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8 July 2026
Defendant Sentenced for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Christopher Bradley Gonzales, a/k/a Christopher Bradley Robison, 32, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Ada Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On April 13, 2026, Gonzales pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on June 21, 2025, Gonzales attacked the victim from behind, stabbing the victim multiple times with a knife. Gonzales fled on foot but was quickly apprehended by officers. The victim sustained multiple injuries and was life-flighted for emergency medical care.
The crime occurred in Pontotoc County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Gonzles will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
D.C. Felon Who Fled from Officers Sentenced in Possession of a Loaded Glock 9mm PistolRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – James Gaskins, 30, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 26 months in prison in connection with his possession of a loaded Glock 9mm pistol that was recovered after he attempted to flee from police in Southeast Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Gaskins pleaded guilty on Sept. 12, 2025, before Judge Amir H. Ali to one count of felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. In addition to the 26-month prison term, Judge Ali ordered Gaskins to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 41-month prison term.
According to court papers, on Oct. 4, 2025, officers from the Metropolitan Police Department observed Gaskins and a co-defendant attempting to get into a building on the 2800 block of 28th Street SE and attempted to stop them. Gaskins fled and ran into an alley between two residences. As officers chased him, Gaskins tossed a firearm. Officers later recovered a Glock 17 9mm semiautomatic pistol from along Gaskins’ flight path. The firearm was loaded with one round in the chamber and an additional 16 rounds of ammunition in a 17-round capacity magazine. A forensic test of the Glock linked Gaskins’ DNA to the firearm.
Following his arrest, officers searched a Honda Odyssey that matched keys found on Gaskins’ co-defendant and found a satchel with Gaskins’ identification inside. In the satchel with the ID, officers found a plastic bag containing 11 green “zips” with a powder-like substance, and a separate rock-like substance broken up into a plastic bag. The substances later tested positive for cocaine base.
Gaskins has a prior felony conviction and was therefore legally barred from possessing any firearm. In March 2023, he was convicted in Superior Court for unlawful possession of a firearm.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department with the valuable assistance of the FBI Washington Field Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Caelainn Carney.
This case was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative. Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump’s Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
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Court Agrees with Justice Department that Environmental Groups Lack Standing to Challenge Deepwater PortRead the Press Release
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit yesterday denied a petition for review in a legal challenge to the Maritime Administration’s issuance of a deepwater port license to Delfin LNG. In denying the petition, the court held that three environmental groups failed to establish standing. The court did not rule on the merits of the case because the petitioners did not show any injury that might be traced to the challenged project.
“This project is an important part of the President’s energy dominance agenda, as evidenced by the President’s directives to the Maritime Administration about this project in his Unleashing American Energy Executive Order,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “The Fifth Circuit’s ruling will make it harder for environmental groups — who have no stake in important energy projects — to challenge projects that will bring jobs and prosperity to Americans.”
“This commonsense ruling ensures that this vital energy infrastructure project won't be derailed by Far Left climate activists,” said Maritime Administrator Stephen M. Carmel. “Under the President's directive, the Maritime Administration is proud to support the Delfin LNG Deepwater port’s operations and the good-paying jobs it'll create while unleashing America’s energy dominance.”
The Delfin deepwater port will export liquefied natural gas (LNG). The Maritime Administration first authorized the port in 2017. In 2024, the Biden Administration told Delfin that more environmental review was necessary and declined to issue a license for the port. In the January 2025 Unleashing American Energy executive order, President Trump directed the Maritime Administration to consider again whether additional environmental review was necessary and then to issue the license. The Maritime Administration licensed the project in March 2025.
Attorney Rebecca Jaffe of ENRD argued the case before the Fifth Circuit. Deputy Assistant Attorney General Robert Stander and Appellate Deputy Chief Robert Lundman of ENRD also worked on this matter.
Corporate controller admits to embezzling fundsRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A small business’s former financial controller, who engaged in a pattern of embezzling funds from his employer, pleaded guilty yesterday, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of Federal Bureau of Investigation and Robert Kuszynski, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations.
Jacob Wise, age 29, from Riverview, Michigan, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud for orchestrating a scheme that caused over $1.1 million in losses to the business where he worked. He also pleaded guilty to one count of laundering the proceeds of his crimes.
At the hearing, Wise admitted to devising and executing a scheme to order and to divert the company’s funds to bank accounts he controlled. The accounts appeared to be legitimate vendors for the company. In reality, Wise himself controlled the accounts and used the diverted funds to make purchases, including a Ford F-150 pickup truck, which agents seized as part of the investigation.
Sentencing before United States District Judge Judith Levy will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Wise faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine of not more than $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly Fasbinder and Philip A. Ross
Convictions through Guilty Pleas in Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) Prosecutions (June 29 through July 2, 2026)Read the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, Héctor Ramírez-Carbó, Acting United States Attorney, in conjunction with our partner agencies in the Homeland Security Task Force (“HSTF”) announce the following prosecutorial results for the week of June 29 through July 2, 2026. The HSTF is a permanent, interagency law enforcement task force created by executive order to combat transnational criminal organizations—including cartels, trafficking networks, and foreign terrorist organizations.
Convictions through Guilty Pleas:
- On July 1, 2026, José González Herrera pleaded guilty to Counts One and Seven of the Indictment in Criminal Case 24-453 (MAJ). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. Defendant was arrested on December 11, 2024. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for November 17, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz González and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On July 1, 2026, Ángel Agosto Andino pleaded guilty to Count One of the Indictment in Criminal Case 24-453 (MAJ). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Defendant was arrested on December 11, 2024. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for September 29, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz González and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On July 1, 2026, Bernardo De la Cruz Pizarro pleaded guilty to Count One of the Indictment in Criminal Case 24-453 (MAJ). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Defendant was arrested on December 11, 2024. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for September 29, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz González and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On July 1, 2026, Alex Encarnación Febus pleaded guilty to Count One of the Indictment in Criminal Case 24-453 (MAJ). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Defendant was arrested on December 11, 2024. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for September 29, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz González and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On July 1, 2026, Victor Sifonte Rivera pleaded guilty to Count One of the Indictment in Criminal Case 24-453 (MAJ). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Defendant was arrested on December 11, 2024. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for September 29, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz González and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On July 2, 2026, Carlos Pereira Cruz pleaded guilty to Counts One and Seven in Criminal Case 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for September 30, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz González and Andres Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On July 2, 2026, Miguel Antonio Galva-Tavárez pleaded guilty to 8 U.S.C. 1326(a) in Criminal Case 26-158. According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with Reentry of a Removed Alien. Defendant was arrested on April 17, 2026. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for September 30, 2026. SAUSA Cody A. McKinney is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
These prosecutions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
HSTF San Juan comprises agents and officers from the following federal partners: FBI, ICE-HSI, CBP (OFO, AMO and Border Patrol), the U.S. Marshals Service for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, DEA, ATF, IRS, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of State, and the U.S. Secret Service, the Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA, TSA, FAA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The HSTF also has the following state and local law enforcement partners as participating agencies: the Puerto Rico Police Department; the San Juan, Carolina, Guaynabo, Barceloneta, and Ponce Municipal Police Departments, the Puerto Rico National Guard – Counter Drug Program; the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Service (Hacienda); the Puerto Rico Port Authority; and the Virgin Islands Police Department.
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Convicted Murderer Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A drug trafficker with a prior murder conviction has been sentenced on gun and drug charges, announced U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr.
U.S. District Judge Corey Maze sentenced Francis Williams also known as “Mookie,” 33, of Birmingham, Alabama, to 240 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release for distribution of methamphetamine and using and carrying a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime. Williams pleaded guilty to the charges in March.
“Violent individuals who continue to commit crimes in our communities will be met with the fullest extent of the law,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams. “We will continue working aggressively with our federal, state and local law enforcement to bring the most dangerous offenders to justice.”
“The presence of illegal firearms, particularly those equipped with machinegun conversion devices, significantly elevates the danger to our communities,” said Steven N. Schrank, the Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI is relentless in our pursuit of individuals who disregard the law and pose a threat to public safety. This sentence sends a clear message: those who choose to engage in drug trafficking while illegally arming themselves with stolen weapons will be identified, investigated, and held accountable.”
According to court documents, in April and May 2023, Williams sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant on two occasions. During one of the drug sales, Williams displayed a black pistol. In September 2023, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) issued arrest warrants for Williams for trafficking methamphetamine. On January 26, 2025, United States Marshals Service (USMS) Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested Williams after he left a residence on Worchester Court in Birmingham. A state search warrant was obtained and executed at the residence. During the search, ALEA agents recovered a SCCY 9mm pistol and a Glock 9mm pistol with a machinegun-conversion device, commonly referred to as a “Glock switch.” Both pistols had been reported stolen—the SCCY from Homewood in November 2023 and the Glock from Birmingham in September 2021.
Williams is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of multiple prior felony convictions, including a 2013 murder conviction in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case along with USMS and ALEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer prosecuted the case.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Prison for Possessing Sawed-Off ShotgunRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Daquan Devonte Jeter, 34, of Charlotte, and a previously convicted felon, was sentenced yesterday to 78 months in prison for possessing a sawed-off shotgun, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
“This defendant’s violent conduct endangered multiple victims, including a young child,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “Those who illegally possess firearms and use them to terrorize others should expect to face significant federal prison time.”
According to court records, on March 23, 2025, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) received a 911 call for service at approximately 1 a.m. about a potential assault involving Jeter and a firearm. Officers responding to the scene met a woman who had visible injuries to her mouth. The victim told officers that Jeter had fired a shotgun. Jeter was not on scene, but officers recovered several live shotgun shells from the ground. The victim also told law enforcement that Jeter had struck her in the mouth with the firearm.
Court documents show that approximately an hour and a half after the Charlotte 911 call, the Mint Hill Police Department received a call reporting that an SUV was stopped in the middle of the road. Responding officers found Jeter behind the wheel of the SUV, with the vehicle still running and in drive. Jeter was unconscious in the driver’s seat holding the firearm in his hands. A toddler was also in the back seat of the SUV. Jeter was arrested and taken to a nearby hospital. While at the hospital, Jeter was combative and threatened to sexually assault family members of the arresting officers upon his release from custody.
In September 2025, Jeter pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon. He is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation to a federal facility.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, CMPD, and the Mint Hill Police Department investigated the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A convicted felon has been sentenced for illegally possessing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr.
Chief United States District Judge Madeline H. Haikala sentenced Darrie Dewayne Ziegler, 32, of Birmingham, to 92 months in prison. In July 2025, Ziegler pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
“Violent offenders who continue to disregard the law will be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. “I commend the outstanding work of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners for their dedication to protecting the citizens of the Northern District of Alabama and ensuring that repeat offenders like Ziegler are removed from our communities.”
“This sentence for a multi-convicted federal defendant found with firearms and drugs is a reminder that repetitive criminal conduct carries serious consequences,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy Peoples.
“The details in this case are particularly alarming - a violent felon, armed with stolen firearms and a machinegun, and distributing narcotics at a local motel,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge James VanVliet. “This combination of criminal activity represents a huge concern for public safety. The ATF will continue to work together with our law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate and charge individuals such as Ziegler who make our neighborhoods unsafe.”
During the week of August 6, 2024, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Birmingham Police Department received a tip from Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama related to Ziegler possessing firearms and selling drugs at a motel in Birmingham. On August 15, 2024, ATF located Ziegler at the Budgetel Inn and Suites in Fairfield. Officers recovered from Ziegler’s hotel room a Shadow Systems MR920 9mm pistol with a green dot sight, an extended magazine, marijuana, and ammunition. The Shadow Systems 9mm pistol and several other guns had been reported stolen a week earlier from a vehicle in Tuscaloosa. The next day, hotel staff found a backpack in the laundry room and reported the discovery to law enforcement. From the backpack, officers recovered a Glock 9mm pistol that had been converted to a machinegun using a machinegun-conversion device, commonly referred to as a “Glock switch,” two 50-round drum magazines, a regular magazine, 28 grams of methamphetamine, 6 grams of fentanyl, alprazolam, digital scales, and cash.
At the time of the incident, Ziegler had one arrest warrant with the Irondale Police Department and nine warrants with the Birmingham Police Department.
In 2018, Ziegler was convicted in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama for being a felon in possession of a firearm. In 2019, he was sentenced to 70 months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised release. Ziegler was released from federal prison in January 2022. Ziegler violated his supervised release after he failed to report to his United States Probation Officer for four months and after he was arrested for Domestic Violence Assault. His supervised release was revoked in 2023, and he served 15 more months in federal prison for the revocation. He was released in January 2024.
The ATF investigated the case along with the Birmingham Police Department and Irondale Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristy M. Peoples and Ryan S. Rummage prosecuted the case.
Cole County Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charges Involving Multiple VictimsRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Cole County, Mo., resident Anthony Dale Pitts-Fugate, 33, pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of production of child pornography in two separate cases.
According to court documents filed in this case, in March 2023, the defendant communicated with a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Task Force Officer who was acting in an online undercover (UC) capacity as part of the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force operating out of a satellite office in Washington, D.C. The UC was monitoring a public online group to include members actively involved in the distribution, possession, receipt and production of child exploitation material (CSAM.) During his communication with the UC, the defendant sent CSAM depicting a pre-pubescent child to the UC. The defendant produced the CSAM image he sent to the UC.
In April 2023, a witness reported to the Cole County Sheriff’s Department that the defendant contacted her when she was 16 years old and requested sexually explicit photos. FBI agents applied for and received search warrants for the defendant’s SnapChat accounts. A review of the SnapChat records showed the defendant used a false persona of a 16-year-old male and to cause at least two minor females to produce CSAM.
Under federal statutes, the defendant is subject to a sentence of up to 60 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley S. Turner It was investigated by The Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Jefferson City Police Department.
Project Safe Childhood
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."
The defendant will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.
Clinton Man Charged with Attempted Sex Trafficking of a MinorRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Clinton man has been arrested and charged for allegedly attempting to pay $150 to have sex with a purported 15-year-old minor.
James Gill, 39, was charged with one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor. Gill was arrested by state authorities in April 2026 and is currently in federal custody. He will appear in federal court in Worcester at 4 p.m. today.
According to the charging documents, Gill allegedly responded to an advertisement posted by undercover law enforcement on a website commonly used to advertise commercial sex. During subsequent text messages and a phone call with an undercover agent posing as the sister of a purported 15-year-old girl, the agent stated that the minor was available to engage in commercial sex acts. Gill allegedly agreed to pay $150 to have sex with the minor and stated that he intended to video record the sexual encounter. It is further alleged that Gill requested photographs of the purported minor and sent a nude photograph of himself to be shown to her. Gill was arrested upon his arrival at a prearranged hotel to meet the purported minor.
The charge of attempted sex trafficking of a child provides for a sentence of no less than 10 years and up to life in prison, five 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.
If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Worcester Police Chief Paul B. Saucier made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen M. Noto of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Citizen of Mexico Sentenced to 54 Months for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Alfredo Juarez-Perez, 55, Monterey, Mexico, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Conley to 54 months in federal prison for illegally reentering the United States. Juarez-Perez pleaded guilty to this charge on April 9, 2026.
In March of 2025, the Wisconsin Department of Corrections Sex Offender Registry received an anonymous tip that Juarez-Perez was in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, and had failed to register as a sex offender as required. Following his arrest on that charge, law enforcement discovered that he had been deported twice before – once in 2018 and again in 2021 – following convictions for illegal reentry in the Western District of Wisconsin and the Southern District of Texas. Juarez-Perez also has a prior federal conviction for distribution of cocaine and has been convicted of sexual assault twice in Dane County, Wisconsin.
“Today’s sentence underscores that repeated criminal behavior, especially serious offenses like unlawful reentry, narcotics trafficking, and violent assault, will be met with decisive consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Elgersma. “Juarez-Perez has shown a clear disregard for our laws and for the safety of the community. My office remains committed to working with our partners to ensure that those who persist in endangering the public are identified, apprehended, and held fully accountable.”
At the sentencing, Judge Conley noted that since Juarez-Perez first entered the United States in 1990, he had been convicted of multiple drunk driving offenses, distribution of cocaine, sexual assault, and had failed to maintain his sex offender registry. Judge Conley stressed that these behaviors, along with Juarez-Perez’s criminal thinking, made him a danger to the community.
The charge against Juarez-Perez was the result of an investigation conducted by the Department of Homeland Security. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie Pfluger and Louis Glinzak prosecuted this case.
Checotah Resident Sentenced for Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jason Duane Henrichs, age 47, of Checotah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics.
On October 9, 2025, Henrichs pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, on November 22, 2022, Henrichs distributed 111.9 grams of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Henrichs will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rob Wallace represented the United States.
Carjacking and Firearms Offense Leads to Guilty Plea from D.C. ManRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Dominick Carter, 22, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty Tuesday for a carjacking and firearms offenses committed in January 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Carter pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to one count of carjacking and one count of carrying a pistol without a license. The sentencing guidelines for carjacking are 36-84 months with a 7-year mandatory minimum. For the charge of carrying a pistol without a license, the guidelines are 6-24 months. Carter’s co-defendant, De’Shean Dean, accepted a guilty plea last year for carjacking and carrying a dangerous weapon. Dean was sentenced to seven years.
Superior Court Judge Robert Salerno scheduled sentencing for October 2, 2026.
According to the government’s evidence, on the afternoon of January 21, 2025, the two victims drove from Maryland to an apartment building located at 1641 W Street, SE, to purchase marijuana. When they arrived at that location, the victims met with the defendant and entered an apartment unit. Once inside, co-defendant De’Shean Dean, emerged from the kitchen with a firearm, pointed it at the victims and told them not to move. Shortly thereafter, Carter and Dean made the decision to drive the victims to the Anacostia Metro Station. Carter got into the driver’s seat of victim 1’s car, victim 2 sat in the passenger seat, victim 1 sat in the rear driver’s seat, and Dean sat in the rear passenger seat.
Once they arrived at the Anacostia Metro Station, the two co-defendants ordered the victims out of the car. The victims complied and exited the car, at which point the co-defendants fled the scene in the victim’s car.
On the day of the offense, Carter was in possession of a firearm. The defendant was not licensed to carry the firearm in the District of Columbia. Carter was arrested on February 28, 2026, and has been in custody since.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Katerina Qesari.
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Canton Man Sentenced to 13+ Years in Prison for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
AKRON, Ohio – A Stark County man has been sentenced to federal prison for receiving, distributing, and possessing materials that depicted the sexual abuse of children.
Brian Dazey, 38, of Canton, has been sentenced to 160 months (13.3 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent, after pleading guilty to Receipt and Distribution of Visual Depictions of Real Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct, and Possession of Child Pornography, also known as Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM). Dazey was also ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release after imprisonment and is required to register as a sex offender.
In May of 2025, law enforcement in the Canton area were investigating suspected CSAM activity. Investigators learned that the child pornography was downloaded from both a church and a grocery store where Dazey was employed. On June 30, 2025, agents executed a search warrant on Dazey’s person and residence and seized his cellphone. Dazey admitted to downloading, viewing, and trading child pornography on several social media platforms. During forensic examination of his electronic devices, investigators located more than 130,000 videos and images depicting child sexual abuse.
The case was investigated by the FBI Canton Resident Agency, the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Jackson Township Police Department, and the Canton Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Joseph P. Dangelo for the Northern District Ohio led the prosecution.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC.
To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Callaway County Man Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation Offense After Paying for Live Child Porn Videos in the PhilippinesRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Holts-Summit, Mo. man, David Lee Maddox, 60, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of attempted production of child pornography.
The investigation began on Aug. 8, 2023 when the St. Louis Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) office received a referral from HSI Portland, Maine pertaining to the defendant’s communication via Microsoft Skype with known traffickers/sellers of live and recorded child sexual abuse videos operating in the Philippines. The investigation showed defendant used Skype to receive “shows” from minor victims in the Philippines and paid for the shows by sending money via various money transmittal services. From on or about Sept. 20, 2021, through Dec. 23, 2023, the defendant received “shows” depicting underage females on approximately 20 occasions.
Under federal statutes, the defendant is subject to a sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley S. Turner. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Project Safe Childhood
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."
The defendant will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.
California Drug Trafficker and Money Launderer Sentenced to over Seven Years in Prison for Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Conspiracy in Homeland Security Task Force InvestigationRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Dylan Tai Dang, 55, of Garden Grove, California, was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Shanlyn A.S. Park to 87 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Judge Park ordered Dang remanded into custody immediately following his sentencing.
According to court records, between April 2023 and April 2025, Dang and his coconspirator, Bill Van Nguyen, sold and distributed over thirty-four and a half pounds of methamphetamine and eleven and a half pounds of fentanyl and fentanyl-laced pills from their base of operations in California to a Hawaii purchaser, who was an undercover law enforcement employee (the “undercover”). The undercover operation involved over $100,000 in payments for drugs intended to be distributed in Hawaii. Dang flew from California to Hawaii on two occasions to pick up over $41,000 in cash drug proceeds from the undercover. He also laundered payments for other drug transactions through bank accounts of five shell corporations that he set up and controlled. For three completed drug transactions in the conspiracy and one attempt, Dang acted as the frontman and negotiated the transactions with the undercover presenting an array of drugs for sale and using coded drug language in their communications.
Separate from the conspiracy, Dang flew to Hawaii to meet with the undercover to discuss Dang’s money laundering activities. Dang agreed to launder $25,000 in drug proceeds for the undercover for a 5% fee. Dang directed the undercover to transfer the funds to bank accounts tied to shell corporations that Dang controlled and then Dang returned the money back to the undercover less his fee. During the investigation, the government identified nine shell corporations set up by Dang, who facilitated the transfer of millions of dollars through the shell corporations’ associated bank accounts.
At sentencing, Judge Park emphasized the “immense burden” that drug trafficking places on the community and the harm its causes families. She noted that Dang’s conduct involved bringing an “extraordinarily high” amount of methamphetamine and fentanyl into a community that Dang did not even live in yet was “willing to destroy.” In arriving at her sentence, Judge Park also pointed to Dang’s “degree of sophistication and planning” in laundering drug money through multiple shell corporations as a significant aggravating factor.
Dang’s coconspirator, Nguyen pleaded guilty to distributing, attempting to distribute, and conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and was sentenced to 220 months in prison by Senior United States District Judge Helen Gillmor on June 22, 2026.
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Honolulu Police Department, and Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca A. Perlmutter prosecuted the case.
This prosecution was 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 Hawaii comprises agents and officers from ICE-HSI, FBI, ATF, CBP, CGIS, DCIS, DEA, DSS, IRS-CI, NCIS, USMS, USPIS and HHIDTA with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii.
Broome County Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Possession and Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK – Neil Wesley, 47, of Broome County, New York, was sentenced on June 25, 2026 to 25 years in prison for receipt and possession of child pornography.
First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James and Broome County District Attorney F. Paul Battisti made the announcement.
As part of his guilty plea, Wesley admitted he had been previously convicted of rape in New York in 2001. He also admitted that from at least December 2024 through February 2025 he received and distributed child pornography. Further, he admitted that in February 2025 he possessed over 200 images and 18 videos of child pornography.
In addition to the 25-year imprisonment term, United States District Judge Anthony J. Brindisi imposed 15 years of supervised release, forfeiture and directed restitution to victims of the offense.
“Another child predator is behind bars, thanks to the diligent work of the FBI, New York State Police and Broome County District Attorney’s Office, said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III. “This defendant failed to correct his behavior the first time and has now been sentenced to 25 years in prison for his continued depravity. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, together with our federal and local law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively pursue those who prey on our children and use every resource available to bring them to justice.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig Tremaroli said, “Mr. Wesley, already a convicted rapist, horrifically exploited our most vulnerable by both possessing and distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). This 25-year sentence illustrates just how depraved his behavior was, but it also highlights how impactful law enforcement can be when we leverage our collective resources to hold these sick predators accountable. The FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force is wholly committed to working with every level of law enforcement to investigate these dangerous predators and send them to prison where they belong.”
New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “The State Police and our law enforcement partners have zero tolerance for those who prey on children, and this sentencing reflects the severity of these crimes and our commitment to finding justice for the victims. We will remain dedicated to intercepting the lengths child predators go through to exploit and harm children. I commend our State Police members, United States Attorney’s Office, Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Broome County District Attorney’s Office for their steadfast work in keeping innocent children safe.”Broome County District Attorney F. Paul Battisti said, “This sentence reflects the unwavering commitment of our law enforcement partners to protecting children and holding those who exploit them fully accountable. Cases involving the sexual exploitation of children require seamless collaboration between federal, state, and local agencies, and this investigation is a testament to what can be accomplished when we work together toward a common goal. I commend the FBI, the New York State Police, the United States Attorney's Office, and the dedicated members of our office whose coordinated efforts helped ensure this dangerous offender will no longer pose a threat to our community or to vulnerable children."
FBI-Albany, the New York State Police, and the Broome County District Attorney’s Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Gadarian and Kristen Grabowski prosecuted it.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Bronx Man Charged with Sex Trafficking of A Minor and Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, announced today the unsealing of a six-count Indictment charging SEAN CHISOLM, a/k/a “Slutty,” with the sex trafficking of a 16-year-old victim (“Minor Victim”), coercion and enticement of the Minor Victim, transportation of the Minor Victim from another state to New York for unlawful sexual activity, sexual exploitation of a child, and two counts of receipt and distribution of child pornography. CHISOLM was arrested today and will be presented at a later date. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge George B. Daniels.
“As alleged, Sean Chisolm lured a 16-year-old girl to New York so that he could sexually exploit and traffic her,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Chisolm then had her engage in dangerous sex work, from which he financially profited. Crimes like these, which target and exploit our most vulnerable, are among the worst crimes in our society. The message from our Office and the NYPD is clear: if you sexually abuse a minor, we will find you and you will go to prison.”
“This defendant targeted a minor, coerced her into traveling out of state, and cruelly exploited and trafficked her for money,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. “These crimes are not only illegal, they are absolutely reprehensible, and the NYPD is committed to protecting children from predators like this defendant. I thank our NYPD investigators and law enforcement partners for their work on this case to bring this criminal to justice and prevent other children from being victimized by him.”
As alleged in the Indictment and other public filings:(1)
Beginning around January 2026, CHISOLM enticed the Minor Victim to travel from out-of-state, where she lived with her family, to New York so that the Minor Victim could engage in commercial sex work at CHISOLM’s direction. Before the Minor Victim traveled to the Bronx, CHISOLM obtained from the Minor Victim a photograph and two videos that depicted the Minor Victim naked. CHISOLM also talked with the Minor Victim about the sex acts that he wanted to engage in with her when she arrived.
Between approximately February 2026 through March 2026, CHISOLM acted as Minor Victim’s self-described “pimp,” arranging for multiple acts of commercial sex for the Minor Victim and requiring the Minor Victim to provide him with her earnings. CHISOLM also posted an advertisement on an online classifieds website, featuring naked photos of the Minor Victim, which advertised the Minor Victim as, among other things, “Fetish Friendly.” In addition, during this time, CHISOLM filmed a video of the Minor Victim engaging in a sex act, which he told her he was planning to post online to expand her customer base.
As early as their first conversation, CHISOLM was aware that the Minor Victim was 16 years old and frequently discussed with the Minor Victim the precautions that they would need to take as a result of the Minor Victim’s age. For example, CHISOLM told the Minor Victim, “We just have to move correct ma[.] Because of ya age feel me? Never let anyone know ya real age but me NOBODY.” CHISOLM also instructed the Minor Victim, “My rules is listen to me nd don’t tell nobody your real age nobody but daddy should know that.”
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CHISOLM, 33, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with sex trafficking of a minor, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; coercion and enticement of a minor, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; transportation of a minor for unlawful sexual activity, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; sexual exploitation of a child, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison; and two counts of receipt and distribution of child pornography, each of which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The statutory minimum and maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the NYPD SVU Citywide Human Trafficking Squad and the Special Agents, Task Force Officers, the Digital Forensics Unit, and the Complex Analytics and Social Media Enhancement Team at the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York in connection with this investigation. Mr. Clayton also thanked the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office and the FBI-NYPD Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force in New York.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights and Human Trafficking Unit in the Criminal Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ariel Cohen and Meredith Foster are in charge of the prosecution.
The charge contained in the Indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
^
As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth in this release constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Boone County Woman Pleads Guilty to Theft of Government BenefitsRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Barbara Ferrell, 63, of Seth, pleaded guilty today to theft of government monies. Ferrell admitted that she stole approximately $160,394.02 in veterans and Social Security benefits meant for a family member by abusing her position overseeing those funds.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from October 20, 2021, through March 11, 2024, Ferrell served as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) appointed fiduciary for the family member. Ferrell also served as the Social Security Administration (SSA) representative payee for the family member from approximately August 2021 to November 2024.
As part of her guilty plea, Ferrell admitted that from April 13, 2022, through February 29, 2024, she knowingly and fraudulently took VA fiduciary benefits meant for the family member totaling approximately $114,660.82. Ferrell further admitted that from June 1, 2022, through July 9, 2024, she knowingly and fraudulently took approximately $45,733.20 in SSA benefits that were for the family member’s benefit. Ferrell stole the benefit funds by periodically withdrawing the money once it had been electronically deposited for the family member in a joint checking account. Ferrell admitted that she spent the funds meant to benefit the family member for her own use and enjoyment.
“Stealing from veterans is a particularly disgraceful form of greed,” said United States Attorney Moore Capito. “These are men and women who put on our nation’s uniform and sacrificed in service to this country — and the idea that someone would deliberately prey on them for personal profit is disgusting. Our veterans deserve our gratitude and protection, not to be treated as targets. I commend the dedicated investigators of the VA Office of Inspector General for uncovering this fraud and relentlessly pursuing accountability. Together, we will continue to protect those who served and aggressively prosecute anyone who tries to exploit them.”
Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs-Office of Inspector General (VA OIG) and the Social Security Administration-Office of the Inspector General (SSA OIG).
“Today’s guilty plea sends a clear message that the VA OIG will vigorously investigate those who steal from vulnerable veterans who are unable to manage their financial affairs,” said Special Agent in Charge Nate Landkammer with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG), Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “The VA OIG appreciates the support of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their efforts to stop fraud within VA’s Fiduciary Program.”
“This defendant intentionally exploited a family relationship to steal more than $45,000 in Social Security benefits intended for a relative,” said Amy Connelly, Special Agent-in-Charge, Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General (SSA OIG), Boston–New York Field-Philadelphia Division. “We remain committed to investigating those who misuse benefits for personal gain and ensuring they are held accountable.”
Ferrell is scheduled to be sentenced on November 16, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Ferrell also owes $160,394.02 in restitution.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes is prosecuting the case.
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within federal benefit programs.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-80.
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Binghamton Man Indicted for Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK – Robert Scott, age 60, of Binghamton, New York, was indicted on a charge of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and crack cocaine.
First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) made the announcement.
According to the indictment, on October 30, 2025, Scott possessed with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 28 grams or more of crack cocaine. Scott was also on federal probation at the time of the offense. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
First Assistant United States Attorney John Sarcone stated: “The allegations in this indictment remind us that our efforts to stem the tide of deadly drugs into our communities remains an ongoing endeavor. I thank the Special Agents at the FBI and their partners at the Binghamton Police Department and Broome County Special Investigations Unit Task Force for their never‑ending pursuit of tracking down and holding accountable individuals such as this defendant, who, as alleged, sought to profit from selling deadly substances in our community.”
“This indictment perfectly illustrates the FBI’s commitment to working with our law enforcement partners throughout Broome County to leverage our collective resources and aggressively investigate and hold accountable anyone allegedly trafficking dangerous drugs into our communities,” said Craig Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI–Albany Field Office.
The charge filed against Scott carries a minimum sentence of 5 years in prison and a maximum sentence of up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000,000, and a period of supervised release of at least 4 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The FBI is investigating the case, with assistance from the United States Probation and Pretrial Services Office for the Northern District of New York, the Binghamton Police Department, and the Broome County Special Investigations Unit Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Cheung is prosecuting the case.
Berwick Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Prison for Child Exploitation CrimeRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Vincent Shaffer, age 46, a resident of Berwick, Pennsylvania, was sentenced yesterday to 180 months’ imprisonment by Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann, for receipt of child pornography.
According to the United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, on December 7, 2023, FBI agents served a federal search warrant at Shaffer’s residence in Berwick, Columbia County, Pennsylvania. Pursuant to the warrant, agents seized and later analyzed his cell phone. The forensic analysis uncovered approximately 54 images and videos of child pornography including a video exceeding one hour in duration that depicts the sexual abuse of multiple children including infants.
The investigation was conducted by FBI – Philadelphia Division, Williamsport RAC. Assistant United States Attorney Tatum Wilson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by 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.
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Bend Man Pleads Guilty After Armed Robbery at Cannabis DispensaryRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.—A Bend, Oregon, man pleaded guilty today after robbing a Bend cannabis dispensary.
Russell Ian Boggess, 43, pleaded guilty to interference with commerce by robbery and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
According to court documents, on July 23, 2024, Boggess robbed a Bend cannabis dispensary with a .9 mm handgun. During the robbery, Boggess attempted to fire the gun twice, but the gun jammed. A dispensary employee attempted to call the police, but Boggess struck the employee in the head with the firearm and fled the store with the stolen cannabis. Witnesses outside the store were able to subdue Boggess and secure the firearm until law enforcement arrived.
On September 19, 2024, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned a three-count indictment charging Boggess with interference with commerce by threats or violence, felon in possession of ammunition, and use and carry of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
Boggess faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release for interference with commerce by robbery. For use and carry of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, Boggess faces a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison, a maximum sentence of life in prison, to be served consecutively to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine, and five years of supervised release. Boggess will be sentenced on October 7, 2026, before a U.S. district court judge.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
The FBI and Bend Police Department are investigating the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Nelson and Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. McLaren are prosecuting the case.
Armed Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced on Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Jacquese Dominique Warren, 36, of Charlotte, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for trafficking methamphetamine and illegally possessing firearms, including rifles with high-capacity magazines, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
“Law enforcement in Charlotte has been clear: we are not going to let hotels be turned into havens of crime,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “If you use a hotel room to traffic drugs or guns, your next room will be a federal prison cell.”
According to filed documents and court proceedings, in October 2024, law enforcement began an investigation into Warren after learning he was selling narcotics from his hotel room. During the investigation, law enforcement conducted multiple controlled drug buys from Warren. On at least two occasions, an individual cooperating with law enforcement purchased methamphetamine and firearms from Warren, including two rifles fitted with 30-round high-capacity magazines, as well as boxes of ammunition.
Court records show that, on February 8, 2025, Warren was involved in a shootout outside of the hotel where he was staying. Law enforcement responding to the scene obtained and executed a search warrant for Warren’s room. During the search, law enforcement seized an AR pistol and a revolver reported stolen, quantities of cocaine base, MDMA, and several boxes of ammunition.
In September 2025, Warren pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon and distribution of methamphetamine. He is currently in federal custody pending placement with the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
The ATF and CMPD investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William Wiseman was in charge of the prosecution.
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.
Annville Arsonist Sentenced for Historic Building FireRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – An Annville, Ky., woman, Shelia Clemons, 58, was sentenced to 60 months in prison on Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Robert E. Wier for arson.
On July 30, 2025, Clemons admitted to destroying Lincoln Hall, a historic building located in Jackson County, along with an attached, under-construction elevator shaft by fire. Clemons gained access to Lincoln Hall via a window and used a lighter to start a fire with a stack of paper located inside the window. At the time of the fire, Lincoln Hall was under active construction for improvement and use by the Annville Christian School.
“Lincoln Hall was a cherished historic landmark, and its destruction caused real harm to the Annville community,” said Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of Ms. Clemons’s actions and reinforces that intentionally setting a fire—especially one that destroys property under active renovation for a school—will be met with firm accountability. We are grateful for the investigators and first responders whose work ensured that justice was done.”
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky and John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Pearce Nesbitt prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Amarillo ISD Coach Sentenced to 18 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Abusing a 17-year old StudentRead the Press Release
An Amarillo ISD coach who sexually abused a 17-year-old student was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.
Nicholas Jade Herrmann, 32, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison on June 23, 2026, by United States District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk for enticement of a minor. The Court also ordered that the prison term be followed by 25 years of supervised release, and Hermann will also have to register as a sex offender.
“When parents send their children to school, they place their trust in the school’s staff not only to provide them with an education but also to keep them safe,” said U.S. Attorney Raybould. “This defendant clearly took advantage of the trust he was given, and his sentence should serve as a warning to others.”
“HSI Dallas is committed to protecting children against anyone abusing their power especially in a trusted position at a school,” said HSI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard. “Working together with our local and federal partners, and the school district, we were able to ensure this perpetrator cannot hurt anyone else for many years to come. We will also continue to investigate to identify any other potential victims."
According to court documents, at the time of the offense, Herrmann was an assistant wrestling coach at Tascosa High School in Amarillo, Texas, when he engaged in an inappropriate and sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student. Text messages located on the student’s device revealed that beginning around January 2025, Herrmann began exchanging sexually explicit messages with the student and coerced her to sneak out of her house at night to meet him for sexual activity.
When confronted by law enforcement, Herrmann denied the inappropriate communication and sexual relationship. The student also first lied to law enforcement to protect Herrmann, but later admitted Herrmann had sexual intercourse with her three times on two separate occasions.
At sentencing, the student’s mother detailed how Herrmann’s sexual abuse of her daughter impacted her daughter and their family. Her statement revealed how Herrmann groomed both her daughter and their family to trust him and how his sexual abuse of her daughter completely changed her life’s trajectory.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Amarillo Police Department conducted the investigation with the full cooperation of the Amarillo Independent School District. Assistant U.S. Attorney Callie Woolam prosecuted the case.
The Justice Department is committed to combating child sexual exploitation and brought this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.
Adair County Resident Sentenced for Armed Felony AssaultRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Runningbear Pettit, 24, of Bunch, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Do Bodily Harm, and to 120 months in prison for one count of Use, Carry, Brandish, and Discharge of Firearm During A Crime of Violence. The court ordered the terms to be served consecutively.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, and the Stilwell Police Department.
On June 9, 2025, Pettit pleaded guilty to the charges in federal district court. According to investigators, on January 30, 2025, Stilwell officers responded to an emergency call of shots fired at a Stilwell residence. Witnesses reported that Pettit opened fire on the residence with a semi-automatic rifle. The bullets penetrated the exterior of the building, striking and injuring an occupant. Law enforcement arrested Pettit a short time later, and Pettit confessed to the shooting.
The crimes occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
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 Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Pettit will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lewis M. Reagan and Edith A. Singer represented the United States.
63-Year-Old Caguas Man Arrested for Child ExploitationRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Israel Arroyo-Chiqués, a 63-year-old from Caguas, Puerto Rico, was arrested on criminal charges for child exploitation, announced Héctor Ramírez-Carbó, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. Special Agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Arroyo-Chiqués today.
On July 1, 2026, a federal grand jury indicted Arroyo-Chiqués on charges involving the coercion and enticement of a minor, receipt and distribution of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.
According to court documents, from or about December 2025, to April 2026, Arroyo-Chiqués used a cellphone, online instant messaging services, and social media to knowingly persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a 14-year-old male minor to engage in sexual activity. From January to March 2026, the defendant received and distributed images depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct via instant messaging applications using his cellular telephone and other electronic devices. Defendant also possessed and accessed with intent to view child pornography.
Acting U.S. Attorney Héctor Ramírez-Carbó of the District of Puerto Rico; and HSI San Juan Acting Special Agent in Charge Yariel Ramos made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daynelle Álvarez-Lora of the Crimes Against Children, Human Trafficking and Immigration Unit, is prosecuting the case. The Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force led by HSI is in charge of the investigation.
If convicted for the charges the defendant faces the following penalties: (1) coercion and enticement of a minor - a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years up to life in prison; (2) receipt and distribution of child exploitation material – 5 to 20 years in prison; and (3) possession of child pornography –a maximum of 20 years of imprisonment. All charges of conviction are to be followed by a term of supervised release after the term of imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
For more information about HSI’s efforts to protect children from sexual predators, visit Know2Protect.gov. To report suspicious activities, call 787-729-6969 or send an email to IntelHSISanJuan@hsi.dhs.gov.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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35-Year-Old Toa Alta Man Arrested for Child Exploitation, Cyberstalking and Online ThreatsRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Gabriel Alfonso Núñez-Robles, a 35-year-old from Toa Alta, Puerto Rico, was arrested on criminal charges for child exploitation, cyberstalking and online threats, announced Héctor Ramírez-Carbó, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. On July 7, 2026, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agents arrested Núñez-Robles.
According to court documents, from February 2026 to May 2026, Núñez-Robles knowingly received, distributed and transported child pornography using a cellular phone. Núñez-Robles was also found to possess child pornography material on his cellular device, including child pornography of a prepubescent minor who had not attained 12 years of age.
Núñez-Robles is further charged with cyberstalking a female minor between the ages of 11 and 16. He is also charged with cyberstalking an adult female from in or about the year 2016, through April 2026, and sending her a communication via an instant messaging application containing a threat to injure.
Acting U.S. Attorney Héctor Ramírez-Carbó of the District of Puerto Rico; and Carlos R. Goris Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emelina Agrait-Barreto of the Crimes Against Children, Human Trafficking and Immigration Unit, is prosecuting the case. The FBI is in charge of the investigation.
If convicted for the charges the defendant faces the following penalties: distribution and receipt of child exploitation material and transportation of child exploitation material - a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; possession of child exploitation material - a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.Cyberstalking carries maximum sentence of five years of imprisonment, and cyberstalking of children, 10 years in prison. Interstate communications – threats, carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years. All charges of conviction are to be followed by a term of supervised release after imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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7 July 2026
Woodbridge fentanyl dealer sentenced to seven years in prison after buyer’s fatal overdoseRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Woodbridge woman was sentenced today to seven years in prison for distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents, on Aug. 31, 2021, Qiana Shanal Murry, 28, received a text message requesting 10 fentanyl pills. Murry arranged a price and a time to meet, then traveled and distributed the pills to the buyer. In the early morning hours of Sept. 1, 2021, a family member found the buyer unconscious in a bathroom. The family member called 911 and attempted CPR, but the victim was later pronounced dead on scene.
Investigators found blue powder consistent with crushed fentanyl pills near the body. They also located 15 green Xanax pills in the victim’s bedroom and another Xanax pill at the edge of the victim’s closet. Lab testing confirmed the 15 Xanax pills contained clonazolam and the other Xanax pill contained diazepam, both of which are types of benzodiazepine. On Oct. 21, 2021, the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Medical Examiner determined that that the victim’s cause of death was mixed drug intoxication, specifically due to fentanyl and clonazolam. The amount of fentanyl in the victim’s system was approximately three times the amount typically considered fatal.
Murry, along with Eric Stokes, typically sold fentanyl pills out of an establishment in Dumfries. Stokes, of Woodbridge, was sentenced on April 9, 2024, to 10 years in prison for distributing fentanyl that resulted in the death of another victim.
The FBI Washington Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Prince William County Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher M. Carter prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:26-cr-11.
West Bridgewater Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Conspiracy and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A West Bridgewater man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to drug conspiracy and firearm charges, following a series of arrests targeting gangs in the Brockton and Randolph areas.
Lue Andrade, a/k/a “Poncho,” 30, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and four counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Court Judge Brian E. Murphy scheduled sentencing for Oct. 1, 2026. In February 2026, federal complaints were unsealed against seven defendants charged with drug and firearm crimes.
Andrade was arrested on Dec. 17, 2025, after authorities executed search warrants at numerous residences and stash houses associated with the Brockton-based Harvard Street Gang and their Randolph-based affiliates. Two of the places searched were Andrade’s residence in West Bridgewater and his stash house in Brockton. In his residence, two handguns, ammunition, multiple pounds of marijuana and packaging materials were seized. The stash location was a second-floor apartment that was set up as drug repackaging workshop. The apartment contained dozens of pounds of marijuana, some of which was discovered in hidden compartments within the walls. In the basement, two rifles, a pistol, an extended magazine and various ammunition were also seized. Andrade was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior state conviction for drug dealing from 2016.The drug conspiracy to which Andrade pleaded guilty went back to March 2023, when authorities executed search warrants at Andrade’s then-residence in Bridgewater and a different stash apartment in Brockton. In that stash location, a backpack containing hundreds of grams of fentanyl and cocaine was recovered.
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, supervised release for at least three years and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, supervised release for up to three years 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.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations, Boston Division; the Abington, Acushnet, Ashland, Boston, Braintree, Bridgewater, Brockton, Chelsea, East Bridgewater, Medford, Quincy, Randolph, Raynham, Stoughton, Taunton and West Bridgewater Police Departments; Plymouth and Suffolk County Sheriff’s Departments; Massachusetts Department of Correction; and the Plymouth, Norfolk and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Cutshall and Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Wabash Man Sentenced to 10 Months in Prison for Interstate Communication of Threats to InjureRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Kayden Bell, 20 years old, of Wabash, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to making an interstate communication with a threat to injure, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Bell was sentenced to 10 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
“The Defendant’s threats to people of Jewish heritage and law enforcement were illegal and stood in direct opposition to our community’s core values. He sought to intimidate them, and his words have earned him a trip to prison and two years of supervised release when he is finished. Thanks to the combined efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Wabash Police Department, and the Wabash County Prosecutor’s Office led by William C. Hartley, AUSA Lydia T. Lucius was able to bring the case in federal court,” said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
"Threats intended to intimidate individuals because of their religion or to target law enforcement officers strike at the safety of our communities," said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “"The FBI takes all threats seriously and will aggressively pursue those who use interstate communications to intimidate, terrorize, or incite violence against others.”
According to documents in the case, between August and October of 2025, Bell posted threatening posts on social media targeting Jewish individuals and law enforcement.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Wabash Police Department and the Wabash County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius.
United States to Pay $180 Million to Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska to Resolve Long-Running Port Litigation that began in 2014Read the Press Release
Today, the United States and the Municipality of Anchorage announced the resolution of Municipality of Anchorage v. United States, No. 14-166C (U.S. Court of Federal Claims), which has been pending since 2014. Under the settlement agreement, the United States will make a payment of $180 million to the Municipality in exchange for concluding this decade-long litigation against the United States for its alleged fault in the uncompleted Port of Alaska expansion project.
“I was honored to visit the Port of Alaska today to announce this settlement,” said Acting Attorney General Blanche. “Reaching this fair and reasonable resolution allows both parties to move beyond many years of litigation and instead focus on what matters most: modernizing and beautifying the Port of Alaska, while lowering costs for consumers.”
The settlement reflects the parties’ shared recognition that continued litigation would consume substantial public resources while delaying the opportunity to focus on the Port of Alaska’s future. Rather than lingering on the past, both parties will instead collaborate and prioritize how the port may best benefit both Alaska and the United States. By ending this long-running litigation, both the United States and the Municipality can redirect time, attention, and taxpayer resources toward their respective public missions rather than continued courtroom proceedings.
“Settlements such as this one reflect a reasoned judgment that certainty and public resource conservation are of greater value than another decade of litigation, which would detract from taxpayer resources and personnel focusing on the Department’s top priorities,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. “Bringing this litigation to a close also creates a welcomed opportunity for collaboration among federal, state, and local partners to better support the long-term functionality and economic vitality of the Port of Alaska for the benefit of the American people.”
Today’s resolution allows both parties to shift their attention toward ensuring that the Port of Alaska continues to meet the needs of Alaska’s residents, businesses, and U.S. military installations for decades to come.
Undercover Operation Leads to Child Exploitation Conviction of Tallahassee ManRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Chandler Brittain Smith, 27, of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of distribution of attempted enticement of a minor and one count of attempted transfer of obscene material to minors. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “The threats our kids face online are growing, but our excellent state and federal law enforcement partners are committed to catching the predators seeking to sexually exploit and victimize children using the internet. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute these sick individuals to ensure they are kept behind bars, off the internet, and away from our kids.”
Court documents reflect that in November 2025, Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Tallahassee Police Department conducted an undercover operation in Leon County focused on identifying individuals using the Internet to sexually exploit children. During the operation, law enforcement acted in an undercover capacity on an online social media platform posing as a minor child. Records show that over a two-day period the defendant sent the undercover investigator multiple sexually explicit messages and an obscene photo in an effort to entice and persuade the fictitious child to meet him for sexual activity. On November 10, 2025, the defendant traveled to a pre-determined meeting location and he was arrested.
Smith faces a minimum of 5 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment on the attempted enticement count. Smith also faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment on the attempted transfer of obscene materials count.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 18, 2026, at 2:00 pm, at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida before United States District Judge Mark E. Walker.
The case is being jointly investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Tallahassee Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen.
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 theU.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.
Two Seattle area men charged with string of pharmacy burglaries throughout the Puget Sound regionRead the Press Release
Seattle – Two men have been charged in a 24-count indictment following the investigation of a string of pharmacy burglaries that stretched from Kirkland, Washington, to Chehalis, Washington, announced First Assistant United States Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Koumssa Wakgira, 44, of Seattle and Juston Young, 42, of Renton, Washington, are charged in an indictment alleging conspiracy to commit burglaries involving controlled substances, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, five counts of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, and 17 counts of burglary or attempted burglary involving controlled substances. Young was arraigned on the indictment last month and is detained pending additional hearings. Wakgira was arrested by the U.S. Marshal Service this morning and will appear in U.S. District Court in Seattle at 2:00 today.
“As alleged in the indictment, these defendants were relentless in their attempts to break into pharmacies and steal narcotics,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “I commend local and federal law enforcement who worked together to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice.”
“These defendants fueled the illegal drug market and placed communities at risk by stealing thousands of doses of controlled substances, targeting pharmacies throughout the Puget Sound region for nearly a year.” said Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “This investigation demonstrates the effectiveness of coordinated law enforcement efforts and DEA’s commitment to disrupting the diversion and illegal distribution of prescription medications.”
According to records filed in the case, the two have been linked to a series of pharmacy burglaries where a variety of prescription medications were the target. In some cases, the suspects failed to obtain any pharmaceuticals, but in one case they obtained more than 24,000 doses of restricted medications worth more than $37,000.
The detailed criminal complaint lays out how the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) worked with state and local law enforcement to link the two men to various pharmacy burglaries using surveillance images from cameras at the pharmacies. DNA evidence was linked to one of the suspects from a piece of clothing left at a burglary scene. Court documents outline how investigators linked various cars involved in the scheme to Wakgira and Young, how their phones confirmed their proximity to each other, and how clothing, tools, and narcotics recovered in searches of the men’s home and vehicles tied them to the burglaries.
In all, one or both defendants are allegedly tied to these burglaries or attempted burglaries:
5/2/25, Bob Johnson’s Pharmacy, Seattle - Wakgira
5/8/25, Arow Pharmacy Olympia, WA - Wakgira & Young
5/17/25, Sy Pharmacy, Seattle - Wakgira
9/13/25, Hawks Prairie Pharmacy, Lacey, WA - Wakgira & Young
9/13/25, Good Pharmacy, Tacoma, WA - Wakgira & Young
11/16/25, Navos Pharmacy, Seattle, - Wakgira & Young
11/28/25, Ready Meds Pharmacy, Renton, WA - Wakgira & Young
12/20/25, Evergreen Professional Center Pharm., Kirkland, - Wakgira & Young
12/21/25, Swedish Arnold Pharmacy, Seattle, - Wakgira & Young
12/25/25, Fred Meyer Pharmacy, Seattle - Wakgira & Young
1/1/26, Tukwila Station Pharmacy, SeaTac, WA – Wakgira
2/1/26, Tukwila Station Pharmacy, SeaTac, WA – Wakgira
2/24/26, Sea Mar Pharmacy, Olympia, WA – Wakgira
2/25/26 Purdy Cost Less Prescriptions, Gig Harbor, WA - Wakgira & Young
3/22/26, Panorama Pharmacy, Lacey, WA – Wakgira
3/22/26, Centralia Pharmacy, Centralia, WA – Wakgira
3/22/26, Chehalis Pharmacy, Chehalis, WA – Wakgira
As part of the investigation, in March 2026, law enforcement observed Wakgira engaged in what appears to be drug sales following some of the burglaries.
Conspiracy to commit burglary involving controlled substances is punishable by up to ten years in prison. Burglary and attempted burglary involving controlled substances is punishable by up to twenty years in prison. Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute are punishable by up to twenty years in prison.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by DEA Seattle Diversion Group with assistance from Olympia Special Investigations Response Team (SIRT), the Olympia, Lacey, and Renton Police Departments, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Yemini.
pharmacy_burglary_complaint.pdfTwo Pueblo Men Indicted on Bank Robbery ChargesRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Mario Lucero, 49, Pueblo, and Esai Maestas Torres, 24, Pueblo, were each indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of bank robbery, three counts of using and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, three counts of carjacking, and one count each of possession of ammunition by a prohibited person.
According to the indictment, on March 27, 2026, Lucero and Maestas Torres used firearms to rob a U.S. Bank on Bonforte Boulevard in Pueblo. The indictment alleges that the men then used those firearms to commit several carjackings across the city including stealing a Chevrolet Bolt, an Audi Q5, and a Nissan Rogue. Neither of the suspects are allowed to possess firearms or ammunition due to prior felony convictions.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by the Violent Crime Section of the United States Attorney’s Office.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Case Number: 1:26-cr-00129-SKC
Two Men Charged for Armed CarjackingRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – Two men made their initial appearances in court today for allegedly carjacking with use of using firearms last month in Las Vegas.
According to allegations contained in the indictment, on May 27, 2026, Michael Merryman and Jermaine Francis took a motor vehicle at gunpoint. Allegedly, during the carjacking, Merryman brandished a 9mm firearm and Francis brandished an AM-15 firearm.
Merryman and Francis are each charged with two counts of carjacking and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. They each face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Courtney Strange 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.
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Three-Time Federal Defendant Sentenced to Ten Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
U.S. District Judge Liles C. Burke sentenced Isaiah Ke’Juan Merritt, 27, of Talladega, Alabama, to 120 months in prison. In February, Merritt pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
“My office will pursue repeat federal offenders as often as it takes to keep them out of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. “Thanks to the collaborative efforts of our dedicated law enforcement partners and prosecutors, we have removed this defendant once again from our community.”
“HSI remains steadfast in our mission to protect our communities from repeat offenders who fuel the cycle of drug abuse and violence,” said Ellen Johnson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI in Georgia and Alabama. “This case highlights the impact of strong partnerships among law enforcement partners to continue to pursue those who threaten the safety of our neighborhoods and ensure they are brought to justice.”
According to the plea agreement, on April 16, 2024, deputies with United States Marshals Service (USMS) were conducting surveillance in Talladega, Alabama, as part of their efforts to locate Merritt. Merritt had been convicted in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in November 2018 and had been sentenced to 65 months in prison followed by 120 months of supervised release. While serving the last portion of his custodial sentence at a halfway house, Merritt escaped. For this conduct, he was indicted and convicted of escaping from custody. He was sentenced in November 2022, to 16 months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised release. Because Merritt failed to report and was unresponsive to his probation officer, the Court issued warrants for his arrest, which led to the USMS looking for him on April 16, 2024.
USMS deputies and Task Force Officers observed Merritt getting into the passenger side of a vehicle at the Brentwood Apartment complex located in Talladega, Alabama. Deputies followed the car to A&E Auto Sales in Talladega. Once the vehicle came to a stop, a Deputy U.S. Marshal approached the vehicle to detain Merritt. As Merritt exited the vehicle the Deputy Marshal observed two plastic bags containing methamphetamine on the passenger side floorboard beneath where Merritt had been sitting.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Talladega Drug Task Force investigated the case, along with the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany T. Byrd prosecuted the case.
Three Men Convicted of Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A federal jury convicted three men last week for their participation in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
“This jury verdict is the result of our strong partnership with the DEA to make Nevada’s communities safer and free of dangerous drugs,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “We are relentless in our joint efforts to disrupt and pursue drug traffickers who distribute illicit drugs.”
“These convictions are a testament to the united stand taken by law enforcement partners working to reverse the tide,” said Anthony Chrysanthis, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration Los Angeles Field Division, which oversees Nevada. “Methamphetamine and fentanyl continue to fuel the drug crisis facing Nevada. Identifying and taking drug distributors off our streets is a vital part of our commitment to halt the flow of drugs that continue to devastate communities. DEA will remain at the frontline of this battle, working shoulder-to-shoulder with our federal partners to safeguard the health and safety of all Nevada residents.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from August 2022 to June 20, 2023, Darrell Glen Harris, Joey Lamar McRoyal, and Lamar Deshawn Rosser conspired to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and 40 grams or more of fentanyl — both drugs are Schedule II controlled substances.
As proven at trial, during the course of the conspiracy, Harris supplied McRoyal and Rosser with methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and other controlled substances for distribution in Las Vegas.
Harris was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. McRoyal and Rosser were found guilty of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Sentencing is scheduled on October 1, 2026, before United States District Judge Cristina D. Silva. The statutory maximum penalty is life in prison, lifetime supervised release, and a fine up to $10,000,000.
The DEA Las Vegas District Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Brister is prosecuting the case.
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Stafford woman pleads guilty to embezzling over $1.5M from her employerRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Stafford woman pled guilty today to wire fraud for using her position to embezzle funds from a company where she was employed as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
According to court documents, Cindy Zurawski Babbitt, 57, was the CFO of an audio visual and information technology company in Lorton. As the CFO, Babbitt had access and control of the company’s bank accounts, including a business checking account. From December 2018 through December 2022, Babbitt used fraudulent checks, payroll, and wire transfers to embezzle $1,561,841.30 from the company.
Babbit issued at least 44 checks totaling $82,117 that were drawn on the company’s checking account, made payable to her and her husband, signed by Babbitt as the authorized representative of the company, and deposited by Babbitt into her own bank account. Babbitt fraudulently initiated and approved 49 reimbursements totaling $142,401 through payroll to herself. Babbitt fraudulently caused at least 428 wire transfers totaling $1,337,323.30 from the company’s business checking account to her personal bank account. None of these transactions were made for any legitimate business expenses. Babbitt used the fraud proceeds for purchases at retail stores such as Tiffany & Co., Saks Fifth Avenue, Versace, Burberry, Balmain, Cartier, and Louis Vuitton.
Babbitt is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 10 and faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Secret Service’s Washington Field Office investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Madison Mumma is prosecuting the case.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:26-cr-39.
St. Louis Area Man Sentenced to 200 Months in Prison for Conspiracy that Led to Overdose of Two TeensRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Cristian M. Stevens on Tuesday sentenced a man who was involved in a drug conspiracy that caused one fatal and one nonfatal overdose to 200 months in prison.
Haeder Jameel, 23, was also ordered to pay $51,005 in restitution to the parents of the teen who died.
Jameel was one of three men charged in the case. He and Zaki Salman, 23, pleaded guilty to one of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises. Jameel also pleaded guilty to one count of possession with the intent to distribute MDMA and fentanyl. Salman pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of fentanyl with a serious bodily injury resulting.
Aeman Ali, 23, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the maintaining of a drug-involved premises.
According to the plea agreements, Salman rented a home in the 4400 block of Ohio Street in St. Louis that was used for selling drugs from August 20, 2022, through Dec. 14, 2022. Salman and Jameel bought drugs in California. Salman advertised the drugs on social media and would “direct” the sale of the drugs. The men sold real Percocet pain pills and fake pills that contained fentanyl. When Salman was not at the home, Jameel or Ali would handle the transactions.
Salman delivered drugs to a minor on Sept. 18, 2022, who thought she was buying Percocet. The minor overdosed but was saved by multiple doses of Narcan. Salman and Jameel also admitted that the fentanyl purchased by a 16-year-old male at the Ohio Street residence on Nov. 19, 2022, resulted in his overdose death. Before his death, the teen exchanged messages with the conspirators regarding the purchase of Xanax or Percocet.
When law enforcement officers conducted a court-approved search of the home on Dec. 14, 2022, they found cocaine, MDMA, fentanyl, amphetamine and prescription pills. Jameel answered the door with a loaded .45-caliber handgun that he left on the kitchen table when he ran for the back door.
The 16-year-old victim was remembered by his mother at Tuesday’s hearing for his many good qualities, including his humility and intelligence. “He lived his life as if every person mattered,” she said.
“One decision, made by two different minors, resulted in a life cut short and another impaired by overdose,” Drug Enforcement Administration St. Louis Field Division Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer said. “Now, families are left to mourn the consequences of those decisions, while Haeder Jameel faces years in federal prison. This is a tragic and grim reminder of the potentially deadly impact of fentanyl. Don’t trust your eyes to determine if a pill is an actual prescription medication or counterfeit. Prescription pills should only be purchased through a licensed pharmacist; anything less puts your life in jeopardy.”
“Today’s sentencing is a warning that those who endanger our communities and tear families apart by distributing fentanyl and other dangerous drugs—especially to vulnerable individuals—will be held accountable,” said Homeland Security Investigations St. Louis Assistant Special Agent in Charge Gregory Paris. “Homeland Security Investigations remains vigilant and steadfast in working with our law enforcement partners to disrupt drug trafficking networks and protect the St. Louis area from the devastating impact of opioid abuse.”
Salman, of Hazelwood, was sentenced June 9 to 20 years in prison and was ordered to pay the same amount of restitution. Ali, of St. Louis, is scheduled to be sentenced on July 28.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the Florissant Police Department, the O’Fallon, Missouri Police Department and the St. Charles County Regional Drug Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Finlen is prosecuting the case.
Soldotna man arrested on child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Soldotna man was arrested last week in Sterling on criminal charges related to his alleged possession and receipt of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, Adam O’Guinn, 29, had allegedly been identified as using PayPal to make approximately 27 purchases from known sources of CSAM. Upon the execution of a search warrant at the defendant’s residence, law enforcement allegedly discovered CSAM on his phone. O’Guinn allegedly purchased CSAM over at least two years.
O’Guinn is charged with one count of possession of child pornography and one count of receipt of child pornography. The defendant made his initial court appearance on July 2 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, O’Guinn faces between five and 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman of the District of Alaska and William Ferrari, Deputy Assistant Director, Diplomatic Security Service – Office of Investigations made the announcement.
The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service is investigating the case, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service’s Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force and the Alaska State Troopers. If anyone has information concerning O’Guinn’s alleged actions, please contact the U.S. Department of State at DSSFraudTips@state.gov.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Alexander and Jordyn Caldwell are prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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.
UPDATE: This release has been updated to correct the tip email listed.
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Smith County methamphetamine dealer receives lengthy federal prison sentence for drug trafficking violation in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A Tyler drug dealer has been sentenced to over 15 years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Charles Ray Griffith, Jr., 36, also known as Root, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on July 6, 2026.
According to information presented in court, Griffith was detained while driving vehicles on two separate occasions in July and September 2024, resulting in the discovery of a total of 140.30 grams of methamphetamine. During one attempted traffic stop, Griffith fled recklessly at a high rate of speed on a motorcycle through residential neighborhoods, disregarding stop signs and traffic signals and driving on the wrong side of the road before crashing in the yard of a private residence, where he was apprehended.
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 was investigated by the FBI; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Smith County Sheriff’s Office; and Tyler Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucas Machicek.
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Sixteen Illegal Aliens Convicted of Immigration Offenses in JuneRead the Press Release
Pensacola and Tallahassee – Today, United States Attorney John P. Heekin announced that 16 illegal aliens were convicted of federal immigration crimes in the month of June.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Our citizens deserve to know that our federal government is committed to securing our borders and enforcing our immigration laws, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute criminal illegal aliens who think they can lie, cheat, and steal their way into our country.”
According to court records, 16 previously indicted illegal aliens were convicted of federal offenses in the Northern District of Florida in the month of May. Fifteen of the criminal aliens were convicted of illegal reentry by a removed alien, including:
- Abraham Flores Tercero, 48, of Nicaragua, who was previously removed in July 2009, was encountered in Leon County on October 22, 2025.
- Dualder Velasquez-Granados, 28, of Guatemala, who was previously removed in May 2018, was encountered in Santa Rosa County on March 14, 2026.
- Alcides Miguel Martinez-Martinez, 42, of Honduras, who was previously removed in February 2009 and February 2015, was encountered in Okaloosa County on March 21, 2026.
- Miguel Ico Martinez, 29, of Mexico, who was previously removed twice in January 2024 and once in February 2024, was encountered in Okaloosa County on March 21, 2026.
- Jose Ricardo Hernandez-Perez, 23, of Mexico, who was previously removed in April 2022, was encountered in Escambia County on March 28, 2026.
- Rene Alberto Guerra-Vega, 42, of El Salvador, who was previously removed in October 2012, was encountered in Leon County on March 29, 2026.
- Gabriel Garcia Hernandez, 41, of Mexico, who was previously removed in February 2024, was encountered in Okaloosa County on April 1, 2026.
- Dania Chaver-Pereira, 31, of Honduras, who was previously removed in March 2017, July 2017 and February 2019, was encountered in Okaloosa County on April 4, 2026.
- Wily Antonio Escobar-Canterelo, 29, of Honduras, who was previously removed in April 2016 and December 2016, was encountered in Okaloosa County on April 8, 2026.
- Moises Siquic-Tiul, 39, of Guatemala, who was previously removed in September 2015 and July 2017, was encountered in Walton County on April 13, 2026.
- Jose Mendez Pena, 35, of Mexico, who was previously removed in August 2009, was encountered in Escambia County on April 14, 2026.
- Esteban Hernandez-Muniz, 53, of Mexico, who was previously removed in May 2019, was encountered in Santa Rosa County on April 28, 2026.
- Juan Molina-Hernandez, 36, of Honduras, who was previously removed in July 2023, was encountered in Okaloosa County on May 2, 2026.
- Iran Gomez-Aguilera, 43, of Mexico, who was previously removed in October 2019, was encountered in Okaloosa County on May 4, 2026.
- Juan Contreras-Vilches, 47, of Mexico, who was previously removed in May 2017, July 2017, January 2018, July 2018 and January 2019, was encountered in Okaloosa County on May 7, 2026.
One illegal alien was also convicted of voting by aliens:
- Jacqueline Wallace, 54, of Jamaica.
The cases involved investigations by Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations with the assistance of the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office and the Gulf Breeze Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Thomas S.P. Geeker, Brooke Lindsay, Jessica S. Etherton, Jeffrey M. Tharp, Michelle Spaven, Joseph A. Ravelo, and Eric Welch prosecuted 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.
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.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Failing to Register as Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a man from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on July 6, 2026.
James Murphy, 34, was sentenced to one year and three months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Murphy was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in February 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 6, 2026.
Murphy was convicted of a federal sex offense in 2014 for soliciting a 13-year-old girl off Backpage for sex in exchange for money. At the time, Murphy was 21 years old. Because of this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender. Murphy was aware of his obligation to register and to keep his registration current. Nonetheless, from early November 2023 through December 2024, Murphy knowingly failed to register and update his registration despite being instructed by law enforcement to do so.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Connie Larson prosecuted the case.
Murphy was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to serve his federal sentence.
This case was brought as a 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. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Unit, 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.
Seattle man sentenced to 20 years in prison for sex trafficking a minor and an adult woman – induced both to travel to Seattle for prostitutionRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 38-year-old Seattle man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 20 years in prison for five federal felonies connected to his sex trafficking of a minor and an adult woman, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. In April 2026, a judge and jury convicted Shante Broady of sex trafficking an adult victim through force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion; sex trafficking a minor; transporting both the adult victim and the minor victim for prostitution; and unlawful possession of a firearm. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour said the twenty-year sentence was justified by “the violence of events in the case” and was in line with other sex trafficking sentences imposed in the Western District of Washington.
“Shante Broady is one of six defendants involved in sex trafficking this office has prosecuted in the last six months. Like many sex traffickers in this district, Mr. Broady took a minor to north Aurora Avenue to sell her to sex buyers. This area – which traffickers refer to as “the track” or “the blade” – is a dangerous hub for commercial sexual exploitation of children and adults and associated violent and dangerous criminal activity,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “This office is working tirelessly with our state and federal partners to assist potential victims, identify traffickers, and reduce crime in that known sex trafficking area. This twenty-year sentence, alongside other federal and state prosecutions, are helping to remove some of the most violent traffickers off the streets for a lengthy period.”
“Mr. Broady scoured the internet and various social media platforms searching for vulnerable children and women to entice into his commercial sex trade,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “He succeeded in coercing a minor victim and an adult victim through false promises of a relationship, protection, and money, to travel across state and country lines to commit commercial sex acts at his instruction. Instead of a lavish lifestyle, the victims were met with anger, threats, and violence. The FBI and our partners are committed to combatting this sexual exploitation and violence to hold these perpetrators responsible."
According to records filed in the case and testimony at trial, Broady had been on law enforcement’s radar since March 2023, when they received a report that Broady had been sex trafficking a victim in Portland, Oregon. In November 2024, a former girlfriend reported being assaulted by Broady.
In April 2025, two adult women in Seattle contacted the FBI regarding Broady’s sex trafficking and threats of violence. One woman said Broady was ultimately unsuccessful in his attempt to force her into prostitution. The other reported that in March 2025, Broady had lured her to travel from Canada, paying for her plane ticket. He then pressured her and forced her into prostitution with false promises, threats, and physical violence, and brandished a firearm at her. Text messages obtained from Broady’s phone document the threats. The victims obtained a civil restraining order to try to keep him away from them. The woman from Canada was ultimately able to return home.
Records in the case and court testimony also detail Broady’s involvement in transporting and harboring a minor victim who had run away from a boarding school in another state. The minor victim was encountered on North Aurora Avenue and taken into custody by law enforcement. She was ultimately safely returned to family members. Information obtained from Broady’s phone demonstrated that he was aware of her age and that he was directing her how to interact with potential sex buyers. Broady was convicted of sex trafficking this minor.
In a second short bench trial after the first, prosecutors presented evidence that Broady possessed a firearm, even though he was prohibited due to convictions in Stafford County, Virginia for Burglary of a Dwelling while Armed with Deadly Weapon, Robbery, Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony, and Attempted Robbery. When police searched Broady’s residence on April 11, 2025, they recovered a black Ruger LCP, .380 caliber firearm with a loaded magazine. Judge Coughenour found he committed that crime.
In addition to the 20-year prison term Judge Coughenour ordered that he be on 15 years of supervised release following his prison term.
In asking for the 20-year prison term and 15 years of supervised release, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Crisham told the court Broady “is a violent man and a sexual predator who targets vulnerable young girls.” Broady will be required to register as a sex offender following his prison term.
The case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Seattle Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kate Crisham and Michael Harder. Ms. Crisham leads the Anti-Trafficking prosecutions in the Western District of Washington.
Saint Charles Parish Man Indicted for Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – On July 2, 2026, DANZELL WASHINGTON (“WASHINGTON”), age 34, of St. Charles Parish, was indicted on two counts charging him with distribution of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B) and (b)(1)(C), announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, on August 14, 2025, WASHINGTON distributed a detectable amount of methamphetamine, and on February 3, 2026, WASHINGTON distributed approximately 50 grams or more of methamphetamine in St. Charles Parish.
If convicted of Count One, WASHINGTON faces a minimum term of 20 years, a fine of up to $1,000,000, at least three (3) years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. If convicted of Count Two, WASHINGTON faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years up to 40 years of imprisonment, a fine up to $5,000,000, at least four (4) years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
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.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy L. Bell of the Violent Crime Unit is prosecuting the case.
Repeat Sex Offender Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Child Exploitation OffenseRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY –A Jefferson County man was sentenced this week to 15 years in federal prison for two counts of receipt of child pornography.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
William James Lewis, 34, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by a life term of supervised release, for using a cellular telephone to communicate with other individuals on an application called Telegram to seek out photos and videos of child pornography. At the time Lewis was on state supervision for having been previously convicted of possession of child pornography.
In 2017, Lewis was convicted of ten counts of possession of child pornography in Fayette Circuit Court, Lexington, Kentucky and was sentenced to 8 years in prison followed by five years of sex offender post incarceration supervision.
United States Attorney Kyle Bumgarner stated, “Lewis was undeterred by his previous 8-year state prison sentence for possessing child pornography. Shortly after his release, he reengaged in reprehensible act of seeking out and receiving more child pornography. Because of the incredible investigative work by local and federal law enforcement partners, Lewis will now serve 15 years in federal prison. When he’s released this time, he’ll spend the remainder of his life under the supervision of the federal probation office—ensuring that he does not continue to victimize our most vulnerable.”
Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson stated, “This case is an example of the incredible difference we can make when the FBI and local law enforcement partners work together to protect our most vulnerable citizens. Lewis' repeated attempts to acquire child pornography, despite his prior incarceration, are a stark reminder of the call to remain vigilant. Our children deserve no less."
Louisville Metro Police Chief Paul Humphrey stated, “These crimes are reprehensible and unacceptable. This sentence sends a clear message that those who exploit children will be held accountable. Even after a prior conviction and prison sentence, this offender continued to engage in behavior that fuels the victimization and abuse of some of our most vulnerable citizens. There is no place in our community for child predators. LMPD will continue working with our federal partners to identify offenders, protect children, and pursue justice for victims.”
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by FBI with the assistance of LMPD.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle M. Yannelli 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 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.
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Rapid City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm and Ammunition as a FelonRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on June 26, 2026.
Rudolph Bissonette, 34, was sentenced to 12 months and a day in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Bissonette was indicted for Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in December 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 15, 2026.
On October 15, 2025, law enforcement observed a vehicle committing a traffic violation. Bissonette was the driver. He had been drinking alcohol and had a blood alcohol content of .266%. Bissonette informed law enforcement there was a pistol in the vehicle. Law enforcement also found a round of ammunition in Bissonette’s front-right pants pocket. Bissonette is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition due to prior convictions punishable beyond a year in prison. It is a federal felony to possess firearms or ammunition after a felony conviction.
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). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.
Bissonette is to self-surrender to the U.S. Marshals Service at a date and time ordered by the Court.
Rapid City Man Convicted by Federal Jury of Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a jury has convicted Avery Hawk Wing, age 35, of Rapid City, South Dakota, of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on July 2, 2026.
The maximum penalty is 15 years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
Hawk Wing was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2024.
Evidence at trial showed Hawk Wing handled a rifle that was in a tote bag that belonged to him. Hawk Wing told law enforcement that he touched the firearm when going through his tote bag. Unsurprisingly, forensic examination revealed Hawk Wing’s DNA on several locations of the firearm, consistent with him handling the firearm. Hawk Wing was previously convicted of a crime punishable beyond a year in prison and, as a result, is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date will be set for a later date. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rantoul Man Charged with Making Threatening Interstate CommunicationRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A grand jury today indicted Kevin Baskis, 37, of Rantoul, Illinois, on two counts of allegedly making threatening interstate communications.
The indictment alleges that on June 29 and 30, 2026, Baskis made interstate phone calls from Rantoul to Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, threatening to injure U.S. military personnel and their families.
Baskis was arrested on July 1, 2026, and remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long today ordered that he be detained pending trial.
If convicted, the maximum statutory penalties for each of the charged counts are a maximum five years of imprisonment; maximum $250,000 fine; maximum three years of supervised release; and a mandatory $100 special assessment.
Agencies participating in the investigation include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, and Rantoul Police Department. Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney Eugene Miller is representing the government in the prosecution.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.