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.
If convicted, Davis faces a maximum of up to 30 years in federal prison for bank fraud. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the USPIS for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Jaskiw, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan S. McKoy, who are prosecuting this federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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